JP2002027572A - Domestic installation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a domestic installation apparatus which restrains decrease of output as the total operation to a minimum, by changing a previously determined operation program when capability is decreased during operation of the apparatus according to a capability decreasing demand from a network in a home. SOLUTION: When the capability decreasing demand to an apparatus is received from the outside of the apparatus through a network in a home, and the capability is lowered, the residual output amount is calculated from the difference between the necessary total output amount and the integrated output amount until the present. The time which can attain the residual output amount by the present output value is updated as residual operation time. When the capability decreasing demand is released, output is made larger than an output value which is set previously in order to reduce the extension of operation time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to household equipment capable of communicating information by connecting to a home network, and more particularly to a household equipment that executes a predetermined operation program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, household power DSM (Demand S) has been used for the purpose of suppressing power consumption in general households.
There is known an “ide Managemant” system. In particular, recently, there has been known a device that uses a home network to limit the power consumption of a home device terminal connected to the network.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-313441 discloses a system in which equipment and a DSM control device are connected to a home network, and the DSM control device restricts the use of power from outside the home such as a power company. When a command is received, each equipment is controlled so as to optimally realize the DSM command according to the status of each equipment.
In this system, when each facility device receives a command for limiting the power consumption of the device from the DSM control device, it responds by reducing the capability of the device.

[0004] For example, when a bathroom heating / drying machine receives a command for limiting the power consumption from the DSM controller through a home network while operating at a heater output of 1.0 kW in a drying mode, the heater output is set to, for example, 0.6 kW. Continue to run at lower.

[0005]

However, in equipment that operates according to an operation program preset by a user, the capability is forcibly reduced by a DSM command during a certain period during operation. If there is, there is a possibility that the effect expected by the user at the beginning may not be obtained when the entire operation is considered.

For example, it is assumed that a user starts operation in a bathroom heater / dryer by setting a drying mode (heater output: 1.0 kW) and an operation time of 3 hours in order to dry laundry in the bathroom. Here, for example, even though the DSM command is received during the operation and the heater output is forcibly reduced to 0.6 kW for 2 hours, the operation is completed when the bathroom heater / dryer finishes the operation in 3 hours as originally set. Since the performance is reduced as a whole, there is a possibility that the laundry is not sufficiently dried.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to determine a predetermined capacity even when the capacity is reduced during operation of a device due to a capacity reduction request from a home network. The present invention provides a household equipment device that minimizes a decrease in output as a whole operation by changing an operating program.

Further, since the present invention can function solely with household equipment, the function can be exhibited by connecting to an arbitrary network that issues a capability reduction command to network equipment terminals.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems and Action / Effect To achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is connected to a home network so as to be able to communicate with information and has a predetermined operating time which is predetermined. And household equipment that operates with an operation program consisting of a predetermined power output,
Network communication means capable of communicating information by connecting to the home network, control means for controlling the operation of the equipment, integration means for integrating the amount of output power during operation, and capacity reduction for the equipment from outside the equipment through the home network A home characterized by comprising an operation program changing means for changing an operation program of a predetermined device based on a difference between the output power amount of the integrating means and a scheduled total output power amount at the time of receiving the command. Provide equipment for home use.

[0010] According to the present invention, even when a device is reduced in performance by receiving a capability reduction command from the outside of the device through a home network during operation of the device according to a predetermined operation program, even if the capability of the device is reduced, Since the predetermined operation program is changed so as to supplement the quantity, it is possible to minimize a decrease in the capability expected in advance as the whole operation.

Thus, the user expects the effect in advance,
Despite setting the operation program of the equipment and starting the operation, there was a performance decrease due to a capacity reduction command from the outside of the equipment during the operation, so the effect expected in advance at the end of the operation could not be obtained. Can be minimized.

Further, since the present invention can function solely with household equipment, the function can be exhibited by connecting to an arbitrary network that issues a capability reduction command to network equipment terminals.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the operation time of a predetermined operation program for a device is extended based on a difference between the output power amount and a scheduled total output power amount. To provide household equipment.

According to the present invention, the operation time is further extended with respect to the operation time of the predetermined operation program. Therefore, the capacity decrease outputted by the extended time compensates for the capacity decrease by the capacity decrease command. become. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance as a whole operation.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the capability of a predetermined operation program of a device is increased based on the difference between the output power amount and the scheduled total output power amount. Provide equipment for home use.

According to the present invention, since the capacity is further increased with respect to the capacity of the predetermined operation program, the increased capacity compensates for the capacity reduction due to the capacity reduction request. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance as a whole operation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the operation time of a predetermined operation program of a device is extended based on a difference between the output power amount and a scheduled total output power amount, and the capacity of the device is increased. To provide household equipment that is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, since the operating time is extended and the capacity is further increased with respect to the operating time and the capacity of the predetermined operation program, the capacity reduction request is obtained by the extended operating time and the increased capacity. This will compensate for the reduced capacity due to Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance as a whole operation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a home comprising a notifying means for notifying a change in the operation program to the outside of the device based on a change in a predetermined operation program of the device. Provide equipment for home use.

According to the present invention, the user can be informed that the operating program has been changed by the notification means, so that it is possible to prevent the user from being confused when the device changes the predetermined operating program. be able to.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a household device, comprising operating means for stopping the change of the driving program, and stopping the change of the driving program based on the operation of the operating means. Provide equipment.

According to the present invention, the change of the driving program can be stopped at the will of the user.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a priority signal including a signal indicating that the user does not want to forcibly lower the capability even when a capability reduction command for the device is received from the outside of the device via the home network. Provided is a household equipment device characterized by transmitting to outside of the device.

According to the present invention, a signal indicating that the user wants to execute a predetermined driving program with the highest priority can be transmitted to the outside of the device through the home network.

The invention according to claim 8 is based on the operation of the operation means for stopping the change of the operation program.
A home equipment device characterized in that the network transmission means transmits a priority signal including a signal indicating that the capability is not to be forcibly reduced to outside the device.

According to the present invention, a signal indicating that a predetermined operation program is to be executed with the highest priority can be transmitted to the outside of the device through the home network according to the user's will.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a household equipment, wherein the household equipment is a bathroom heating / drying machine.

According to the present invention, the bathroom heater / dryer receives a performance reduction request from outside the device through the home network during operation according to a predetermined operation program such as “heating” or “drying”. Even if the capacity of the equipment is reduced, the predetermined operation program is changed so as to compensate for this reduction in capacity. A dryer can be realized.

Thus, it is possible to minimize problems such as that the bathroom did not warm up as expected by the user after the heating operation, or that the clothes did not dry sufficiently after the drying operation. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a household equipment, wherein the household equipment is a dishwasher.

According to the present invention, the dishwasher receives a performance reduction request from outside the device through the home network during operation according to a predetermined operation program such as "washing" or "drying". Even if the performance of the dishwasher is reduced, the predetermined operation program is changed so as to compensate for the reduced capacity, so that the dishwasher that minimizes the drop in the capacity expected in the entire operation is minimized. Can be realized.

Thus, it is possible to minimize problems such as that the dishes were not sufficiently washed after the washing operation, and the dishes were not sufficiently dried after the drying operation.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a bathroom heater / dryer as an example of household equipment of the present invention.

The bathroom heater / dryer body 1 is installed on the ceiling in the bathroom, and a network communication device 2 capable of communicating information with the outside of the device through a home network, a control device 3 for controlling the operation of the device, A ventilation fan 6 for discharging air out of the bathroom, a circulation fan 7 for circulating air in the bathroom, a heater 5 for heating the air circulated by the circulation fan 7, a ventilation fan 6, a circulation fan 7, and a heater 5. It comprises an integrating device 4 for integrating the output electric energy during operation.

The bathroom heater / dryer remote controller 8 is installed outside the bathroom, and includes a stop switch 9, a change stop switch 10, a heating switch 11, a drying switch 12, and a reservation switch 1.
3, + switch 14,-switch 15, operation change display L
ED16, heating indication LED17, drying indication LED18,
Strong display LED19, weak display LED20, reservation display LED
21, a reservation / operation time display LED 22.

FIG. 2 shows the power output by the bathroom heater / dryer during normal operation. 0.8kW for strong mode of heating operation,
The weak mode is 0.6 kW. The strong mode of the drying operation is 1.0 kW, and the weak mode is 0.8 kW.

The user performs a driving operation with the bathroom heater / dryer remote controller 8. When the heating switch 11 is pressed, the heating display LED 17 is turned on, and the bathroom heater / dryer body 1 starts the heating operation. Heating switch 11
It switches each time you press. In strong mode, strong display LE
D, In the weak mode, the weak display LED is turned on. The operation time is displayed by the reservation / operation display LED 22 in units of 0.5 hours. The operation time can be arbitrarily set in increments of 0.5 hours by incrementing and decrementing the operation time by the + switch 14 and the-switch 15, respectively.

When the heating operation is started in the bathroom heater / dryer body 1, the circulation fan 7 is turned on by the control device 3 to energize the heater 5. These additional output powers are 0.
It is controlled at 8 kW and 0.6 kW in the weak mode. The output power during operation is integrated by the integrating device 4.

The preset operation time is counted down during operation, and the remaining operation time is displayed on the reservation / operation time display LED 22 in units of 0.5 hours. Here, when the remaining operation time becomes 0, the circulation fan 7 and the heater 5 are stopped, and the heating operation is ended to be in a standby state.

Similarly, in the drying operation, when the drying switch 12 is pressed, the drying display LED 18 is turned on, and the bathroom heating / drying machine body 1 starts the drying operation. The strong mode and the weak mode are switched every time the drying switch 12 is pressed. The display of the strong and weak modes and the setting and display of the operation time are the same as in the heating mode.

When the drying operation is started in the bathroom heater / dryer main body 1, the control device 3 controls the ventilation fan 6 and the circulation fan 7.
Is turned on and the heater 5 is energized. The output power of these loads is controlled to 1.0 kW in the strong mode and 0.8 kW in the weak mode. The output power during operation is integrated by the integrating device 4.

The preset operation time is counted down during operation, and the remaining operation time is displayed on the reservation / operation time display LED 22 in units of 0.5 hours. Here, when the remaining operation time becomes 0, the ventilation fan 6, the circulation fan 7, and the heater 5 are stopped, and the drying operation is ended to be in a standby state.

The reservation is made by pressing the reservation switch in the standby state. When the reservation switch 13 is pressed, the reservation setting mode is set, and the reservation display LED 21 blinks. Here, the operation mode is selected by the heating switch 11 and the drying switch 12, and the reservation time (operation start time) is set by the + switch 14 and the-switch 15. When these settings are completed, the reservation switch 13 is pressed again to enter the reservation standby mode, and the reservation display LED 21 and the LED corresponding to the selected operation mode are turned on.

During the reservation standby mode, the reservation time is displayed on the reservation / operation time display LED 22 and is counted down in units of 0.5 hours. Then, when the reserved time reaches 0, the operation is started with the operation program reserved in the reservation setting mode.

The operation change display LED 16 is used for the operation program set by the user with the bathroom heating / drying machine remote controller 8.
When changes can be made from the device side (change permission mode)
And flashes during the actual change.

The change stop switch 10 is pressed by the user when the change is to be stopped in the change permission mode. As a result, the operation change display LED 16 is turned off, and the change from the device side is prohibited (change stop mode). When the change stop switch 10 is pressed again, the operation change display LED 16 lights up, and the change from the device side is permitted (change permission mode).

When the stop switch 9 is depressed, all settings are canceled and stopped even during the operation, and the operation returns to the standby state.

The network communication device 2 allows the bathroom heater / dryer to communicate with the outside of the device through the home network. As a result, it is possible to receive a device control command, such as reducing the capability in response to a request for reducing power consumption from outside the device, and to transmit information on the device to the outside of the device.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention having the preceding configuration will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing specific control of the present invention. The operation starts according to a predetermined operation program depending on whether the user has operated the bathroom heating / drying machine 8 or whether the reservation time (operation start time) has become 0 (S1). When the operation starts, first, the required total output amount set in the current operation is calculated from the operation program (that is, the set output value and the set operation time) (S
2). For example, the strong mode of the heating operation (the output is 0.8 k
If the operation time is 5 hours in W), the total output is 4.0 k
Wh.

Next, the output value output by the bathroom heater / dryer body is determined and output according to each condition. Here, the output is the ON of the ventilation fan 6 and the circulation fan 7 and the energization of the heater 5. The output value is the output power of these loads.

The user operates the change stop switch 10 to enter the change stop mode in which the change of the operation program is currently prohibited (S3-YES), or the capacity from the outside of the device has been at least once since the start of the main operation. If there is no lowering request (S4-NO), the output is performed at a predetermined set output value (0.8 kW in the example) (S6).

Also, if the current mode is not the change stop mode (S3-NO) and there has been a capacity reduction request from the outside of the device even once from the start of this operation to the present (S4-Y).
In ES), if there is still a request for a capacity reduction (S5-
YES), the capability is reduced based on the capability reduction request (S7) (for example, 0.4 kW).

On the other hand, when the current mode is not the change stop mode (S3-NO) and there is a capacity reduction request from outside of the device even once from the start of the main operation to the present (S4-Y).
In ES), if there is no request for lowering the capacity at present (S5
-NO), an output value larger than a predetermined set output value is output (S8) (for example, 1.0 kW).

After outputting at each output value, the output values are integrated. Every time the unit time elapses (S9-YES), the current output value (output amount per unit time) is integrated (S10). Thus, the output amounts output up to the present stage since the start of the operation are integrated. For example, 0.
When 1.0 hour elapses after the start of operation at an output of 8 kW, the integrated amount becomes 0.8 kWh.

Next, a difference value between the total output amount calculated at the start of operation and the integrated amount is calculated (S11). For example, if the total output amount is 4.0 kWh and the integrated amount is 0.8 kWh, the difference value is 3.2 kWh. Note that this difference value represents the remaining output amount at the current stage that must be output in order to achieve the total output amount output when a predetermined operation program is performed.

Next, the above difference value and (S6) (S7) (S
The remaining operation time is calculated based on the output value of the current stage output in any of 8) (S12). For example, if the difference value is 3.
If the output value at this stage is 0.8 W at 2 kWh, the remaining operation time is 4.0 hours. This remaining operation time represents the time required to achieve the remaining output amount at the current output value.

Next, the remaining operation time is checked (S1).
3). Here, if the remaining operation time still remains, the process is looped to (S3) and the process is continued (S13-NO). If the remaining operation time is 0 (S13-YES), the output is stopped (the ventilation fan 6 and the circulation fan 7 are turned off, and the power supply to the heater 5 is stopped) (S14). Then, the current operation ends (S15).

Hereinafter, a specific operation example will be described with reference to a time chart. FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 show time charts when the operation is performed in the strong heating mode (0.8 kW) with the operation time set to 5.0 hours. The lower part of the horizontal axis indicates the operation time (elapsed time) “h” from 0h at the start of operation. The upper part of the horizontal axis indicates an integrated output amount “kWh” obtained by integrating output values from 0h at the start of operation. The vertical axis indicates the output value “k
W ”.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an operation according to a predetermined operation program. Start operation at output value 0.8kW at operation time 0h, and
The operation is ended at the operation time of 5.0 h with the output of W. The total integrated output amount in this normal operation is 4.0 kWh.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the operation of the conventional example when a request is made from the outside of the device to reduce the output value to 0.4 kW during operation. Operating time 1.0h
To reduce the output value to 0.4 kW in response to a request from outside the device. The request lasted 3 hours, so 1.0h to 4.0
The output value is 0.4 kW up to h. Since there is no request at 4.0 h, the operation returns to 0.8 kW as set in advance, and the operation is stopped at 5.0 h. The total integrated output amount in this operation is 2.8 kWh, which is 4.0 kW in the normal operation.
This is a considerably low value for h.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the operation according to the embodiment of the present invention when a request is made from the outside of the device to lower the output value to 0.4 kW during the operation. At an operation time of 1.0 h, the output value is reduced to 0.4 kW in response to a request from outside the device. At the time of 1.0 h, the output integrated amount is 0.8 kWh, and the expected total output amount is 4.0 k.
The remaining output amount is 3.2 kWh with respect to Wh. Since the current output value is 0.4 kW and 8.0 h is required to output the remaining output amount, the remaining operation time at the time of 1.0 h is 8.0 h (total operation time is 9.0 h). . 4.0
h, the output reduction request is canceled, but once the output reduction request has been issued since the start of the main operation (operation time of 1.0
h to 4.0 h), the output is higher than 1.0 kW instead of 0.8 kW as set in advance.
Is set to The integrated output amount at the time of 4.0h is 2.0k
Wh and the expected total output of 4.0 kWh, the remaining output is 2.0 kWh. Current output value is 1.0k
At W, 2.0 h is required to output the remaining output amount, so the remaining operation time at 4.0 h is 2.0 h (total operation time is 6.0 h). Thereafter, the operation is terminated at the time point of 6.0 h after the continuation of the remaining operation time. As described above, although the capacity is reduced on the way, the expected total output of 4.0 kWh can be output by extending the operation time by 1.0 h.

Similarly, FIG. 7 is a time chart in the case where a request to reduce the output value to 0.4 kW is issued from the outside of the device during operation, and shows an operation according to another aspect of the embodiment of the present invention. . Since the output value was reduced to 0.4 kW in response to a request from the outside of the device in the operation time of 1.0 h and the subsequent operation program was changed, the operation change LED 16 of the bathroom heating / drying machine remote control is blinked. The user notices the blinking of the operation change LED 16 at the time of the operation time 2.0 h, but presses the change stop switch 10 because he wants to take a bath sooner and gives priority to bathroom heating. The control device 3 of the bathroom heater / dryer thereby cancels the change of the operation program (extension of the operation time in this case), and outputs a signal indicating that the operation of the bathroom heater / dryer is to be prioritized by the network communication device to the external device. Send to degradation request source. Here, the source of the capability reduction request receives the signal that wants to give priority to the operation of the device,
Release the capability degradation request (whether or not to release the capability degradation request depends on the specifications of the connected network system, but this can at least prioritize the user's will). At 2.0 h, since the request for lowering the capacity was released, the output was returned to 0.8 kW.
Operation stops at 0h.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described by taking a bathroom heater / dryer as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to a bathroom heater / dryer but is connected to a home network so as to be able to communicate with information and is predetermined. The effect can be exerted if the equipment is a household facility device that performs an operation according to an operation program including a predetermined operation time and a predetermined power output.

For example, in a dishwasher, an operation program consisting of an operation time of a “washing” course for washing dishes with hot water and an electric power output to a heater for heating the washing water, or “drying” for drying dishes with hot air. The present invention can be applied to an operation program including an operation time of a course and an electric power output to a heater for heating the drying air in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment of the bathroom heating / drying machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bathroom heating / drying machine.

FIG. 2 is a table showing a relationship between an operation mode of a bathroom heater / dryer and output power.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a normal operation of a bathroom heating / drying machine.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a conventional operation when the capacity is reduced during the operation of the bathroom heater / dryer.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the operation according to the embodiment of the present invention when the capacity is reduced during the operation of the bathroom heater / dryer.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing an operation according to another aspect of the embodiment of the present invention when the capacity is reduced during the operation of the bathroom heater / dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... bathroom heating dryer main body 2 ... network communication means,
3 ... Control device, 4 ... Integration device, 5 ... Heater, 6 ... Ventilation fan, 7 ... Circulation fan, 8 ... Bathroom drying and heating machine remote control,
9 stop switch, 10 change stop switch, 11 heating switch, 12 drying, 13 reservation switch, 14 +
Switch, 15 ...-Switch, 16 ... Operation change display LE
D, 17: heating indication LED, 18: drying indication LED, 1
9 ... High display LED, 20 ... Low display LED, 21 ... Reservation switch, 22 ... Reservation / driving time display LED

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5G064 AA04 AC05 CB10 DA07 5K048 AA06 AA16 BA08 BA12 BA14 CA05 EB02 EB06 EB11 FB10 FC01 HA04 HA06 HA24

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A home facility device connected to a home network so as to be able to communicate with information and performing an operation according to an operation program including a predetermined operation time and an output of a predetermined power. Network communication means capable of connecting and communicating information, control means for controlling the operation of the equipment, integration means for integrating the output power during operation, and reception of a command to lower the capacity of the equipment from outside the equipment through the home network A household equipment device comprising an operation program changing means for changing an operation program of a predetermined device based on a difference between the output power amount of the integrating means and a scheduled total output power amount at times. . 2. The household equipment according to claim 1, wherein said operation program changing means extends the operation time of a predetermined operation program. 3. The household equipment according to claim 1, wherein said operation program changing means increases the capability of a device having a predetermined operation program. 4. The household equipment according to claim 1, wherein the operation program changing means extends a predetermined operation time to increase the capability of the equipment. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a notifying unit configured to notify a change in the operation program to the outside of the device based on a change in the predetermined operation program of the device. Household equipment. 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit for stopping the change of the operation program, wherein the change of the operation program is stopped based on an operation of the operation unit. Household equipment as described. 7. A network transmission means for transmitting a priority signal including a signal indicating that the user does not want to forcibly lower the capability even when receiving a capability reduction command of the device from outside the device through the home network. The household equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: 8. A network transmission unit transmits a priority signal including a signal indicating that the user does not want to forcibly lower the capability based on an operation of an operation unit for canceling the change of the operation program. The household equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: 9. The household equipment according to claim 1, wherein the household equipment is a bathroom heating / drying machine. 10. The household equipment according to claim 1, wherein the household equipment is a dishwasher / dryer.