Water heater remote control and water heater

Abstract

To provide a remote controller of water heater equipped with a wireless LAN module with satisfactory usability, and a water heater.SOLUTION: A kitchen remote controller 2 includes: an outer case 6; a wireless LAN module 4 placed in the outer case 6; an antenna 5 of the wireless LAN module placed in the outer case 6; and a flat control board 3 placed in the outer case 6. The attenuation of radio waves used in wireless LAN due to the control board (metal) can be suppressed by arranging the antenna 5 of the wireless LAN module 4 not to overlap with the control board 3 in all directions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote control for a water heater. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in a water heater remote control equipped with this type of wireless LAN module, when the intercom function that allows multiple remote controls to communicate with each other is activated, a search stop means is provided to prevent noise caused by the wireless LAN router's search operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-92721 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the conventional configuration, when the intercom function was activated, the search for a wireless LAN router stopped, which had the problem of reducing the usability of water heaters that had a wireless LAN module installed in the remote control.

[0005] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional technology, and has an object to provide a water heater remote control and a water heater that are equipped with a wireless LAN module and are easy to use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional art, the remote control for a water heater of the present invention comprises an outer case, a wireless LAN module arranged in the outer case, an antenna of the wireless LAN module arranged in the outer case, and a flat control board arranged in the outer case, and is characterized in that the antenna of the wireless LAN module is arranged so as not to face the flat surface of the control board.

[0007] As a result, although the radio waves used in wireless LAN have low output and are easily attenuated by obstacles, by positioning the antenna of the wireless LAN module so that it does not face the planar portion of the control board, it is possible to reduce attenuation of the radio waves used in wireless LAN caused by the planar portion of the control board (metal), which has a large area. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a water heater remote control and a water heater that are equipped with a wireless LAN module and have excellent usability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a water heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] (a) is a front view of a bath remote control according to the first embodiment of the present invention; (b) is a front view of a kitchen remote control according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is an internal rear view of a kitchen remote control according to a first embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The first invention is a remote control for a water heater comprising an outer case, a wireless LAN module arranged within the outer case, an antenna of the wireless LAN module arranged within the outer case, and a flat control board arranged within the outer case, wherein the antenna of the wireless LAN module is arranged so as not to face the flat surface of the control board.

[0011] As a result, although the radio waves used in wireless LAN have low output and are easily attenuated by obstacles, by positioning the antenna of the wireless LAN module so that it does not overlap with the control board in any direction, it is possible to reduce the attenuation of the radio waves used in wireless LAN caused by the large control board (metal).

[0012] The second invention is particularly characterized in that, in the first invention, the outer case is made of resin, and the antenna of the wireless LAN module and the inner wall of the outer case are spaced a predetermined distance apart within the outer case.

[0013] As a result, when high-frequency radio waves used in wireless LAN are close to obstacles such as resin, the slight stray capacitance affects the antenna characteristics and degrades the efficiency of the radio wave output.However, because the antenna of the wireless LAN module is a specified distance away from the inner wall of the outer case, the antenna characteristics are not affected, and degradation of radio wave output due to obstacles can be suppressed.

[0014] The third invention, particularly in the first or second invention, is characterized in that it is composed of a kitchen remote control and a bath remote control, and the wireless LAN module is located in the kitchen remote control.

[0015] As a result, since wireless LAN routers are often installed in rooms, installing a wireless LAN module in the kitchen remote control rather than in the bath remote control can reduce attenuation of the radio waves used by the wireless LAN due to obstacles.

[0016] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a water heater whose operation is controlled by a remote control of the water heater according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention.

[0017] This allows operation to be controlled by a water heater remote control equipped with a wireless LAN module, making it possible to provide a water heater with excellent usability.

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0019] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a heat pump water heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] First, the operation and function of the heat pump water heater will be described with reference to FIG.

[0021] Reference numeral 11 denotes a heat pump heat source unit that heats tap water by water-refrigerant heat exchange, and reference numeral 12 denotes a tank unit that stores high-temperature water heated by the heat pump heat source unit 11 and transported via piping 13, mixes the stored hot water with tap water, and supplies hot water of a specified temperature.

[0022] The heat pump heat source unit 11 and the tank unit 12 constitute a heat pump water heater 10.

[0023] The hot water supply cycle 15 configured within the tank unit 12 is composed of a hot water storage tank 17 that stores high-temperature water generated by the heat pump heat source unit 11, a water inlet pipe 16 that inputs tap water into the hot water storage tank 17, a hot water supply pipe 19 that supplies high-temperature water from the hot water storage tank 17 to a hot water supply terminal 18 such as a faucet or shower, a bath hot water supply pipe 21 that supplies hot water at a predetermined temperature to a bathtub 20, and a circulation pump 14 that transports low-temperature water in the hot water storage tank 17 to the heat pump heat source unit 11 to heat the low-temperature water in the hot water storage tank 17 and generate high-temperature water.

[0024] The operation of the heat pump water heater 10 as described above is controlled by a bath remote control 1 and a kitchen remote control 2.

[0025] A control board 3 and a wireless LAN module 4 are arranged inside the kitchen remote control 2. The wireless LAN module 4 communicates with a wireless LAN router 7 installed in the living room or the like, and is connected to a cloud server 9b via the Internet 9a.

[0026] In addition, the user can also access the cloud server 9b via the Internet 9a from a remote communication means 8 such as a smartphone, and via the Internet 9a, the wireless LAN router 7, and the wireless LAN module 4, the user can use the remote communication means 8 to check the amount of remaining hot water in the hot water storage tank 17 and give instructions to heat it up, thereby operating the heat pump heat source unit 11, filling the bathtub with hot water, and checking the operating information of the heat pump water heater 10.

[0027] In addition, by checking the operating information and fault history of the heat pump water heater 10 and remotely diagnosing the faulty part, prompt repairs can be made, thereby providing a water heater remote control and water heater with excellent usability.

[0028] Fig. 2(a) is a front view of the bathroom remote control 1 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2(b) is a front view of the kitchen remote control 2 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 3 is an internal rear view of the kitchen remote control in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Hereinafter, the configuration of the remote control for the water heater in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0031] Kitchen remote control 2 includes wireless LAN module 4 arranged inside outer case 6, and flat control board 3. Antenna 5 of this wireless LAN module is arranged so as not to face the front and back of the planar portion of control board 3, which has a large area. Control board 3 is not arranged on the front-rear, vertical (up-down) and left-right ends of antenna 5 of wireless LAN module. Speaker 22 is arranged above antenna 5 of wireless LAN module.

[0032] One end of the antenna 5 of the wireless LAN module in the left-right direction, on which the control board 3 is not arranged, is disposed facing the inner wall of the outer case 6. The outer case 6 is a resin box, and the wireless LAN module 4 is disposed within the outer case 6 with the antenna 5 of the wireless LAN module and the inner wall of the outer case 6 separated by a predetermined distance. Radio waves from the antenna 5 of the wireless LAN module are radiated through the resin outer case 6.

[0033] As described above, in the remote control for the water heater in the first embodiment of the present invention, the radio waves used in the wireless LAN have a low output and are easily attenuated by obstacles, but by arranging the antenna 5 of the wireless LAN module so as not to face the front and back surfaces of the planar portion of the flat control board 3, it is possible to suppress the attenuation of the radio waves used in the wireless LAN by the control board (metal). Also, if the antenna 5 of the wireless LAN module 4 is arranged in a corner of the box-shaped outer case 6 made of resin, the antenna 5 and speaker 22 of the wireless LAN module 4 are arranged in parallel on a vertical plane, and the control board 3 is arranged in parallel to the antenna 5 and speaker 22 of the wireless LAN module 4 on the vertical plane, it is possible to effectively utilize the inside of the outer case 6 without wasting space, and it is also possible to suppress the attenuation of the radio waves used in the wireless LAN by the control board (metal).

[0034] In addition, the radio waves used in wireless LAN have low output and are easily attenuated by obstacles. However, since the antenna 5 of the wireless LAN module is separated by a predetermined distance from the inner wall of the outer case 6, there is no influence from the antenna characteristics, and degradation of the radio wave output caused by obstacles can be suppressed.

[0035] In addition, the device is composed of a kitchen remote control 2 and a bath remote control 1, and the wireless LAN module 4 is located in the kitchen remote control 2. Since the wireless LAN router 7 is often installed in a room, placing the wireless LAN module 4 in the kitchen remote control 2 rather than in the bath remote control 1 can reduce attenuation of the radio waves used by the wireless LAN due to obstacles. [Industrial Applicability]

[0036] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the remote control for a water heater of the present invention is equipped with a wireless LAN module and is easy to use, and therefore can be applied to water heaters that use electricity, gas, etc. as a heat source. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1 Bath remote control 2 Kitchen remote control 3 Control Board 4. Wireless LAN module 5. Wireless LAN module antenna 6 Outer case 7. Wireless LAN Router 8. Remote communication means 9a Internet 9b Cloud Server 10. Heat pump water heater 11 Heat pump heat source unit 12 Tank Unit 13 Piping 14 Circulation pump 15 Hot water cycle 16 Water Intake Pipe 17 Hot water tank 18 Hot water terminal 19 Hot water pipe 20 Bathtub 21 Bath hot water pipe 22 Speakers

Claims

1. An outer case, a wireless LAN module disposed within the outer case; an antenna of a wireless LAN module disposed within the outer case; A flat control board disposed in the outer case, an antenna of the wireless LAN module is arranged so as not to face a flat surface of the control board; the control board is not disposed on one of the front-rear direction side, the vertical direction side, and the left-right direction side of the antenna of the wireless LAN module, A remote control for a water heater, wherein the antenna of the wireless LAN module and the control board are arranged in parallel on a vertical plane.

2. Equipped with speakers, 2. The remote control for a water heater according to claim 1, wherein the antenna of the wireless LAN module, the speaker, and the control board are arranged in parallel on a vertical plane.

3. 3. The remote control for a water heater according to claim 1, wherein the outer case is made of resin, and an antenna of the wireless LAN module and an inner wall of the outer case are spaced a predetermined distance apart within the outer case.

4. The remote control for a water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is composed of a kitchen remote control and a bath remote control, and the wireless LAN module is located in the kitchen remote control.

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