JP3135971B2 - Electronic time switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic time switch for controlling the operation of a load in accordance with a preset load control date / time and control state program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an electronic time switch,
When confirming the set program, the current date and time measured by the clock means built into the time switch is manually changed, and a predetermined output is generated or a predetermined display is generated at the date and time set by the program. It is common to see if it is done.

[0003]

However, if the operation of the program is confirmed by the above-described method, the setting of the time-measuring means will be changed. Therefore, it is necessary to reset the time-measuring means to the current date and time after the confirmation. As a result, there is a problem that the work of confirming the program becomes troublesome. In addition, in the above method, if the program is checked while the load is connected, the load is controlled in accordance with a change in the output. In order to prevent such a danger, it is necessary to perform a program checking operation with the load removed, which also makes the program checking operation troublesome.
Further, when the load control state is set to be duplicated (for example, when the periods during which the load is turned on by a plurality of programs are duplicated), the operation that the load did not predict is performed. However, in the above method, it takes time to find out which program needs to be modified, and in particular, a large number of programs are registered,
When the relationship between the programs is complicated, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time to correct the programs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and to make it possible to confirm a program without changing the date and time being measured by the time measuring means, thereby simplifying the task of confirming the program. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic time switch that can be performed in a short time and that can easily detect an erroneous setting of a program.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program setting means for setting a date and time for controlling a load and a program corresponding to a load control state at each date and time. Storage means for storing a plurality of programs; clock means for measuring the current date and time and determining the current day of the week; and loading when the current date and time matches the date and time of any of the programs stored in the storage means. , A display unit having an area for displaying a date and time and a load control state, an operation unit capable of operating to read a program stored in the storage unit, and a search started by the operation unit. The date and time when the load control status changes after the set date and time and the load control status are displayed in order from the closest to the set date and time It's and a program confirmation means for sequentially displayed on the stage.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, each program is stored in the storage means in a form to which an individual program number is assigned, the display means has an area for displaying the program number, and the program confirmation means comprises It has the function of displaying the program number of the corresponding program on the display means in addition to the load control state.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an operation means capable of operating to read out a program stored in a storage means, and when a search start date and time are set, a load control state changes after the set date and time. A program confirming means for sequentially displaying the date and time and the control state of the load on the display means in order of being closer to the set date and time; and a program is read from the storage means and displayed on the display means. The program can be checked without changing the date and time. As a result, there is no need to perform the operation of adjusting the time of the clock unit again after the operation of confirming the program. In addition, since the checking operation is performed without affecting the output value of the timekeeping means, there is no danger that the load is controlled by the checking operation. Conversely, the load can be controlled according to the program even during the checking. Therefore, there is no need to remove the load while checking the program,
In this sense, the program can be checked easily and in a short time. In addition, when the date and time at which the program search is started is set in the program checking operation, only the date and time after the set date and time when the load control state changes are sequentially displayed together with the load control state. Changes are easy to recognize, and any unexpected behavior can be easily found.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the program number is displayed in addition to the date and time and the load control state during the confirmation of the program. The cause can be easily recognized, and the correction work of the program becomes easy.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 2, an electronic time switch according to this embodiment has an operation means 1 including a program setting means 1a.
And sets a program in which a load control date and time and a load control state at that date and time are set. The set program is stored in the storage means 2 together with a program number for each program. The storage means 2 can store a plurality of programs. On the other hand, the clock means 3 measures the current date and time and obtains the current day of the week. When the date and time of the program stored in the storage means 2 coincides with the current date and time, the control means 4 outputs via the output means 5. Control the load. Here, the control unit 4 is configured using a dedicated microprocessor, and also serves as a program confirmation unit that performs an operation in a “test execution mode” described later. The output means 5 includes a switch element composed of a latching relay inserted between the power supply and the load, and controls the energization state of the load by controlling the switch element to be on / off. Here, by using the latching relay, the energization time to the relay is shortened, which leads to suppression of power consumption. Control means 4
Is connected to the display means 6 so that the present date and time measured by the timekeeping means 3 and the program stored in the storage means 2 can be displayed on the display means 6.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A display 21 as the display means 6 and an operation unit 22 as the operation means 1 including a part of the program setting means 1a are provided at the center of the front surface of the apparatus. A plurality of terminals 23 for connecting the switch element of the output means 5 to a power supply line or a load line are arranged along both upper and lower edges of the front surface of the housing 20. On the front surface of the housing 20, a power indicator lamp L ₁ for indicating power is provided.
~L ₅ is also provided. This embodiment corresponds to a power supply and a load of four circuits.
The energization status of each circuit is also indicated by the energization indicator lamps L _{1 to} L ₅ respectively.
Indicated by

As the display 21, a liquid crystal display, an LED,
A display, a fluorescent display tube, a plasma display, or the like can be used. On the screen of the display unit 21, a date display region D ₁ to display the date in the date, the time display area D ₂ for displaying the time in hours, minutes and seconds, each day of the week and two specific date from Sunday to Saturday (S1, S2, Mo, Tu, We, Th,
Fr, Sa, and a day display area D ₃ for displaying Su) is provided. Of the two circuits, the power supply and the load, the circuits to be controlled are indicated by numbers at the upper left, and the ON / OFF of the load is indicated.
The off state is shown in the middle left. A plurality of symbols SY corresponding to operation modes to be described later are written on the front surface of the housing 20 along the upper edge of the display 21, and a triangular cursor C displayed on the display 21 is indicated by one of the symbols. By moving to the position corresponding to SY, the current operation mode is indicated. The portion showing the seconds of the time display region D ₂ is also used as an area for displaying the program number to be described later.

The operation unit 22 includes a total of nine day designation switches S _{1 to} S ₉ (corresponding to day designation units) corresponding to each day of the week from Sunday to Monday and two specific days, and an operation described later. mode switch s ₁₁ to select the mode, (which corresponds to the date and time specified portion) six of the date and time specified switch s ₁₂ ~S ₁₇ respectively corresponding to the year, month, day, hour, minute, second, used to like call of the program call switch S ₁₈ is provided. Furthermore, four manual switches SW ₁ to S for selecting the state to the on and off independently of the load state and the program for operating the load in accordance with a program set
W ₄ , an interrupt setting switch SW ₅ for selecting whether the load is turned on or off by an external interrupt signal, and a master for setting a master-slave relationship for synchronizing a plurality of units. The slave selection switch SW ₆ is provided with operation selection switches SW _{7 to} SW ₁₀ (the timer operation and the pulse operation will be described later) for selecting whether to operate the timer operation or the pulse operation for each circuit. Manual switch SW ₁ to SW ₄ corresponds to the circuit of the power supply and load. Using a slide switch in the switch SW ₁ to SW _10, it is used push button switches to other switches.

[0013] To specify the mode of operation, press the mode switch S _11. The mode switch S ₁₁ the cursor C is moved to a position corresponding to the symbol SY representing the operation mode each time the button is pressed once, by the cursor C is blink displayed, it is possible to know the operation mode that is currently specified. The operation mode includes a “load control operation mode” for controlling the load L according to a program (left end),
"Current time setting mode" to set the current date and time in
In addition to (second from left), the operation modes for setting the program are “weekly program setting mode” (third from left), “special day setting mode” (fourth from left), and “priority program setting mode” (left Fifth). Also,
There is also a "test execution mode" (sixth from the left) for checking the operation of the set program.

In the "load control operation mode", the storage means 2
The output means 5 according to the program stored in the
Control. The programs stored in the storage means 2 include:
There are three types: First, as shown in FIG.
At the time of turning on the load t_ONAnd turn off the load
OFF time t_OFF, Respectively, as shown in FIG.
So that the on time t_ONOff time t_OFFUntil negative
There is a timer operation program that turns on the load. Timer operation
In the operation program, the on time t_ONIf you specify only
Thereafter, the load is continuously turned on. Second, FIG. 5 (a)
As shown in FIG._ONAnd when on
Time t_ONON period T to keep the load on from_ONAnd
There is a pulse operation program that performs That is, FIG.
As shown in (b), the load is turned on at time t._ONTurn on
The ON period T_ONIt is kept on during that time. Third
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the start time t_STWhen
End time t _ENAnd turn on the load in the meantime.
There is a priority program that specifies whether to turn off. Priority professional
Program is a timer operation program or a pulse operation program.
System is used preferentially. That is, FIG.
The timer operation program and pulse operation
Start time t with the operation program specified_STWhen
End time t_ENIf you turn on the load between
Load in the operation program or pulse operation program
As shown in FIG.
In the priority program, if the load is on
The load turns on. Also, as shown by a broken line in FIG.
The timer operation program and pulse operation program
The start time t_STAnd end time t_ENWith
If the load is turned off between
And the period during which the load is turned on in the pulse operation program
However, as shown in FIG.
Then, if the load is turned off, the load is turned off.
Here, the ON time t_ON, Off time t_OFFAt the start
Time t_ST, End time t_ENIs in minutes, ON period T_ONIs in seconds
Can be specified.

The "weekly program setting mode" is an operation mode for setting a time schedule (daily pattern) of one day for each day of the week, in which a timer operation program and a pulse operation program are set. Further, in the "weekly program setting mode", in addition to the daily pattern for 7 days in a week, an extra daily pattern for 2 days can be set, so that a daily pattern for 9 days in total can be set. It has become. Therefore, in the "weekly program setting mode", a daily pattern in which the correspondence between the time of the day and the on / off of the load is set, and a label is attached to each daily pattern. By the way, in the present invention, the annual time schedule is based on the repetition of the time schedule in units of one week, and is based on the assumption that an exceptional time schedule occurs sporadically, and is equivalent to seven days in one week. If an exceptional daily pattern for two days can be set in addition to the daily pattern described above, the annual daily pattern can be almost covered. Therefore, the label of the daily pattern is set in the form of seven days of the week and two days of a specific day. That is,
Each out pattern is assigned to the day of the week designation switch S ₁ to S _9. Here, if the exceptional daily pattern for two days cannot be used, the load can be controlled spontaneously using a priority program.

The "special day setting mode" is an operation mode for allocating a daily pattern which occurs exceptionally to a repetition of the time schedule on a weekly basis on a specific day. That is, one of the daily patterns set in the “weekly program setting mode” is assigned to a specific day on which an exceptional daily pattern occurs. Therefore, a date is specified and a daily pattern corresponding to the date is selected. The date may be specified by specifying the date, or by specifying only the date without specifying the year. If the year is not specified, the same daily pattern is repeated on the same day every year. Out pattern of the day that are not specified in the "special day setting mode" is among the out patterns assigned to the day designated switch S ₃ to S _9, is out pattern day corresponding to the day of the week determined by the timing means 3 Used.

The "priority program setting mode" is a mode for setting a priority program. That is, the start date and time, the end date and time, and the load on / off are specified. By setting such a priority program, it is possible to flexibly cope with the case where the daily pattern alone cannot cope. For the specification of the start date and time and the end date and time of the "priority program setting mode",
As in the “special day setting mode”, there are a case where the date is specified and a case where the date is specified without specifying the year. If the year is not specified, the load is similarly controlled at the same date and time every year.

[0018] By the way, the date and time of the set was of using the date and time specified switch S ₁₂ ~S _17, as is apparent from the above description, "current time setting mode", in the "priority program setting mode", all of the Date and time designation switch S ₁₂
Using the ~S _17, the specified time in the "weekly program setting mode" switch S _15, the minute specified switch S _16, second designation switch
Using a _16, "special day setting mode" in the year specified switch S _12, the month designated switch S _13, day use of the designated switch S _14.

The "test execution mode" will be specifically described. First drawing by operating the mode switch S ₁₁ 7
As shown in (a), the cursor C is moved to the position corresponding to the second symbol SY from the right, and the "test execution mode" is selected. The cursor C is blinked at this position. At this time, the date is not displayed. Here, in the description of the figure, at 7:30 on May 27, 1991 (Monday)
The following shows the case of confirming the program after minute.

In the "test execution mode", first, year, month,
Date / time designation switch S corresponding to day / hour / minute₁₂~ S₁₆Manipulate
The first date to start the confirmation and
The time is displayed on the display 21 (see FIG. 7C). This
Here, any date and time from the unset state shown in FIG.
Designated switch S₁₂~₁₆By pressing, the year is the current year
And the month, day, hour, and minute become 0:00 on January 1
(See FIG. 7B). In addition, year designation switch S₁₂, Moon finger
Constant switch S₁₃, Day designation switch S₁₄Day of the week
The day changes automatically. Date and time designation switch S₁₂~ S
₁₆Must be pressed for a predetermined time (for example, one second).
And the display can be changed continuously.
The day of the week is not displayed while
Constant switch S ₁₂~ S₁₆The day of the week is displayed when you take your hand off
Is done. Year designation switch S₁₂And day designation switch S₁₄And
If pressed at the same time, the state returns to the unset state in FIG.

[0021] Next, press the call switch S _18, is displayed on the display device of the desired program number of the program. Pressing once the call switch S _18, and displays the date and time varying output is closest future time set on the display unit 21 (see FIG. 7 (d)). Pressing further the call switch S _18, as shown in FIG. 7 (e), the next output is displayed on the display 21 the date and time to change. Thereafter sequentially displays the program each time you press the call switch S _18. That is, the times at which the load is turned on and off are alternately displayed (see FIG. 7F). Meanwhile, the date and time specified switch S ₁₂ to S ₁₆ from the state
By pressing any of the above, the state returns to the state where the start time is set.
Here, if the load control date and time is specified without specifying the year as described above, the load is controlled on the same day every year. In some cases. Therefore, if the maximum date and time set in the timekeeping means 3 is exceeded, the display 2
Indicate “End” to 1 and notify. Once verification is complete,
Press the mode switch S ₁₁ to later in the following operating modes. In the next operation mode, the circuit 2 enters the test execution mode. If you press several times the mode switch S ₁₁ to end the "test run mode". The above-described program confirmation operation is the same for both the timer operation program and the pulse operation program.

FIG. 1 summarizes the above operations in the "test execution mode". That is, when the "test execution mode" is selected, an initial display of an unset state in which the date and time are not displayed on the display 21 is performed (step S).
1). Next, the date and time designation switch S ₁₂ provided on the operation means 1
To S ₁₆ by pressing either the (except seconds specified switch S ₁₇ is) (step S7), and enter the time to start the search program (step S2), and pressing the call switch S ₁₈ (step S3) After the search start time (that is, the date and time displayed on the display 21) and the output changes, the closest date and time is searched (step S4). When you search for a date and time in this way,
The set time, output state, and program number are displayed on the display 21 (step S5). Step S3
Pressing the Mode switch S ₁₁ without pressing the call switch S ₁₈ (Step S6) "test run mode" is canceled (or "test run mode" of the next circuit
Migrate to).

On the other hand, the priority program is shown in FIG.
As shown, call switch S₁₈When you first press
Indicates the start time (see FIG. 8 (a)), and then the call switch
Chi S ₁₈Pressing indicates the end time (see FIG. 8).
(B)). The date and time designation switch S₁₂~ S₁₆For
The start time and end time of the priority program
When the date is between the time and the time, as shown in FIG.
Switch S₁₈The date and time display does not change even if you press
The gram number is displayed.

Further, when the program is not set, or when the priority program is set to ON for one week or more,
If the setting does not change the off state,
As shown in FIG. 10, the program search is stopped at 0:00 on the same day of the week, one week after the confirmation start time (see FIG. 10B). However, if a program has been set, the program number and the on / off status of the output during this time are displayed. When the program is not set, the display of the program number and ON / OFF is not performed.

By the way, even if the load on / off periods set by the program overlap,
In the “test execution mode”, the date and time when the output changes are searched and displayed. For example, in the timer operation program, as shown in FIG.
At 8:00 (program P1), the off time is 6:00 on Tuesday (program P2), and as shown in FIG. 11B, the on time is 22:00 on Monday (program P3), and the off time is 2 on Tuesday. When the pair of time (program P4) is set, the control means 4 interprets as shown in FIG. That is, the program P1 whose output changes to ON first is valid, and the program P3 turns ON the output, but the output is already ON and there is no change, so the program number P3 becomes invalid. Next, the program number P4 is effective because the output is turned off, but is invalid in the program P2 because the output is already off. In short, in the “test execution mode”, only the fact that the program P1 is turned on at 18:00 on Monday and the program P4 is turned off at 2:00 on Tuesday is displayed.

Further, in the timer operation program, as shown in FIG.
8), the priority program is off from 1:00 to 7:00 (program P5) and off from 12:00 to 15:00 (program P) as shown in FIG.
Assuming that 6) is set, as shown in FIG. 12C, the output is turned on until 1 o'clock and from 7 o'clock to 10 o'clock. Therefore, in the “test execution mode”, a display is made such that the display is turned off at 1 by the priority program P5, turned on at 7 by the priority program P5, and turned off at 10:00 by the program P8. Further, the output is already turned off for the program P6, so that it becomes invalid.

The "test execution mode" described above is performed independently of the load control operation. That is, even when the “test execution mode” is being executed, the load is controlled at the date and time set by the program. Therefore, the program can be checked in the “test execution mode” with the load connected. Such an operation is performed, for example, by pre-reading the program having the date and time closest to the current date and time from the date and time when the output changes after the current date and time counted by the timing unit 3 from the storage unit 2 and buffering the program. And the output is controlled when the date and time in the buffer coincide with the date and time measured by the clocking means 3. As described above, since the contents of the program can be confirmed in the “test execution mode” without affecting the control of the load, work such as attaching and detaching the load is not required, and the work of confirming the program is facilitated. .

[0028]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation means capable of operating to read the program stored in the storage means, and the date and time when the search is started are set, and the load control state is changed after the set date and time. A program checking means for sequentially displaying the changing date and time and the control state of the load on the display means in the order of the set date and time is provided.The program is read from the storage means and displayed on the display means. The program can be checked without changing the date and time. As a result, there is no need to perform the operation of adjusting the time of the clock unit again after the operation of confirming the program. In addition, since the checking operation is performed without affecting the output value of the timekeeping means, there is no danger that the load is controlled by the checking operation. Conversely, the load can be controlled according to the program even during the checking. Therefore, there is no need to remove the load during the program checking operation, and in this sense, there is an advantage that the program checking operation can be performed easily and in a short time. In addition, when the date and time at which the program search is started is set in the program checking operation, only the date and time after the set date and time when the load control state changes are sequentially displayed together with the load control state. It is easy to recognize the change, and there is also an effect that if there is an operation that is not predicted, it can be easily found.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the program number is displayed in addition to the date and time and the load control state during the confirmation of the program. This has the advantage that the cause can be easily recognized, and the work of modifying the program becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an operation explanatory diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a timer operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a pulse operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a priority program operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operating means 1a Program setting means 2 Storage means 3 Clocking means 4 Control means 5 Output means 6 Display means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-269994 (JP, A) JP-A-2-297662 (JP, A) JP-A-2-266290 (JP, A) 45495 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G04G 1/00-15/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A program setting means for setting a date and time for controlling a load and a program corresponding to a load control state at each date and time, a storage means for storing a plurality of programs, a clock for measuring a current date and time, and It has a clock means for determining the day of the week, a control means for controlling the load according to the program when the current date and time matches the date and time of one of the programs stored in the storage means, and an area for displaying the date and time and the control state of the load. Display means, operating means operable to read out a program stored in the storage means, and a date and time at which the load control state changes after the set date and time when the date and time at which the search is started is set by the operation means. And a program confirmation means for sequentially displaying the load control state on the display means in an order close to the set date and time. Electronic time switch. 2. Each program is stored in a storage means in a form to which an individual program number is assigned, a display means has an area for displaying a program number, and a program confirmation means is provided for controlling a date and time and a load control state. 2. The electronic time switch according to claim 1, further comprising a function of displaying a program number of a corresponding program on a display means.