CN112020194B - Load control device, load control method, and non-transitory recording medium - Google Patents
Load control device, load control method, and non-transitory recording medium Download PDFInfo
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- CN112020194B CN112020194B CN202010466631.8A CN202010466631A CN112020194B CN 112020194 B CN112020194 B CN 112020194B CN 202010466631 A CN202010466631 A CN 202010466631A CN 112020194 B CN112020194 B CN 112020194B
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 36
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 116
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 13
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 12
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 12
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 10
- 238000009499 grossing Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000004043 responsiveness Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005669 field effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003139 buffering effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005764 inhibitory process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000004706 metal oxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000036962 time dependent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
- H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
- H05B47/175—Controlling the light source by remote control
Abstract
The invention provides a load control device, a load control method and a non-transitory recording medium, which can restrain the power supply voltage supplied by the output voltage of a buffer part from dropping below a prescribed voltage. The load control device includes a switch unit, a switch control unit, a rectifier circuit, a wireless unit, a buffer unit, and a control unit. The switch section turns on and off the ac power supply from the load. The switch control section controls the switch section. The conversion unit converts ac power supplied from an ac power supply into dc power. The wireless unit operates using the dc power converted by the rectifier circuit, and performs wireless communication with an external communication device. The buffer unit stores the dc power converted by the rectifier circuit so as to be able to discharge the dc power, and is able to discharge the stored dc power as dc power to the wireless unit. The control unit controls the wireless unit based on the output voltage of the buffer unit.
Description
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a load control device, a load control method, and a non-transitory recording medium, and more particularly, to a load control device, a load control method, and a non-transitory recording medium that control power supply from an ac power source to a load.
Background
Document 1 (japanese patent No. 4620773) discloses a two-wire dimming device (load control device) for controlling a lighting load. The two-wire dimming device comprises: 2 FETs for turning on and off a power supply path for supplying power from an ac power source to a lighting load; a diode (conversion unit) that generates dc power from ac power supplied from an ac power supply; a capacitor (buffer) that smoothes the dc power; and a control circuit that operates using the DC power smoothed by the capacitor and that controls ON/OFF of the FET. In this two-wire dimmer, the power supply voltage is supplied with the output voltage of the capacitor.
Disclosure of Invention
Problems to be solved by the invention
In the two-wire dimming device described above, there are the following cases: when the power supply voltage supplied by the output voltage of the capacitor is lower than a prescribed voltage, the control circuit is reset. If the control circuit is reset, the control circuit cannot be used until the control circuit is restarted, and thus the load control device cannot be used.
In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a load control device, a load control method, and a non-transitory recording medium that can suppress a power supply voltage supplied by an output voltage of a buffer section from dropping below a predetermined voltage.
Solution for solving the problem
The load control device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a switch unit, a switch control unit, a conversion unit, a wireless unit, a buffer unit, and a control unit. The switching unit controls the supply of electric power from the ac power source to the load by switching on and off the ac power source and the load, thereby operating and stopping the load. The switch control section controls the switch section. The conversion unit converts ac power supplied from the ac power supply into dc power. The wireless unit operates using the dc power converted by the conversion unit, and performs wireless communication with an external communication device. The buffer unit stores the dc power converted by the conversion unit in a dischargeable manner, and can discharge the stored dc power to the wireless unit. The control unit controls the wireless unit based on the output voltage of the buffer unit.
A load control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a load control method for controlling a load control device. The load control device includes a switch unit, a switch control unit, a conversion unit, a wireless unit, and a buffer unit. The switching unit controls the supply of electric power from the ac power source to the load by switching on and off the ac power source and the load, thereby operating and stopping the load. The switch control section controls the switch section. The conversion unit converts ac power supplied from the ac power supply into dc power. The wireless unit operates using the dc power converted by the conversion unit, and performs wireless communication with an external communication device. The buffer unit stores the dc power converted by the conversion unit in a dischargeable manner, and can discharge the stored dc power to the wireless unit. The load control method includes a control process of controlling the wireless section based on an output voltage of the buffer section.
A non-transitory recording medium according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a non-transitory recording medium on which a program for causing a computer system to execute the load control method according to one embodiment described above is recorded.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
The present disclosure has the following advantages: the power supply voltage supplied by the output voltage of the buffer portion can be suppressed from dropping below a predetermined voltage.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a load control device according to embodiment 1.
Fig. 2 is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the load control device.
Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the load control device.
Fig. 4A is a schematic configuration diagram of a load control device according to modification 1 of embodiment 1.
Fig. 4B is a schematic structural view of a modification of the load control device according to modification 1.
Fig. 5 is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the control unit of the load control device according to embodiment 2.
Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the load control device.
Description of the reference numerals
1: a load control device; 2: a switch section; 4: a switch control unit; 5: a wireless section; 10: a rectifying circuit (converting unit); 14: a buffer section; 17: a control unit; b1: an alternating current power supply; q1: a load; v4: outputting a voltage; vs1 to Vs3: a threshold voltage.
Detailed Description
The load control device according to the embodiment will be described below. The following embodiments are merely examples of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The following embodiments may be modified in various ways depending on the design and the like, and the objects of the present disclosure can be achieved.
(embodiment 1)
The load control device 1 according to embodiment 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1.
As shown in fig. 1, the load control device 1 is a two-wire load control device. The load control device 1 is connected in series between the ac power supply B1 and the load Q1, and controls electric power supplied from the ac power supply B1 to the load Q1. The load control device 1 operates using electric power from the ac power supply B1. That is, the load Q1 and the load control device 1 operate using electric power from the ac power supply B1.
The load control device 1 can control, for example, based on a control signal based on a wireless signal from the remote control device 20. That is, the load control device 1 is controlled by the operation from the remote control device 20, whereby the operation of the load Q1 can be controlled.
The load Q1 is, for example, a lighting fixture. The lighting fixture is, for example, a lighting fixture provided in a room of a building to illuminate the room. The load Q1 has 2 power supply terminals. Ac power from ac power supply B1 is input to 2 power supply terminals.
The ac power supply B1 is, for example, a commercial ac power supply. Ac power supply B1 has 2 output terminals. One output terminal is connected to one power supply terminal of the load Q1 via the circuit H1, and the other output terminal is connected to the other power supply terminal of the load Q1 via the circuit H2.
The load control device 1 includes a switch unit 2, a drive circuit 3, a switch control unit 4, a wireless unit 5, and a power supply unit 6.
The switching unit 2 turns on and off the ac power supply B1 and the load Q1. Thereby, the supply of electric power from the ac power supply B1 to the load Q1 is controlled, and the load Q1 is operated and stopped. When the load Q1 is a lighting fixture, the operation of the load Q1 means that the load Q1 is turned on, and when the load Q1 is a lighting fixture, the stop of the load Q1 means that the load Q1 is turned off. The switching unit 2 is connected in series between the ac power supply B1 and the load Q1. That is, the switching unit 2 is connected in series with the circuit H1.
The switching unit 2 has 2 switching elements M1 and M2. The 2 switching elements M1, M2 are, for example, semiconductor switching elements, more specifically, enhancement type N-channel MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semico nductor Field Effect Transistor: metal Oxide semiconductor field effect transistors). The drain of one switching element M1 is electrically connected to one output terminal of the alternating-current power supply B1. The drain of the other switching element M2 is electrically connected to the other output terminal of the ac power supply B1 via the load Q1. The sources of the 2 switching elements M1 and M2 are electrically connected to each other. The connection point NP3 of the sources of the 2 switching elements M1, M2 is grounded to the ground point. The gates of the 2 switching elements M1, M2 are electrically connected to the driving circuit 3. The driving circuit 3 turns on and off the 2 switching elements M1, M2 according to the control of the switching control section 4.
The switching elements M1 and M2 are connected in series with the circuit H1, and are configured to turn on and off the circuit H1. One switching element M1 is turned on in the positive half cycle of the ac power supply B1, and the other switching element M2 is turned on in the negative half cycle of the ac power supply B1. That is, the load control device 1 performs phase control of the ac voltage supplied from the ac power supply B1 to the lighting fixture as the load Q1 by turning on and off the switching elements M1, M2, thereby lighting and dimming the lighting fixture. For example, each of the switching elements M1 and M2 is turned on (turned on) at the start of each half cycle of the ac power supply B1 under the control of the switching control unit 4, and is turned off (turned off) at a certain timing during the half cycle according to the desired luminance of the load Q1. The switching elements M1 and M2 may be turned on (turned on) at a desired phase in a half cycle of the ac power supply B1 and turned off (turned off) at the end of the half cycle according to the control of the switching control unit 4.
The driving circuit 3 drives the switching section 2 under the control of the switching control section 4. More specifically, the driving circuit 3 applies a driving voltage between the gate and source electrodes of the 2 switching elements M1 and M2 of the switching unit 2 to switch the 2 switching elements M1 and M2 between on (on state) and off (off state).
The wireless unit 5 performs communication (wireless communication) based on wireless signals with the remote control device 20 (external communication device). The wireless unit 5 receives a control signal based on a wireless signal from the remote control device 20. The wireless unit 5 outputs the received control signal to the switch control unit 4. The wireless unit 5 controls the switch control unit 4 based on its output. The signal medium of the wireless signal is infrared or radio waves. The wireless unit 5 is controlled by a control unit 17 described later. The wireless unit 5 may be, for example, any one of Bluetooth (registered trademark), zigbee (registered trademark), wi-Fi (registered trademark), and specific low-power wireless.
When a request (transmission request) for transmitting to an external wireless device (for example, remote control device 20) is generated, wireless unit 5 performs carrier sense before transmitting the request, and determines whether or not the carrier sense is successful. The carrier sense is to detect whether or not a radio channel to be used by the radio section 5 in transmission is being used by another radio apparatus when the radio section 5 is to transmit. The wireless unit 5 transmits when it is determined that carrier sense is successful, and stops transmitting when it is determined that carrier sense is failed. In this case, the wireless unit 5 transmits again after a fixed time elapses. Further, the success of carrier sense means that the wireless section 5 detects that the wireless channel to be used in transmission is not used by other wireless apparatuses. The carrier sense failure means that the radio section 5 detects that the radio channel to be used in transmission is being used by other radio apparatuses. The period during which this carrier sense is performed is referred to as CCA (Clear Channel Assessment: clear channel assessment). The transmission request may be generated by a predetermined processing unit in the wireless unit 5, or may be generated by a control unit 17 described later.
When a transmission request is generated, the wireless unit 5 adds a back-off period (a waiting time of a random length) between the transmission request and the CCA, and does not receive the CCA during the back-off period. Thereby, the wireless unit 5 can sleep (temporary stop function) during the back-off period, and the buffer unit 14 described later can be restored to the charge (charge power).
The switch control unit 4 performs on/off control of the switch unit 2 via the drive circuit 3 under control of the wireless unit 5. Thereby, the load Q1 is controlled to be turned on and off and to be dimmed.
More specifically, the switch control unit 4 controls the length of the on period in each half cycle of the ac power from the ac power supply B1. The on period is a period from when the switch unit 2 is turned on to when it is turned off. For example, the switching control unit 4 controls the switching unit 2 to be on at the start of each half cycle of the ac power from the ac power supply B1 (zero-crossing point of the ac power), and turns off the switching unit 2 at a desired time point within the half cycle. That is, the switch control unit 4 controls the on-time length of the switch unit 2 by controlling the timing of turning off the switch unit 2. The load Q1 is switched off or on by controlling the on time to be zero or a desired length other than zero. In addition, the load Q1 is dimmed by controlling the length of the on-time.
The switching control unit 4 may control the length of the on time by controlling the switching unit 2 to be on at a desired time point of a half cycle of the ac power from the ac power supply B1 and turning off the switching unit 2 at the end of the half cycle.
The power supply unit 6 converts ac power supplied from the ac power supply B1 into dc power, and supplies the converted dc power to the drive circuit 3, the switch control unit 4, and the wireless unit 5. That is, the driving circuit 3, the switching control unit 4, and the wireless unit 5 operate using ac power from the ac power supply B1.
The power supply unit 6 includes a rectifier circuit 10 (conversion unit), a constant voltage circuit 11, a constant current circuit 12, a DC-DC converter 16 (step-down circuit), smoothing capacitors C1 and C3, a buffer unit 14, and a control unit 17.
The rectifier circuit 10 converts ac power supplied from the ac power supply B1 into dc power. That is, the rectifier circuit 10 generates dc power for supplying to the drive circuit 3, the switch control unit 4, and the wireless unit 5 from ac power. The rectifier circuit 10 has 2 rectifier elements D1, D2. The anodes of the rectifier devices D1 and D2 are connected to the circuit H1 at branch points NP1 and NP2 on both sides of the switching unit 2. The cathodes of the rectifier devices D1 and D2 are connected to each other and then to the input terminal of the constant voltage circuit 11.
The rectifier circuit 10 receives ac power from the ac power source B1 at the branch points NP1 and NP2, and converts the received ac power into dc power. More specifically, when the cycle of the ac power from the ac power supply B1 is positive half of the cycle, the rectifier circuit 10 receives ac power from the branch point NP1, and rectifies the received ac power to dc power by passing the ac power to the rectifier element D1. When the cycle of the ac power from the ac power supply B1 is negative half cycle, the rectifier circuit 10 receives the ac power from the branch point NP2, and rectifies the received ac power to dc power by passing the ac power to the rectifier element D2. The rectifier circuit 10 outputs a pulsating voltage (dc voltage) obtained by full-wave rectifying an ac voltage supplied from the ac power supply B1 to the constant voltage circuit 11.
The constant voltage circuit 11 converts the pulsating voltage supplied from the rectifying circuit 10 into a stable dc voltage (for example, 80V dc voltage) and converts the voltage into a constant voltage. Thus, the constant voltage circuit 11 stabilizes the dc voltage supplied to the driving circuit 3, the switching control unit 4, and the wireless unit 5. More specifically, the constant voltage circuit 11 converts the voltage value of the voltage V1 of the dc power from the rectifier circuit 10 to a predetermined voltage value and outputs the converted voltage value, thereby maintaining the voltage value of the output voltage V2 at the predetermined voltage value. The constant voltage circuit 11 is constituted by, for example, a zener diode, a resistor, a semiconductor switch, and the like.
A smoothing capacitor C1 is provided at a subsequent stage of the constant voltage circuit 11. More specifically, the smoothing capacitor C1 is connected between a branch point, which is a point on the circuit between the output terminal of the constant voltage circuit 11 and the input terminal of the constant current circuit 12, and a ground point.
The constant current circuit 12 controls a current I2 of the dc power from the constant voltage circuit 11 (i.e., the dc power controlled by the constant voltage circuit 11) to a predetermined current value. That is, the constant current circuit 12 constantly fluidizes the dc current supplied to the driving circuit 3, the switching control section 4, and the wireless section 5. More specifically, the constant current circuit 12 converts the current value of the current I2 of the dc power from the constant voltage circuit 11 into a predetermined current value and outputs the current value, and thereby maintains the current value of the output current I3 at the predetermined current value.
The constant current circuit 12 switches the current value of the output current I2 of the constant voltage circuit 11 between a first current value (for example, 0.5 mA) and a second current value (for example, 3.0 mA) as a predetermined current value according to the operation state and the stop state of the switching unit 2 (i.e., when the load Q1 is turned on and off). The operating state of the switching unit 2 is a state in which the switching elements M1 and M2 are turned on/off to control the phase of the ac voltage supplied from the ac power supply B1 to the load Q1, and is a state in which the load Q1 is operated (turned on). The stopped state of the switching unit 2 is a state in which the switching elements M1 and M2 are turned off to stop the supply of power from the ac power source B1 to the load Q1, and the load Q1 is stopped (turned off). The second current value is a current value greater than the first current value. More specifically, in a stopped state of the switching unit 2 (i.e., when the load Q1 is turned off), the constant current circuit 12 converts a current value of the output current I2 of the constant voltage circuit 11 into a first current value, outputs the first current value, and maintains a current value of the output current I3 thereof at the first current value. In addition, in the operating state of the switching unit 2 (i.e., when the load Q1 is on), the constant current circuit 12 converts the current value of the output current I2 of the constant voltage circuit 11 into a second current value, outputs the second current value, and maintains the current value of the output current I3 thereof at the second current value. The constant current circuit 12 is constituted by, for example, a semiconductor switch, a bias resistor, a shunt stabilizer, and the like.
The buffer portion 14 is provided at a later stage of the constant current circuit 12. More specifically, the buffer unit 14 is connected between a branch point NP4 and a ground point, and the branch point NP4 is a point on a circuit between the output terminal of the constant current circuit 12 and the input terminal of the DC-DC converter 16. The buffer 14 is constituted by a capacitor C2 for buffering. The buffer 14 is charged with the output voltage V3 of the constant current circuit 12. That is, the buffer unit 14 stores the output power (output current I3) of the constant current circuit 12 as chargeable/dischargeable energy. Since the output power of the constant current circuit 12 is based on the dc power converted by the rectifier circuit 10, it can be said that the buffer 14 is charged in a dischargeable manner by using the dc power converted by the rectifier circuit 10. When the output current I3 of the constant current circuit 12 is insufficient, the buffer portion 14 can discharge the charge (charge power) as the output current I3 of the constant current circuit 12. Thereby, the shortage of the output current I3 of the constant current circuit 12 is compensated. The output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is supplied to the drive circuit 3, the switch control unit 4, and the wireless unit 5 as a power supply voltage via the DC-DC converter 16. The output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is proportional to the stored charge (stored power) of the buffer unit 14.
The DC-DC converter 16 steps down the voltage value of the voltage V3 of the direct current power output from the constant current circuit 12 to a predetermined voltage value (for example, 3.3V), and supplies the stepped down direct current power to the switch control unit 4, the wireless unit 5, and the driving circuit 3. That is, the switching control unit 4, the wireless unit 5, and the driving circuit 3 operate using the output power of the DC-DC converter 16. Since the output power of the DC-DC converter 16 is based on the DC power converted by the rectifying circuit 10, the switching control unit 4, the wireless unit 5, and the driving circuit 3 can be said to operate using the DC power converted by the rectifying circuit 10. The predetermined voltage value (for example, 3.3V) is an example of the required voltage required by the switch control unit 4, the wireless unit 5, and the driving circuit 3.
A smoothing capacitor C3 is provided at a subsequent stage of the DC-DC converter 16. In more detail, the smoothing capacitor C3 is connected between the output terminal of the DC-DC converter 16 and the ground point.
The control unit 17 controls the wireless unit 5 based on the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14. That is, the control unit 17 determines the operation content of the wireless unit 5 based on the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14. Further, the output voltage V4 of the buffer portion 14 is a voltage between 2 electrodes of the buffer portion 14.
More specifically, the control unit 17 controls the wireless unit 5 so that the power consumption of the wireless unit 5 decreases as the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 decreases. More specifically, the control unit 17 detects (i.e., monitors) whether or not the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or higher than the threshold voltage Vs 1. Further, the output voltage V4 of the buffer portion 14 is proportional to the charged electric charge of the buffer portion 14. Therefore, the output voltage V4 of the detection buffer 14 is equivalent to the stored charge of the detection buffer 14.
When the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 causes the wireless unit 5 to operate in a normal operation. The normal operation is to operate the wireless unit 5 so that both transmission and reception can be performed without restricting the operation of the wireless unit 5. When the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 limits the operation of the wireless unit 5. As an example of limitation of the operation of the wireless unit 5, the control unit 17 prohibits the wireless unit 5 from transmitting. This prohibition of transmission is an example of restricting the wireless unit 5 from transmitting.
The threshold voltage Vs1 is a threshold voltage for determining whether or not to prohibit the wireless unit 5 from transmitting. The threshold voltage Vs1 is, for example, a voltage greater than the reset voltage of each of the switch control section 4 and the wireless section 5. The reset voltage of the switch control unit 4 is a voltage at which a microcomputer (microcomputer) in the switch control unit 4 is reset and restarted. That is, the microcomputer in the switch control unit 4 is restarted when the supplied voltage becomes equal to or lower than the reset voltage. Similarly, the reset voltage of the wireless unit 5 is a voltage at which the microcomputer in the wireless unit 5 is reset and restarted. That is, the microcomputer in the wireless unit 5 is restarted when the supplied voltage becomes equal to or lower than the reset voltage.
In the present embodiment, the switch control unit 4 and the wireless unit 5 are each constituted by a microcomputer, for example. When the output voltage V4 of the buffer section 14 falls and thus the voltage of the electric power supplied to the switch control section 4 and the wireless section 5 is lower than the reset voltage, the switch control section 4 and the wireless section 5 are automatically reset and restarted.
In the present embodiment, as described above, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 prohibits the wireless unit 5 from transmitting. This is because, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs1, the stored charge of the buffer unit 14 is not a sufficient charge amount, and thus there is a high possibility that the transmission of the wireless unit 5 cannot be terminated until the end. That is, in the present embodiment, the control unit 17 allows the wireless unit 5 to transmit only when the stored charge of the buffer unit 14 is such that the transmission of the wireless unit 5 can be completed to the last charge amount. This reduces transmission suspension by the wireless unit 5, thereby improving transmission responsiveness.
When the wireless unit 5 is to transmit during the transmission prohibition period of the wireless unit 5, the control unit 17 forcibly makes the wireless unit determine that the carrier sense has failed, thereby prohibiting the wireless unit 5 from transmitting. In this case, the wireless unit 5 determines that the carrier sense has failed without performing the carrier sense. That is, the wireless unit 5 does not perform carrier sense and treats carrier sense as failure. This makes it possible to prohibit the wireless unit 5 from transmitting by using the function of carrier sense of the wireless unit 5 (that is, by using the conventional function). In addition, the power consumption for performing transmission prohibition can be reduced. When the radio unit 5 is forcedly determined to have failed carrier sense, the control unit 17 maintains the determination until the radio unit 5 is permitted to transmit (i.e., until transmission is released and transmission is enabled).
When the period during which the wireless unit 5 transmits becomes the prohibition of the wireless unit 5 from transmitting, the control unit 17 does not stop the transmission during the transmission until the completion of the transmission, and prohibits the wireless unit 5 from transmitting (i.e., new transmission) from the time of the completion of the transmission. This eliminates the waste of electric power accompanying the suspension of transmission, and improves the responsiveness of transmission.
Next, the operation of the load control device 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1. In the load control device 1, ac power from the ac power supply B1 is input to the power supply unit 6. Then, the ac power inputted to the power supply unit 6 is rectified by the rectifying circuit 10 and converted into dc power. The DC power thus converted is maintained at a predetermined voltage value (for example, 80V) in the constant voltage circuit 11, is maintained at a predetermined current value (first current value or second current value) in the constant current circuit 12, and is reduced to a predetermined voltage value (for example, 3.3V) in the DC-DC converter 16. Then, the DC power reduced in the DC-DC converter 16 is supplied to the drive circuit 3, the switch control unit 4, and the wireless unit 5. By this power supply, the driving circuit 3, the switch control unit 4, and the wireless unit 5 operate. The buffer 14 is charged with the output voltage V3 of the constant current circuit 12. Further, when the consumption current of the driving circuit 3, the switching control section 4, and the wireless section 5 increases and the output current I3 of the constant current circuit 12 is insufficient, the charge (charge power) of the buffer section 14 is discharged as the output current I3 of the constant current circuit 12 to compensate for the insufficient portion of the output current I3. Then, the discharge current is supplied as an output current I3 to the driving circuit 3, the switch control unit 4, and the wireless unit 5. This can suppress a shortage of electric power supplied to the drive circuit 3, the switch control unit 4, and the wireless unit 5.
In the present embodiment, as an example, the first current value (the current value of the output current I3 of the constant current circuit 12 when the load Q1 is turned off) is set to 0.5mA. The precondition for this setting is that, when the load Q1 is turned off, the load Q1 is not turned on erroneously when the consumption current of the circuit for controlling the power supply to the load Q1 (for example, the switch control unit 4 and the wireless unit 5) is 0.7mA or less. In this case, a small margin was provided, and the first current value was set to 0.5mA.
When the output voltage of the constant current circuit 12 is set to 50V in the case where the first current value is 0.5mA, the output power of the constant current circuit 12 is 25mW (=0.5 ma×50V). Further, when the efficiency of the DC-DC converter 16 is set to 80%, the output power of the DC-DC converter 16 is 20mW (=25 mw×80%). In this case, the consumption current that can be consumed by the switch control section 4 and the wireless section 5 is about 6mA. In this case, when the consumption current of the switching control section 4 and the wireless section 5 instantaneously exceeds 6mA, the charge of the buffer section 14 is discharged, and the output current I3 of the constant current circuit 12 is maintained at the first current value (0.5 mA).
In the present embodiment, the second current value (the current value of the output current I3 of the constant current circuit 12 when the load Q1 is turned on) is set to a comparatively low current value of 5.0mA, as an example. Thus, when the load Q1 is lighted, the impedance seen from the load Q1 becomes small. As a result, when the consumption current of the switch control unit 4 and the wireless unit 5 is large, the load Q1 can be maintained in a stable lighting state without flickering even if the consumption current of the switch control unit 4 and the wireless unit 5 fluctuates.
In the load control device 1, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 causes the wireless unit 5 to operate without restricting the operation of the wireless unit 5 (i.e., in a normal operation). On the other hand, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 restricts (e.g., prohibits) the wireless unit 5 from transmitting. This suppresses power consumption of the wireless unit 5. As a result, the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 can be suppressed from being lower than the reset voltage (predetermined voltage). When the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 causes the wireless unit 5 to operate in a normal operation.
Next, a specific example of the operation of the load control device 1 will be described with reference to fig. 2.
The upper stage of fig. 2 shows a timing chart of the operation of the wireless unit 5, the middle stage of fig. 2 shows a time change of the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14, and the lower stage of fig. 2 shows whether the state of the wireless unit 5 is a transmission prohibition state or a transmission permission state. The transmission prohibition state of the wireless section 5 is a state in which the control section 17 prohibits the wireless section 5 from transmitting. The transmission permission state of the wireless section 5 is a state in which the control section 17 permits the wireless section 5 to transmit (i.e., a state in which transmission is not prohibited). When the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 allows (i.e., does not prohibit) the transmission by the wireless unit 5, and when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 prohibits the transmission by the wireless unit 5.
At time t0, the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is the maximum voltage Vmax of the output voltage range, and the state of the wireless unit 5 is the transmission permission state.
When a transmission request is generated at time t1, the wireless unit 5 performs carrier sense (CCA period) after a backoff period. In the example of fig. 2, the radio unit 5 determines that carrier sense is successful (time t 2). At the determination time point t2, the state of the wireless unit 5 is a transmission permission state. That is, since the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 allows the wireless unit 5 to transmit. Therefore, the wireless unit 5 starts transmission at time t 2. As a result of this transmission, the charge of the buffer portion 14 is consumed, and the output voltage V4 of the buffer portion 14 decreases.
Then, at time t3, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is lower than the threshold voltage Vs1, the state of the wireless unit 5 becomes the transmission prohibition state. That is, since the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 prohibits the wireless unit 5 from transmitting. At time t3, the state of the wireless unit 5 is changed from the transmission permission state to the transmission prohibition state, but since the wireless unit 5 is transmitting, the control unit 17 does not stop the wireless unit 5 and causes the wireless unit 5 to continue transmitting until the transmission is completed.
Then, at time t4, when the transmission of the wireless unit 5 is completed, the wireless unit 5 is put into a standby state until the next transmission request is generated. The wireless unit 5 performs intermittent reception while waiting. Intermittent reception is the following reception mode: the power consumption is suppressed by switching between a receivable state in which the wireless section 5 can receive and an unreceivable state in which the wireless section 5 does not receive at fixed intervals. The wireless unit 5 performs reception during the receivable period of intermittent reception, and switches to normal reception other than intermittent reception to perform reception when the reception exceeds the receivable period, and returns to intermittent reception again when the reception ends. Here, the receivable period refers to a period of a receivable state. Further, at time t4, when the transmission of the wireless unit 5 is completed, the power consumption of the wireless unit 5 is reduced, and therefore, charging is more dominant than discharging of the buffer unit 14, and the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 rises.
Then, at a time point t5, a next transmission request is generated. At the generation time point t5, the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs1, and thus the state of the wireless unit 5 is the transmission prohibition state. Therefore, the control unit 17 forcibly makes the radio unit 5 determine that carrier sense fails, thereby prohibiting the radio unit 5 from transmitting. This suppresses the output voltage V4 of the buffer section 14 from being lower than the reset voltage. Then, the control unit 17 continues this determination (forced failure determination) until a point in time (in the example of fig. 2, a point in time t 6) when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs 1.
Then, at time t6, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1, the state of the wireless unit 5 becomes the transmission permission state, and the control unit 17 stops the forced failure determination of the wireless unit 5. Thus, the wireless unit 5 performs carrier sense, and in the example of fig. 2, the carrier sense is successful, and starts transmission of the transmission request to the time point t 5.
In the example of fig. 2, at a later time point t7, the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 becomes equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs 1. Thus, the state of the wireless unit 5 is changed to the transmission prohibition state, but since the transmission of the wireless unit 5 is in progress, the control unit 17 causes the wireless unit 5 not to stop the transmission but the wireless unit 5 continues the transmission until the transmission is completed. Then, at time t8, when the transmission of the wireless unit 5 is completed, the wireless unit 5 is put into a standby state until the next transmission request is generated. The wireless unit 5 performs intermittent reception while waiting.
Next, the operation of the load control device 1 will be described with reference to fig. 3.
When the transmission request is not generated (S1: no), the wireless unit 5 is in a standby state until the transmission request is generated (S11). On the other hand, when a transmission request is generated (S1: yes), the control unit 1 determines whether or not the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1 (S2). When the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs1 as a result of the determination (S2: no), the control unit 17 forcibly determines that the wireless unit 5 has failed carrier sense (S3). Thereby, the control unit 17 prohibits the wireless unit 5 from transmitting. That is, the control unit 17 does not cause the wireless unit 5 to perform new transmission. Hereinafter, the above determination is referred to as a carrier sense forced failure determination. Then, the process returns to step S2. Then, the processing flow of s2→s3→s2 is repeated in step S2 until the output voltage V4 of the buffer section 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1, whereby the carrier sense forced failure determination in step S3 is continued.
When the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1 as a result of the determination in step S2 (S2: yes), the control unit 17 allows the wireless unit 5 to transmit. Thus, the radio unit 5 performs carrier sense after passing through the backoff period as usual (S4). The wireless unit 5 does not receive during the backoff period. This makes it possible to put the buffer 14 into a sleep state (temporarily stop the function) during the back-off period, and to restore the charge.
When the carrier sense is not performed in step S4 (S5: no), the routine returns to step S2 after a fixed time elapses (S6), and the above-described process is repeated. On the other hand, when the carrier sense is successful (yes in S5), the wireless unit 5 starts transmission of the transmission request in step S1 (S7). In the middle of the transmission, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1 (S8: "yes"), the wireless unit 5 causes the transmission to last and completes (S10). On the other hand, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs1 (S8: no), the wireless unit 5 continues until the transmission is completed last (S10) without stopping the transmission (S9). After the completion of the transmission of the wireless unit 5, the wireless unit 5 is put into a standby state until the next transmission request is generated (S11). Then, the process returns to step S1.
As described above, according to the load control device 1 of the present embodiment, the wireless unit 5 that operates with the discharge charge (output current) of the buffer unit 14 is controlled based on the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14. Therefore, the power supply voltage supplied by the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 can be suppressed from dropping below a predetermined voltage (for example, reset voltage).
(modification of embodiment 1 and other embodiments)
Embodiment 1 is merely one of the various embodiments of the present invention. As long as the object of the present invention can be achieved, various modifications can be made to embodiment 1 according to the design and the like. The embodiment according to embodiment 1 is not limited to being specifically implemented by the load control device 1. For example, the mode according to embodiment 1 may be implemented by a load control method, a computer program, a storage medium storing the program, or the like. The modification of embodiment 1 described below and other embodiments (including modifications) can be applied in appropriate combination.
The load control method described above is a load control method of controlling the load control device 1. The load control device 1 includes a switching unit 2, a switching control unit 4, a rectifying circuit 10 (conversion unit), a wireless unit 5, a buffer unit 14, and a control unit 17. The switching unit 2 turns on and off the ac power supply B1 and the load Q1, thereby controlling the supply of electric power from the ac power supply B1 to the load Q1, and operating and stopping the load Q1. The switch control section 4 controls the switch section 2. The rectifier circuit 10 converts ac power supplied from the ac power supply B1 into dc power. The wireless unit 5 operates using the dc power converted by the rectifier circuit 10, and performs wireless communication between the wireless unit 5 and an external communication device. The buffer unit 14 stores the dc power converted by the rectifier circuit 10 so as to be able to discharge the dc power, and is able to discharge the stored power as the dc power to the wireless unit 5. The load control method described above includes a control process of controlling the wireless section 5 based on the output voltage V4 of the buffer section 14.
Modification 1
In embodiment 1, the constant voltage circuit 11, the constant current circuit 12, and the DC-DC converter 16 are provided, but as shown in fig. 4A, all of the circuits 12, 13, and 16 may not be provided. In the example of fig. 4A, the buffer 14 is directly chargeable in a dischargeable manner by the output current of the rectifier circuit 10. Then, the discharge power of the buffer portion 14 is directly supplied to the switch control portion 4 and the wireless portion 5. Further, only any one or any 2 of the circuits 12, 13, 16 may be provided. For example, in the case where only the constant current circuit 12 of the circuits 12, 13, and 16 is provided, the configuration is as shown in fig. 4B. In the case of the example of fig. 4B, the output current of the rectifying circuit 10 is directly input to the constant current circuit 12. Then, as in the case of fig. 4A, the discharge power of the buffer unit 14 is directly supplied to the switch control unit 4 and the wireless unit 5.
Modification 2
In embodiment 1, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs1, the wireless unit 5 is prohibited from transmitting. It is assumed that all transmissions are uniformly prohibited in the prohibition of the transmission. However, instead of uniformly prohibiting all transmissions by the wireless unit 5, the wireless unit 5 may be permitted to perform specific transmissions, and only transmissions other than the specific transmissions may be prohibited. This can avoid prohibiting all the transmission functions of the wireless unit 5.
The specific transmission is a transmission having high necessity (for example, transmission of a fire detection signal or transmission of ACK).
The fire detection signal is a signal for transmitting the fire detection signal to the outside when the fire in the wireless unit 5 or the load control device 1 is detected. When the fire detection signal is excluded from the transmission prohibition target, the load control device 1 is provided with a detection unit for detecting a fire in the wireless unit 5 or the load control device 1.
The ACK (acknowledgement character) is a signal transmitted, for example, in order to notify the transmitting party that data has been correctly received when the wireless unit 5 receives the data from the transmitting party, as in unicast transmission. Unicast transmission means that a single transmission partner is designated to transmit data. When transmission of ACK is prohibited due to transmission prohibition, even if transmission is successful, the transmitting partner determines that transmission has failed, and performs transmission again. As a result, power is wasted, and the responsiveness of transmission is also reduced. Therefore, it is desirable to exclude ACK from the transmission-prohibited object.
Modification 3
In embodiment 1, the period of intermittent reception by the wireless unit 5 in the standby state may be set to be shorter than the ac period of ac power of the ac power source B1. As described above, intermittent reception is a reception mode in which reception is switched between a receivable state in which the wireless section 5 is able to receive and an unreceivable state in which the wireless section 5 does not receive at fixed time intervals. The period of intermittent reception is a period from the start of a receivable period of intermittent reception to the end of an unreceivable period next to the receivable period. That is, the period of intermittent reception refers to the length of a period that combines a set of receivable periods and non-receivable periods adjacent in time series. The non-receivable period refers to a period in the non-receivable state, and the receivable period refers to a period in the receivable state.
According to this modification, the receivable period in the intermittent reception period can be sufficiently shortened. This can reduce the power consumption of the reception in one receivable period, and thus can suppress the stored charge of the buffer from being lowered at a time due to the power consumption of the reception by the wireless unit 5. As a result, the power supply voltage supplied by the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 can be suppressed from dropping below a predetermined voltage (for example, reset voltage).
Modification 4
In embodiment 1, the control unit 17 may be constituted by a microcomputer mainly including a processor and a memory, for example. That is, the control section 17 may be realized by a computer system having a processor and a memory. In this case, the processor executes an appropriate program to cause the computer system to function as the control unit 17. The program may be recorded in advance in a memory, or may be provided through an electric communication line such as the internet, or may be recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card. Similarly, the switch control unit 4 and the wireless unit 5 (additional function unit) may be configured by a microcomputer mainly including a processor and a memory.
(embodiment 2)
Embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 in that the control unit 17 prohibits the wireless unit 5 from receiving when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs2 (second threshold voltage), and in that the control unit 17 does not prohibit the wireless unit 5 from receiving when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs 2. Here, the threshold voltage Vs2 is smaller than the threshold voltage Vs1.
In addition, embodiment 2 is different from embodiment 1 in that when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or higher than the threshold voltage Vs3 (third threshold voltage), the control unit 17 releases the prohibition of the reception by the wireless unit 5. That is, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs2 and reception by the wireless unit 5s is temporarily inhibited, the wireless unit 5 does not perform reception as long as the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is not equal to or higher than the threshold voltage Vs3 and is released from the reception inhibition. Further, the threshold voltage Vs3 is larger than the threshold voltage Vs 2. In addition, as an example, the threshold voltage Vs3 is the same voltage as the threshold voltage Vs1.
A specific example of the main operation of embodiment 2 will be described with reference to fig. 5.
The uppermost stage of fig. 5 shows a timing chart of the operation of the wireless unit 5, the upper second stage of fig. 5 shows a time-dependent change in the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14, and the upper third stage of fig. 5 shows whether the wireless unit 5 is in the transmission prohibition state or in the transmission permission state. The transmission prohibition state of the wireless section 5 is a state in which the control section 17 prohibits the wireless section 5 from transmitting. The transmission permission state of the wireless section 5 is a state in which the control section 17 permits the wireless section 5 to transmit (i.e., a state in which transmission is not prohibited). The lowest layer of fig. 5 shows whether the wireless section 5 is in the reception prohibition state or the reception prohibition release state. The reception prohibition state of the wireless section 5 is a state in which the control section 17 prohibits the wireless section 5 from performing reception. The reception prohibition release state of the wireless section 5 is a state in which the control section 17 releases prohibition of reception by the wireless section 5.
The time points t0 to t4 are the same as the time points t0 to t4 in fig. 2, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, description will be made from time point t 4.
At time t4, the wireless unit 5 is in a standby state and performs intermittent reception. In the example of fig. 5, the wireless unit 5 receives data from an external wireless device a plurality of times (for example, 2 times) while waiting. The first data reception is performed in the period from time t10 to time t11, and the second data reception is performed in the period from time t12 to time t 13. During the period when the wireless unit 5 receives, the stored charge of the buffer unit 14 is consumed by the reception of the wireless unit 5, and therefore the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 decreases.
Then, at time t13, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs2, the control unit 17 prohibits the wireless unit 5 from receiving. That is, the control unit 17 forcibly prohibits the wireless unit 5 from receiving. The prohibition of the wireless section 5 from receiving also includes prohibition of the wireless section 5 from intermittently receiving. Thus, the wireless section 5 is prohibited from transmitting and receiving, and therefore the charging of the buffer section 14 is more dominant than the discharging, and the output voltage V4 of the buffer section 14 rises.
Then, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1 at the time point t14, the state of the wireless unit 5 becomes the transmission permission state. When the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs3 (=vs 1) at the time point t14, the state of the wireless unit 5 becomes the reception prohibition release state.
Then, when a transmission request is generated at time point t15, the wireless unit 5 performs carrier sense (CCA period) after passing through the back-off period. During this backoff period, the wireless unit 5 does not receive. In the example of fig. 5, the wireless unit 5 determines that carrier sense is successful (time t 16). At the determination time point t16, the state of the wireless unit 5 is a transmission permission state. That is, since the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs1, the control unit 17 allows the wireless unit 5 to transmit. Therefore, the wireless unit 5 starts transmission at time t 16. Due to this transmission, the stored charge of the buffer unit 14 is consumed, and the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 decreases. Then, the wireless unit 5 completes transmission at time t17 and enters a standby state. The wireless unit 5 performs intermittent reception while waiting.
Next, the operation of the load control device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 6.
Steps S1 to S11 in fig. 6 are the same as steps S1 to S11 in fig. 3. Therefore, in the following description, description will be given from step S12 of fig. 6.
In the standby state of the wireless section 5 (S11), when the wireless section 5 is not in the reception prohibition state (S12: "no") and the output voltage V4 of the buffer section 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs2 (S13: "yes"), the process returns to step S1. This makes it possible to cope with an operation when a transmission request is generated without prohibiting the reception by the wireless unit 5.
On the other hand, in the standby state of the wireless unit 5 (S11), when the wireless unit 5 is not in the reception prohibition state (S12: "no") and the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs2 (S13: "no"), the control unit 17 prohibits the wireless unit 5 from receiving (S14). Due to this prohibition, the charging of the buffer portion 14 is more dominant than the discharging, so that the output voltage V4 of the buffer portion 14 rises. When the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 exceeds the threshold voltage Vs3 (S15: yes), the control unit 17 releases the prohibition of the reception by the wireless unit 5 (S16). Then, the process returns to step S1. This makes it possible to cope with an operation when a transmission request is generated in a state where the prohibition of reception by the wireless unit 5 is released.
On the other hand, in the reception prohibition state of the wireless unit 5 (S14), when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs3 (S15: no), the process returns to step S1. In this way, in the reception prohibition state of the wireless unit 5, an operation in the case where a transmission request is generated can be handled. In this case, when the process returns to step S1, the process passes through any one of the processing paths between steps S1 to S12, and reaches step S12. In step S12, since the reception prohibition state in step S14 described above continues (S12: yes), the process proceeds to step S15, and the process proceeds in the same manner as described above.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vs2, the control unit 17 prohibits the wireless unit 5 from receiving. Therefore, the power supply voltage supplied by the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 can be suppressed from dropping below a predetermined voltage (for example, reset voltage).
When the output voltage V4 of the buffer unit 14 is equal to or higher than the threshold voltage Vs3, the control unit 17 releases the prohibition of the reception by the wireless unit 5, and thus can suppress the prohibition of the reception and the prohibition release of the reception by the wireless unit 5 from being repeated a plurality of times before and after the threshold voltage Vs 2.
Further, since the threshold voltage Vs3 is the same voltage as the threshold voltage Vs1, the wireless unit 5 can be returned to the reception function and the transmission function (effect 1). In the present embodiment, the threshold voltage Vs3 is the same as the threshold voltage Vs1, but the threshold voltage Vs3 may be a voltage smaller than the threshold voltage Vs1 or a voltage larger than the threshold voltage Vs 1. If the threshold voltage Vs3 is equal to or higher than the threshold voltage Vs1, the same effects as those of the effect 1 described above are obtained.
(summary)
A load control device (1) according to a first embodiment is provided with a switch unit (2), a switch control unit (4), a conversion unit (10), a wireless unit (5), a buffer unit (14), and a control unit (17). The switching unit (2) controls the supply of electric power from the AC power supply (B1) to the load (Q1) by switching on and off the AC power supply (B1) and the load (Q1), thereby operating and stopping the load (Q1). The switch control unit (4) controls the switch unit (2). The conversion unit (10) converts alternating-current power supplied from an alternating-current power supply (B1) into direct-current power. The wireless unit (5) operates using the DC power converted by the conversion unit (10), and wireless communication is performed between the wireless unit (5) and an external communication device. The buffer unit (14) stores the DC power converted by the conversion unit (10) in a manner that enables discharge, and can discharge the stored power as DC power to the wireless unit (5). A control unit (17) controls the wireless unit (5) based on the output voltage (V4) of the buffer unit (14).
According to this configuration, the wireless unit (5) that operates with the discharge power of the buffer unit (14) is controlled based on the output voltage (V4) of the buffer unit (14). Therefore, the power supply voltage supplied by the output voltage (V4) of the buffer part (14) can be prevented from dropping below a predetermined voltage (e.g., reset voltage).
In the load control device (1) of the second aspect, in the first aspect, the control unit (17) controls the wireless unit (5) so that the power consumption of the wireless unit (5) decreases as the output voltage (V1) of the buffer unit (14) decreases.
According to this configuration, the power supply voltage supplied by the output voltage (V4) of the buffer unit (14) can be prevented from dropping below a predetermined voltage (for example, a reset voltage).
In the load control device (1) according to the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the control unit (17) restricts the operation of the wireless unit (5) when the output voltage (V4) of the buffer unit (14) is equal to or less than the first threshold voltage (Vs 1).
According to this configuration, when the output voltage (V4) of the buffer unit (14) is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage, the operation of the wireless unit (5) is restricted, and therefore, the power supply voltage supplied by the output voltage (V4) of the buffer unit (14) can be prevented from dropping to a predetermined voltage or lower.
In the load control device (1) according to the fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the control unit (17) restricts transmission of the wireless unit (5) as a restriction on the operation of the wireless unit (5).
According to this configuration, the receiving function of the wireless unit (5) can be maintained when the operation of the wireless unit (5) is restricted. This ensures responsiveness to a control signal transmitted from the outside.
In the load control device (1) according to the fifth aspect, in the fourth aspect, the wireless unit (5) determines whether the carrier sense is successful or unsuccessful before transmitting, and the wireless unit (5) transmits when it is determined that the carrier sense is successful and stops transmitting when it is determined that the carrier sense is unsuccessful. The control unit (17) prohibits the wireless unit (5) from transmitting by determining that the wireless unit (5) has failed carrier sense.
According to this configuration, the wireless unit (5) can be inhibited from transmitting by the carrier sense processing of the wireless unit (5).
In the load control device (1) according to the sixth aspect, in the fourth or fifth aspect, the control unit (17) prohibits the wireless unit (5) from starting a new transmission as a restriction on the operation of the wireless unit (5).
According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress stopping transmission in the middle of transmission, and as a result, it is possible to improve the responsiveness of transmission by the wireless unit (5).
In the load control device (1) according to the seventh aspect, in any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the control unit (17) allows the wireless unit (5) to perform specific transmission.
According to this configuration, it is possible to avoid stopping all the transmission functions of the wireless unit (5).
In the load control device (1) according to the eighth aspect, in any one of the second to seventh aspects, the control unit (17) prohibits the wireless unit (5) from receiving when the output voltage (V4) of the buffer unit (14) is equal to or less than the second threshold voltage (Vs 2) that is smaller than the first threshold voltage (Vs 1).
According to this configuration, when the output voltage (V4) of the buffer unit (14) is equal to or less than the second threshold voltage (Vs 2), the wireless unit (5) is inhibited from receiving. Therefore, the power supply voltage supplied by the output voltage (V4) of the buffer part (14) can be further prevented from dropping below a predetermined voltage (for example, reset voltage).
In the load control device (1) according to the ninth aspect, in the eighth aspect, when the output voltage (V4) of the buffer unit (14) is equal to or greater than the third threshold voltage (Vs 3) that is greater than the second threshold voltage (Vs 2), the control unit (17) releases the prohibition of the wireless unit (5) from receiving.
According to this configuration, the reception prohibition and prohibition release of the wireless unit (5) before and after the second threshold voltage (Vs 2) can be suppressed from being repeated a plurality of times.
In the load control device (1) according to the tenth aspect, in the eighth aspect, the third threshold voltage (Vs 3) is equal to or higher than the first threshold voltage (Vs 1).
According to this configuration, the wireless unit (5) can be returned to the reception function and the transmission function.
In the load control device (1) according to the eleventh aspect, in any one of the first to tenth aspects, the wireless unit (5) performs intermittent reception in which the receivable state and the non-receivable state are repeated every fixed time during the waiting period.
According to this configuration, the power consumption of the wireless unit (5) during reception during standby can be reduced.
In the load control device (1) according to the twelfth aspect, in the eleventh aspect, the period of intermittent reception is shorter than the ac period of the ac power.
According to this structure, the receivable period in the intermittent reception period can be sufficiently shortened. Thus, the power consumption of the reception in one receivable period can be reduced, and therefore the stored charge of the buffer unit (14) can be suppressed from being lowered at a time due to the power consumption of the reception by the wireless unit (5).
The load control method of the thirteenth aspect is a load control method for controlling the load control device (1). The load control device (1) is provided with a switch unit (2), a switch control unit (4), a conversion unit (10), a wireless unit (5), a buffer unit (14), and a control unit (17). The switching unit (2) controls the supply of electric power from the AC power supply (B1) to the load (Q1) by switching on and off the AC power supply (B1) and the load (Q1), thereby operating and stopping the load (Q1). The switch control unit (4) controls the switch unit (2). The conversion unit (10) converts alternating-current power supplied from an alternating-current power supply (B1) into direct-current power. The wireless unit (5) operates using the DC power converted by the conversion unit (10), and wireless communication is performed between the wireless unit (5) and an external communication device. The buffer unit (14) stores the DC power converted by the conversion unit (10) in a manner that enables discharge, and can discharge the stored power as DC power to the wireless unit (5). The load control method includes a control process for controlling the wireless section (5) based on the output voltage (V4) of the buffer section (14).
A program of a fourteenth aspect is a program for causing a computer system to execute the load control method according to the thirteenth aspect.
According to this configuration, a program for causing a processor to execute the above-described load control method can be provided.
Claims (11)
1. A load control device is provided with:
a switching unit that controls supply of electric power from an ac power source to a load by switching on and off the ac power source and the load, thereby operating and stopping the load;
a switch control unit that controls the switch unit;
a conversion unit that converts ac power supplied from the ac power supply into dc power;
a constant voltage circuit that converts the voltage of the dc power converted by the conversion unit to a constant voltage;
a constant current circuit that constantly fluidizes a current of the dc power obtained by the constant voltage circuit;
a wireless unit that operates using the dc power output from the constant current circuit, and performs wireless communication with an external communication device;
a buffer unit that stores the dc power outputted from the constant current circuit in a manner capable of discharging, and that can discharge the stored power to the wireless unit as the dc power; and
A control unit that controls the wireless unit so that power consumption of the wireless unit decreases with a decrease in output voltage of the buffer unit,
wherein the wireless section performs intermittent reception in which a receivable state and an unreceivable state are repeated every fixed time during waiting,
the intermittent reception period is shorter than an alternating-current period of the alternating-current power.
2. The load control device of claim 1 wherein the load control device comprises,
the control unit restricts the operation of the wireless unit when the output voltage of the buffer unit is equal to or lower than a first threshold voltage.
3. The load control device of claim 2 wherein the load control device comprises,
the control unit limits the transmission of the wireless unit as a limitation to the operation of the wireless unit.
4. The load control device of claim 3 wherein,
the wireless unit determines whether carrier sense is successful or failed before transmitting, transmits when it is determined that carrier sense is successful, stops transmitting when it is determined that carrier sense is failed,
the control unit prohibits the radio unit from transmitting by determining that the carrier sense has failed.
5. The load control device of claim 3 or 4 wherein,
as a limitation to the operation of the wireless unit, the control unit prohibits the wireless unit from starting a new transmission.
6. The load control device of claim 3 or 4 wherein,
the control section allows the wireless section to perform specific transmission,
the specific transmission is the transmission of a fire detection signal or an ACK or acknowledgement,
the fire detection signal is a signal for transmitting the meaning to the outside when a fire in the wireless section or the load control device is detected,
the ACK is a signal transmitted to notify the transmitting party that the data is correctly received when the wireless unit receives the data from the transmitting party.
7. The load control device of claim 2 wherein the load control device comprises,
the control unit prohibits the wireless unit from receiving when the output voltage of the buffer unit is equal to or lower than a second threshold voltage that is lower than the first threshold voltage.
8. The load control device of claim 7 wherein the load control device comprises,
when the output voltage of the buffer unit is equal to or higher than a third threshold voltage that is greater than the second threshold voltage, the control unit releases the prohibition of the wireless unit from receiving.
9. The load control device of claim 8 wherein the load control device comprises,
the third threshold voltage is above the first threshold voltage.
10. A load control method for controlling a load control device, the load control device comprising:
a switching unit that controls supply of electric power from an ac power source to a load by switching on and off the ac power source and the load, thereby operating and stopping the load;
a switch control unit that controls the switch unit;
a conversion unit that converts ac power supplied from the ac power supply into dc power;
a constant voltage circuit that converts the voltage of the dc power converted by the conversion unit to a constant voltage;
a constant current circuit that constantly fluidizes a current of the dc power obtained by the constant voltage circuit;
a wireless unit that operates using the dc power output from the constant current circuit, and performs wireless communication with an external communication device; and
a buffer unit that stores the direct current power outputted from the constant current circuit in a manner capable of discharging, and that discharges the stored power to the wireless unit as the direct current power,
The load control method includes a control process of controlling the wireless section so that power consumption of the wireless section decreases with a decrease in output voltage of the buffer section,
wherein the wireless section performs intermittent reception in which a receivable state and an unreceivable state are repeated every fixed time during waiting,
the intermittent reception period is shorter than an alternating-current period of the alternating-current power.
11. A non-transitory recording medium having a memory,
a program for causing a computer system to execute the load control method according to claim 10 is recorded.
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| JP2019099544A JP7458015B2 (en) | 2019-05-28 | 2019-05-28 | Load control device, load control method and program |
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| JP2020195217A (en) | 2020-12-03 |
| CN112020194A (en) | 2020-12-01 |
| TWI734495B (en) | 2021-07-21 |
| JP7458015B2 (en) | 2024-03-29 |
| TW202102060A (en) | 2021-01-01 |
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