Patent Application
20160111066
This application claims the benefit of and priority to each of Japanese Patent Application 2014-235268, filed on Nov. 20, 2014, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-210509, filed on Oct. 15, 2014, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a segment display device.
Formerly, when control devices which supervised and controlled equipment in plants, buildings and other facilities were used, segment displays which displayed information using a plurality of segments were used rather than liquid crystal displays due to costs and the long-term stable supply of components. For example, when data servers for building automation were used, operation status (activation and shut-down of applications, on-line and off-line status), the error codes as well as device addresses and a variety of other types of information were displayed using a segment display.
Conventional technology related to segment display devices is known to include a method (see Patent Document 1) in which the status of a trial-run of a hot water heating device is displayed on a 7-segment display device, and a method (see Patent Document 2) in which signal levels are displayed as a bar graph using a segment display device, and the like.
However, conventional segment display devices could hardly be called user-friendly interfaces. For example, it was necessary to increase the number of display digits to increase the amount of information displayed in the segment display device. However, since there were restrictions on the cost and the space used to set up the segment display unit, increasing the number of display digits was no simple matter. In addition, an operation button used to switch the information displayed had to be set up on the segment display device. However, due to restrictions on the cost as well as on the space available to set up the operation button it was impossible to dispose many operation buttons. As a result, when the conventional segment display device was used, complex operations such as pushing the operation button for a long period of time and simultaneous pressing of a plurality of operation buttons were required in order to switch a plurality of different types of information using a restricted number of display digits, and operating errors readily occurred.
In addition, when a segment display device with few display digits was used, when a plurality of items were to be displayed by switching the items, there were problems in that it was difficult to understand the relation between the operations of the operation button and the display results.
In order to resolve the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to make it easy for the user to understand the information, selected from various types of information, using a segment display device.
The segment display device (1,5) in the present invention is provided with a first operation input unit (12) and a second operation input unit (13) used to input operations from outside; a segment display unit (10) used to display information in a segment format; a storage unit (16) used to store information which can be displayed on said segment display unit by mapping in a display information table (160) made up of a plurality of cells specified by a plurality of columns and rows; and a display control unit (17) which reads information mapped in said cells from said storage unit and displays it in said segment display unit. Every time an operation is input to said first operation input unit, said display control unit selects information mapped in each cell of said display information table in order in the first direction (+Y) along a column in said display information table and displays it to said segment display unit; at the same time, when an operation is input to said second operation input unit, information mapped in each cell in said display information table is selected in order in the second direction (+X) along a row in said display information table and is displayed in said segment display unit.
In the above-mentioned segment display device, when an operation is input to said first operation input unit, said segment display unit scrolls the information displayed at that time, segment by segment, in a direction opposite the direction indicated by said first operation unit. At the same time, the information to be displayed next is displayed by scrolling, segment by segment, in the direction opposite that indicated by said first operation input unit so that the information to be display may be switched.
In the above-mentioned segment display device, said segment display unit has a display area with plurality of digits which displays information in segment format. When an operation is input to said second operation input unit, it is acceptable to switch the information to be displayed by causing said segment display unit to scroll information to be displayed one digit at a time in the direction opposite the direction indicated by said second operation input unit; at the same time the information to be displayed next is scrolled one digit at a time in a direction opposite the direction indicated by said second operation input unit and displayed.
With said segment display device, at the time information mapped in a cell corresponding to the last row in said first direction in a single column in said display information table is displayed, when an operation is input to said first operation input unit, it is acceptable for said display control unit to display, in said segment display unit, the information mapped in a cell corresponding to the first row in said column
With said segment display device, at the time that said display control unit displays information mapped to a cell, from among the cells mapped for the information, that corresponds to the last row in said second direction of a single row in said display information table, when an operation is input to said second operation input unit, it is acceptable to display in said segment display unit the information mapped in a cell corresponding to the first column in said second direction in said row..
The above-mentioned segment display device (5) is also provided with a third operation input unit (14) and a fourth operation input unit (15) used to input the operation from outside; every time an operation is input to said third operation input unit, said display control unit selects information mapped in each cell of said display information table in order in the direction (−Y) opposite the first direction of said display information table and displays it in said segment display unit. At the same time, every time an operation is input to said fourth operation input unit, information mapped in each cell in said display information table is selected in order in the direction (−X) opposite said second direction in said display information table and may be displayed on said segment display unit.
In the above-mentioned segment display device, when an operation is input to said third operation input unit, said segment display unit scrolls the information displayed at that time segment by segment in the direction opposite the direction indicated by said third operation input unit. At the same time, the information to be displayed next is displayed by scrolling one segment at a time in the direction opposite the direction indicated by said third operation input unit so that the information to be displayed may be switched.
In the above-mentioned segment display device, said segment display unit has a display area with a plurality of digits which displays the information in a segment format. When an operation is input to said fourth operation input unit, said segment display unit scrolls one digit at a time the information to be displayed in a direction opposite the direction indicated by said fourth operation input unit. At the same time, the information to be displayed next is displayed by scrolling one digit at a time in a direction opposite the direction indicated by said fourth operation input unit so that the information to be displayed can be switched.
The purpose of the reference numerals in brackets in the above-mentioned explanation is merely to illustrate the concept of constituent elements to which said reference numerals are attached in the figures.
As explained above, the present invention makes it easy for the user to understand the information selected from the plurality of types of information in the segment display device.
Next, we shall describe embodiments of the present invention referring to the figures.
Data server 2, which is indicated in the same diagram, is a server used, for example, for building automation and is connected to a plurality of controllers 3_1 to 3_3 used to control the devices comprising the air-conditioning equipment and sensors among others via a network 4. Specifically, data server 2 monitors via controllers 3_1 to 3_3 the devices and sensors connected to each of the controllers 3_1 to 3_3, obtains a variety of information to be monitored and accumulates it.
Furthermore, three controllers, namely, controllers 3_1 to 3_3 are illustrated in
Data server 2 is provided with the above-mentioned segment device 1 and can display its own operation status (such as activation and stopping of applications, on-line, off-line and the like), error codes and device addresses and other types of information using segment device 1. In addition, controllers 3_1 to 3_n are also provided with segment device 1 and each type of information can be displayed.
Segment display device 1 indicated in the same diagram is provided with segment display unit 10 provided with display area 11 used to display alphanumeric and other characters in the segment format; and operation buttons 12, 13 used as operation input units which receive operations from the outside.
Segment display device 1 displays the required information on segment display unit 10 when the user presses operation buttons 12, 13. Next, we shall describe a specific configuration of segment display device 1.
As indicated in
Operation buttons 12, 13 are used to detect when the user presses down and output operation detection signals. Operation buttons 12, 13 handle respectively the Y, X coordinates of the data spaces of display information table 160, which will be discussed below. For example, operation button 12 handles the Y direction (direction of columns) as the first direction of the data spaces in display information table 160; and operation button 13 handles the X direction (direction of rows) as the second direction of the data spaces of display information table 160.
The details will be discussed further on, however, information displayed on segment display unit 10 (to be discussed further on) is switched when operation buttons 12, 13 are pressed down.
Segment display unit 10 is provided with a plurality of digits for display area 11 which is made up of a plurality of segments; and display information 18 provided from display control unit 17 is displayed in a plurality of display areas 11. Each segment making up display area 11 is configured, for example, of an LED and fluorescent display tube, liquid crystal and the like.
Furthermore, as shown in
Storage unit 16 may be configured of EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) as well as flash memory and other data writable nonvolatile memory units as well as RAM (Random Access Memory). Storage unit 16 stores a variety of information which can be displayed on segment display unit 10 and also stores control programs executed by display control unit 17.
Here, the various types of information which can be displayed on segment display unit 10 may be information on the operating status, information on error codes, information on device addresses and the like, as was discussed above.
Specifically storage unit 16 stores a variety of types of information which can be displayed on the above-mentioned segment display unit 10 by mapping in a display information table (data space) 160 made up of a plurality of columns and rows.
As illustrated in
For example, function name “F001 (operation state of data server 2)” is allocated to cell (X,Y)=(1,1) and concrete information “0001-0200” which indicates the operating state of data server 2 is allocated to (X,Y)=(2,1)˜(m, 1). In addition, function name “F002 (device address of data server 2)” is allocated to cell (X,Y)=(1,2) and information “192.168.1.240” indicating the device address of data server 2 is allocated to (X,Y)=(2,2)˜(m,2).
As indicated above, concrete information relating to each of the function names (F001˜Fn) is allocated to each of cells (X,Y)=(2,1)˜(m,n).
For example, when the number of characters to be displayed in segment display unit 10 exceeds the number of digits displayed in segment display unit 10, that information is separated (split) into multiple pieces of information, and the separated information should be allocated respectively to each of cells (X,Y)=(2,1)˜(m,n). For example, as indicated in
In addition, when information to be displayed in segment display unit 10 is configured of a plurality of clusters of information, the information should be split taking into consideration the various clusters of information and the maximum number of digits displayed and may be allocated to each cell. For example, as indicated in
Display control unit 17 displays on segment display unit 10 information in display information table 160 stored in storage unit 16 by selecting in sequence of the Y direction or the X direction in accordance with the operation detection signals from operation buttons 12, 13.
Specifically, display control unit 17 selects information mapped in each cell in display information table 160 every time an operation is input to operation button 12 in the column direction (Y direction) of display information table 160 in sequence and provides it to segment display unit 10. More specifically, every time operation button 12 is pressed, display control unit 17 selects a cell located after moving the equivalent of one cell in the +Y direction from a cell in display information table 160 displayed at this time, and the information allocated to said cell is displayed on segment display unit 10.
In addition, every time an operation is input to operation button 13, display control unit 17 selects information mapped in each of the cells in display information table 160 in the row direction (X direction) of display information table 160 and provides it to segment display unit 10. More specifically, every time operation button 13 is pressed, display control unit 17 selects the cell located after moving the equivalent of one cell in the +X direction from a cell in display information table 160 displayed at that time and information allocated to said cell is displayed to segment display unit 10.
Here, the example takes into consideration cell (X,Y)=(1,1) in display information table 160 indicated in
As indicated in
In display state t2, when operation button 13 (+X direction) is pressed, display control unit 17 reads information “192” allocated to cell (X,Y)=(2,2) from display information table 160, and it is displayed to segment display unit 10 (display state t3). Furthermore, in display state t3, when operation button 13 is pressed, display control unit 17 reads the information “168” allocated to cell (X,Y)=(3,2) from display information table 160, and it is displayed to segment display unit 10. Thereafter, likewise, each time operation button 13 is pressed, the information allocated in a cell located after moving one cell at a time in the X direction on display information table 160 as indicated by reference numerals t4, t5, t6 is selected and displayed to segment display unit 10.
In a state where information in the last segment in “F002 (device address in data server 2),” that is, information “240” which is allocated to cell (X,Y)=(5,2), is displayed in segment display unit 10, when operation button 13 is again pressed, display control unit 17 again returns to cell (X,Y)=(1,2), and information “F002” in said cell is again displayed (display state t1).
In addition, as indicated in
Then, in a state where information for last row number Y=n in column number X=1 is displayed, when operation button 12 is pressed, display control unit 17 again returns to the initial display state. For example, as indicated in
As indicated in
Address calculation and processing unit 170 generates address information based on the operation detection signals outputted from operation buttons 12, 13. Here, address information is information on a memory address which specifies a storage area in storage unit 16. Information read unit 171 inputs address information generated by address calculation and processing unit 170, reads information (data) stored in a memory address specified by input address information from storage unit 16, and provides it to segment display unit 10 as display information 18.
Next, we shall provide a detailed explanation of the method of generating address information using address calculation and processing unit 170.
Each cell 161 in display information table 160 in
Next, we shall describe the procedures for generating address information. For example, when a reset of segment display device 1 is cancelled, first of all, address calculation and processing unit 170 makes a setting for an initial value in a designation address which designates display information displayed in segment display unit 10. For example, the designation address is set to a memory address “0x0001” corresponding to (X,Y)=(1,1).
After initialization has been carried out, every time operation button 12 (Y direction) is pressed, address calculation and processing unit 170 successively adds “+1” to the value of the designated address so that the designated addresses are successively updated. For example, first of all, every time operation button 12 is pressed in the initial state, address calculation and processing unit 170 adds “+1” to address initial value “0x0001,” and the designated address “0x0002” is generated and is provided to information read unit 171. Then, when operation button 12 is again pressed, address calculation and processing unit 170 adds “+1” to address “0x0002,” and the designated address “0x0003” is generated and is provided to information read unit 171. Thereafter, in the same way, every time operation button 12 is pressed, “+1” is added to the address at that time so that the designated address is updated and is provided to information read unit 171. Every time a memory address provided by address calculation and processing unit 170 is updated, information read unit 171 successively reads information designated by said memory address from storage unit 16 and the information is provided to segment display unit 10.
In addition, when operation button 12 is pressed in a state where information in a cell on the last row in a single column in display information table 160 is displayed in segment display unit 10, address calculation and processing unit 170 generates a designated address corresponding to a cell in the first row in said column. For example, when operation button 12 is pressed after a designated address is generated for a cell in the last row in a single column in the display information table 160, address calculation and processing unit 170 adds “−{(last row number)−1}” to the designated address at this time so that the designated address is generated and is provided to information read unit 171. For example, as indicated in
As indicated above, by updating the designated address in storage unit 16 in accordance with the operation input to operation button 12, the information in each cell in a single column can be displayed on segment display unit 10 in sequence in accordance with the row number.
Meanwhile, after initialization has been carried out, every time operation button 13 is pressed, address calculation and processing unit 170 successively adds “+4” to the value of a designated address so that the designated address is updated successively. For example, when operation button 13 is pressed in the initial state, address calculation and processing unit 170 adds “+4” to the initial value “0x0001” of the address, and designated address “0x 0005” is generated and is provided to information read unit 171. Then, when operation button 13 is further pressed, address calculation and processing unit 170 adds “+4” to address “0x 0005,” and designated address “0x0009” is generated and provided to information read unit 171. Then, likewise, every time operation button 13 is pressed, “+4” is added to the address at that time so that the designated address is updated and provided to information read unit 171.
In addition, when operation button 13 is pressed in a state where information mapped in the last cell in the X direction in cells where information in one row of display information table 160 is mapped is displayed, address calculation and processing unit 170 generates the designated address corresponding to a cell in the first column in said row. For example, let us consider the case in which information is allocated to a cell in the 1st through 3rd column (X=1˜3) in a cell in the fourth row (Y=4) and information in cell (X,Y)=(3,4) is displayed in segment display unit 10. In this case, the latest designated address generated in address calculation and processing unit 170 is “0x000C.” In this state, when operation button 13 is pressed, address calculation and processing unit 170 adds “−4×{(column number of cell allocated for information)−1}” is added to designated address “0x000C” so that the designated address is generated and provided to information read unit 171. More specifically, in the case above, information is allocated up to cell (X=3) in the third column of a cell in the fourth row (Y=4) and therefore, by adding “−8(=−4×(3-1))” to “0x000C,” the designated address “0x0004” is generated and provided to information read unit 171.
For example, in the case indicated in
As indicated above, a designated address in storage unit 16 is updated in accordance with the operation input to operation button 13, so that information in each of the cells for which information in a single row has been allocated, can be displayed on segment display unit 10 in the sequence according to the column number.
In the explanation given above, segment display device 1 in Embodiment 1 of the invention illustrates a case in which information displayed is rapidly switched in keeping with the operation input to operation buttons 12, 13. However, it is by no means restricted to this, and the information to be displayed may be switched by scrolling the display information in keeping with the operation input to operation buttons 12, 13. Next, we shall provide a detailed explanation of the above-mentioned scrolling display using the example indicated in
First, when operation button 12 (+Y direction) is pressed in display state t1, which indicates information “F001,” display control unit 17 reads information “F002” allocated to cell (X,Y)=(1,2) from display information table 160 and displays it on segment display unit 10. At this time, segment display unit 10 scrolls segment by segment “F001” information displayed in display state t1 in the direction (upward direction when segment display unit 10 in
Next, when operation button 13 (+X direction) is pressed again in display state t2, which displays information “F002,” display control unit 17 reads information “192” allocated to cell (X,Y)=(2,2) from display information table 160 and displays it to segment display unit 10. At this time, as indicated in display state t21, segment display unit 10 scrolls one digit at a time, in display area 11, and information “F002,” which is displayed in display state t2 in the direction (left direction when segment display unit 10 in
We saw above how when the segment display device in the present invention is used, information in the display information table is selected in sequence in the row direction and the column direction of the display information table in accordance with the operation input to the operation buttons and displayed in segments so that the information selected from the various pieces of information can be presented to be understood by the user easily. Specifically, by use of this segment display device, there is ability to present to the user a likeness wherein segment display unit 10, acting as a viewing window, as shown in
In addition, when displayed information is switched according to the operation input to operation buttons 12, 13, displayed information is scrolled and switched as indicated above so that an image which moves in the direction of operation buttons 12, 13 (X direction and Y direction) seen by eyehole 10A in the above-mentioned data space 162 can be clearly grasped by a user so that the user can obtain the desired information more easily.
Segment display device 5 indicated in the figure is different from the segment display device 1 in Embodiment 1 of the invention in that it has two more operation input units and it is the same as segment display device 1 in all other respects. Furthermore, in segment display device 5 in Embodiment 2, the reference numerals used for the constituent elements are the same as in segment display device 1 in Embodiment 1 so that we shall not repeat the explanation.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in this figure, like display control unit 17, display control unit 27 reads the desired information from display information table 160 in storage unit 16 in accordance with operation detection signals from operation buttons 12-15 and provides it to the segment display unit 10 as displayed information 18.
Specifically, every time an operation is input to operation button 12, display control unit 27 selects information mapped to each of the cells in display information table 160 in order in the +Y direction of display information table 160 and provides it to segment display unit 10; every time an operation is input to operation button 14, information mapped in each cell in display information table 160 is selected in sequence in the −Y direction of display information table 160 and is provided to segment display unit 10.
In addition, every time an operation is input to operation button 13, display control unit 27 selects information mapped in each cell in display information table 160 in sequence in the +X direction of display information table 160 and provides it to segment display unit 10. Every time an operation is input to operation button 15, information mapped to each of the cells in display information table 160 is selected in sequence in the −X direction of display information table 160 and is provided to segment display unit 10.
As illustrated in
Meanwhile, every time operation button 14 is pressed in a state where (X,Y)=(1,1) is selected as an initial value for the cell, display control unit 27 selects information in the first column (X=1)from the first row up to the nth row, in sequence in the −Y direction and displays it to segment display unit 10. For example, every time operation button 14 is pressed, information in the first column (identifying information) is selected in the following order: “Fn,” . . . , “F003,” “F002,” “F0001” and is displayed.
In addition, for example, every time operation button 13 is pressed in a state where (X,Y)=(1,1) is set as the initial value of a cell displayed in segment display unit 10, display control unit 27, like display control unit 17, selects information in the first row (Y=1) from the first column (X=1) up to the mth column (X=m) in order along the +X direction and displays it to segment display unit 10. For example, when operation button 13 is pressed, information in the first row is selected in the following order: “0001,” “0200,” “F001 ,” “0001,” “0200,” . . . and is displayed.
Meanwhile, when operation button 15 is pressed in a state where (X,Y)=(1,1) is set as the initial value of a cell, display control unit 27 selects information in the first row (Y=1) from the first column (X=1) to the mth column (X=m) in order in the −X direction and displays in segment display unit 10. For example, when operation button 15 is pressed, information in the first row is selected in the following order: “0200,” “0001,” “F001,” “0200,” “0001” . . . and displayed.
Display control unit 27 is configured of address calculation and processing unit 270 and information read unit 171. Address calculation and processing unit 270, like address calculation and processing unit 170, generates address information based on operation detection signals provided by operation buttons 12 through 15. Specifically, every time operation button 12 is pressed, address calculation and processing unit 270 adds successively “+1” to the value of the designated address and successively updates it. At the same time, when operation button 14 is pressed, “−1” is added successively to the value of the designated address and the designated address is successively updated.
Also, every time operation button 14 is pressed in a state where information in a cell in the first row in a single column in display information table 160 is displayed in segment display unit 10, address calculation and processing unit 270 generates the designated address corresponding to the cell in the last row of said column. For example, when operation button 14 is pressed after the designated address in a cell in the first row in a single column in display information table 160 is generated, address calculation and processing unit 270 adds “+{(final row number)−1}” to the designated address at that time so that the designated address is generated and is provided to information read unit 171. For example, as indicated in
Furthermore, every time operation button 13 is pressed, as was the case for address calculation and processing unit 170, address calculation and processing unit 270 successively adds “+4” to the value of a designated address and the designated address is updated. At the same time, “−4” is successively added to the value of the designated address every time operation button 15 is pressed and the designated address is successively updated.
In addition, when operation button 15 is pressed in a state where information mapped in the first cell in the X direction of cells where information is mapped in one row in display information table 160 is displayed, address calculation and processing unit 270 generates the designated address corresponding to the cell of the last column in which information in said row is allocated. For example, in
In the explanation provided above, an example is shown in which segment display device 5 in Embodiment 2 of the invention switches displayed information quickly in keeping with the operation input to operation buttons 12 through 15. However, it is by no means restricted to this and the information to be displayed may be switched by scrolling the display information in accordance with the operation input to operation buttons 12 through 15. Next, we shall explain this in detail.
When operation button 14 (−Y direction) is pressed in display state t1 which displays information “F003” in
Next, when operation button 13 (+X direction) is again pressed in display state t2, which displays information “F002” in
Next, when operation button 15 (−X direction) is pressed in display state t3 which displays information “192” in
Next, when operation button 12 (+Y direction) is again pressed in display state t4, which indicates information “F002” in
When the segment display device in Embodiment 2 is used, information selected from a plurality of types of information can be easily presented to the user, in the same way as with the segment display device in Embodiment 1.
Also, when the segment display device in Embodiment 2 is used, information displayed in segments can be moved not only in the +X direction and the +Y direction in the data space in the display information table but also in the −X direction and the −Y direction, thereby improving its usefulness to the user. For example, when a great deal of information is displayed, information located at the back can be displayed quickly, and the time it takes to display the desired information can be shortened.
Also, like the segment display device in Embodiment 1, when display information is switched in accordance with operations input to operation buttons 12 through 15, the display information is scrolled and switched as indicated above so that a likeness wherein viewing window 10A moves in the direction (±X direction and ±Y direction) indicated by operation buttons 12 through 15 in the above-mentioned data space 162 can be thoroughly grasped by the user so that the user can easily obtain the desired information.
The present invention made by the inventors was explained specifically above based on embodiments, but it should by no means be construed that the present invention is restricted to these examples and needless to say a number of variations are possible as long as they remain within the parameters of the invention.
For example, in the above-mentioned embodiments, operation buttons 12 through 15 were illustrated, however these are by no means restricted to the examples and operations that may be carried out using a touch sensor among others.
In the embodiments given above, the segment display device in the present invention was illustrated with 4 digits of display area, however, the invention is by no means restricted to this. For example, a display area may consist of one digit, two digits or three digits. In addition, while the segment display device in the above-mentioned practical examples featured a seven-segment display, it is by no means restricted to this and an eight-segment display and a fourteen-segment display which can display decimal points may also be used.
In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments illustrated application of the segment display device in Embodiments 1 and 2 to a data server and a controller. However, it may also be applied to other devices with a segment display device.
In the embodiments given above, a configuration with address calculation and processing units 170, 270 and information read unit 171 was cited as a specific configuration for display control units 17, 27. However, these were just examples and another configuration can be used as long as information displayed in segment display unit 10 can be switched in sequence in the row and column directions of display information table 160 in accordance with operation detection signals from operation buttons 12 through 15.
Also, in the embodiments given above, information “F001” in cell (X,Y)=(1,1) was given as the initial display for segment display unit 10. However the invention is by no means restricted to this, and initial display information can be displayed as the initial display state. For example, when display information table 160 consists of 3 rows×3 columns (m=n=3), the initial display information (for example, “ . . . ”) is set beforehand, as indicated in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-210509 | Oct 2014 | JP | national |
| 2014-235268 | Nov 2014 | JP | national |
