JP2005158560A - Electric appliance control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric appliance control system for controlling a plurality of electric appliances from an external terminal. <P>SOLUTION: This system is equipped with: a main control device 3 connected to a personal computer 2 via a LAN; and illumination units A1-A12 capable of wirelessly communicating with the main control device 3. The main control device 3 includes an input part 4, a communication controller IC 5, a main control part 6, and a wireless communication part 7. The illumination units A1-A12 each include an auxiliary control device 11, a fluorescent tube 12 and a power circuit 13. The auxiliary control device 11 includes a wireless communication part 14, an auxiliary control part 15, a power feed control part 16 and a temperature sensor 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an appliance control system for controlling a plurality of appliances from an external terminal.

  In recent years, there has been a demand for enabling control of lighting, air conditioning, and the like via a network. A plurality of dimming systems having a dimmer for controlling a lighting load and an operation console for controlling and monitoring the dimmer, as a lighting control made possible through a network; A plurality of dimming system servers each capable of communicating with each console of the dimming system; one or more clients connected to the plurality of dimming system servers via a predetermined network; A dimming system apparatus comprising: a central server provided on a network and capable of collectively managing a plurality of dimming system states by communicating with a plurality of dimming system servers It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, in the light control system device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of light control system servers, clients, and a central server are connected to a predetermined network. As a result, traffic on the network may increase.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-244083

  Therefore, in view of the above points, the present invention provides an appliance control system for controlling a plurality of appliances from an external terminal, and does not cause an increase in traffic on the network. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above problems, an electrical appliance control system according to the present invention is an electrical appliance control system for controlling a plurality of electrical appliances from an external terminal, the external terminal, a first control device, A plurality of electric appliance units each having an appliance and a second control device, wherein the first control device sends a first signal for controlling the plurality of electric appliances to the first communication path. The second control device transmits a second signal based on the first signal to the second communication path, and the second control device transmits the second signal to the first communication path via the second communication path. The electric appliance is controlled in accordance with the second signal received from the control device.

  In this electrical appliance control system, the first control device communicates with the external terminal, the first communication unit, the second communication unit that communicates with the plurality of second control devices, and the first communication unit. A first control unit that receives the first signal via the first signal, generates a second signal based on the first signal, and outputs the second signal to the plurality of second control devices via the second communication unit; It may be provided. Each of the plurality of second control devices receives a second signal via the third communication unit that communicates with the first control device and the third communication unit, and is based on the second signal. A second control unit that generates a third signal and controls the electric appliance by the third signal, and each of the plurality of second control devices includes the first control device. A third communication unit that communicates with the second communication unit; a second control unit that receives the second signal via the third communication unit and generates a third signal based on the second signal; It is good also as providing the electric power supply control part which controls the electric power supplied to an electric appliance according to a signal. Here, the second communication unit and the third communication unit may perform wired communication or wireless communication, and the wireless communication may be radio wave communication or infrared communication.

  The first control device further includes an input unit for controlling the plurality of electric appliances, and the first control unit outputs the second signal based on the fourth signal supplied from the input unit. It is good also as producing | generating and outputting to a 2nd communication part. Each of the plurality of electric appliance units further includes a sensor, and the second control unit transmits the fifth signal supplied from the sensor to the first control device via the third communication unit. It's also good. This sensor may be a sensor that detects temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, or human presence. In addition, the first communication unit may transmit data for displaying characters or images based on the fifth signal on the external terminal to the external terminal.

  In addition, the first communication unit may communicate with an external terminal using HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol). At this time, the first communication unit receives the HTML data via the interface unit that transmits and receives signals to and from the external terminal, the HTML data recording unit that records Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) data, and the interface unit. It is good also as providing the HTTP server processing part which displays a character or an image on an external terminal based on this, and it is good also as an HTML data recording part being rewritable.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to control a plurality of electric appliances from an external terminal without causing an increase in traffic on the first communication path.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the same component, it has shown with the same reference number.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the system 1 includes a personal computer 2, a main controller 3, and twelve lighting units A1 to A12.

The personal computer 2 and the main control device 3 are connected to each other via a LAN and communicate with each other by HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol). The personal computer 2 is installed with a web browser program, and the personal computer 2 displays characters or images based on HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) data received from the main controller 3 using the web browser program. To do.
The main controller 3 and the lighting units A1 to A12 perform wireless communication.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the main control device 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the main control device 3 includes an input unit 4, a communication controller IC 5, a main control unit 6, and a wireless communication unit 7.
The input unit 4 includes push button switches B1 to B12 for turning on or off the lighting units A1 to A12, respectively. These push button switches B1 to B12 can be installed on a wall surface, for example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the communication controller IC5. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication controller IC 5 includes an interface unit 8, an HTML data recording unit 9, and an HTTP server processing unit 10.
The interface unit 8 communicates with the personal computer 2 via the LAN.

The HTML data recording unit 9 records HTML data for displaying an image for controlling the illumination units A1 to A12. The HTML data recording unit 9 may be a rewritable EEPROM, flash memory, or the like, or a ROM.
The HTTP server processing unit 10 performs predetermined processing in accordance with a signal from the personal computer 2 and displays characters or images on the personal computer 2 based on the HTML data recorded in the HTML data recording unit 9.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, the wireless communication unit 7 performs radio wave or infrared communication with the lighting units A1 to A12.
The main control unit 6 transmits a control signal to the lighting units A1 to A12 via the wireless communication unit 7 in accordance with signals from the personal computer 2 or the push button switches B1 to B12.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the illumination units A1 to A12. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the illumination units A <b> 1 to A <b> 12 includes a slave control device 11, a fluorescent tube 12, and a power supply circuit 13. The slave control device 11 includes a wireless communication unit 14, a slave control unit 15, a power supply control unit 16, and a temperature sensor 17.
The wireless communication unit 14 performs radio wave or infrared communication with the wireless communication unit 7 in the main control device 3.

The sub control unit 15 communicates with the main control device 3 via the wireless communication unit 14 and supplies a control signal to the power supply control unit 16.
The power supply control unit 16 is connected between the fluorescent tube 12 and the power supply circuit 13, and controls the power supplied to the fluorescent tube 12 in accordance with a control signal supplied from the sub control unit 15. Thereby, the fluorescent tube 12 can be turned on or off.
The temperature sensor 17 outputs temperature information indicating the temperature in the vicinity of the slave control device 11 to the slave control unit 15, and the slave control unit 15 transmits the temperature information to the master control device 3 via the wireless communication unit 14.

Next, the operation of the system 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system 1.
When the web browser program is executed in the personal computer 2, the personal computer 2 transmits an http request to the main control device 3 (step S101).
The main controller 3 requests the lighting state and temperature information of the fluorescent tube 12 from the slave controller 11 via the wireless communication unit 7 (step S201).

The sub control device 11 transmits the lighting state and temperature information of the fluorescent tube 12 to the main control device 3 (step S301).
When the main controller 3 receives the lighting state and temperature information of the fluorescent tube 12, it transmits HTML data for displaying the lighting state and temperature of the fluorescent tube 12 to the personal computer 2 (step S202).

  The personal computer 2 displays an image based on the HTML data received from the main control device 3 (step S102). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the personal computer 2 at this time. As shown in FIG. 6, the layout of the lighting units A1 to A12 on the floor is displayed on the display screen of the personal computer 2, and each of the fluorescent tubes 12 in the lighting units A1 to A12 is turned on (ON). Or whether the light is off (OFF). Moreover, the temperature (here high temperature, medium temperature, suitable temperature, or low temperature) of each vicinity of illumination unit A1-A12 is also displayed.

On the display screen shown in FIG. 6, the user of the personal computer 2 moves the mouse cursor to a desired lighting unit and clicks the mouse button to turn on or turn off the desired lighting unit. The personal computer 2 receives this turn-on / off instruction (step S103).
Then, the personal computer 2 transmits an instruction signal instructing to turn on or off to the main control device 3 (step S104).

When receiving the instruction signal from the personal computer 2, the main control device 3 transmits a control signal to the sub control device 11 in the lighting unit desired by the user (step S203).
The slave control device 11 in the lighting unit desired by the user turns on or off the fluorescent tube 12 in accordance with a control signal from the main control device 3 (step S302).

  The fluorescent tubes 12 in the illumination units A1 to A12 can be turned on or off by operating the push button switches B1 to B12 arranged on the wall surface or the like.

As described above, according to the system 1, the personal computer 2 can control the lighting or extinguishing of the fluorescent tubes 12 in the illumination units A1 to A12. In the system 1, since communication between the main control device 3 and the sub control device 11 is performed by wireless communication that is separate from the LAN, it is possible to prevent traffic on the LAN from increasing.
Further, since the lighting units A1 to A12 can be controlled using the existing LAN and the personal computer 2, the cost required for controlling the lighting units A1 to A12 can be kept low.
Furthermore, since the temperature in the vicinity of the lighting units A1 to A12 can be displayed on the personal computer 2, it is not necessary to introduce a separate system to know the temperature, and the cost can be kept low.

In the present embodiment, the main control device 3 includes the wireless communication unit 7, the slave control device 11 includes the wireless communication unit 14, and the master control device 3 and the slave control device 11 perform wireless communication. However, the main control device 3 and the sub control device 11 are each provided with a wired communication unit connected by a twisted pair wire, a coaxial cable, or an electric conducting wire, and the main control device 3 and the sub control device 11 perform wired communication. It is also good.
In the present embodiment, the slave control device 11 includes the temperature sensor 17, but may include a humidity sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an illuminance sensor, or a sensor that detects the presence of a person. .
In this embodiment, the lighting or extinguishing of the fluorescent tube 12 is controlled. However, other household electric appliances or business or industrial electric appliances may be controlled.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the system 21 includes a personal computer 2, a main controller 3, and three air conditioning units C1 to C3.
The internal hardware configuration of the main controller 3 is the same as that in FIG. 2, but the HTML data recorded in the HTML data recording unit 9 in the communication controller IC 5 is converted from the data for controlling the lighting units A1 to A12 to the air conditioning unit C1. -Data for C3 control is changed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the air conditioning units C1 to C3. As shown in FIG. 8, each of the air conditioning units C <b> 1 to C <b> 3 includes a slave control device 11, a power supply circuit 13, and an air conditioner 22.
The power supply control unit 16 is connected between the air conditioner 22 and the power supply circuit 13, and controls the power supplied to the air conditioner 22 in accordance with a control signal supplied from the sub control unit 15. Thereby, the air volume of the air conditioner 22 can be adjusted.

Next, the operation of the system 21 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system 21.
When the web browser program is executed in the personal computer 2, the personal computer 2 transmits an http request to the main control device 3 (step S401).
The main control device 3 requests the slave control device 11 for the air volume and temperature information that the air conditioner 22 is blowing through the wireless communication unit 7 (step S501).

The sub control device 11 transmits the air volume and temperature information that the air conditioner 22 is blowing to the main control device 3 (step S601).
When the main control device 3 receives the air volume and temperature information that the air conditioner 22 is blowing, the main controller 3 transmits HTML data for displaying the air volume and temperature that the air conditioner 22 is blowing to the personal computer 2 (step S502). ).

  The personal computer 2 displays an image based on the HTML data received from the main control device 3 (step S402). FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the personal computer 2 at this time. As shown in FIG. 10, the arrangement of the air conditioning units C1 to C3 in the house is displayed on the display screen of the personal computer 2, and each of the air conditioners 22 in the air conditioning units C1 to C3 blows air. An air volume display and an adjustment bar representing the air volume (here, air supply stop (OFF), weak, medium, or strong) are displayed. Moreover, the temperature (here high temperature, intermediate temperature, suitable temperature, or low temperature) of each of air-conditioning unit C1-C3 is also displayed.

On the display screen shown in FIG. 10, the user of the personal computer 2 moves and drags the mouse cursor to the air volume display and adjustment bar of the desired air conditioning unit, thereby giving an instruction to change the air volume blown by the desired air conditioning unit. Do. The personal computer 2 accepts this air volume change instruction (step S403).
Then, the personal computer 2 transmits an instruction signal for instructing air volume change to the main control device 3 (step S404).

When receiving the instruction signal from the personal computer 2, the main control device 3 transmits a control signal to the sub control device 11 in the air conditioning unit desired by the user (step S503).
The slave control device 11 in the user-desired air conditioning unit performs change control of the air volume blown by the air conditioner 22 in accordance with the control signal from the main control device 3 (step S602).

  In addition, the air volume which the air conditioner 22 in the air conditioning units C1-C3 blows can also be changed by operating the input part 4 (refer FIG. 2) arrange | positioned on the wall surface etc.

  Thus, according to the system 21, the air volume which the air conditioner 22 in the air conditioning units C1-C3 blows from the personal computer 2 can be controlled. In the system 21, since communication between the main control device 3 and the sub control device 11 is performed by wireless communication that is separate from the LAN, it is possible to prevent an increase in traffic on the LAN.

In the above embodiment,
The personal computer 2 corresponds to the external terminal of the present invention, the main control device 3 corresponds to the first control device of the present invention, the communication controller IC5 corresponds to the first communication unit of the present invention,
The main control unit 6 corresponds to the first control unit of the present invention, the wireless communication unit 7 corresponds to the second communication unit of the present invention, and the slave control device 11 corresponds to the second control device of the present invention. The fluorescent tube 12 and the air conditioner 22 correspond to the electrical appliance of the present invention, the wireless communication unit 14 corresponds to the third communication unit of the present invention, and the slave control unit 15 Corresponding to the second control unit, the lighting units A1 to A12 and the air conditioning units C1 to C3 respectively correspond to the electric appliance units of the present invention, the temperature sensor 17 corresponds to the sensor of the present invention, and the main controller 3 Corresponds to the first control device of the present invention.

  Further, by changing the HTML data recorded in the HTML data recording unit 9 in the communication controller IC 5 of the main controller 3, various electric appliances can be controlled in addition to the fluorescent tube 12 and the air conditioner 22. It becomes possible. Further, even when the number of electric appliances is increased or decreased, it can be dealt with by changing the HTML data recorded in the HTML data recording unit 9.

  The present invention can be used in an appliance control system for controlling a plurality of appliances from an external terminal.

The figure which shows the system as the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the internal structure of the main-control apparatus 3 of FIG. The figure which shows the internal structure of communication controller IC5 of FIG. The figure which shows the internal structure of illumination unit A1-A12 of FIG. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the system 1 of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the image displayed on the personal computer 2 of FIG. The figure which shows the system as the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the internal structure of air-conditioning unit C1-C3 of FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system 21 of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the image displayed on the personal computer 2 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1, 21 system, 2 personal computer, 3 main control device, 4 input unit, 5 communication controller IC, 6 main control unit, 7, 14 wireless communication unit, 8 interface unit, 9 HTML data recording unit, 10 HTTP server processing unit 11 Sub control device, 12 Fluorescent tube, 13 Power supply circuit, 15 Sub control unit, 16 Power supply control unit, 17 Temperature sensor, 22 Air conditioner, A1-A12 lighting unit, B1-B12 push button switch, C1-C3 air conditioner unit

Claims (13)

An appliance control system for controlling a plurality of appliances from an external terminal,
The external terminal;
A first control device;
A plurality of appliance units each comprising the appliance and a second control device;
Comprising
The first control device receives a first signal for controlling the plurality of electric appliances from the external terminal via a first communication path, and receives a second signal based on the first signal. To the second channel,
The second control device receives the second signal from the first control device via the second communication path, and controls the electric appliance according to the second signal. And appliance control system. The first control device comprises:
A first communication unit that communicates with the external terminal;
A second communication unit that communicates with the plurality of second control devices;
The first signal is received via the first communication unit, the second signal is generated based on the first signal, and the plurality of second controls are transmitted via the second communication unit. A first controller that outputs to the device;
The appliance control system according to claim 1, comprising: Each of the plurality of second control devices includes:
A third communication unit that communicates with the first control device;
A second control unit that receives the second signal via the third communication unit, generates a third signal based on the second signal, and controls the electric appliance according to the third signal; When,
The appliance control system according to claim 1, comprising: Each of the plurality of second control devices includes:
A third communication unit that communicates with the first control device;
A second control unit that receives the second signal via the third communication unit and generates a third signal based on the second signal;
A power supply control unit that controls power supplied to the electric appliance in response to the third signal;
The appliance control system according to claim 1, comprising: The appliance control system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second communication unit and the third communication unit perform wired communication or wireless communication. The appliance control system according to claim 5, wherein the wireless communication is radio wave communication or infrared communication. The first control device further includes an input unit for controlling the plurality of electric appliances, and the first control unit performs the second operation based on a fourth signal supplied from the input unit. The appliance control system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the signal is generated and output to the second communication unit. Each of the plurality of electric appliance units further includes a sensor, and the second control unit transmits the fifth signal supplied from the sensor to the first control unit via the third communication unit. The appliance control system according to claim 2, wherein the appliance control system transmits to the appliance. The appliance control system according to claim 8, wherein the sensor is a sensor that detects temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, or human presence. The appliance control system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the first communication unit transmits data for displaying a character or an image based on the fifth signal on the external terminal to the external terminal. The appliance control system according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the first communication unit communicates with the external terminal by HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol). The first communication unit includes an interface unit that transmits and receives signals to and from the external terminal, an HTML data recording unit that records HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) data, and the HTML via the interface unit. The appliance control system according to claim 11, further comprising: an HTTP server processing unit that displays characters or images on the external terminal based on data. The electric appliance control system according to claim 12, wherein the HTML data recording unit is rewritable.

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