Air Conditioning Controller For Controlling An Air Conditioner

Abstract

The object of the present disclosure is to provide the air conditioning controller which is convenience to reset the malfunction of the touch panel. An air conditioning controller has a display displaying a graphical information, a touch panel positioned on the display and on which an operator touches for controlling an air conditioning unit, a touch IC for detecting a change of a static electricity occurred on the touch panel when the operator manipulates the touch panel, and a controlling part sending a commanding order to the air conditioning unit by receiving a signal detected by the touch IC. The controlling part determines whether an IC resetting condition is set by using the operator's manipulation manipulating the touch panel and resets the touch IC when the IC resetting condition is detected while an operation of the air conditioning controller is kept.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from earlier Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-224301 filed Dec. 12, 2019, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner and an air conditioning controller for controlling the air conditioner.

Related Art

[0003] The air conditioner has an air conditioning unit and an air conditioning controller for controlling the air conditioning unit. The air controlling controller has a display displaying a graphical information and a touch panel positioned on the display and on which an operator touches for controlling the air conditioning unit. Such touch panel is described in Japanese laid open patent publication 2010-159922.

[0004] In the case a malfunction of the touch panel caused by an electrostatic for example is occurred, an operator may reset such malfunction by turning off and on a power switch of the air controlling controller. However, the operator should consume a rather long period while the power switch is turned off and turned on.

SUMMARY

[0005] The object of the present disclosure is to provide the air conditioning controller which is convenience to reset the malfunction of the touch panel.

[0006] An air conditioning controller of the first disclosure has a display displaying a graphical information, a touch panel positioned on the display and on which an operator touches for controlling an air conditioning unit, a touch IC for detecting a change of a static electricity occurred on the touch panel when the operator manipulates the touch panel, and a controlling part sending a commanding order to an air conditioning unit by receiving a signal detected by the touch IC.

[0007] The controlling part determines whether an IC resetting condition is set by using the operator's manipulation manipulating the touch panel and resets the touch IC when the IC resetting condition is detected while an operation of the air conditioning controller is kept.

[0008] As the touch panel detects whether or not the operator touches the touch panel as well as the position of the finger of the operator by using a change of an electrostatic when the finger of the operator touches the touch panel, the electrostatic may cause a malfunction such as a freeze of the touch panel. Such malfunction may be reset when the operator turns the power switch off and turns the power switch again on. However, the operator should wait a rather long period while the power switch is turned off and on. Such chance making the operator wait may increase in accordance with the function of the touch panel being increased.

[0009] As to the first disclosure, the controlling part resets the touch IC when the controlling part detects the IC resetting condition while the controlling part maintains the operation of the air conditioning controller. As the controlling part of the first disclosure detects the IC resetting condition by using the operator's manipulation manipulating the touch panel, the malfunction of the touch panel could be reset without the operator's additional operation. Accordingly, the operator does not have to turn off and on the power switch.

[0010] As the controlling part of the first disclosure detects the IC resetting condition not using an information from the touch IC but using the operator's manipulation, a diagnosing function of the air conditioning controller is achieved without extraordinal censing circuit.

[0011] As to the second disclosure, the air conditioning controller further has a detector for detecting a resetting manipulation information caused by the operator's manipulation including at least one of a manipulating strength and a manipulating interval. The controlling part of the second disclosure decides a resetting manipulation in accordance with the resetting manipulation information detected by the detector and determines whether or not the IC resetting condition is set by using detected the resetting manipulation.

[0012] In the case the malfunction of the touch panel is occurred, the operator may push the touch panel with more power and/or may push the touch panel more times within a short period. The detector of the second disclosure detects the IC resetting condition by using such operator's behavior.

[0013] As to the third disclosure, the detector is located on the touch panel and has at least one of sensing function of an acceleration sensing for sensing an acceleration of the touch panel and a pressure sensing for sensing a pressure applied on the touch panel. The controlling part of the third disclosure determines the IC resetting condition by using at least one information from the acceleration sensing and the pressure sensing.

[0014] Since, the detector of the third disclosure is positioned on the touch panel, the detector could detect the operator's behavior applying on the touch panel more effectively.

[0015] As to the fourth disclosure, the controlling unit stores an information relating to the resetting manipulation and adjusts the resetting condition in accordance with stored the information.

[0016] The resetting manipulation may be varied between the operators. As the controlling unit of the fourth disclosure stores such resetting manipulation of each of the operators and adjusts the resetting condition in accordance with stored the information, such difference between the operators could be adjusted. Accordingly, the chance of unnecessary reset of the touch IC due to the difference of the operators could be effectively reduced.

[0017] As to the fifth disclosure, the controlling part maintains a graphical information displayed on the display while the touch IC is reset. In the case if the graphical information displayed on the touch panel is changed or disappeared on the display when the touch IC is reset, the operator feels uncomfortable. As the fifth disclosure maintains the same graphical information on the touch panel, such uncomfortable feeling of the operator is effectively avoided.

[0018] As to the sixth disclosure, the controlling part does not run its operation within a predetermined period when the touch IC detects the operator's manipulation within the predetermined period after the reset of the touch IC is completed.

[0019] Since the operator may push an icon displayed on the display many times in a short while when the malfunction of the touch panel is occurred, the operator may continuously push the icon even after the resetting operation of the touch IC is completed. In such case, the manipulation of the operator may occur unintentional operation. For example, in the case if the operator continuously pushes a DOWN icon after the resetting operation of the touch IC is ended, the target temperature may be reduced more than the operator's intention.

[0020] As the controlling part of the sixth disclosure does not run the operation within the predetermined period when the operator manipulates the icon within the predetermined period after the completing the resetting operation of the touch IC, such unintentional operation of the operator could be effectively avoided.

[0021] As to the seventh disclosure, the controlling part further detects a CPU resetting condition and resets the controlling part when the CPU resetting condition is detected. The controlling part memorizes a number of the IC resetting condition, decides whether or not the CPU resetting condition is detected by using the number of the IC resetting condition, and resets the controlling part when the CPU resetting condition is detected.

[0022] In the case when the IC resetting condition is detected more than a predetermined number within a predetermined period, the malfunction may be occurred in the controlling part itself. Therefore, the controlling part of the seventh disclosure resets the controlling part itself when the CPU resetting condition is detected. The seventh disclosure diagnoses the controlling part in accordance with the memorized number of the IC resetting condition.

[0023] As to the eighth disclosure, the controlling part does not indicate the IC resetting condition while the touch IC is reset but indicates the CPU resetting condition while the controlling part is reset. Since the chance of the CPU resetting condition is relatively small, the controlling part of the eight disclosure indicates such CPU resetting condition on the display, so that the operator could understand the CPU resetting condition is occurred. On the other hand, since the chance of the IC resetting condition is relatively large, the controlling part of the eight disclosure does not indicate the IC resetting condition on the display, so that the operator may not be bothered by the information of the IC resetting condition.

[0024] As to the nineth disclosure, a period for resetting the touch IC is shorter than a period for resetting the controlling part. The period for resetting the touch IC is about several milliseconds for example and the period for resetting the controlling part is about several seconds for example. Accordingly, the controlling part memorizes a number of the IC resetting condition and decides whether or not the CPU resetting condition is detected by using the number of the IC resetting condition as described in the seventh disclosure.

[0025] As to the tenth disclosure, the air conditioning controller has a display displaying a graphical information, a touch panel positioned on the display and on which an operator touches for controlling an air conditioning unit, a touch IC for detecting a change of a static electricity occurred on the touch panel when the operator manipulates the touch panel, and a controlling part sending a commanding order to the air conditioning unit by receiving a signal detected by the touch IC.

[0026] The controlling part of the tenth disclosure detects an IC resetting condition by using at least one of an acceleration information of the touch panel and a pressure information applied on the touch panel and resets the touch IC when the IC resetting condition is detected while an operation of the air conditioning controller is kept.

[0027] As the controlling part of the tenth disclosure detects the IC resetting condition by using the operator's manipulation information such as an acceleration information of the touch panel and/or a pressure information applied on the touch panel and resets the touch IC when the IC resetting condition is detected, the reset of the touch IC is started without operator's additional operation. As the controlling part of the tenth disclosure resets the touch IC without turning off and on the power switch, the operation of the air conditioning controller could be kept while the resetting operation of the touch IC is done.

[0028] As to the eleventh disclosure, an air conditioner has an air conditioning controller of the tenth disclosure and an air conditioning unit for operating an air conditioning operation by receiving a commanding order from the air conditioning controller.

[0029] As the air conditioner of eleventh disclosure has the air conditioning controller of the tenth disclosure, the operator of the air conditioner may reset the touch IC without additional operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an air conditioner.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air conditioning controller.

[0032] FIG. 3(a) is a sectional view of the air conditioning controller positioned in a holder.

[0033] FIG. 3(b) is a sectional view of the air conditioning controller positioned outside of the holder.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a main menu displayed on a display.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a controlling menu displayed on a display.

[0036] FIG. 6 shows the operator's manipulation while the operator sets a target temperature.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a flow chart explaining a touch IC resetting operation.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a timing chart explaining the operator's manipulation while the operator sets a target temperature.

[0039] FIG. 9 is a timing chart explaining the operator's manipulation while the operator sets a target temperature under the condition of the malfunction of the touch panel.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a timing chart explaining the other operator's another manipulation while the operator sets a target temperature under the condition of the malfunction of the touch panel.

[0041] FIG. 11 is a flow chart explaining a CPU resetting operation.

[0042] FIG. 12 shows an example of a sign showing the condition that the CPU is under resetting.

[0043] FIG. 13 is a timing chart explaining the operator's manipulation while the operator sets a target temperature under the condition of the malfunction of the touch panel and the condition such malfunction is reset.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] The present disclosure is explained hereinafter relating to an air conditioner used in the building and/or housing.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 10 has an air conditioning unit 11 and an air conditioning controller 12 which is connected with the air conditioning unit 11 by radio frequency. The air conditioning controller 12 controls an operation of the air conditioning unit 11 including an air conditioning mode (cool, heat, dehumidification, and ventilation), a target temperature, an air volume (fan speed), and a direction of the wind. When an operator decides a commanding order, such order is sent to the air conditioning unit 11 and the received air conditioning unit 11 follows the commanding order.

[0046] The air conditioning controller 12 has a controller unit 20 as a portable apparatus the detailed of which is explained later. The controller unit 20 has a CPU 51 which mainly controls the operation so that the CPU works as a controlling part. A display 53 is connected with the CPU 51 via a graphic IC 52 so that the graphic IC 52 controls the graphical image displayed on the display 53 in accordance with the commanding order from the CPU 51. An electrostatic capacitance type touch panel 55 is connected with the CPU 51 via a touch IC 54. The touch panel 55 is so accumulated with the display 53 that the touch panel 55 locates on the front face of the display 53 and that the operator could visibly recognize the image displayed on the display 53

[0047] The touch IC 54 detects the change of the electrostatic capacitance of the touch panel 55 where the operator touches and sends the touching information to the CPU 51. The CPU 51 decides whether or not the touching information exists and the location where the operator touches.

[0048] The controller unit 20 also has a thermometer/humidity sensor 57 detecting the room temperature and humidity and an acceleration sensor 58 detecting the movement of the air conditioning controller 12. Both the thermometer/humidity sensor 57 and the acceleration sensor 58 are connected to the CPU 51 so that the detected information is transferred to the CPU 51. The room temperature and/or the humidity is displayed on the display 53 in accordance with the commanding order from the CPU 51. The CPU has the reset function for resetting the touch IC 54 in accordance with the detected information from the acceleration sensor 58. The detail of the reset function is explained later.

[0049] The controller unit 20 is connected with the electric power source 45 via an electric cable line 38 (shown in FIG. 3) so that 24V of electric voltage from the electric power source 45 is supplied to the CPU 51, the graphic IC 52 and the touch IC 54 via an electrical power supply line 61 positioned in the air conditioning controller 12. The electric voltage is reduced from 24 B down to 3V by a regulator embedded in the CPU 51. The controller unit 20 also has a power switch 59 by which the operator turns the controller unit 20 on and off.

[0050] The controller unit 20 has an internal battery 65 such as a couple of AA cell batteries in series configuration (3V of electric voltage). The electric power from the internal battery 65 is supplied to the CPU 51, the graphic IC 52 and the touch IC 54 via the electrical power supply line 61 in the case when the electric power from the electric power source 45 is not supplied.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioning controller 12 has a holder 30 which is able to hold the controller unit 20. As shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the holder 30 has a flat base portion 31 fixed on the surface of the wall of the room and a holding portion 32 positioned perpendicular to the base portion 31 so that the holder 30 is a box shape surrounding the controller unit 20. In the case when the controlling unit 20 is held in the holder 30 (holding position) the rear surface (right side of FIG. 3(a)) of the controlling unit 20 contacts to the font surface (left side of FIG. 3(a)) of the base portion 31.

[0052] The controller unit 20 is formed by a controller main part 21 and a case unit 22 holding the controller main part 21 in such a manner that the operating surface (displaying surface) of the controller main part 21 is not covered. A notch portion 33 is formed the inner surface of the holding portion 32 of the holder 30 so that the notch portion 33 contacts with a concave portion 23 formed in the case unit 22 when the controlling unit 20 is held at the holding position. As the holding portion 32 is flexible, the operator may remove the controller unit 20 out from the holder 30 by so deforming the holding portion 32 that the notch portion 33 is disengaged from the concave portion 23.

[0053] A holder side connector 35 is fixed on the base portion 31 of the holder 30. The holder side connector 35 is connected with the electric power source 45 via the electric cable line 38. A controller unit side connector 25 is formed on the rear surface (right side of FIG. 3(a)) of the controlling unit 20 so that the controller unit side connector 25 contacts with the holder side connector 35 when the controller unit 20 positioned at the holding position. Accordingly, the electric power of the electric power source 45 is supplied to the electrical power supply line 61 of the controller unit 20 via the electric cable line 38, the holder side connector 35 and the controller unit side connector 25.

[0054] In the case the controller unit 20 is removed from the holder 30 (the controller unit 20 in not positioned at the holding position), the controlling unit side connecter 25 disengages from the holder side connector 35 so that the electric power from the electrical power source 45 is not supplied to the electrical power supply line 61 and supply source of the electric power is switched from the electrical power source 45 to the internal battery 65.

[0055] As the controller unit 20 has the touch panel 55, the operator could use almost entire surface of the controller unit 20 as the operating area for detecting the electrostatic change caused by the operator. However, the touch panel 55 also has a weak point that the static electricity from the operator causes the malfunction. Though such malfunction could be recovered by resetting the air conditioning controller 12 by turning off and on the main power switch 59, the additional operation is required for the resetting operation and, therefore, the operator should wait for a moment. The additional explanation is explained by referring FIGS. 4 and 5 hereinafter.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a main menu displayed on the display 81 which is the same as the display 53 of FIG. 1 of the controller unit 20. The main menu shows a various information includes a present mode, a present room temperature and a target temperature, an icon 82 for changing the mode, an icon 83 for changing the fan speed and an icon 84 for setting the target temperature. In the case the operator pushes one of the icons 82-84, the graphical information displayed on the display 82 is changed from the main menu to an operating menu.

[0057] The example of the operating menu of the temperature setting menu is shown in FIG. 5. An UP icon 87 increasing the target temperature and a DOWN icon 88 decreasing the target temperature and the target temperature 86 are displayed on the temperature setting operating menu. FIG. 6 shows the operation of the operator for changing the target temperature. At the timing when the CPU 51 receives the operating command of the operator, the CPU 51 sends such operating command to the air conditioning unit 11 and changes the target temperature 86 displayed on the display 81.

[0058] In the case if the static electricity from the operator causes the malfunction on the touch IC 54, the touch IC 54 could not work and therefore the touch IC 54 could not sense the change of the electrostatic capacitance even the operator touches the touch panel 55. Accordingly, the graphical information on the display 81 is frozen and the target temperature is not changed though the operator touches the UP icon 87 or the DOWN icon 88.

[0059] The CPU 51 of this embodiment has a resetting function for resetting the touch IC 54 by using the information from the acceleration sensor 58. In other words, the resetting operation for resetting the touch IC 54 is included within a regular operation done every setting timing (1 millisecond for example). Such resetting operation is explained hereinafter by referring FIG. 7.

[0060] Whether or not a flag showing the reset is installed in the RAM of the controller unit 20 is decided at first (step S101) of the resetting operation. If no flag is detected (NO), whether or not the controller unit 20 is moved, in other words, whether the accelerating signal form the acceleration sensor 58 is increased more than the predetermined threshold accelerating level is detected is decided (step S102). If no accelerating signal more than the predetermined threshold level is sent form the acceleration sensor 58 (NO), the resetting operation ends. If the accelerating signal more than the predetermined threshold level is sent form the acceleration sensor 58 (YES), then the resetting operation moves next step (step S103).

[0061] The interval of the movement is calculated in the step S103 by using N+1 times movement accumulating the last movement and N (more than 2 for example) times previous movements. Whether or not the calculated interval of the movement is shorter than a predetermined standard period is decided in the step S104. If the interval is shorter than the predetermined standard period (YES), the resetting operation moves next step (S105).

[0062] The counting operation of the various counters including the timer counter for counting the above described interval (step S103) is reset at the step S105. The operation of the touch IC 54 is reset at the step S106 so that the frozen condition above described is ended and that the detecting function of the touch IC is recovered. The flag indicating the resetting operation is set at the step S107, then the resetting operation ends. The required period for resetting the touch IC is about several millisecond so that the resetting period is shorter than that the operator resets the CPU 51 by using the power switch 59 (5 seconds for example).

[0063] Back to the step S104, in the case the interval is longer than the predetermined standard period (NO), the resetting operation moves to the step S108. Whether the last detected acceleration signal is greater than a predetermined standard value is decided at the step S108. The predetermined standard value of this step S108 is greater than the predetermined threshold level of the step S102.

[0064] In the case when the last detected acceleration signal is smaller than the predetermined standard value (NO), the resetting operation ends. In the case when the last detected acceleration signal is greater than the predetermined standard value (YES), the resetting operation moves the step S109. Whether the greater acceleration signal greater than the predetermined standard value continues more than two (2) times is decided at the stop S109. No continuing of the greater acceleration signal is detected (NO), the resetting operation ends. The continuation is detected (YES), the resetting operation ends after the steps S105-S107 are operated.

[0065] Back to the step S101, in the case the flag is found in the RAM (YES), the resetting operation moves to the step S110. Whether the reset operation of the touch IC 54 is completed is decided at the step S110 by the period counted by the timer counter from the beginning of the resetting operation being longer than the required resetting period (several millisecond for example). In the case if the completion of the touch IC resetting is not decided at the step S110 (NO), the resetting operation ends. If the step S110 decides the completion (YES), the resetting operation ends after the flag in the PAM is deleted at the step S111.

[0066] The graphical information displayed on the display 81 is maintained during the resetting operation and no signal indicating the completion of the resetting operation is alerted so that the resetting operation does not make the operator a bothersome feeling.

[0067] FIG. 8 explains the normal operation of the touch panel 55. Every timing (ta1, ta2) when the operator pushes the operating icon (the DOWN icon 88 for example) the temperature displayed on the display 81 is changed ("24"-"23"-"22"). As the operator visibly checks the numeral on the display 81, the interval between the operator's pushing operation (ta1, ta2) may be a certain amount of period.

[0068] FIGS. 9 and 10 show an abnormal operation and the resetting operation of the touch panel 55. When the operator pushes the operating icon (the DOWN icon 88) at the first timing (tb1) the temperature displayed on the display 81 is changed ("24"-"23") but the static electricity from the finger of the operator may cause the malfunction on the touch IC 54. So that even the operator pushes the operating icon (the DOWN icon 88) at the next timing (tb2) and the timing after the next (tb3) the numeral displayed on the display 81 is not changed but continues as "24". The operator who found the continuing numeral of "24" pushes the operating icon (the DOWN icon 88) in a short period so that interval between the pushing timing tb3, tb4, and tb5 of the abnormal condition is shorter than the standard timing tb1 and tb2 of the normal condition. Such shorten of the period could be calculated at the timing of tb5. Accordingly, the touch IC 54 could be reset by using the movement (the operation of the touch panel 55, the pushing operation of the operating icon) as the trigger. Namely, the step S103 and the step S104 of the resetting operation is carried out by using the operator's such operation that the operator pushed the operation icon in a short while (tb3, tb4 and tb5). The resetting operation of the touch IC 54 starts at the timing of tb5 and ends at the timing of tb6, so that the next pushing operation of the operator at the timing (tb7) could reduce the target temperature from "23" down to "22".

[0069] As the shown in FIG. 10, the operator who found the continuing of the temperature of "23" pushes the operating icon (the DOWN icon 88) with stronger power so that the movement of the controller unit 20 caused by such operator's action makes the acceleration signal more than the predetermined standard value. Such operator's behavior is occurred at the timing of tc4, tc5 and tc7. The resetting operation of the touch IC 54 starts by using the movement (the operation of the touch panel 55, the pushing operation of the operating icon) as the trigger. Namely, the step S108 and the step S109 of the resetting operation is carried out by using the operator's such manipulation that the operator pushed the operation icon with stronger power. The example shown in FIG. 10 starts the resetting operation of the touch IC at tc5 and ends the resetting operation at tc6, so that the operator's manipulation at tc7 could reduce the target temperature from "23" down to "22".

[0070] The malfunction of the touch panel 55 may not be caused by the touch IC 54 but be caused by the CPU 51 so that the CPU 51 starts its own resetting operation (resetting operation for the CPU 51) when a plurality of resetting operations of the touch IC are occurred in a short period. The resetting operation for the CPU 51 as one of the regular operations is done by the CPU 51.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 11, the resetting operation for the CPU 51 starts to check whether or not the resetting operation of the touch IC 54 (step S201) exists. If no reset of the touch IC 54 is found (NO), the resetting operation for the CPU 51 ends. If the reset of the touch IC 54 is found, then decide whether the counted number of the reset of the touch IC 54 reaches to the predetermined number (3 times for example) within a predetermined period at the step S202. If the counted number of the reset of the touch IC 54 is less than the predetermined number, the resetting operation for the CPU 51 ends. If the counted number of the reset of the touch IC 54 reaches to the predetermined number within a predetermined period, a various counters for resetting the CPU including the counter for counting the reset number of the touch IC and the timer counter measuring the time period are reset at the step S203. After the resetting of the counters at the step S203, the resetting operation for the CPU 51 is carried out at the step S204. During the resetting operation for the CPU 51, the sign showing the CPU 51 is under resetting condition such as "please Wait" shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the display 81.

[0072] The above described embodiment has following effects. The controller unit 20 could reset the touch IC 54 while the controller unit 20 is kept its condition turned on when the resetting condition caused by the operator (pushing in a short while, pushing with stronger power) is detected. Namely, as the following operation done by the operator (the setting operation of the target temperature for example) is used as the trigger for the resetting operation of the touch IC 54, the resetting operation starts automatically and the waiting period the operator waits for completing the resetting operation could be shortened.

[0073] Because the CPU 51 runs by using the information detected by the touch IC 54, it is difficult for the CPU 51 to finds the malfunction of the touch IC 54. The CPU 51 of this embodiment decides the resetting condition not by using the signal from the touch IC 54 but by using the manipulation of the operator so that the CPU 51 could start the resetting operation of the touch IC 54 without the complicated program of the CPU 51.

[0074] As the electrostatic capacitance type controller unit 20 of this embodiment has the acceleration sensor 58 the operator's behavior indicating the malfunction of the touch IC 54 could be effectively found.

[0075] Compare to the conditions that the graphical information is changed during the resetting operation and that no graphical information is displayed during the resetting operation, as the graphical information displayed on the display 81 of this embodiment is kept the same image as that displayed before the malfunction, the operator could wait the resetting operation without the bothersome feeling.

[0076] Since the alert indicating the resetting operation for the CPU 51 is displayed on the display 81, since the frequency of the resetting operation for the CPU 51 is substantially small and since the period of the resetting operation for CPU 51 is longer than that of the resetting operation of the touch IC 54, the operator could recognize the resetting operation of the CPU 51 without the bothersome feeling.

[0077] The present disclosure may be modified as follows. The following modifications could be connected each other.

[0078] Any type of the switching element such as a bipolar transistor and/or MOFSET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor) is used for switching the electrical power supply line 61.

[0079] The reset button by which the operator resets the touch IC 54 could be made on the controller unit 20.

[0080] The holder side connector 35 and the unit side connector 25 of the above described embodiment is connected and disconnected in accordance with the position of the controller unit 20. However, the holder side connector 35 and the unit side connector 25 may be switched between the connecting position and disconnecting position by the operator while the controller unit 20 is stayed in the holder 30.

[0081] Though the air conditioning controller 12 of the above described embodiment is a portable, the air conditioning controller could be fixed. The other type such as a resistance membrane type, an optical type or an ultrahigh sonic surface elasticity wave type touch panel 55 than the electrostatic capacitance type touch panel 55 could be used.

[0082] In the case if the operator manipulates the touch icon within a predetermined period after the resetting operation of the touch IC 54 is completed, the CPU 51 may not run the operation within the predetermined period. As described above, and as shown in FIG. 13, since the operator may push the icon many times in a short while (tb4, tb5, and tb7) when the malfunction of the touch panel 55 is occurred, the operator may continuously push the icon even after the resetting operation of the touch IC 54 is completed. In such case, the manipulation of the operator may occur unintentional operation. For example, in the case if the operator continuously pushes DOWN icon 88 after the resetting operation of the touch IC 54 is ended (tb6), the target temperature may be reduced more than the operator's intention.

[0083] As the CPU 51 of this modified embodiment does not run the operation within the predetermined period A (in FIG. 13) when the operator manipulates the touch icon (at tb7) within the predetermined period A after the completing the resetting operation of the touch IC 54 (at tb6), such unintentional operation (at tb7) of the operator could be effectively avoided. The manipulation of the operator after the predetermined period A (at tb8) could run the CPU 51 and reduce the target temperature down to "22".

[0084] In the case if a plurality of operators manipulate the same controller unit 20, the CPU 51 memorizes the operation of each operator in a memory 51A (shown in FIG. 1). As the push strength and/or the push interval are different between the operators, the CPU 51 adjusts the push strength and/or the push interval depend on the operator so that the adjusted conditions of each of the operator could be used.

[0085] As explained above, the operator uses abnormal manipulation when the malfunction of the touch IC 54 is occurred. Such abnormal manipulation includes the long tap, the flick, and the multitaps other than the above described push strength and the push interval. The acceleration sensor 58 could detect these abnormal manipulations of the operator. The CPU 51 starts the resetting operation of the touch IC 54 when the acceleration sensor 58 detects such abnormal operation.

[0086] A pressure sensor may be used for detecting the abnormal manipulation of the operator instead of the acceleration sensor 58. However, a plurality of pressure sensors are required in order to detect the abnormal manipulation precisely so that such detecting system using the plurality of pressure sensors may be complicated. Accordingly, single acceleration sensor 58 is suitable for detecting the abnormal manipulation.

[0087] Though the CPU 51 of the above described embodiment uses both the push pressure and the push interval for deciding the resetting condition of the touch IC 54, either one of the push pressure and the push interval may be used for deciding the resetting condition of the touch IC 54.

[0088] The acceleration sensor 58 may be positioned anywhere in the controller unit 20 including the center of the controller and the corner of the controller 20.

[0089] The information indicating the resetting operation of the touch IC 54 may be displayed on the display 81.

Claims

1. An air conditioning controller, comprising; a display displaying a graphical information. a touch panel positioned on said display and on which an operator touches for controlling an air conditioning unit, a touch IC for detecting a change of a static electricity occurred on said touch panel when the operator manipulates said touch panel, a controlling part sending a commanding order to said air conditioning unit by receiving a signal detected by said touch IC, wherein said controlling part determines whether an IC resetting condition is set by using the operator's manipulation manipulating said touch panel and resets said touch IC when said IC resetting condition is detected while an operation of said air conditioning controller is kept.

2. The air conditioning controller of claim 1, said air conditioning controller further has a detector for detecting a resetting manipulation information caused by the operator's manipulation including at least one of a manipulating strength and a manipulating interval, wherein said controlling part decides a resetting manipulation in accordance with said resetting manipulation information detected by said detector and determines whether or not said IC resetting condition is set by using detected said resetting manipulation.

3. The air conditioning controller of claim 2. said detector locates in said air conditioning controller and has at least one of sensing function of an acceleration sensing for sensing an acceleration of said touch panel and a pressure sensing for sensing a pressure applied on said touch panel, said controlling part determines said IC resetting condition by using at least one information from said acceleration sensing and said pressure sensing.

4. The air conditioning controller of claim 2, said controlling unit stores an information relating to said resetting manipulation of a plurality of operators and a adjusts said resetting condition in accordance with stored said information of each of the operators.

5. The air conditioning controller of claim 1, said controlling part maintains a graphical information displayed on said display while said touch IC is reset.

6. The air conditioning controller of claim 1, said controlling part does not run its operation within a predetermined period when said touch IC detects the operator's operation within the predetermined period after the reset of said touch IC is completed.

7. The air conditioning controller of claim 1, said controlling part further detects a CPU resetting condition and resets said controlling part when said CPU resetting condition is detected, wherein said controlling part memorizes a number of said IC resetting condition, decides whether or not said CPU resetting condition is detected by using the number of said IC resetting condition, and resets said controlling part when said CPU resetting condition is detected.

8. The air conditioning controller of claim 6, said controlling part does not indicate said IC resetting condition while said touch IC is reset but indicates said CPU resetting condition while said controlling part is reset.

9. The air conditioning controller of claim 6, a period for resetting said touch IC is shorter than a period for resetting said controlling part.

10. An air conditioning controller, comprising; a display displaying a graphical information. a touch panel positioned on said display and on which an operator touches for controlling an air conditioning unit, a touch IC for detecting a change of a static electricity occurred on said touch panel when the operator manipulates said touch panel, a controlling part sending a commanding order to said air conditioning unit by receiving a signal detected by said touch IC, wherein said controlling part detects an IC resetting condition by using at least one of an acceleration information of said touch panel and a pressure information applied on said touch panel and resets said touch IC when said IC resetting condition is detected while an operation of said air conditioning controller is kept.

11. The air conditioner, comprising; an air conditioning controller of claim 10, an air conditioning unit for operating an air conditioning operation by receiving a commanding order from said air conditioning controller.