Home controller

Abstract

To provide a home controller with improved design and operability.SOLUTION: In a home controller having a touch panel that displays operation buttons that function through touch operations, the operation buttons include lines indicating the vertical range of the operation buttons, and at least one of letters and figures indicating the function of the operation buttons.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a home controller. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a home controller that displays operation buttons on an operation screen of a touch panel (for example, see Patent Document 1). The operation buttons are rectangular areas defined on the operation screen as a reaction range during touch operation. Usually, the operation buttons are displayed in a color different from the base color of the operation screen in order to visually indicate the operation buttons to the user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-23252 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the home controller, multiple operation buttons for operating multiple devices are displayed on the operation screen of the touch panel. Therefore, if the operation buttons are displayed in a color different from the base color of the operation screen, the amount of information on the operation screen increases, making the design complicated. As a result, not only does the design of the home controller deteriorate, but it also becomes difficult for users to find the desired operation button, reducing the operability of the home controller.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide a home controller with improved design and operability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a home controller having a touch panel that displays operation buttons that function through touch operations, the operation buttons having lines indicating the vertical range of the operation buttons and at least one of letters and figures indicating the functions of the operation buttons. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of a front door on which an indoor controller of the home controller is installed, as viewed from the indoor side. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of a front door on which an outdoor controller of the home controller is installed, as viewed from the outdoor side. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a home controller. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation screen on the indoor side controller when not in operation. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation screen when performing an unlocking operation on the indoor side controller. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation screen on the outdoor side controller when not in operation. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation screen when a calling operation is performed on the outdoor side controller. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation screen for number authentication for unlocking on the outdoor side controller. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation screen when entering an unlocking passcode in the outdoor controller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a home controller of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show a home controller 2 for a front door provided near a front door 1. The home controller 2 shown in Figure 1 is an indoor side controller 2A, and the home controller 2 shown in Figure 2 is an outdoor side controller 2B.

[0009] The front door 1 of this embodiment is a hinged door having two door bodies 11 and 12, one on the left and one on the right, which are installed in an opening of a building frame so as to be able to open and close. An inside handle 13 and an outside handle 14 for opening and closing are provided on the door end sides of the door bodies 11 and 12, respectively. As shown in Fig. 1, two electric locks 15 are arranged vertically inside the door end side of one door body 11 (main door) of the two door bodies 11 and 12 for locking and unlocking the other door body 12 (child door).

[0010] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the home controllers 2 (the indoor side controller 2A and the outdoor side controller 2B) includes a touch panel 3 and a display control unit 4 that are arranged inside a housing.

[0011] The touch panel 3 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display having electrodes on its surface for detecting touch operations by contact with a user's finger, etc. The touch panel 3 displays image information such as characters and figures input from the display control unit 4, and when it detects a touch operation by the user, it outputs a signal corresponding to the touched area to the display control unit 4.

[0012] The display control unit 4 is a touch panel controller that performs various display controls on the touch panel 3 and outputs operation signals to various external devices such as the electric lock 15 based on signals input from the touch panel 3. The display control unit 4 does not have to be provided in each of the multiple home controllers 2 on the indoor side and the indoor side. A single display control unit 4 may be configured to control the driving of each touch panel 3 of the multiple home controllers 2.

[0013] First, a description will be given of the indoor side controller 2A shown in Fig. 1. The indoor side controller 2A is formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular shape, and is attached to a wall surface 10A of the entrance door 1 on the indoor side.

[0014] 4 shows an example of an initial screen of the operation screen 31 of the touch panel 3 of the indoor side controller 2A in an untouched state. A plurality of operation buttons 311 to 316 are arranged and displayed on the horizontally elongated rectangular operation screen 31 of the touch panel 3.

[0015] The operation button 311 is a start button for the home controller 2. The operation button 312 is a button for locking and unlocking the electric lock 15 of the front door 1 from the indoor side. The operation button 313 is a button for making calls with the outdoor controller 2B. The operation button 314 is a button for displaying a call list of calls that have been made. The operation button 315 is a button for displaying a live view image from a camera (not shown) installed on or near the front door 1. The operation button 316 is a button for capturing a live view image.

[0016] Of these buttons, the operation button 312 is the most frequently used on the indoor side controller 2A and therefore has a larger display area than the other operation buttons 311, 313 to 316, occupying approximately half the area on the operation screen 31. The operation button 311, which is the start button, is arranged in the lower left corner of the operation screen 31, and the other four operation buttons 313 to 316 are neatly arranged in two rows and columns to the right of the operation button 312.

[0017] On the operation screen 31, the response ranges of the operation buttons 311 to 316 during touch operation are defined by rectangular button areas R. Each button area R is displayed in the same color as the base color of the operation screen 31. In FIG. 4, for ease of understanding, the button areas R are each shown by a broken line, but these broken lines are not visible on the operation screen 31. Therefore, even if a plurality of operation buttons 311 to 316 are displayed, the design of the operation screen 31 in an untouched state is not complicated.

[0018] The operation buttons 311 to 316 each have a line 311a to 316a which indicates the vertical range of the operation button 311 to 316. The lines 311a to 316a are displayed in a color different from the base color of the operation screen 31. The lines 311a to 316a of the operation buttons 311 to 316 are displayed in the same position in each button area R.

[0019] 4, taking the line 312a of the operation button 312 as an example, the line 312a of the operation button 312 is disposed on the left side R1 of the button area R and extends linearly in the vertical direction so as to connect the upper side R2 and lower side R3 of the button area R. Nothing is displayed on the upper side R2, lower side R3 and right side R4 of the button area R of the operation buttons 311-316.

[0020] All operation buttons 311-316 have one graphic 311b-316b consisting of a pictogram or the like representing their respective functions. Graphics 311b-316b are arranged in the center of button region R of operation buttons 311-316. Furthermore, operation buttons 312-316 except for the star button have letters 312c-316c describing their respective functions. Letters 312c-316c are arranged in the lower left or bottom end of button region R of operation buttons 312-316.

[0021] The graphics 311b-316b and characters 312c-316c are displayed in a color different from the base color of the operation screen 31. The colors of the graphics 311b-316b and characters 312c-316c may be the same as the color of the lines 311a-316a, or may be different.

[0022] The indoor side controller 2A is configured so that when any of the operation buttons 311-316 is touched, the display mode of the touched operation button 311-316 changes. Specifically, when a signal is input from any of the touched operation buttons 311-316, the display control unit 4 drives the touch panel 3 so as to change the display mode of the touched operation button 311-316 from an untouched state.

[0023] FIG. 5 shows a state in which the operation button 312 for locking / unlocking is touched. The display mode of the operation button 312 changes due to the touch operation compared to the untouched state shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, the overall color of the button area R of the operation button 312 changes to a color different from the base color of the operation screen 31 compared to the untouched state. At this time, the characters 312c of "LOCKED" on the operation button 312 in the untouched state change to "UNLOCKED". In this way, the display mode of the operation buttons 311 to 316 changes during the touch operation, so that the user can visually easily recognize that the operation button 311 to 316 has been pressed.

[0024] The changed color, which is different from the base color of the operation screen 31, is preferably different from the lines 311a-316a, the figures 311b-316b, and the characters 312c-316c in order to make the changed lines 311a-316a, the figures 311b-316b, and the characters 312c-316c visible.

[0025] The change in the display mode of the operation buttons 311 to 316 during a touch operation may be a large change in size of the operation buttons 311 to 316 instead of or in addition to a change in color.

[0026] Next, a description will be given of the outdoor side controller 2B shown in Fig. 2. The outdoor side controller 2B is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape, and is attached to a wall surface 10B on the outdoor side of the entrance door 1.

[0027] Fig. 6 shows an example of the initial screen of the operation screen 31 of the touch panel 3 in an untouched state of the outdoor side controller 2B shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 6, a vertically long rectangular operation screen 32 of the touch panel 3 displays an arrangement of an operation button 321 for making a call, an operation button 322 for a temporary key for visitors, etc., and an operation button 323 for unlocking the electric lock 15 of the front door 1 from the outdoor side.

[0028] The call operation button 321 is the most frequently used on the outdoor controller 2B, and therefore has a larger display area than the other operation buttons 322, 323, and occupies most of the area on the operation screen 32. The other two operation buttons 322, 323 are arranged below the operation button 321, side by side with a gap between them.

[0029] These operation buttons 321-323 have the same configuration as the operation buttons 311-316 on the indoor controller 2A except that their functions are different. That is, the button area R, which is the response range of the operation buttons 321-323, is displayed in the same color as the base color of the operation screen 32. In Fig. 6, the button areas R of the operation buttons 321-323 are shown by dashed lines to facilitate understanding, but these dashed lines are not visible on the operation screen 32. Therefore, even if a plurality of operation buttons 321-323 are displayed, the design of the operation screen 32 in an untouched state is not complicated.

[0030] Similarly to the operation buttons 311-316 of the indoor controller 2A, lines 321a-323a indicating the vertical range of the operation buttons 321-323, and figures 321b-323b and characters 321c-323c consisting of pictograms or the like indicating the respective functions are displayed on the operation buttons 321-323. These lines 321a-323a, figures 321b-323b and characters 321c-323c are also displayed in a color different from the base color of the operation screen 32.

[0031] Like the lines 311a-316a of the operation buttons 321-323 on the indoor controller 2A, the lines 321a-323a on the operation buttons 321-323 on the outdoor controller 2B are arranged on the left side R1 of the button area R of the operation buttons 321-323 and extend linearly in the vertical direction so as to connect the upper side R2 and lower side R3 of the button area R. The arrangement of the figures 321b-323b and letters 321c-323c on the operation buttons 311-316 is also similar to the arrangement of the figures 311b-316b and letters 312c-316c on the operation buttons 311-316 on the indoor controller 2A.

[0032] Fig. 7 shows a state in which the call operation button 321 is touched. The touch operation changes the overall color of the button area R of the operation button 321 to a color different from the base color of the operation screen 32 in the untouched state shown in Fig. 6. Therefore, the user who touches the operation button 321 can visually and easily recognize that the call operation button 321 has been pressed.

[0033] Fig. 8 shows a number authentication screen displayed on the operation screen 32 when the operation button 323 for unlocking is touched on the operation screen 32 of the outdoor side controller 2B shown in Fig. 6. The number authentication screen displays characters 324a prompting the user to input an unlocking passcode and a display field 324b for the unlocking passcode. In addition, ten operation buttons 325 consisting of a numeric keypad, an operation button 326 consisting of a delete key, an operation button 327 consisting of a cancel key, and an operation button 328 consisting of a confirm key are displayed below the display field 324b.

[0034] The operation buttons 325-328 have the same configuration as the operation buttons 311-316 on the indoor side controller 2A and the operation buttons 321-323 on the outdoor side controller 2B, except that their functions are different. That is, the button area R, which is the response range of the operation buttons 325-328, is displayed in the same color as the base color of the operation screen 32. In Fig. 8 as well, for ease of understanding, the button areas R are each shown by a broken line, but the button areas R of the operation buttons 325-328 in an untouched state are not visible on the operation screen 32. Therefore, even if a plurality of operation buttons 325-328 are displayed on the number authentication screen, the design of the operation screen 32 in an untouched state is not complicated.

[0035] Lines 325a to 328a are also displayed on the operation buttons 325 to 328, respectively. The lines 325a to 328a have the same configuration as the lines 311a to 316a of the operation buttons 311 to 316 of the indoor side controller 2A and the lines 321a to 323a of the operation buttons 321 to 323 of the outdoor side controller 2B. Furthermore, a figure 326b indicating a delete function is displayed on the operation button 326 consisting of a delete key, and characters 325c, 327c, and 328c indicating the respective functions are displayed on the operation buttons 325, 327, and 328, respectively. These lines 325a to 328a, figures 326b, and characters 325c, 327c, and 328c are also displayed in a color different from the base color of the operation screen 32.

[0036] FIG. 9 shows the operation screen 32 on which the release passcode has been input. In the display field 324b, the four-digit number "1234" input by the user touching the operation button 325 is displayed. The figure shows a state in which the operation button "4" 325, which was last operated among the operation buttons 325 consisting of the numeric keypad, has been touched. By the touch operation, the overall color of the button area R of the operation button "4" 325 has changed to a color different from the base color of the operation screen 32, compared to the untouched state shown in FIG. 8. Therefore, the user who touches the operation button 325 can visually easily recognize that the operation button 325 has been pressed.

[0037] According to the home controller 2 (the indoor side controller 2A and the outdoor side controller 2B) of the present embodiment described above, the following effects are achieved.

[0038] (1) The home controller 2 (the indoor side controller 2A and the outdoor side controller 2B) is a home controller having a touch panel 3 that displays operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328 that function by touch operation, and the operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328 have lines 311a-316a, 321a-323a, and 325a-328a that indicate the vertical range of the operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328, and at least one of letters 312c-316c, 321c-323c, 325c, 327c, 328c and figures 311b-316b, 321b-323b, and 326b that indicate the functions of the operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328.

[0039] According to this, the operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328 do not form a complicated design on the untouched operation screen 31. The user can recognize the presence of the operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328 by the lines 311a-316a, 321a-323a, 325a-328a, the characters 312c-316c, 321c-323c, 325c, 327c, 328c, and the figures 311b-316b, 321b-323b, 326b of the respective operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328, and can easily find the desired operation button 311-316, 321-323, 325-328. Therefore, even if the operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328 are not entirely displayed in a conspicuous color different from the base color of the operation screens 31 and 32, the user can easily recognize the operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328, and there is no risk of the operability of the home controller 2 being reduced.

[0040] (2) In the home controller 2 (the indoor side controller 2A and the outdoor side controller 2B) described in (1) above, the operation buttons 311 to 316, 321 to 323, and 325 to 328 may be configured so that the display state changes when a touch operation is performed.

[0041] According to this, a user who touches the operation buttons 311 to 316, 321 to 323, and 325 to 328 can easily visually recognize from the change in the display state that he or she has pressed the operation buttons 311 to 316, 321 to 323, and 325 to 328. This improves the operability of the home controller 2.

[0042] (3) In the home controller 2 (the indoor side controller 2A and the outdoor side controller 2B) described in (2) above, the change in the display mode may be a change in color of the operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, and 325-328.

[0043] According to this, a user who touches the operation buttons 311 to 316, 321 to 323, and 325 to 328 can more easily recognize that the operation button 311 to 316, 321 to 323, and 325 to 328 has been pressed, based on the change in color.

[0044] Furthermore, in the case of the operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328 of this embodiment, when the color of the button area R is the same as the base color of the operation screens 31, 32 in the parts other than the lines 311a-316a, 321a-323a, 325a-328a, the characters 312c-316c, 321c-323c, 325c, 327c, 328c, and the figures 311b-316b, 321b-323b, 326b, the base color of the operation screens 31, 32 is set to the color that consumes the least amount of power, specifically, black when the panel structure is normally black, and white when the panel structure is normally white, thereby making it possible to keep the power consumption of the home controller 2 low.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the lines 311a-316a, 321a-323a, 325a-328a indicating the range of the operation buttons 311-316, 321-323, 325-328 in the up-down direction are formed by one straight line extending in the up-down direction, but are not limited to this. The lines 311a-316a, 321a-323a, 325a-328a may be formed by multiple parallel straight lines. The lines 311a-316a, 321a-323a, 325a-328a are not limited to being arranged on the left side R1 of the button area R, and may be arranged on other sides of the button area R as long as they indicate the range of the operation buttons in the up-down direction.

[0046] The home controller of the present disclosure is not limited to the home controller 2 for the front door 1. The home controller of the present disclosure may be, for example, a controller for energy management installed indoors, a controller for opening and closing windows or shutters, etc., and is widely applicable to home controllers equipped with a touch panel that executes various functions by touch operations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 2 home controller, 2A indoor controller, 2B outdoor controller, 3 touch panel, 311 to 316, 321 to 323, 325 to 328 operation buttons, 311a to 316a, 321a to 323a, 325a to 328a lines, 311b to 316b, 321b to 323b, 326b figures, 312c to 316c, 321c to 323c, 325c, 327c, 328c characters

Claims

1. A home controller having a touch panel that displays operation buttons that function by touch operations, The operation button is A line indicating the range of the operation button in the up-down direction; and at least one of characters and graphics indicating functions of the operation buttons.

2. The home controller according to claim 1 , wherein a display state of the operation button changes when the operation button is touched.

3. The home controller according to claim 2 , wherein the change in the display mode is a change in color of the operation button.

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