JPH0578237B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides a remote control device (hereinafter referred to as
The present invention relates to a remote control device (referred to as a remote control device) that is advantageous in achieving multi-functionality.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, remote control devices used in water heaters, etc., disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-121344, etc., are multi-functional remote controls equipped with multiple input switches and indicators. Devices are provided with functions that are selected for each specific water heater or the like to which the device is assembled. In other words, water heaters come in a wide variety of models, including models that are equipped with functions such as automatically supplying hot water to bathtubs and keeping bathtub water warm, and models that are not equipped with these functions. When these water heaters share a remote control device, such as a board or a microcomputer, it is necessary to change the functions of the input switch, display, etc. provided at the same location for each model.

In this case, the functions executed even if the input switch placed at the same position is pressed differs depending on the model, and the remote control device selects the function to be executed and then sends the operation signal to the water heater. The operating status of the function will be displayed on the display. Therefore, this remote control device requires information for determining the functions of the water heater and then setting the functions to be processed by the remote control microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer).

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, a jumper resistor connection circuit 2 for function selection is provided at the input port of the microcomputer 1, and the required input port of the microcomputer 1 is grounded via this jumper resistor connection circuit 2. Then, the functions to be processed by the microcomputer 1 are set. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the jumper setting value set by the jumper resistor connection circuit 2 is input to the input port of the microcomputer 1 (S1), and the function switching flag is set in the microcomputer 1 in accordance with the input value of the port. Function switching of the remote control device is performed according to the procedure of setting the remote control device in the memory 3 (S2), and then executing remote control main processing (S3) including the set function.

However, in such a conventional remote control device, the function settings are fixed by the jumper resistor connection circuit 2. Furthermore, a part of the input port of the microcomputer 1 is dedicated to function selection, which is disadvantageous in improving the functionality of the remote control device.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control device that is advantageous in achieving multi-functionality.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the remote control device according to the present invention includes a microcomputer 1, a memory 3 for storing a function switching flag, and a memory 3 for storing a function switching flag. It is equipped with a control circuit main body 5 of a controlled device connected via a core cord 6, and a microcomputer 1.
When the control circuit main body 5 and the two-core cord 6 are connected, it outputs a function selection request signal to the control circuit main body 5, and in response to this, the control circuit main body 5 follows the function selection information transmitted from the control circuit main body 5. It is characterized in that it is configured so that the function switching flag of the memory 3 is updated accordingly.

(Function) In the above configuration, the function selection request signal from the microcomputer 1 is output when the control circuit main body 5 and the two-core cord 6 are connected, that is, when the power supply is connected to the remote control device. From 5, preset function selection information is transmitted to the microcomputer 1 in response to the request signal. Then, the function switching flag in the memory 3 will be updated according to the transmitted function selection information.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a microcomputer on the remote control side, 3 is a memory showing a data arrangement, 4 is a two-core interface, and 5 is a control circuit for a controlled device such as a water heater connected to a power source. 6 is a two-core cord for transmitting DC power and control signals.

A bath remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller), a kitchen remote controller, and a sub-remote controller each configured by a microcomputer 1 and a memory 3 are connected to the control circuit main body 5 in this embodiment. In order to identify the remote controller or the transmission signal when the control circuit body 5 communicates with each remote controller, an address signal is added to the data communicated between each remote controller and the control circuit body 5. For example, this address signal is used for a bath remote control.
001, 010 for the kitchen remote control, and 011 for the sub remote control. In addition, addresses indicating broadcast data of 100 for clock data and 101 for temperature control data are given, while addresses indicating broadcast data of 110 are given for function selection request signals and function selection information. The address shown is given.

First, before the power is connected, the function switching flags in the memory 3 constituting each remote controller are not initialized, and the last set function switching flag remains. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, for each remote control, the power supply is
When connected to the two-core cord 6, each remote controller outputs a function selection request signal with address 110 to the control circuit main body 5 (S4). Then,
In response, the control circuit main body 5 sends the microcontroller 1 of each remote control the function selection information following address 110 (for example, if the automatic hot water supply function is available,
01. If the automatic hot water supply function has a heat retention function added to it,
11. If you do not have these functions, send 00 data) continuously about 10 times before starting the actual communication process.

Then, the microcomputer 1 sets a function switching flag in the memory 3 according to the function selection information sent from the control circuit main body 5 (S5). Thereafter, the microcomputer 1 executes remote control main processing such as input processing and output processing based on the set functions (S6). Therefore, it is no longer necessary to connect the jumper resistor connection circuit 2 for function setting to the microcomputer 1 as in the conventional example, and the input port of the microcomputer 1 can be used for other purposes to control the remote control. Controlled equipment equipped with the device can be multifunctional.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, the function switching flag in the memory of the remote control, which was conventionally fixed by hardware, can be changed to function based on the function selection information from the control circuit main body. You can choose. As a result, it becomes possible to omit the jumper resistor connection circuit for function setting and to freely use the input port of the microcontroller for other purposes, making it easy to increase the functionality of controlled devices equipped with remote control devices. You can get the effect of

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of its function switching program, and FIG. 3 schematically shows the configuration of a conventional remote control device. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the function setting program. In the figure, 1 is a microcomputer, 3 is a memory, and 5 is a control circuit main body.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device comprising a microcomputer 1, a memory 3 for storing a function switching flag, and a control circuit body 5 for a controlled device connected to the microcomputer 1 via a two-core cord 6. When the microcomputer 1 connects the control circuit main body 5 and the two-core cord 6, it outputs a function selection request signal to the control circuit main body 5,
A remote control device characterized in that the function switching flag in the memory 3 is updated in accordance with the function selection information transmitted from the control circuit main body 5 in response to this.