JP2010161828A - Power control system and method, and program for controlling power control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem met when an apparatus is operated: in case power has been used to the level at which a circuit breaker trips, an apparatus a user desired to use cannot be used unless he/she consciously performs operation to reduce the power of the other apparatuses in operation to increase the amount of available power. <P>SOLUTION: A power controller 3 includes a priority setting unit 16 with which the use priorities of household electrical appliances wirelessly or wiredly connected or adaptors connected to the household electrical appliances can be set. The household electrical appliances or the adaptors connected to the household electrical appliances operate within an available power range acquired as the result of an inquiry to the power controller 3. When the available power range is lower than required power about which an inquiry is made, the power controller 3 reduces the power of apparatuses whose priorities are lower than that of the inquiring apparatus to use the apparatus of the higher priority. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power control system that controls devices in order to prevent a device in use from being shut down by operating a current limiter of a home power trunk line, a control method for the power control system, and a program Is.

  Conventionally, as this type of power control system, for example, when a device is in use, a breaker device is used for permission to use, the breaker device makes a permission decision, and the device is operated within the power permitted by the breaker device. There are some (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a conventional power control system described in Patent Document 1, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the device.

  In FIG. 7, the power line network includes a breaker device 101, a power line 102, outlets 103 </ b> A to 103 </ b> D, electric devices 104 to 106, and a power supply line 107.

  With the above configuration, in the operation of FIG. 8, it is assumed that the control unit of the electric devices 104 to 106 detects a trigger due to power consumption of a certain value (S101). For example, for an iron, the power is turned on or the set temperature rises. For an air conditioner, the power is turned on or the set temperature is changed. For a microwave, the power is turned on, or internal microwaves are emitted. This is a phenomenon such as a start, and the control unit detects a power consumption value (P) required for this (S102).

  Next, a power usage request message is generated, the fact that it is a power usage request message is written as a control code, and a value of P is written as the required power amount (S103).

  Next, the device moves to the device side, and the devices 104 to 106 that have received the use permission message including the permitted use power amount A see the value of the permitted use power amount in the use permission message and operate the device with this value. It is determined whether or not there is any meaning (S104 to S107). If this power value is a value as requested, power consumption is started with the power consumption (P) without any problem (S108). Even if the permitted power consumption (A) is less than the requested value (P), if it is determined that the power consumption at this value is meaningful, the power consumption at the power value (A) Is started (S109). If it is determined that the power consumption at this value is meaningless, the power consumption is stopped (S110).

In this way, in the power supply network, it is possible to control the amount of power to be supplied to be equal to or less than a predetermined amount and efficiently distribute power.
JP-A-10-94199

  However, in the conventional power control system, when the device receives a message indicating that the use is not permitted, an inquiry is made again as to whether or not the device can be used. In addition, if usage is not permitted, the power to be monitored by the breaker device will decrease, or the user himself / herself consciously reduces the power of other devices in use, increasing the amount of power that can be used Otherwise, you can't use the equipment you want to use.

  The present invention is a configuration in which the power control device is provided with a priority setting unit that can set the use priority of a home appliance connected wirelessly or by wire or an adapter connected to the home appliance, and inquires about whether it can be used or not. Depending on the result, the home appliance or the adapter connected to the home appliance operates within the available power of the inquiry result so that the responsiveness of the user's operation can be operated quickly, and further the inquiry is necessary. When the available power is lower than the power, the device with higher priority can be used by instructing to reduce the power of the device with lower priority than the inquired device. An object of the present invention is to provide a power control system for preventing interruption, a control method for the power control system, and a program.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, in a power control system comprising a home appliance connected via a wired or wireless communication network unit or an adapter connected between a commercial power source and a home appliance and a power control device, The home appliance and the adapter include a power detection unit that measures or grasps the power consumption of the home appliance or a device connected to the adapter, and the power control device uses a current of one or more electrical systems of the commercial power supply. A current detection unit to detect, a voltage detection unit to detect the voltage of a commercial power supply, a power calculation unit to calculate power from detection information of the current detection unit and the voltage detection unit, and a home appliance or a commercial power source and a home appliance A transmission / reception unit that communicates with an adapter connected in between, an upper limit setting unit that sets an upper limit value of a current flowing in the current detection unit, and an electric device or the adapter Power for outputting a power control instruction to a warning notification or a home appliance or the adapter when the current flowing in the current detection unit detects a current value greater than or equal to the current value set in the upper limit setting unit. Provided with a control instruction unit, when operating the home appliance or the device connected to the adapter, the power control device is inquired whether it can be used, and connected to the home appliance or the adapter according to the inquiry result The power control device has a lower priority set by the priority setting unit than the inquiring device, if necessary, based on the inquiry content and the detection information of the current detection unit. A power control system that outputs a power control instruction to a device.

  A power control system, a power control system control method, and a program according to the present invention include: a priority setting unit that allows a power control device to set a use priority of a home appliance connected wirelessly or by wire or an adapter connected to a home appliance If the power control device sets the setting value of the upper limit setting unit to the rated value for breaker shut-off, the home appliance (including the home appliance connected to the adapter) is operated and the device is scheduled to be used. If there is no margin in the current detected by the current detection unit, it is possible to prevent the breaker from shutting down by suppressing the power of the lower priority device than the operated device, Equipment can be operated by efficiently utilizing the rated current capacity. In addition, the power control device side does not need to be aware of the setting state such as the operation mode of the operated device and the power consumption state, and only transmits information such as usable power to the device, and the device side is complicated. Even if control processing is not performed, it is only necessary to suppress operation and power according to the received request information. Therefore, a complicated information processing function is not required, and a system can be constructed at low cost.

1st invention is the electric power control system comprised by the household appliances connected via the wired or wireless communication network part or the adapter connected between a commercial power supply and household appliances, and an electric power control apparatus, The said household appliances and the said The adapter includes a power detection unit that measures or grasps power consumption of a home appliance or a device connected to the adapter, and the power control device detects current of one or more electrical systems of the commercial power source. A power detector that detects the voltage of the power source, a voltage detector that detects the voltage of the commercial power source, a power calculator that calculates power from the detection information of the current detector and the voltage detector, and the home appliance or the commercial power source and the home appliance A transmission / reception unit that communicates with the adapter, an upper limit setting unit that sets an upper limit value of the current flowing through the current detection unit, and a usage priority of the electric device or the adapter. A priority setting unit, and a power control instruction unit that outputs a power control instruction to the alarm notification or home appliance or the adapter when the current flowing in the current detection unit detects a current value greater than or equal to the current value set in the upper limit setting unit; When the home appliance or the device connected to the adapter is operated, the power control device is inquired about whether it can be used, and the operation of the home appliance or the device connected to the adapter is determined according to the inquiry result. The power control device performs power control on a device having a lower priority set by the priority setting unit than the device that has made the inquiry, as necessary based on the inquiry content and the detection information of the current detection unit. This is a power control system that outputs instructions, and if the power control device sets the setting value of the upper limit setting unit to the rated value for breaker shutoff, If you have received information on the required power that is scheduled to be used from the device, and there is no room for the current detected by the current detector, the power control of the device with lower priority than the operated device By performing the above, it is possible to prevent the breaker from being interrupted, and it is possible to operate the equipment by efficiently utilizing the rated current capacity. In addition, the power control device side does not need to be aware of the setting state such as the operation mode on the device side or the power consumption state, and simply sends information such as usable power to the device, and the device side performs complicated control. Even if processing is not performed, it is only necessary to suppress operation and power according to the received request information, so that a complicated information processing function is not required, so that a system can be constructed at low cost.

  The second aspect of the invention is particularly based on the operation of the power control device of the first aspect of the invention by transition to a mode in which the power consumption of the device does not increase due to the operation content of the appliance connected to the home appliance or the adapter. For example, the operation of the appliance connected to the home appliance or the adapter is controlled by an instruction according to the operation without making an inquiry to the power control device, and the power control device is always operated every time the device is operated. Therefore, communication traffic can be reduced and power consumption can be reduced by reducing communication traffic.

  In particular, the third aspect of the invention relates to the power control device according to the first or second aspect, in which when the home appliance or the device connected to the adapter is operated, the power control device is inquired about whether it can be used. Is a necessary required power value, and the result of the inquiry is information including a usable power value that can be used. The power control device is a device connected to the home appliance or the adapter. Even if you do not know what type of device, you can control the home appliance or adapter to operate within the usable power value of the inquiry result by including the usable power value in the inquiry result Therefore, transmission / reception and processing of complicated information are unnecessary.

  The fourth invention is characterized in that, in particular, in the power control apparatus of the third invention, one of the household appliances is an IH cooking heater, and the priority of the IH cooking heater is set high. Then, the user does not have to worry about the breaker blocking when cooking as a food preparation.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the power control apparatus of the fourth aspect of the invention, when the IH cooking heater performs an operation for shifting to a mode for increasing the output power, the power control apparatus is inquired with information including necessary power. When the power control device predicts that a current exceeding the upper limit set by the upper limit setting unit flows by adding the required power in the current state, the power control device supplies power to a device having a lower priority than the IH cooking heater. The IH cooking heater can be used as much as possible by trying to secure the necessary power by performing suppression control. When the priority of the IH cooking heater is increased, a device with a lower priority can be obtained by operating the IH cooking heater. In order to be able to use the IH cooking heater with power suppression control, the user can cook as a meal preparation Or wait until the total power used in the home is reduced, it may not go to stop the large equipment of the power used by the user himself.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the power control apparatus of the fifth aspect of the invention, the IH cooking heater controls a device having a lower priority than the IH cooking heater, and the required power cannot be secured. The apparatus output power determining unit that determines to operate in a mode within the usable power of the inquiry result is provided. For example, the output level of heating in 10 stages (maximum output = 10) can be set by the user. Can be set, even if the required power when the user performs level 10 operation cannot be secured, if it can be used at level 9, it can be operated at the level 9 output so that it can be operated at the level 9 output. Because the heating level can be determined and output by using the IH cooking heater, cooking is possible even with low power unlike the ON / OFF control. Water heating, frying, etc. can be started, and the user can wait until the total electric power consumption in the home is reduced to prepare for meal preparation, or can the user himself stop the equipment that uses large electric power By setting the priority of the IH cooking heater high, it is possible to use the IH cooking heater as much as possible by controlling the power of a low priority device by operating the IH cooking heater.

  In a seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, in the power control apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, when the appliance connected to the home appliance or the adapter is an air conditioner, a power reduction is requested from the power control apparatus. In this case, the operation state is instructed to change to the air blowing mode, and the power consumption of the air conditioner is stopped because the air conditioner compressor is stopped by setting the air blowing mode instead of stopping the air conditioner. Furthermore, since the user operates in the air blowing mode even when looking at the air conditioner, there is no misunderstanding that the air conditioner is stopped, so there is no worry of forgetting to turn on the air conditioner.

  According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the power control apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, at least one of the devices configured by the power control system is collected in the power control system. It is characterized by having a display means for displaying information such as the power consumption of the device, and current that exceeds the upper limit set by the upper limit setting section flows or power consumption of devices with lower priority is suppressed. In such a case, by notifying through the display means, the user can see the display means and grasp the contents of the control, knowing that the home appliances are operating differently, and providing peace of mind. .

  In the ninth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the power control systems according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, at least one or more of the devices configured includes a Web server, and includes a personal computer or a TV including a Web browser. It is characterized by displaying information such as power consumption collected by a device equipped with a web server via a network using a web browser as a display unit from the device. Home appliances, adapters, and power control devices Since it is not necessary to mount a display device such as a liquid crystal display, it can be constructed at low cost.

  A tenth aspect of the invention is a control method of a power control system configured by a home appliance or a power supply device connected to a home appliance or a commercial power source connected via a communication network unit, and the home appliance or the adapter , Available power inquiry transmission procedure for inquiring with the information including necessary power to the power control device when an operation to shift to the mode in which the output power of the home appliance increases is performed, and inquiry result reception for receiving the inquiry result It is a home appliance or adapter control method that consists of a procedure and an operation control procedure that controls the operation according to the inquiry result, and it is only necessary to operate according to the inquiry result to the power control device. Even if control processing is not performed, it is only necessary to suppress driving and power according to the received information, so complicated information processing functions are not possible. Such order can be constructed at a low cost system.

In an eleventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a control method for a power control system including a home appliance connected via a communication network unit or an adapter connected between a commercial power source and the home appliance and a power control device, wherein the home appliance is an IH cooking heater. In the case of the above, the IH cooking heater receives an available power inquiry transmission procedure for making an inquiry with information including necessary power to the power control device and an inquiry result when an operation for changing to a mode in which the output power increases is performed. This is an IH cooking heater control method comprising an inquiry result reception procedure and a device output power determination procedure for determining operation in a mode within the usable power of the inquiry result when the required power cannot be secured as a result of the inquiry. For example, the user sets the output level of heating in 10 steps (maximum output = 10). If possible, even if the required power when the user operates level 10 cannot be secured, if the user can use level 9, if the user can operate with level 9 output, the user can prepare food. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait until the total power consumption in the home is reduced or to stop a device that uses a large amount of power by itself.

  A twelfth aspect of the invention is a control method for a power control system including a home appliance connected via a communication network unit or an adapter connected between a commercial power source and the home appliance and a power control device. Priority setting procedure for setting the usage priority of the device or adapter, required power receiving procedure for receiving the required power from the home appliance or adapter, and the upper limit power set from the power value currently measured when the required power is received The marginal power value calculation procedure for calculating the marginal power value from the value, the usable power response procedure for responding to the home appliance or adapter with the calculated marginal power value as the usable power value, and the usable power value from the required power value When the power is small, an instruction to reduce the power is output to a household appliance or a device having a lower priority than the adapter that transmitted the necessary power. A control method of a power control device comprising a power reduction request procedure, by outputting an instruction for controlling the home appliance and the adapter by the priority, it is possible to use a power limited within the home efficiently.

  A thirteenth invention is a program for causing a computer to realize at least part of the functions of the power control system according to any one of the first to ninth inventions. And since it is a program, at least one part of the refrigerator or refrigerator system of this invention can be easily implement | achieved by cooperating hard resources, such as an electrical / information apparatus, a computer, and a server. Also, program distribution and installation can be simplified by recording on a recording medium or distributing a program using a communication line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a power control system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a power control device and an IH cooking heater of the power control system, and FIG. 3 is an adapter connected to the power control device of the power control system and an air conditioner. FIG.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, the current clamp 2 is sandwiched between the power lines on the input side of the distribution board 1 that draws the single-phase three-wire type 200V into the home, and the input currents L1 and L2 are supplied to the power control device 3. Measure with

  Also, on the output line of the distribution board, IH cooking heater 4 as AC200V system, AC5V system, one adapter 5a connected to air conditioner 7a in L1 phase, one dryer 8 and air conditioner 7b connected to L2 phase It is assumed that one adapter 5b is connected, and the device unit 9 and the television 10 are connected. The power control device 3, the IH cooking heater 4, and the adapters 5a and 5b incorporate a wireless communication device 6 and can transmit information. As a wireless communication method, communication is performed using a specific low-power wireless and a transmission frequency of 400 MHz band.

  The device unit 9 includes the wireless communication device 6 and can intercept wireless communication data transmitted in a space within the same system, and can collect information on each device. In addition, this is a unit that can be built at low cost because it has a Web server installed therein as software and does not have display means for displaying characters and images.

  The device unit 9 and the television 10 are connected via a hub 101 with a general-purpose network. The television 10 is provided with a web browser, and the device unit 9 is displayed on the screen using a web browser of a device having a web client function such as the television 10 or a personal computer (not shown) via a general-purpose network. You can browse the information collected in.

  The general-purpose network is not particularly specified physically, and may be anything as long as it is a network network that can transmit and receive using the HTTP protocol.

  The television can be connected to the Internet via the modem / router 102.

  In an actual home, many other devices are connected. However, in order to simplify the description, the configuration will be described below.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the power control device 3 and the IH cooking heater 4 of the power control system. The power control device 3 measures the current flowing through the L1-phase power system line of the single-phase three-wire system 200V. There are an L2 current detector 11b that measures the current flowing through the power supply system line of the unit 11a and the L2 phase, and a voltage detector 12 that measures the voltage of the L1 phase or the L2 phase, and the L1 current detector 11a and the L2 current detector 11b. Based on the current value and the voltage value measured by the voltage detection unit 12, the power calculation unit 13 calculates the power value. In addition, the power calculates the L1 phase input power value, the L2 phase input power value, the L1 and L2 phase input power values, and the like.

  The control unit 14 performs arithmetic processing on the input information and data, and generates and sends out control signals and data.

  The current upper limit setting unit 15 sets an upper limit value of the current value flowing in the L1 phase and the L2 phase. The upper limit value is set in advance as an initial value, and if a change is necessary, an input means such as a switch or an external terminal may be attached so that it can be set from a dedicated terminal or a personal computer. In this embodiment, the initial value = 30 A is used.

  The priority setting unit 16 determines the use priority of the device. For example, the priority is set by the user by providing a dip switch on the device side, and when the device is turned on or the setting is switched, the priority information is transmitted to the power control device 3 to control the power. The device 3 receives the priority information from the device, sets and grasps the priority of the device by the priority setting unit 16, and updates the priority information of the data managed by the management unit 18. As another method, the priority setting screen is displayed on the TV screen using the device unit 9 and the TV 10, and the priority of the device connected using the TV remote control is displayed on the TV screen. The user may be able to set freely.

  The power control instruction unit 17 outputs a reduction request to the device or adapter when it is necessary to reduce the power of the device. The device to be reduced or the amount of power to be reduced by the reduction request is determined by using the content of the inquiry by operating the device, the amount of power calculated by the power calculation unit 13 and the data of the management unit 18.

The management unit 18 manages setting values and states such as the above-described priority information, device power consumption information, and device power suppression control state as data, and information other than the device power consumption information is EEPRO.
The data is stored in a non-volatile memory such as M so that the data is not erased even when the power is cut off.

  The usable power determination unit 19 calculates the difference between the current values measured by the L1 current detection unit 11a and the L2 current detection unit 11b from the current upper limit value set by the current upper limit value setting unit 15, The available power value based on the difference is transmitted to the device whose power is suppressed. That is, when the device side receives the usable power value, it means that the power can be further used if the power is within the usable power value.

  When the current value measured by the L1 current detection unit 11a or the L2 current detection unit 11b exceeds the current upper limit value set by the current upper limit value setting unit 15, the reduction power request unit 20 causes the breaker of the distribution board to drop. Since there is a possibility, a reduction power request is transmitted with the excess amount as a reduction power value so as to reduce the power consumption to the device side. That is, when the device side receives the reduced power request, it reduces the power used.

  The transmission / reception unit 21 transmits / receives data via the communication network unit 10 that performs wireless communication.

  The IH cooking heater 4 uses the functions of three IH coils and one grill. On the IH coil, “heating”, “fried food”, “heating cooking”, which can be set at 10 output levels, Functions such as “hot water” can be selected and used by the user. In addition, the grill is controlled by a heater, and cooking modes based on several kinds of sequence patterns such as “fish grill” can be selected. The principle of heating the IH cooking heater is well known and will not be described and illustrated.

  The IH cooking heater 4 includes a current detection unit 31 that measures a current flowing through a 200 V single-phase power system line and a voltage detection unit 32 that measures a voltage. The current value measured by the current detection unit 31 and the voltage detection unit 32 Based on the voltage value, the power calculation unit 33 calculates the power usage value of the IH cooking heater 4.

  The control unit 34 performs arithmetic processing on the input information and data, and generates and sends out control signals and data.

  The operation unit 35 includes switches such as buttons for selecting functions such as “heating”, “fried food”, “heating cooking”, and “hot water” in each IH coil and grill of the IH cooking heater.

  The switch of the operation unit 35 may be an electrostatic switch, a tact switch, a touch panel, or the like. Further, the display unit 36 displays the mode display of the function selected by the operation unit 35, the operation state during the driving operation, and the like on the LED and the liquid crystal panel.

  The mode power conversion table 37 is a table for converting the mode of each IH coil or grill and necessary power (detailed description will be described later, but FIG. 6 shows a table example).

  The required power transmission unit 38 inquires the power control device 3 about the required power by referring to the mode power conversion table for the contents operated by the user.

The device output power determination unit 39 uses the mode conversion table 37 to determine the maximum power mode within the usable power value from the result of receiving the usable power value of the inquiry result, and controls the control unit 34. The IH coil and the heater are controlled so as to operate in the mode determined by the IHCH control unit 40.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an adapter connected to the power control device of the power control system and the air conditioner. Since the power control device 3 is the same as that in FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  The adapter 4 gives the same number to the part having the same function as the IH cooking heater 4 of FIG.

  The remote control transmission unit 41 transmits a remote control signal from the remote control light emitting element, and can transmit an operation mode such as cooling or heating of the air conditioner 7a, temperature, air volume, and the like as a remote control signal.

  The remote control receiving unit 42 receives a remote control signal from the remote control light receiving element, intercepts the remote control signal transmitted when operated by the remote control attached to the air conditioner, and stores the remote control signal data. The stored remote control signal data generates a stored remote control signal and transmits the remote control signal to the air conditioner when canceling the power suppression state.

  The air conditioner power suppression control unit 43 outputs a remote control signal for suppressing power from the remote control transmission unit 41 to the air conditioner when receiving information on reduced power or usable power from the power control device 3 and power suppression is necessary. Specifically, the operation mode is changed to “blower mode”. The advantages of using the "air blowing mode" are that the air conditioner compressor is stopped, so that the power consumption of the air conditioner can be reduced to several tens of watts, and that the air is blown even when the user looks at the indoor unit of the air conditioner. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to install the air conditioner because there is no misunderstanding that the air conditioner has been stopped.

  Further, the adapter 4 is provided with a power plug 44 and an outlet 45. The power plug 44 is plugged into a household outlet, and the air conditioner is plugged into the outlet 45 so that the power consumption of the air conditioner can be grasped. it can.

  Next, the operation of the power control system of the present invention will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5 and the data tables of FIGS.

  FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the operation of the IH cooking heater when the IH cooking heater of the power control system is operated, and FIG. 4B is the power when an inquiry is received from the IH cooking heater when the IH cooking heater is operated. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power control device side of the control system, FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing the operation of the power reduction processing of the power control device, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement when receiving. The device side refers to the adapters 5a and 5b to which the IH cooking heater 4 and the air conditioner are connected. FIG. 6 is an example of a table for converting the operation mode of each IH coil and grill of the IH cooking heater and the necessary power. FIG. 7 is an example of a table managed by the management unit of the power control apparatus.

  Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6, and 7. FIG.

  In FIG. 4 (a), when the IH cooking heater 4 is operated to shift to a mode in which the heating level increases (S11), the required power A is calculated (S12). The required power A holds a table relating to the mode and power consumption as shown in FIG. 6 in advance, and handles the difference value of the power as the required power compared to the current mode for the operated mode.

  For example, if the user performs an operation to increase the heating level to level 7 while the IH cooking heater is operating with left IH heating at level 5, a difference value 700 W from level 7 (1600 W) to level 5 (900 W) is obtained from FIG. The required power A is assumed. When this difference value is smaller than 0, the output power is reduced, so that the operation is performed with the required power A without making an inquiry to the power control device 3 (S17).

  In other words, when an operation for changing to a mode in which the heating level does not increase is performed (S11), the power control device 3 is operated with the required power A without inquiring of the power control device 3 (S17). Eliminate unnecessary communication.

  Returning to (S12), after calculating the required power A, it transmits to inquire the power control device 3 that it is desired to use the required power A (S13). When the available power B is received from the power control device 3 as a result of the inquiry (S14), the required power A is compared with the available power B. If the required power A is smaller (S15), the mode power conversion table 37 is stored. The mode to be output with reference is determined (S16), and the determined power value is transmitted to the power control apparatus 3 as the use determined power C (S18).

  As a method for determining the mode, if the content of the “manual setting” shown in FIG. 6 is used, if the available power is smaller than the required power, the mode that has been downgraded is selected and “automatic cooking” is performed. If the content of the product is controlled so that the peak power consumption will operate below the available power, or if the output power is changed, such as “cooking rice,” automatic cooking will not be possible. Do not let it start. As an example, when the heating level is raised from the previous level 5 to level 7 and the available power is 500 W, the current mode can be used up to 1400 W by adding 500 W from level 5 (900 W). Yes, it will be operated at the maximum level 6 of 1400W or less. Of course, since the user does not operate at the level operated by the user, when operating in a mode other than the operation instruction, it is desirable to reflect the display on the display unit 36 or to notify with a buzzer or the like.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the required power A is received from the IH cooking heater 4 (S21), the power control device 3 processes the current detected by the L1 current detector 11a and the L2 current detector 11b. The difference from the current value (30A in the present embodiment) set by the current upper limit setting unit 15 is calculated from the sum of the values, and the margin power from the rated current value is converted into power to calculate the margin power D ( S22).

  If the marginal power D is smaller than the received required power A (S23), if the IH cooking heater operates at the required power A, the rated current may be exceeded and the breaker may be shut off, giving priority to the IH cooking heater. A reducible power E that can be reduced by a low-frequency device is calculated (S24).

  For example, FIG. 7 means that when there are two air conditioners as lower priority than the IH cooking heater, the air conditioner 1 is 600 W and the air conditioner 2 is 500 W. The operating status of the air conditioner can be notified by, for example, notifying the power control device when the power consumption changes from the air conditioner side by 100 W or more, or by periodically polling each device by the power control device such as every minute. Know the power consumption. Note that the two air conditioners in FIG. 7 are each connected to an adapter, and the operation of the air conditioner can be controlled from the remote control transmitter 41 of the adapter.

In the case of the air conditioner connected to the adapter as described above, when the power is reduced, the operation mode is set to the “air blowing” mode, so that 20 W of used power is used. Therefore,
If the power of two air conditioners with low priority is suppressed, a maximum of 1060 W can be reduced.

  That is, the marginal power A and the power that can be reduced from the low priority device are added, and the low priority device is searched until the necessary power or more is secured.

  As a result, usable power (D + E = B) is calculated as margin power D + reducible power E (S25), and usable power B is transmitted to the IH cooking heater (S26).

  When the surplus power D is smaller than the required power A, it is necessary to reduce the power of the device having a lower priority than the IH cooking heater (S27), and thus a power reduction process is performed (S28).

  Detailed processing of the power reduction processing is shown in FIG. 5A, and the operation will be described below with reference to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B which is processing on the adapter side.

  When it is necessary to reduce the power, a sound or display informs that the power reduction process is performed (S31). Although not shown in the figure, it is assumed that the power control device 3 is equipped with a notification means such as an LED or a buzzer that can be configured at low cost.

  In addition to the power control apparatus, if the configuration is shown in FIG. 1, a notification instruction may be output wirelessly to the device unit 9 so that the notification content can be confirmed on the television 10.

  After the notification, a control target device selection process (S32) is performed.

  Here, the control target device is a device capable of power suppression control equipped with a wireless communication device. As shown in FIG. 6, the management unit 18 manages the priority and the power consumption state of the device. In the table data, the device is searched for devices using 100 W or more and in the order of low priority (in the order of high priority values in FIG. 6). A “reduced power request” is transmitted to the device via the communication network unit 50 (S34).

  On the other hand, upon receiving the “reduced power request” (S41), the device side calculates the power that can be reduced (S42), and responds to the power control apparatus 3 with the power value that can be reduced (S43). If it can be reduced (S44), a power suppression instruction is output to the device, and the power consumption is suppressed (S45).

  As a specific example, when the air conditioner 1 = 600 W is used and the air conditioner 2 = 500 W is used, and the IH cooking heater is stopped, the user sets the IH cooking heater to the left IH coil level 9 (scheduled to output 2500 W). When the operation in the heating mode is selected and operated, there is a possibility of 3600 W (600 W + 500 W + 2500 W) exceeding 3000 W corresponding to a rating of 30 A. Therefore, it is requested to reduce the excess 600 W from the rating.

  In the case of the adapter to which the air conditioner 2 is connected, since the air conditioner is operating in “operation mode = heating operation (500 W)”, when the “reduced power = 200 W” is received, the adapter transmits the remote control from the air conditioner power suppression control unit 43. An instruction to change to “operation mode = air blowing mode (20 W)” is output to the air conditioner to unit 41, and remote control transmission unit 41 outputs a remote control signal to the air conditioner. Therefore, the reduced power responding from the reduced power response unit 35 is 480 W (500 W before suppression—20 W after suppression).

Returning to the description of the power control device 3, after transmitting a “reduced power request” and receiving a “reducible power” response from the device side (S 35), if the received “reducible power” is 0 W or more, Since the device side performs power suppression control, the power suppression control state of the device received by the table data shown in FIG. 7 is changed and updated from “OFF → ON” (S36).

  Further, when the reducible power received in response is smaller than the reduced power value requested in the reduced power request (S37), since the current upper limit value set by the current upper limit value setting unit 15 is not yet lower, A device to be controlled is searched for a device capable of suppressing power (S32). In the state of FIG. 6, similarly, as the process of performing the power control of the next priority air conditioner 1, the processes of (S33) to (S37) are repeated until the reducible power E is secured.

  By performing such processing, it is possible to prevent the breaker in the home from being blocked, and to make it possible to use a device with a high priority set by the user as much as possible.

  In addition, when the device connected to the adapter is an air conditioner, when the power reduction request is received, the operation mode of the air conditioner is changed to the air blowing mode, and the air conditioner is not stopped, By switching to the air blow mode, the compressor of the air conditioner is stopped, so that the power consumption of the air conditioner can be greatly reduced. In addition, even if the user sees the air conditioner, the air conditioner is operating in the air blow mode. There is no worry about forgetting to install the air conditioner.

  In addition, during power suppression control, if a display unit such as an LED is provided on the power control device and the device or adapter under power suppression control to clearly indicate the display during power suppression control, power is suppressed from the state set by the user. It is possible to notify the user that the device is operating and to display the details on the screen of the television via the device unit.

  In the present embodiment, the device connected to the adapter is described as an air conditioner. However, if the home appliance can be controlled by a remote controller, a mode such as “operation mode = air blowing mode” that can significantly reduce power consumption or It can control by the same method by controlling to a stop state.

  In addition, if it is a device that does not support remote control, such as home appliances such as jar pots and electric heaters, a power control device can be used to provide a power suppression instruction if the adapter is equipped with a function that can shut off the power with a relay or semiconductor switch. In the case of receiving from 3, a method of cutting off the power and reducing the power may be used.

  In the present embodiment, data is transmitted and received by the specific low-power wireless communication that does not require wiring as the communication network unit 50. However, power line communication or wired connection may be used.

  Further, in FIG. 5A of the present embodiment, in order to secure the reducible power E, the processing for transmitting the power reduction request one by one in the order of low priority is performed. Since the amount is known, communication traffic can be further reduced and responsiveness can be improved by including multiple device ID information that can uniquely identify the device to be reduced and power information to be reduced for each device in one transmission message. It is possible to increase.

  In the present embodiment, the operation when the IH cooking heater with the highest priority is operated has been described. However, there may be two IH cooking heaters, and the air conditioner is set with a higher priority. But of course.

In this embodiment, an adapter is connected to an air conditioner and a power suppression instruction is issued from the power control device to the adapter. However, a wireless communication device is mounted on the air conditioner body, and the power control device directly transmits data to the air conditioner. May be transmitted and received. In addition, if the power suppression control function is installed in the air conditioner body, for example, if the reduced power value as requested by the power reduction device can be reduced by changing the operation, such as lowering the rotation speed of the compressor, More limited power can be used more efficiently.

  In addition, all of this embodiment can be configured in the same manner as a program for causing a computer to function as all or part of the means of the power control system.

  Note that the means and units described in this embodiment cooperate with hardware resources such as a CPU (or microcomputer), RAM, ROM, storage / recording device, electrical / information equipment including I / O, a computer, a server, and the like. You may implement in the form of the program to work. In the form of a program, new functions can be easily distributed / updated and installed by recording them on a recording medium such as magnetic media or optical media or distributing them via a communication line such as the Internet.

  As described above, the power control system, the power control system control method, and the program according to the present invention can be applied to a small-scale system in a home or a large-scale system other than a home. If it is desired to set the current upper limit value, the same method can be applied.

System configuration diagram of power control system of the present invention Block diagram of power control device and IH cooking heater of power control system Block diagram of adapter connected to power control device and air conditioner of power control system (A) Flow chart showing the operation of the IH cooking heater when the IH cooking heater of the power control system is operated (b) Flow chart showing the operation of the power control system side of the power control system when receiving an inquiry from the IH cooking heater (A) Flow chart showing operation of power reduction processing of power control device (b) Flow chart showing operation when adapter connected to air conditioner receives reduction power request The figure which shows the table converted into operation mode and required electric power, such as each IH coil of a IH cooking heater, and a grill. The figure which shows the table managed by the management part of an electric power control apparatus Configuration diagram of conventional power control system Flow chart showing processing operation of a device of a conventional power control system

3 Power Control Device 4 IH Cooking Heater 5a, 5b Adapter 6 Wireless Communication Device 11a L1 Current Detection Unit (Current Detection Unit)
11b L2 current detector (current detector)
12 voltage detection unit 13 power calculation unit 15 current upper limit value setting unit (upper limit setting unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 Priority setting part 17 Power control instruction | indication part 18 Management part 19 Usable power determination part 20 Reduction power request part 21 Transmission / reception part 35 Operation part 37 Mode power conversion table 38 Required power request | requirement part 39 Equipment output power determination part 40 IHCH control part 41 Remote control transmission unit 42 Remote control reception unit 43 Air conditioner power suppression control unit (equipment power suppression control unit)
50 Communication network section

Claims (13)

In a power control system comprising a home appliance connected via a wired or wireless communication network unit or an adapter connected between a commercial power source and the home appliance and a power control device, the home appliance and the adapter are:
A power detection unit that measures or grasps the power consumption of a home appliance or a device connected to the adapter,
The power control device
A current detection unit for detecting a current of one or more electrical systems of the commercial power source;
A voltage detector for detecting the voltage of the commercial power supply;
A power calculator that calculates power from detection information of the current detector and the voltage detector;
A transmission / reception unit that communicates with a home appliance or an adapter connected between a commercial power source and the home appliance;
An upper limit setting unit for setting an upper limit value of the current flowing in the current detection unit;
A priority setting unit for setting the use priority of the electric device or the adapter;
When the current flowing in the current detection unit detects a current value set by the upper limit setting unit or more, a warning control or a power control instruction unit that outputs a power control instruction to the home appliance or the adapter,
When the home appliance or the device connected to the adapter is operated, an inquiry is made to the power control device whether it can be used, and the operation of the appliance connected to the home appliance or the adapter is determined according to the result of the inquiry. Control
The power control device uses the power control instruction unit for a device having a lower priority set by the priority setting unit than the device that has made the inquiry, if necessary based on the inquiry content and the detection information of the current detection unit. A power control system that outputs a power control instruction. If the operation content of the home appliance or the device connected to the adapter is based on an operation due to a transition to a mode in which the power consumption of the device does not increase, an instruction according to the operation is made without inquiring to the power control device whether it is usable The power control system according to claim 1, wherein operation of the appliance connected to the home appliance or the adapter is controlled. When operating the home appliance or the device connected to the adapter, the content for inquiring to the power control device whether it can be used is the necessary required power value, and the available power value is used as the result of the inquiry. The power control system according to claim 1, wherein the information includes information. The power control system according to claim 3, wherein one of the home appliances is an IH cooking heater. When the IH cooking heater performs an operation for shifting to a mode for increasing the output power, the power control device inquires with information including the required power, and the power control device adds the required power in the current state and adds the upper limit. If it is predicted that a current exceeding the upper limit set by the setting unit will flow, an attempt is made to secure necessary power by performing control to suppress power to a device having a lower priority than the IH cooking heater, and as much as possible The power control system according to claim 4, wherein an IH cooking heater can be used. The IH cooking heater is a device that determines that the power control device controls a device having a lower priority than the IH cooking heater and operates in a mode within the available power of the inquiry result when necessary power cannot be secured. The power control system according to claim 5, further comprising an output power determination unit. When the appliance connected to the home appliance or the adapter is an air conditioner, the power control device instructs to change the operation state to a blower mode when requested to reduce power. The power control system according to any one of? 6. The at least 1 or more apparatus of the apparatus comprised by the power control system of any one of Claims 1-7 is a display means to display information, such as the electric power used of the apparatus collected in the said power control system. The power control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: At least one of the devices configured by the power control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 includes a Web server, and is used as a display unit from a device such as a personal computer or a TV including a Web browser. The power control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein information such as used power collected by a device including a Web server is displayed via a network using a Web browser. In a control method of a power control system configured with a home appliance connected via a communication network unit or an adapter and a power controller connected between a commercial power source and a home appliance,
The home appliance or adapter is
In the case of performing an operation of shifting to a mode in which the output power of the home appliance increases, an available power inquiry transmission procedure for making an inquiry with information including necessary power to the power control device, and an inquiry result reception procedure for receiving the inquiry result And a home appliance or adapter control method comprising an operation control procedure for controlling the operation according to the inquiry result. In a control method of a power control system configured with a home appliance connected via a communication network unit or an adapter connected between a commercial power source and a home appliance and a power control device, when the home appliance is an IH cooking heater,
When the IH cooking heater performs an operation of shifting to a mode in which the output power increases, an available power inquiry transmission procedure for making an inquiry with information including necessary power to the power control apparatus, and an inquiry result reception for receiving the inquiry result A control method for an IH cooking heater comprising a procedure and a device output power determination procedure for determining operation in a mode within usable power of the inquiry result when the required power cannot be secured as a result of the inquiry. In a control method of a power control system configured with a home appliance connected via a communication network unit or an adapter and a power controller connected between a commercial power source and a home appliance,
The power control device
Priority setting procedure to set the usage priority of home appliances or adapters,
A necessary power receiving procedure for receiving necessary power from the home appliance or adapter, and a margin power value calculating procedure for calculating a margin power value from an upper limit power value set from a power value currently measured when the necessary power is received; Usable power response procedure for responding to the home appliance or adapter with the calculated marginal power value as the usable power value, and when the usable power value is smaller than the required power value, the home appliance or adapter that transmitted the required power A control method for a power control apparatus, comprising: a power reduction request procedure for outputting an instruction to reduce power to a low-priority device. The program for implement | achieving at least one part of the power control system of any one of Claims 1-7 with a computer.

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