Remote control unit of air conditioning apparatus having a menu with items displayed in a predetermined order and a top item in the menu being different when a predetermined input is received

• US 8,689,140 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Original Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Inventors: Horiuchi, Kaya, Sumida, Hisashi, Takagaki, Yukihiro, Takahashi, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kells, Asher
• Application Number:
  US12/525,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20100107019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,239 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays

Abstract

A remote control unit of an air conditioning apparatus includes a display unit, a cursor-moving member, a confirmation member, and a controller. The display unit displays a menu and a cursor that indicates an item among a plurality of items inside the menu and is moved by the cursor-moving member when operated by a user. The confirmation member is configured to decide that the item is to be executed. The controller controls the display unit in response to the cursor-moving member or confirmation member being operated. The controller positions an item corresponding to a predetermined input at the top of the menu upon receiving the predetermined input.

Claims

1. A remote control unit for remotely operating an air conditioning apparatus, the remote control unit comprising:

a display unit configured to display a standard screen and a menu screen, the menu screen displaying a menu including a plurality of items and a cursor indicating an item among the plurality of items;

a cursor-moving member configured to move the cursor when operated by a user;

a confirmation member configured to decide that the item indicated by the cursor is to be executed in the menu screen; and

a controller configured to control the display unit in response to the cursor-moving member or the confirmation member being operated, and configured to receive a notification/request signal input from the air conditioning apparatus requesting an operation via the confirmation member, and

the controller being further configured

to switch from the standard screen to the menu screen in response to confirmation member being operated in the standard screen,

to display the plurality of items of the menu in a predetermined order on the menu screen with a first item of the plurality of items being positioned at a top of the menu when the confirmation member is operated in the standard screen and the notification/request signal has not been received, and

to display a second item above the first item in the menu on the menu screen when the confirmation member is operated in the standard screen and the notification/request signal has been received, the second item corresponding to the notification/request signal and being different from the first item.

2. The remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is further configured to read a pre-stored specific item and to position the pre-stored specific item in the menu when a prolonged time signal input for a specified time duration is received by the controller.

3. The remote control unit according to claim 2, wherein

the prolonged time signal input is outputted when a single operation of the confirmation member is maintained for the specified time duration.

4. A remote control unit for remotely operating an air conditioning apparatus, the remote control unit comprising:

a display unit configured to display a standard screen and a menu screen, the menu screen displaying a menu including a plurality of items and a cursor indicating an item among the plurality of items;

a cursor-moving member configured to move the cursor when operated by a user;

a confirmation member configured to decide that the item indicated by the cursor is to be executed in the menu screen; and

a controller configured to control the display unit in response to the cursor-moving member or the confirmation member being operated, and configured to receive a notification/request signal input from the air conditioning apparatus requesting an operation via the confirmation member,

the controller being further configured

to switch from the standard screen to the menu screen in response to confirmation member being operated in the standard screen,

to display the plurality of items of the menu in a redetermined order on the menu screen with a first item of the plurality of items being positioned at a top of the menu when the confirmation member is operated in the standard screen and the notification/request signal has not been received, and

to display a second item above the first item in the menu on the menu screen when the confirmation member is operated in the standard screen and the notification/request signal has been received, the second item corresponding to the notification/request signal and being different from the first item, and

the second item is a fault response item, with the fault response item showing locations of a plurality of relevant information items needed by the user when the notification/request signal input contains either

a fault notification signal input notifying of a fault from the air conditioning apparatus or

a filter maintenance request signal input requesting that a filter of the air conditioning apparatus be cleaned.

5. The remote control unit according to claim 4, wherein

the relevant information items include at least

fault specifics,

contact information for the time the fault occurred, and

model name of the air conditioning apparatus in which the fault occurred.

6. The remote control unit according to claim 4, wherein

the controller is further configured to

display only preset items different from the menu in the standard screen, and

display a message on the standard screen upon receiving the fault notification signal input or the filter maintenance request signal input from the air conditioning apparatus.

7. The remote control unit according to claim 6, wherein

the controller is further configured to position a cancel command at the top of the menu when the notification/request signal input contains the filter maintenance request signal input, with the cancel command being configured to cancel the display of the message and the fault response item.