JP2001069691A - Power supply control system for electrical machinery and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power supply control system for electrical machinery and apparatus, where a circuit breaker is inexpensively prevented from tripping by only sequentially transmitting a power-on permission signal between electrical apparatuses. SOLUTION: In this system, a plurality of receptacles 18 to 24 are parallel- connected to an indoor wire 16 via a circuit breaker 14 with a large current capacity placed therein. Electrical apparatuses, such as an iron 26, an air conditioner 28, and a microwave oven 30, are connected to the receptacles, and the individual electrical apparatuses are provided with a data generating and receiving unit 40 for transmitting and receiving power-on permission signals, a control unit 42 for performing required processings, and the like. Power-on permission signals are transmitted sequentially between the electrical apparatuses, and the electrical apparatuses are controlled by the control units 42 the individual electrical apparatuses have so that the total amount of current in the electrical apparatuses in operation does not exceed the allowable amount of current of the circuit breaker 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply control system for electric equipment, and more particularly to a power supply control system for electric equipment for controlling, for example, a plurality of electric equipment connected to a power line within an allowable current amount of a breaker device. About the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a power line in a home is generally connected to a power line supplied from a power company through a breaker device to an outlet provided in a room of each home. If this state is referred to as a power supply network, the power supply network that is currently generally used measures the power consumed by various electrical devices and, if the power supply exceeds a certain value, provides power for safety. It has only a breaker function to stop the supply, and there is almost no intelligent function.

For example, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, air conditioners,
When electric appliances that require large power, such as rice cookers and irons, are used simultaneously in the home, the maximum supply power capacity of the home is exceeded, the breaker device is dropped, and not only these electric equipments but also the power supply All electrical equipment connected to the network will be damaged. Therefore, for example, "All the files on the working PC will be lost"
Problems such as "the video program reservation will not be set" occur.

[0004]

As described above, the power supply network currently used in ordinary households does not have an intelligent function, and therefore, when electric equipment that requires large power is used at the same time. However, there is a problem that the breaker device is dropped due to exceeding the upper limit power supply capacity of the home. As a result, not only the electrical equipment desired to be used but also all the electrical equipment connected to the power supply network. Will be affected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a power supply control system for electric equipment which can prevent an open circuit of a breaker device by simply networking a power supply network for electric equipment used at home. Is to provide.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a breaker device having a predetermined current capacity connected to a commercial power supply, and a plurality of electric devices connected to a power line via the breaker device. The electric device includes transmission / reception means for transmitting or receiving a power-on permission signal sequentially transmitted, and the total current amount of the electric device in an operation state by the application of the power-on permission signal indicates a current capacity of the breaker device. A power supply control system for electric equipment, characterized by having individual control means for individually controlling each electric equipment so as not to exceed the following.

[0007]

[Function] By sequentially transmitting a power-on permission signal between the electric devices, each electric device is controlled by the individual control means so that the total current amount of the electric devices in the operating state does not exceed the allowable current amount of the breaker device. can do.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a center control device is not required, and a breaker device can be prevented from being dropped only by exchanging signals between the respective electric devices, so that the power supply to the user-friendly electric devices can be prevented. A control system can be provided.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A power supply control system for electric equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described.

A power supply control system 10, whose overall configuration is schematically shown in FIG. 1, includes a breaker device 14 having a predetermined current capacity connected to a power supply line 12 of a commercial AC power supply 100V AC. A plurality of outlets 18, 2 connected via a wired light line 16
0, 22, 24 and a plurality of electric devices connected to each of these outlets, for example, iron 26, air conditioner 2
8, including a microwave oven 30 and the like. Of course, the present invention is not limited to these electric devices, and includes a television, a video, a personal computer, and the like.

Each electric device connected to the power line 16 can exchange (communicate) digital data using the power line 16 as a medium.

FIG. 2 shows a power line 16 to each outlet 18.
2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of electrical devices connected via the electronic device, that is, an iron 26, an air conditioner 28, a microwave oven 30, and the like.
(trol) processing section 38, data creation / reception section 40, control section 42, and product function section 44.

The control unit 42 is provided with a memory 46, a user I / F 48, and a notification unit 50 in association with each other.

The power line 32 is a power line for transmitting a current supplied from an outlet and data from an electric device.

The filter section 34 has a function of extracting transmitted data from a power line, and a function of creating and transmitting data.
It has a function of transmitting data created by the receiving unit 40 to the power line.

The power supply section 36 has a function of supplying power from the power supply line 32 to each component in the electric equipment.

Further, the MAC processing unit 38 determines whether the data extracted by the filter unit 34 has arrived at itself, and if it is addressed to itself, sends it to the data creation / reception unit 40, If not, discard it.

The data creation / reception unit 40 creates data to be sent to the power line based on an instruction from the control unit 42, sends the data to the MAC processing unit 38, and sends data from the power line through the MAC processing unit 38. It has the function of receiving.

The control unit 42 including a microcomputer performs overall control of each electric device. For example, when the electric device performs data communication with another electric device through a power line, the control unit 42 transmits the data. General control such as exchange of data is performed via the data creation / reception unit 40.

Further, the product function section 44 has a main function of the product, for example, an electric heating function and a cloth-releasing portion for the iron 26, a cooling / heating function and a sensor function for the air conditioner 28, and a cooling / heating function and sensor function for the microwave oven 30. This part realizes a heating function, a timer function, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a signal transmission for cyclically transmitting a power-on permission signal to electric devices connected to the outlets 18 to 24, for example, the iron 26, the air conditioner 28, the microwave oven 30, and other electric devices. is there. In FIG. 3, a “power-on permission signal” is sequentially transmitted between a plurality of electric devices connected to the same power line 16 via each outlet, and the total current amount does not exceed the allowable current amount of the breaker device 14. Thus, each electric device is individually controlled. The power-on permission signal has a data format and a message format shown in FIGS.

The power-on permission signal has additional information in which the amount of current required by the electric equipment whose power is currently turned on is written. This additional information is shown in FIG. Is stored as the additional information list shown in FIG. Then, each electric device is controlled using the additional information.

This eliminates the need for the center control device as in the prior art, and allows the breaker device 14 to be prevented from falling only by exchanging (communicating) a power-on permission signal between the electric devices.

Further, a dynamic ID is assigned to each electric device. That is, an ID other than the ID assigned to the electric device already connected to the same power line 16 is assigned to the newly connected or added electric device.

Here, the power ON permission signal will be further described.

The power-on permission signal has a data format shown in FIG. 4A. The “destination address” is the ID of the destination electrical device, and the “source address” is the source address. Write the ID of the electrical device. When each electric device receives the signal, it firstly receives the I of the “destination address”.
D is checked, and if the ID matches with the own ID, a signal is fetched and necessary processing is performed. After a series of processes shown in a flowchart described later is completed, each device writes the device ID written in the next line of the additional information list shown in FIG. 5 in the “destination address” (the “source address”). Is their own I
D is written), and a signal is transmitted. "Destination address"
If the device with the ID written in is unplugged from the outlet, the signal goes around each device and the "source address"
When the device returns to the device having the ID written in the "Additional information list", the information about the device having the ID written in the "destination address" is deleted from the additional information list, and written in the next line of the additional information list. Then, the ID of the device is written in the “destination address” and a signal is transmitted.

Since the device newly connected to the outlet does not have the device ID at the time of connection, the signal is immediately taken in when the "power-on permission signal" is received, and the device is placed in a blank line of the additional information list. The corresponding ID is obtained, this ID is written in a blank line, and a signal is transmitted next. At this time, the ID written in the “destination address” and the “source address” is not changed.

As one embodiment, the device ID can be assigned in accordance with the line number of the additional information list.
In the example of the additional information list shown in FIG. 5, since this portion is blank, the device with the device ID “3” indicates a state where the device is disconnected from the outlet. When a new device is connected to the outlet, "3" which is a blank line in the additional information list
Is assigned as the device ID.

Each electrical device is preset with information on the maximum amount of current required in accordance with its operating state. In addition, if the power ON permission signal is not at hand, the own power cannot be turned ON. Furthermore, when each electric device receives the power-on permission signal, it knows the total amount of current required by the electric device currently in use from the additional information, and when the power does not exceed the allowable current capacity as a whole even when the power is turned on by itself. Turn on the power. This allowable current capacity is preset to, for example, 20 A which is a standard value of the breaker device 14 in a general home. In addition, each electric device has
It is preferable to provide a change operation device or the like which can freely change the preset allowable current amount within the allowable range by the user.

When the breaker device 14 is cut off with the allowable current amount set to the electric device or less, the allowable current amount is changed to the current value at the time when the breaker device 14 was cut off. Further, the electric device whose power is turned on writes its own ID and the maximum amount of current required in the current use state to the additional information list, and transmits a power-on permission signal to the next electric device. Then, when the electric device whose power is switched from ON to OFF receives the power ON permission signal, it deletes its own ID and the required current amount from the additional information list and transmits the power ON permission signal to the next electric device. I do.

Further, when the operation state of the electric device is changed (for example, when the operation of the electric kettle is switched from "boiling" to "heating"), the additional information list is received when the power ON permission signal is received. The required current amount described in (1) is changed, and the power ON permission signal is transmitted to the next electric device.

When the power ON permission signal is transmitted, if the electric device has already been disconnected from the corresponding outlet, the power ON permission signal is transferred to the next electric device, and the next electric device is disconnected from the outlet. The ID of the electrical device and the required current amount are deleted from the additional information list.

When the electric equipment connected to the outlet has been changed when the power-on permission signal is transmitted, the electric equipment which has received the power-on permission signal is:
The ID and the required current amount of the electric device which was previously connected to the outlet and whose power was turned on are deleted from the additional information. When it is determined from the additional information of the power-on permission signal that the power supply itself exceeds the allowable current when the power is turned on, the electric device does not turn on its own power, and its own ID and power supply are added to the additional information. ON request, required current amount,
The power-on permission signal is transmitted to the next electric device after the priority grade is added.

Further, when the power-on electric device receives the power-on permission signal, it determines whether or not there is a power-on request in the additional information. Determine if the grade is lower than your priority grade. As a result, if the user's own priority grade is lower, when the user changes his / her own operation state, it can be determined whether or not the amount of current required by the electric device that has issued the power-on request can be secured. In such a case, the operation state is changed. Then, the electric device whose operation state has been changed, adds a power ON request and a current amount and a priority grade necessary for returning to the original operation state to the additional information, and sends a power ON permission signal to the next electric device. Transmit.

If the amount of current cannot be secured even after the operation state is changed, the power is turned off, the power-on request and the priority grade of the additional information are added, and the power is turned on.
The permission signal is transmitted to the next electric device.

The above-mentioned priority grade is, for example, “high”
It is preset in three stages of “medium” and “low” according to the characteristics of each electric device. It is preferable to provide a change operation device or the like that allows the user to freely change the preset priority grade. In addition, some electric devices are provided with an automatic change mechanism for automatically changing the priority according to the state of the electric device. For example, in the case of a refrigerator, the priority is "medium" when the compressor tries to turn on normally.
However, the priority is automatically changed to “high” when the internal temperature becomes equal to or higher than a certain value.

Next, the above-mentioned situation will be described with reference to a series of operation flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, in FIG. 6, each of the electric devices receives a power-on permission signal in the data creation / reception unit 40 in step S1, and the control unit 42 including the microcomputer transmits the "transmission destination address" in step S3. It is determined whether or not the ID is the same as the own ID. If the result is "YES" and the result is "YES", in step S5, the control unit 42 determines whether or not information other than ID is described in the line of own ID in the additional information list, and the result is "NO". If it is not described with "", the switch O is further added in step S7.
The control unit 42 also determines whether or not there is an N operation. If the result is "NO", a power-on permission signal is transmitted to the device of the next ID in step S9.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S3 is "NO", that is, if they do not coincide, the process is ended. Then, if the decision result in the step S5 is "YES", the process proceeds to a step S11 in FIG. 7 and the decision result in the step S7 is "Y".
If "ES", the process proceeds to step S27 in FIG.

Next, the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 will be described. First, in step S11, own information is acquired from the additional information list of the power-on permission signal. And
In step S13, the control unit 42 determines whether or not the current operation state is ON. If the result is "YES", the flow proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the control section 42 also determines whether or not the current operation state and the current amount are the same. If the result is "YES", further in step S17, it is determined whether or not there is a power-on request in the additional information list. Judge. If the result is "NO", it is determined in step S19 whether or not there is a request to change its own operation state. If the result is "NO", the power-on permission signal is transmitted to the next ID in step S21. To the device.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S13 is "N
If "O", then in step S23 I
The information other than D is deleted, and the process proceeds to step S9 in FIG. On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S15 is "NO", the current amount of the additional information is changed in a step S25 and the step S25 is executed.
Proceed to 17. Further, if the determination result of step S17 is “Y
ES ”, the process proceeds to step S39 in FIG.
If the decision result in the step S19 is "YES", FIG.
The process proceeds to step S27.

Referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the electric device which has received the power-on permission signal in step S27 determines the current total current amount Q based on the additional information.
Is calculated by the control unit 42, and in step S29, the total current amount (Q +
P) does not exceed the allowable current amount M of the breaker device 14, and if the result is "YES", a step S is executed.
In step S33, the power supply is turned on, and in step S33, the usage current is added to the additional information.
Go to 9.

If the result of the determination in step S29 is "NO", the user is notified by the notifying unit 50 in step S35, and further in step S37 the power-on request, the required current amount and the priority are included in the additional information. Then, the process proceeds to step S9 in FIG. 6, and transmits a power-on permission signal to the device having the next ID.

Finally, the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 will be described. In step S39, the control unit 42 mounted on each electric device determines whether or not its own priority is lower than the priority of the power-on request. If the result is "YES", in step S41, it is determined whether or not the total current amount (Q + R) of the current total use current amount Q and the current amount R of the power-on request does not exceed the allowable current amount M of the breaker device 14. If the result is "NO", it is determined whether or not the current amount P 'after the change of the operation state is further reduced to within the allowable current amount M in step S43.

If the result is "YES", the operation state is changed in step S45, the current amount of the additional information is changed in step S47, and the power-on request and the operation state are added to the additional information in step 49. The amount of current and the priority required to return to the state are added, and the power is turned on in step S9 in FIG.
The permission signal is transmitted to the device of the next ID.

When the result of the determination in step S39 is "NO" and the result of the determination in step S41 is "YES", the power is turned on in step S9 of FIG.
The permission signal is transmitted to the device of the next ID. If the decision result in the step S43 is "NO", a step S5
1 to turn off the power, and further adds a power-on request and priority to the additional information in step S53.
At 9, a power-on permission signal is transmitted to the device of the next ID.

Thus, a series of operation flows is completed, and thereafter, this cycle is repeatedly executed. Then, a power-on permission signal is sequentially transmitted to each electric device, and the electric device that has received this signal determines whether the total current amount of each operating electric device is within the allowable current amount of the breaker device by the control unit including the microcomputer. If this is the case, the device itself is operably controlled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a power supply control system for electric equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of each electric device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a signal transmission for sequentially transmitting a power-on permission signal to each electric device.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing a format of transmission / reception data held by a power-on permission signal and a format of a message thereof.

FIG. 5 is an additional information list in which information necessary for processing in each electric device is described, and is stored in a message portion of a data format shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation after receiving a power-on permission signal.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation after acquiring information on a connected outlet.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation after a current total current usage is calculated from additional information.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation after comparing the priority of the user with the priority of a power-on request.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Power supply control system 12 ... Power supply line 14 ... Breaker device 16 ... Electric light line 18, 20, 22, 24 ... Outlet 26 ... Iron 28 ... Air conditioner 30 ... Microwave oven 32 ... Power supply line 34 ... Filter part 36 ... Power supply Part 38: MAC (Media Access Cont)
(roll) processing unit 40: data creation / reception unit 42: control unit (including microcomputer) 44: product function unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Nagatoshi Sugihara 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5G064 AA09 AC01 AC06 CB11 DA07 5G066 KA01 KA11 KD01

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A power supply system comprising: a breaker device having a predetermined current capacity connected to a commercial power supply; and a plurality of electric devices connected to a power line via the breaker device. Transmission / reception means for transmitting or receiving a permission signal, and each of the electric devices in an operating state by the application of the power-on permission signal so that the total current amount of the electric devices does not exceed the current capacity of the breaker device. A power supply control system for electric equipment, comprising: individual control means for individually controlling electric equipment. 2. The power-on permission signal indicates that the power is currently turned on.
The power supply control system for an electric device according to claim 1, further comprising additional information such as an amount of current required by the electric device. 3. The power supply control system for an electric device according to claim 2, wherein said current amount is a maximum current amount required by said electric device. 4. The individual control means, if it is determined that the sum of the total amount of current required by each electric device currently in use and the amount of current required by itself is within the allowable current amount of the breaker device, The power supply control system for an electric device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a power supply of the electric device provided with (i) is turned on. 5. The individual control means, when it is determined that the sum of the total amount of current required by each electric device currently in use and the amount of current required by itself exceeds the allowable current amount of the breaker device, Presenting an unusable state to a user without turning on a power supply of an electric device provided with the apparatus;
A power supply control system for an electric device according to claim 1. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said individual control means adds a power-on request, a required current amount, and a priority to said additional information and transmits said power-on permission signal to a next electric device. 6. A power supply control system for an electric device according to claim 5. 7. The individual control means, when the power-on request is included in the additional information, when it is determined that the priority is lower than the priority of the electric equipment provided with the power-on request, or when the power-on request is high. 7. The power supply control system for an electric device according to claim 6, wherein when it is determined that the required current amount exceeds the allowable current amount, the power ON permission signal is transmitted to the next electric device. .