JP2001021212A - Water heater with touch panel remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the pushing number of icons by displaying icons for water heating or bath control operation and initial setting on a menu screen after turning-on of an operation switch, then displaying a next operation after selection of initial setting, and finally displaying the menu screen again. SOLUTION: A screen selection command means 39 transmits a command for hierarchically selecting a menu screen constituting a first hierarchy on the basis of switching operations of an operation switch 21 and a touch panel and on a menu screen after turning-on of the operation switch 21 an icon for water heating or bath, an icon for initial setting to be used for initial setting of a water heater, an icon for television for operating a television receiver, and an icon for operating an intercom are provided. Among these icons, the icon for initial setting that is set in a second hierarchy after selection of an initial setting switch 80 is displayed and finally a termination switch or a return switch for displaying the menu screen again is displayed as a final screen as a third stage.

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 such as a water heater, a water heater with a bath heating function, a water heater with a hot water heating function, which uses a gas, oil or electricity as a heat source to perform operations such as hot water supply from a remote position. The present invention relates to a hot water supply device with a touch panel using a touch panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a hot water supply apparatus, a hot water supply apparatus is known in which a water heater is installed outdoors, and the water heater is remotely controlled by a touch panel from a remote controller provided at a remote location such as an indoor kitchen or a bathroom. . In this touch-panel type remote controller, the screen of the touch panel can be sequentially switched to, for example, three layers, the next screen can be shifted by a so-called icon pressing operation, and the initial screen is returned by a setting change button in the screen. Was.

[0003]

However, with the conventional touch panel type remote controller, when it is desired to shift from the third screen to the second screen, the user first returns to the first screen which is the initial screen by using the setting change button, and then again. Since the icon on the first screen is selected and the screen is shifted to the second screen, particularly, for example, whether or not there is time setting before using the hot water supply and the setting operation is performed. When a similar operation must be performed two or more times, such as when performing the operation, there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated.

[0004] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply device with a touch panel type remote control which has improved operability and convenience in use.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a hot water supply apparatus with a touch panel type remote controller according to the present invention includes a water heater having a burner and a heat exchanger, a remote controller for remotely operating the water heater, and a hot water heater. A touch panel for performing operation of the device and displaying the operation, a display screen storage means for storing a plurality of screen display patterns corresponding to the operation of the remote control, an operation icon called from the display screen storage means and displayed on the touch panel; This icon is composed of at least an icon for hot water supply or bath operation and an icon for initial setting for initial setting of the water heater. The menu screen, which is the first hierarchy after the operation switch is turned on, is displayed on the menu screen. Display means for displaying operation icons and initial setting icons, and display the next operation after selecting initial settings Display means, which is a second layer to be displayed, and display means, which is a third layer for displaying the next operation after selecting the second layer, and an end switch for returning to the menu screen is provided on the screen of the third layer. The first feature is that a return switch for returning to the two-layer screen is provided. Further, the hot water supply device with a touch panel type remote controller of the present invention includes a water heater having a burner and a heat exchanger, a remote controller for remotely operating the water heater, a touch panel for performing operation of the water heater and displaying an operation, and a remote controller operation. A display screen storage unit storing a plurality of corresponding screen display patterns, an operation icon called from the display screen storage unit and displayed on the touch panel, and at least the hot water supply or bath operation icon and the water heater An initial setting icon for performing initial setting, and an initial setting icon for selecting a hot water supply or bath operation icon and a voice guide on a menu screen which is a first layer after the operation switch is turned on. A display means for displaying the volume setting and a voice guide selection after selecting the initial setting. A display means for displaying a sound volume by selecting a sound volume adjustment, and a display means for displaying the presence or absence of a sound guide by selecting a sound guide on the third hierarchy after the second layer is selected. A second feature is that an end switch for returning to the menu screen and a return switch for returning to the second hierarchy screen are provided on each of the volume adjustment operation screen and the voice guide selection screen, which are three levels.

According to the first feature, the number of times the icon is pressed is reduced to simplify the initial setting operation, and it is possible to quickly shift to a bath or hot water supply operation, thereby improving usability. . According to the second feature, the selection of the voice guide and the operation of adjusting the volume can be simplified, the operation can be quickly shifted to the operation of bath or hot water supply, and the usability can be improved.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a hot water supply apparatus with a touch panel type remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a menu screen. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the initial setting as the second hierarchy. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a selection screen of a voice guide, which is a third hierarchy, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a sound volume adjustment screen, which is a third hierarchy, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for setting a warming time of a bath which is a third hierarchy. It is an explanatory view showing a screen.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a water heater having a burner, a heat exchanger, a blower fan, etc., using gas, oil or the like as a fuel, and reference numeral 20 denotes a hot water supply installed in an indoor kitchen (including the vicinity of the kitchen). A kitchen remote control for remotely controlling the temperature of the hot water in the kitchen, has a function as a master unit of the TV door phone, and has a built-in display unit for displaying images, a microphone, and a speaker. Reference numeral 30 denotes a bath remote controller which is installed in a bathroom to remotely control the temperature of the water heater, the water level of the bathtub, and the like. Reference numeral 40 denotes an entrance unit of a camera door phone installed at a gate / entrance.
It has a built-in camera for capturing images, a microphone for calls, and a speaker. 70 is an antenna for receiving television, 71
Is a television receiving cable line connected from the antenna to the kitchen remote controller 20, and 72 is a television receiving cable line connected from the antenna to the bath remote controller 30.

The kitchen remote controller 20 and the bath remote controller 30 are connected to the water heater 10 by electric wiring cords 50 and 51, and power is supplied from the water heater 10 to each remote controller. The speaker is built in, and each can talk as an intercom. Reference numeral 41 denotes a push button for a call provided on the entrance slave unit 40, and reference numeral 42 denotes an image photographing machine such as a CCD camera for photographing a visitor.

Reference numeral 21 denotes an operation switch provided on the remote controller 20 for turning on and off the power. In addition to the operation switch 21, the kitchen remote controller 20 includes a display unit 22 for displaying an entrance image captured by the camera 42 of the entrance device 40, terminals for connecting an electric wiring code 61 of the entrance device 40, and the like. It has a connection part 23. The remote control 20 has a built-in television receiver, and television images are displayed on the display unit 22. This display unit is constituted by a liquid crystal screen or the like, and can also display the operation status or control status of the water heater 10.

The bath remote controller 30 has an operation switch 31 for controlling the water heater 10 and the like,
A display unit 32 for displaying an entrance image captured by the camera 42 of No. 0 and a connection unit 34 such as a terminal for connecting an electric wiring cord 61 of the entrance terminal 40. The bath remote controller 30 has a built-in television receiver, and television images are displayed on the display unit 32. In addition, water heater 1
0 has a connection portion 11 such as a terminal for connecting an electric wiring cord 61 of the entrance cordless handset 40, and a power supply terminal 12 such as a household 100 volt plug for introducing an external power supply. Power to a television or the like provided in each of the remote controllers 20 and 30 is introduced from the water heater 10 through the electric wiring cords 50 and 51. The transmission between the water heater and the remote control, and the transmission between the remote control and the entrance cordless handset uses a low-voltage DC two-core power line for hot water supply information,
Digital signals of audio / video information are carried in a time-division manner. In addition, you may add another entrance cordless handset. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and shows an internal configuration of a remote controller. 24 is a control means comprising an on-screen display CPU or the like, 25 is a color liquid crystal display panel for displaying operation of a water heater, displaying a television image and a camera image, and 26 is a transparent touch switch sheet. Are sequentially switched. The display panel and the touch switch are integrally overlapped to form a touch panel.
The display unit 22 is provided. On the front of the remote control, only the operation switch 21 and the touch panel are provided. 27 is a display screen storing means for storing a plurality of patterns corresponding to the operation of the gas water heater, and 28 is an external CPU for increasing the calling speed of the storing means. The display screen storage means 27 is provided in the remote controller 20 on the back surface of the touch panel in order to improve the responsiveness of the display time. Reference numeral 29 denotes a television screen control unit that switches the display unit 22 to television images and displays a television operation screen on-screen. Numeral 35 denotes a screen switching means for erasing the television operation screen and displaying only the television image on the screen. 36 is an external circuit, 37 is a TV tuner, and 38 is communication means for communication with the device main body. Reference numeral 39 denotes a screen selection command unit that issues a command to hierarchically select a screen such as a menu screen based on the operation of the operation switch 21 and the touch panel. FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the menu screen as the first layer, which is an initial screen after the operation switch is turned on. In the figure, an icon for hot water supply or bath and an initial setting for initial setting of the water heater are shown. An icon, a TV icon for operating the TV, and an intercom operation icon for operating the intercom are provided on the same screen of the touch panel.
By selecting and pressing one of these icons, a new screen appears, and the next operation can be selected hierarchically. For example, when an icon for initial setting is selected, selection of a preliminary operation which is a pre-stage of operation of the water heater, such as setting of time or selection of a voice guide for notifying operation contents by voice, is performed. If a hot water supply icon is selected, the hot water supply temperature can be changed. By selecting a bath icon, the user can select the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub, the desired bathtub water level, and the like. Further, when a TV operation icon is selected, a TV station and a volume can be selected. Furthermore, if you select an intercom,
It is possible to make a call with the entrance terminal and to display an image of the entrance visitor on the display unit. There are two or three layers, and icons and the like for returning to the initial screen are displayed on the screen of each layer.

FIG. 4 shows an operation screen for initial setting which is a second layer after selecting the initial setting switch 80 in FIG. 3 which is a menu screen, and 81 is a voice for guiding and navigating the contents of the operation by voice. A voice guide switch for selecting a guide function, 82 is a volume setting switch for selecting the sound volume of the voice guide, and 83 is an automatic heating control for keeping the temperature of the bathtub constant after the bath is heated. A bath heat retention time setting switch for arbitrarily selecting an operation time to be performed arbitrarily, 84 is a power saving switch of a display for cutting off power supply to a backlight such as a fluorescent tube provided on a remote controller to save power, and 85 is a return switch. Is a switch for switching the entire screen and returning to the menu screen which is the immediately preceding hierarchy. FIG. 5 is a screen for selecting the presence / absence of a voice guide on the third hierarchy after selecting the voice guide switch 81 in FIG. 4 on the second hierarchy. It is sufficient to press the switch, and if no voice guidance is required, the switch 87 may be pressed. If the switch itself is colored when selecting the switch, the operation can be easily confirmed. In the figure, reference numeral 85 denotes a return switch, which is a switch for switching the entire screen and returning to the second hierarchy, which is the previous hierarchy, and 88 is an end switch for returning the entire screen to the menu screen. FIG. 6 shows a screen of the third hierarchy after the volume setting switch 82 is selected in FIG. 4 which is the second hierarchy. When it is desired to increase the volume of the voice guide, the up switch 89 may be pressed, and If it is desired to reduce the size, the down switch 90 may be pressed. Although four stages are shown in the figure, six stages or eight stages may be used. 8
Reference numeral 5 denotes a return switch, which is a switch for switching the entire screen and returning to the second hierarchy, which is the previous hierarchy, and 88 is an end switch for returning the entire screen to the menu screen.
FIG. 7 is a screen of the third hierarchy after selecting the bath heat retention time setting switch 83 in FIG. 4 which is the second hierarchy. If the automatic heat retention time is to be lengthened, the up switch 91 may be pressed, and If it is desired to shorten the warming time, the down switch 92 may be pressed. In the figure, the heat retention time is 0 to 9 hours, but may be 0 to 24 hours. Reference numeral 85 denotes a return switch for switching the entire screen and returning to the second hierarchy, which is the previous hierarchy.
Is an end switch for returning the entire screen to the menu screen.

First, when the bath is to be automatically boiled, when the operation switch 21 of the kitchen remote controller 20 is turned on, the menu screen of the water heater stored in the display screen storage means 27 by the screen selection command means 39 of the control means 24 is displayed. Display 22
Will be displayed. This menu screen is as shown in FIG.
A plurality of so-called icons are provided for each operable function on the touch panel. The icons of the present embodiment are composed of an initial setting switch, a bath switch, a hot water supply switch, an intercom call switch, and a TV switch. When any of the touch switches is pressed, the menu screen disappears and the next new screen is displayed. Are displayed hierarchically so that appears. Prior to the operation of bath and hot water supply, initial settings are first performed. The initial setting can be performed by pressing the initial setting switch 80 on the menu screen of FIG. 3, and a second hierarchical screen as shown in FIG. 4 appears. If the voice guide function is desired, pressing the voice guide switch 81 in FIG. 4 switches the screen to the screen in FIG. 5, so that the presence switch 86 may be pressed. Subsequently, if the user wants to set the volume of the voice guide as well, the user returns to the menu screen by pressing the end switch 88. Therefore, if the return switch 85 is pressed without pressing the end switch 88, the screen shown in FIG. Return to the second level shown. When the volume setting switch 82 of the screen of the second hierarchy is pressed, the screen is switched to the screen of the third hierarchy shown in FIG.
By pressing 9, 90 you can set the desired volume. When the setting is completed, the menu screen can be returned by pressing the end switch 88. After the volume is set, if the bath warming time is to be set subsequently, the end switch 88 is not pressed, and if the return switch 85 is pressed, the screen of the second level immediately before is returned without returning to the menu screen. ,
When the bath heat retention time setting switch 83 is pressed on the screen of the second level, a change setting screen of the heat retention time of the third level as shown in FIG. 7 appears. When the up switch 91 is pressed on this screen, for example, 2 It is possible to change the heat retention time to 3 hours. Once all initial settings are complete,
By pressing the end switch 88, it is possible to return to the menu screen which is the first hierarchy. In the present embodiment, the audio guide and the bath heat setting have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and may be used to set a bath boiling time, set whether or not to wash a bath pipe, set a heating time, and the like. It can be recommended to carry out preliminary settings performed prior to the hot water supply operation. Next, press the bath switch on this touch panel to switch the screen, operate the bath temperature setting switch, hot water setting switch, etc. (not shown) to set the desired temperature and hot water, and then press the automatic switch. As a result, an electromagnetic valve (not shown) is opened, water flows, the water heater 10 operates, the burner is ignited, and hot water of a suitable temperature is supplied to the bath. The hot water supply temperature and the like may be displayed on the display units 22 and 32.

Further, when the television is installed and watched in the kitchen and bathroom, the water heater 10 is installed outdoors, and then the remote controller 20 of the kitchen is connected to the water heater 10 via the electric wiring cord 50, and is attached to the kitchen wall surface. The TV receiving cable 71 is fixed and the antenna 70 and the remote controller 20 in the kitchen are connected.
Connect with After the connection, electricity is supplied to the television receiver in the kitchen remote controller via the electric wiring cord 50 by the power supply introduced into the water heater, and if the television is selected on the menu screen in the kitchen or the like, the television can be watched. . The bath remote controller 30 is also connected to the water heater 10 via the electric wiring cord 51, and the TV reception cable 72
May be connected to the antenna 70 via the. These electric wiring cords are of a two-core low-voltage superposition type and a digital transmission type in order to serve both to supply power and to transmit hot water supply information for remotely controlling the water heater. Since the power supplied to the water heater 10 is used as the power supply of the television, it is not necessary to separately introduce a dedicated power supply for the television into the remote controller. Next, in order to watch the television, if the television switch is pressed on the menu screen of FIG.

In order to use the intercom and the camera intercom, the intercom entrance unit 40 is installed and fixed on a gatepost or the like, and then the electric wiring cord 61 is connected to the kitchen remote controller 20 having a function as the intercom master unit. Connecting. Thereafter, the power supply of the water heater 10 is used to enable the interphone communication between the entrance and the kitchen or between the entrance and the bath. The image captured by the camera 42 of the entrance device is displayed on the display unit 22 of the kitchen remote controller 20 by selecting an intercom on the menu screen. The same is displayed on the display unit 32 of the bath remote controller 30.

Further, the water heater 10, a remote controller 20 for the kitchen which is remotely operated from the kitchen and serves as a master unit of the intercom and the camera interphone, and the water heater 1
In a case where an entrance slave unit 40 is connected to a hot water supply device including a bath remote controller 30 that remotely controls a remote controller 0 from a bathroom, the bath remote controller 30 and the kitchen remote controller 20 are connected.
And a connection part 34, 2 for connecting a slave unit to the water heater 10
If the kitchen remote controller 20 is closer in distance to the entrance remote unit 40 than the bath remote controller 30 and the water heater 10 if the remote control units 3 and 11 are provided, the entrance remote unit 40 is wired to the connection unit 23 of the kitchen remote controller 20. You only need to connect it.
When the bath remote controller 30 is closer to the entrance device 40 than the water heater 10 and the water heater 10, the entrance device 40 may be connected to the connection portion 34 of the bath remote controller 30 by wiring. When they are close to each other, they may be connected to the connecting portion 11 of the water heater 10 by wiring.

In connection with this embodiment, a human body in the bathroom is detected based on image data captured by an image capturing unit provided in the bath remote controller 30. If no motion continues for a certain period of time, an image of the bathroom is detected. May be displayed on the display of the remote controller in the kitchen to have a monitoring function in the bathroom.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the hot water supply device with a touch panel remote control according to the first aspect of the present invention has a water heater having a burner and a heat exchanger, and remotely controls the water heater. A remote controller, a touch panel for displaying operations and operations of the water heater, a display screen storage unit storing a plurality of screen display patterns corresponding to the operations of the remote control, and an operation called from the display screen storage unit and displayed on the touch panel And an icon for hot water supply or bath operation and an icon for initial setting for initial setting of the water heater, and are displayed on a menu screen which is a first layer after the operation switch is turned on. Is a display means for displaying an icon for hot water supply or bath operation and an icon for initial setting, and a next operation after selecting initial setting. Is displayed on the second layer, and display means is displayed on the third layer to display the next operation after the second layer is selected, and an end switch for returning to the menu screen is displayed on the screen of the third layer. And a return switch to return to the second level screen, the number of icon presses can be reduced to simplify the initial setting operation of the bath and water heater, and the operation can be quickly shifted to bath or hot water operation. Performance can be improved. Claim 2
According to the hot water supply device with a touch remote control remote control described in the above, a water heater having a burner and a heat exchanger, a remote control that remotely controls the water heater, a touch panel that performs operations of the water heater and displays an operation, and a remote control Display screen storage means for storing a plurality of screen display patterns corresponding to the operation, operation icons called from the display screen storage means and displayed on the touch panel, and at least the icons for hot water supply or bath operation and the hot water supply And an initial setting icon for performing an initial setting of the heater. The menu screen, which is the first layer after the operation switch is turned on, has an initial setting icon for selecting a hot water supply or bath operation icon and a voice guide. Display means to display the icon of, and display of volume adjustment and voice guide selection after selecting the initial setting A display means which is a second hierarchy, a display means for displaying the volume of the volume by selecting the volume adjustment on the third hierarchy after the selection of the second hierarchy, and a means for displaying the presence or absence of the voice guide by the selection of the voice guide. And an end switch for returning to the menu screen and a return switch for returning to the second hierarchy screen are provided on each of the volume adjustment operation screen and the voice guide selection screen, which are the third hierarchy.
Simplify voice guide selection and volume control,
You can quickly shift to bath or hot water operation,
Usability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a hot water supply device with a touch panel type remote controller to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a menu screen showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an initial setting screen which is a second layer showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a voice guide setting screen, which is a third layer, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a volume setting screen, which is a third layer, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a bath heat retention time setting screen, which is a third layer, showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Water heater 20 Kitchen remote control 22 Display part 27 Display screen storage means 30 Bath remote control

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A water heater having a burner and a heat exchanger, a remote controller for remotely operating the water heater, a touch panel for operating and displaying the operation of the water heater, and a plurality of screen display patterns corresponding to the operation of the remote controller , A display icon for operation which is called from the display screen storage and displayed on the touch panel, and an icon for at least hot water or bath operation and an initial setting for initial setting of the water heater. A display means for displaying an icon for hot water supply or bath operation and an icon for initial setting on a menu screen, which is a first layer after the operation switch is turned on, and an initial setting. A display means, which is a second layer for displaying the next operation, and a third layer for displaying the next operation after selecting the second layer. A hot water supply device with a touch panel remote control, comprising: a display means; and an end switch for returning to the menu screen and a return switch for returning to the second hierarchy screen on the third hierarchy screen. 2. A water heater having a burner and a heat exchanger, a remote controller for remotely operating the water heater, a touch panel for operating the water heater and displaying the operation, and a plurality of screen display patterns corresponding to the operation of the remote controller , A display icon for operation which is called from the display screen storage and displayed on the touch panel, and an icon for at least hot water or bath operation and an initial setting for initial setting of the water heater. Display means for displaying an icon for hot water supply or bath operation and an icon for initial setting for selecting a voice guide on a menu screen which is a first layer after the operation switch is turned on, After selecting the initial setting, a display means which is a second layer for displaying the adjustment of the volume and the selection of the voice guide, and a second layer are selected. A display means for displaying the volume according to the selection of the volume control and a means for displaying the presence / absence of the voice guide by selecting the voice guide are provided in the third hierarchy after the selection, and the volume control operation screen and the voice guide which are the third hierarchy are provided. A hot water supply device with a touch panel remote control, wherein an end switch for returning to the menu screen and a return switch for returning to the second hierarchical screen are provided on each of the selection screens.