JP2003319572A - Power control system for indoor equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the peak of power consumption by ensuring an electric power source for a necessary equipment within a contract power by disconnecting other electric equipment. <P>SOLUTION: This system is equipped with a terminal device 30 provided with a switch circuit 302 carrying a current to a home electric equipment 40 and interrupting it and a main device 20 connected between a distribution panel 10 and the terminal device 30 to perform control of carrying/interrupting of a current in the home electric equipment 40 and monitoring of power consumption through the terminal device 30. The main device 20 controls the terminal device 30 in accordance with a relation between a duty cycle of power and a priority order of the home electric equipment 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for controlling power distribution to indoor equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the standard contracted electric power (capacity of a power receiving breaker) with an electric power company in a general household is less than the total electric power used by the equipment. If you purchase a new home electric appliance and intentionally use it in bursts that exceed the contracted power capacity, the power breaker is cut off and you cannot use all the home electric appliances. In order to prevent this, use the home electric appliances with care so that the total power supply capacity (total current amount) of the home electric appliances used does not exceed the contracted capacity.
It was necessary to raise the contract power.

Further, since the conventional electric power control system for home electric appliances is a technique or system for realizing energy saving, it is not possible for the user to control intentionally to use electric power.

[0004]

In the future, under the assumption that centralized management of home electric appliances such as information homes will be performed in the future, an apparatus for controlling, monitoring, and notifying failure of each home electric appliance will be provided. There is a concern that the introduction of power will significantly increase the power capacity. The problem can be solved by increasing the amount of electricity contracted with the electric power company, but it is significant in terms of energy reduction for the purpose of global environmental protection, the limit of the electric power company's power plant capacity, and financial pressure on each household. Clearly, this is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide an indoor equipment power control system capable of reducing the peak value of power consumption by securing the power supply of required equipment within the contracted power and cutting off the power supply other than that. That is.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an indoor equipment power control system for controlling a plurality of home electric appliances installed in a home according to the capacity of a home electric power breaker, wherein each of the home electric appliances is provided. A plurality of terminal devices each having a switch circuit for energizing / disconnecting power to and from the distribution board and each of the terminal devices, and controlling and consuming the energization / interruption of each of the home electric appliances via the terminal devices. An indoor equipment power control system, comprising: a main device that monitors electric power, the main device controlling the terminal device according to a relationship between a power usage rate and a priority order of each of the home appliances. did.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the indoor equipment power control system according to the first aspect, the main device is
The indoor device power control system is characterized by including a screen having a display unit for displaying operation instructions and states and a touch operation input unit, and a communication IF circuit connected to a mobile terminal via the Internet.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the indoor equipment power control system according to the second aspect, the main device is
Indoor equipment power control, comprising means for notifying the portable terminal of a request for manual interruption of energization of the home electric appliance via the communication IF circuit when the power usage rate exceeds a predetermined value The system.

The invention according to claim 4 relates to claims 1 to 3.
In the indoor equipment power control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the main device includes an auxiliary power supply that operates during a power failure, and when the power usage rate exceeds the predetermined value, power supply for operating the main device is provided. The indoor equipment power control system is characterized by comprising a power supply control circuit for switching from the distribution board to the auxiliary power supply.

The invention according to claim 5 relates to claims 1 to 4.
In the indoor equipment power control system according to any one of items 1 to 5, the main device supplies power to each of the home appliances according to a capacity of each distribution breaker of the distribution board and a current consumption of each of the home appliances. The indoor equipment power control system is characterized by including a switch device for switching paths.

[0011]

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an indoor equipment power control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 is a distribution board that distributes the electric power received from the outside through the power line 1 to the power line 2, and 20 is a main device that performs switching of a power feeding path from the power line 2 to the power line 3 and so on. Thirty
Is a terminal device to which the home electric appliance 40 is connected, and is the main device 2
The control of power supply / interruption of electric power distributed from 0 from the electric power line 3 to the home electric appliance 40 is performed. 50 is a mobile terminal,
It is connected to the main device 20 via the Internet 60. Reference numeral 4 is a communication line for control, monitoring, etc.
0 and a plurality of terminal devices 30 are connected.

FIG. 2 shows a main unit 20 connected to the distribution board 10.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific internal structure of the power line 2. When the power line 2 is three of 2A, 2B, and 2C, the power line 3 is 3A,
Three cases of 3B and 3C are shown. The main device 20 includes a switch device 201 that controls switching of connections between the three power lines 2 and the three power lines 3, a switch control circuit 202 that controls a switch part of the switch device 201, and a system auxiliary used at the time of power failure. The battery 203 as a power source and the battery 203 that receives power from the switch device 201
A power control circuit 204 for charging the battery and controlling the battery 203 to function as an auxiliary power source, and a CPU for controlling data processing, data transfer, calculation, etc.
(Central processing unit) 205, a memory 206 that stores a control program of the present system, and a floppy (registered trademark) disk device that stores various data such as set values,
Storage medium 20 such as a hard disk device or an optical disk device
7, a screen 208 having a liquid crystal display section for displaying operation instructions and states, and a touch operation input section, a screen display circuit 209 for controlling the display of the screen 208, and the Internet 6
A terminal device for exchanging signals between a communication IF (interface) circuit 210 including a modem or the like for communicating with 0 and a plurality of terminal devices 30 and for supplying power to the plurality of terminal devices 30 for operation. It has a control circuit 211, a bus line 212, and power supply (power) lines 213 to 217.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the switch device 201 of the main device 20 described above. The switch device 201 uses the control signal a3 from the switch control circuit 202 to connect the power lines 2A and 2A connected to the distribution board 10.
B, 2C and power lines 3A, 3 connected to the terminal device 30
The switch units 2011A, 2011B, and 2011C having three contacts for switching the connection (power supply path) with B and 3C are provided. That is, the power lines 2A, 2B, and 2C can be connected to the power lines 3A, 3B, and 3C, respectively, and the currents of the power lines 2A, 2B, and 2C are specified values (each of the power lines 2A, 2B, and 2C of the distribution board 10). The power line 3 connected to the power lines 2A, 2B, 2C by switching the switch units 2011A, 2011B, 2011C so as not to exceed the breaker capacity).
A, 3B and 3C are selected. At this time, when two or more power lines on the output side are connected to one power line on the input side, for example, the power lines 3A and 3B may be connected to the power line 2A.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the terminal device 30, which is a terminal device IF circuit 301 connected to the terminal device control circuit 211 of the main device 20 and a terminal device connected to the power line 3. On / off by IF circuit 301
A switch circuit 302 whose off state is controlled, and a power detection circuit 303 which detects a load current flowing through the switch circuit 302.
And a home electric appliance IF terminal 304 for connecting the load side of the switch circuit 302 to the home electric appliance 40.

Now, the system operation follows the data input at the beginning. Registration of this data, as shown in FIG.
From the screen 208 of the main device 20 or the mobile terminal 50, the use priority order of the home electric appliances 40 and the threshold values a (%) and b of the power usage rate (actually, the ratio of the used current to the contracted current capacity) are used.
(%) Is input and stored in the storage medium 207. Data writing to the storage medium 207 and reading from the memory 206 are performed by the CPU 205.

Assuming that there are four home electric appliances 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, the above-mentioned priority order of the home electric appliances is that the home electric appliance 40B has the highest priority, such as 40B>40C>40D> 40A. Higher ranking, home appliances 4
Set 0A to have the lowest priority. The power usage rate threshold value a is a threshold value for performing switching request notification or forced switch operation, and is set in the range of 1 to 99 (%). The threshold b of the power usage rate is a threshold for performing status notification (warning, etc.), and is 1 to 99.
Set in the range of (%). a and b have a relationship of a> b. Here, a = 99% and b = 90% are set.

As a basic operation, the CPU 205 executes program processing based on the power consumption information signal a1 of the household electric appliance 40 from each terminal device 30 received by the terminal device control circuit 211 and the threshold values a and b set by the user. By the control of the terminal device control circuit 211, the on / off control of the switch circuit 302 of each terminal device 30 is individually performed via the control signal a2. Further, the CPU 205 is the terminal device control circuit 2
11 based on the power consumption information signal a1 received,
By controlling the switch devices 2011A, 2011B, and 2011C of the switch device 201 via the control signal a3 by the program processing and the control of the switch control circuit 202, the power feeding path is switched, and the power line 2 is switched.
Each current value is adjusted so that the current does not concentrate on a specific one of A, 2B, and 2C, and the usage rate is controlled to approach 100% of the contracted power value.

As a display operation, the screen 208 causes the screen display circuit 209 to display characters, figures, images, videos, handwritten information and the like. At this time, if a speaker is attached, voice notification can be performed. The set power usage threshold a,
When the value exceeds b or the switch circuit 302 is switched, the system operation state is displayed on the screen 208 by the program processing by the CPU 205 and the display control of the screen display circuit 209. In addition, especially when the power usage rate is the threshold value a
When the value exceeds the limit, the CPU 205 displays a power supply cutoff request of the home electric appliance on the screen 208 by the program processing and the display control of the screen display circuit 209. By touching the screen 208, it is possible to set, control, and read the operating status of the system.

As a communication operation, the communication IF circuit 210 has a modem function for connecting to the Internet, and the CPU 2
By the program processing in 05 and the control of the communication IF circuit 210, similarly to the display control of the screen 208 via the communication signal a4 and the Internet 60, the portable terminal 50 is informed of the operating state of this system and the request to cut off the power supply of home electric appliances. Make notifications. It is also possible to control the system from the portable terminal 50 via the communication IF circuit 210.

As the power supply operation, the CPU 205 performs a program process and control of the power supply control circuit 204 based on the power consumption information signal a1 received by the terminal device control circuit 211 to shut off the power supply line 214 to the power supply control circuit 204 and to charge the battery. Control of connection of the power supply line 215 from 203, or disconnection of the power supply line 215 and connection of the power supply line 214 is performed. Further, the power supply control circuit 204 uses the power supply line 21.
As long as power is supplied to each electronic circuit via the power supply line 3 and the power is supplied by the power supply line 214 of the switch device 201, the power supply line 2
The battery 203 is charged via 16. The terminal device control circuit 211 controls each terminal device 3 via the power supply line 217.
Power is supplied to 0 for device operation.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of control of the power usage state in this operation, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation. Here, as described above, the threshold values a and b of the power usage rate applied in the processes 701, 705, 706, 712, and 713 in the flowchart of FIG. 7 are a = 99.
%, B = 90%, and household appliances 40A, 40B, 40
As described above, the priority of use of C and 40D is 40B>
40C>40D> 40A. At this time, it is assumed that there is no control from the user using the portable terminal 50, and the processes 704 and 711 in the flowchart of FIG. 7 do not operate.

In FIG. 6, power supply to the system (power supply to the main device 20 and the terminal device 30) is started at time t1, power is supplied to the home electric appliance 40A at time t2, and power is supplied to the home electric appliance 40B at time t3. When the electric power is supplied to the home electric appliance 40C at time t4, the power usage rate is set to the set threshold b at time t4.
(= 90%) is exceeded. Therefore, step 70 in FIG.
1 becomes YES, the screen 208 and the communication IF circuit 21.
With the portable terminal 50 receiving the communication signal a4 from 0, the home electric appliances currently fed to the user are 40A, 40
A process 702 is performed in which a warning that the power consumption rate is B, 40C and that the power usage rate exceeds the threshold value b is notified.

When power supply to the home electric appliance 40D is started at time t5, the power usage rate exceeds the set threshold value a (= 99%), so that step 706 in FIG. 7 becomes YES. Therefore, at time t5 ′, a process 707 of switching the power supply to each electronic circuit by the power supply line 213 of the main device 20 to the power supply by the power supply line 215 from the battery 203, the terminal power supply from the terminal device control circuit 211 via the signal a2. Terminal device 30 connected to home electric appliances (power switch is off)
708 for disconnecting the switch circuit 302 of the communication I
Via the communication signal a4 from the F circuit 210 and the screen 208,
Home appliances 40A, 40B, 40C, 4 that are currently supplying power
The processing 710 of the power supply cutoff request notification for 0D is performed.

At time t6, according to the priority order of the home electric appliances 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D via the control signal a2,
Processing 713 of shutting off the switch circuit 302 of the terminal device 30 to which the home electric appliance 40A having the lowest priority is connected
Is done. By the operation of this processing 713, the power usage rate includes the set threshold value b including the power feeding to each electronic circuit of the main device 20.
When (90%) or less, processing 7 for switching the power supply to each electronic circuit of the main device 20 to the power supply from the power supply line 214
14 is performed, and the processing 715 of notifying the user of the power supply interruption result is performed via the communication signal a4 and the screen 208.

When the user issues a power-supply cutoff command for home electric appliances, the process 704 or 711 is performed, and the process 705 or 712 for comparison with the power usage rate is performed.
Proceed to. The subsequent flow is as shown in the flowchart.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the power line 3 and the communication line 4 are separated has been described, but both lines can be made common by a power line communication technique typified by Econet. Further, the threshold value b of the power usage rate may be set to 2 or more so that the warning is weighted lightly.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the peak value of the power consumption of the household, and further it is possible to reduce the peak value of the power consumption of the whole society. There are advantages such as reductions, reductions in equipment costs for electric power companies, reductions in electricity costs due to reductions in equipment costs, and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an indoor equipment power control system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a specific configuration of a main device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a specific configuration of a switch circuit in the main device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a specific configuration of a terminal device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of initial data registration.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of power control.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of power control.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3, 3A, 3B, 3C: Power line 4: Communication line 10: Distribution board 20: Main device, 201: Switch device, 2011A-2
011C: switch unit, 202: switch control circuit, 2
03: battery, 204: power supply control circuit, 205: CP
U, 206: memory, 207: storage medium, 208: screen, 209: screen display circuit, 210: communication IF circuit,
211: terminal device control circuit, 212: bus line, 21
3 to 217: power supply line, a1: power consumption information signal, a
2: control signal, a3: control signal, a4: communication signal 30: terminal device, 301: terminal device IF circuit, 302:
Switch circuit, 303: Power detection circuit 40: Home electric appliance, 40A to 40D: Home electric appliance 50: Mobile terminal 60: Internet

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Izumi Mikawa             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F term (reference) 5G064 AA04 CB12 DA07                 5K048 AA16 BA01 BA32 HA33 HA34

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An indoor equipment power control system for controlling a plurality of home appliances installed in a home according to the capacity of a home power breaker, comprising a switch circuit for energizing / interrupting each of the home appliances. A plurality of terminal devices, and a main device that is connected between the distribution board and each of the terminal devices and that controls the energization / interruption of each of the home electric appliances and monitors the power consumption through the terminal devices, The indoor device power control system, wherein the main device controls the terminal device according to a relationship between a power usage rate and a priority order of the respective home appliances. 2. The indoor equipment power control system according to claim 1, wherein the main unit has a screen including a display unit for displaying operation instructions and states, and a touch operation input unit, and a mobile terminal via the Internet. An indoor equipment power control system comprising an IF circuit for communication to be connected. 3. The indoor equipment power control system according to claim 2, wherein when the power usage rate exceeds a predetermined value, the main unit requests the communication IF circuit to manually shut off the power supply to the home electric appliance. An indoor equipment power control system, comprising means for notifying the mobile terminal via the. 4. The indoor equipment power control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the main device includes an auxiliary power supply that operates during a power failure, and the power usage rate exceeds the predetermined value. An indoor equipment power control system comprising: a power supply control circuit that switches the power supply for operating the main device from the distribution board to the auxiliary power supply. 5. The indoor equipment power control system according to claim 1, wherein the main unit has a capacity of each distribution breaker of the distribution board and a consumption current of each of the home appliances. An indoor equipment power control system comprising: a switch device for switching a power supply path to each of the home electric appliances according to the above.