JP2006073220A - Switch remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch changeover control device simply installable and allowing an existing luminaire or the like to be properly operated from a remote location by using an existing switch as it is. <P>SOLUTION: This switch changeover control device 30 equipped with a communication function and a structure for depressing ends 211 and 212 of a handle 21 of a locker switch 20 is attached to the locker switch 20; and, when the switch changeover control device 30 receives a switch changeover command transmitted from a terminal device 40 or the like, a depressing part driving part 32 of the switch changeover control device 30 drives a depressing part 35 to depress the handle 21 of the locker switch 20, whereby a desired switch state can be set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control device for a switch for remotely controlling a rocker switch or a push switch called a wave switch or a seesaw switch used as a power switch or the like.

  Remote controllers are used in various electric appliances, in particular, AV equipment, air conditioners, electric fans, etc., and their operability tends to increase more and more.

  In recent years, appliances that can be operated by a remote controller have been commercialized for hanging lights and wall lamps that could not be operated by a remote controller.

  However, these electric appliances that can be operated by a remote controller are relatively expensive due to their high added value, and give an economic burden to the user when they are replaced.

  Therefore, a remote control wall switch has been proposed that can be operated remotely while using an electric appliance that does not have a remote control function.

Patent Document 1 below describes a remote control wall switch that can be operated remotely by assembling a push button and a receiver to the outer shell of the wall switch.
Utility Model No. 3056958

  According to the above prior art, the appliance can be turned on or off depending on whether the power source and the conductor of the appliance are communicated or not by controlling the receiver by pressing a push button or a transmitter key. it can.

  However, in general, such a switch replacement operation cannot be performed by a general user due to laws and regulations, and there is a restriction that the work must be performed by requesting a professional electrician or the like.

  In addition, remote control from inside and outside the home is also being studied along with the in-home networking. Lighting fixtures and the like corresponding to such a communication network are more expensive than devices having a remote control function, and their types are limited. When such a device is introduced, regarding the compatibility between the operation by the switch installed on the wall surface of the living room and the remote operation, the remote operation cannot be performed if the power is turned off by the wall switch. There are problems such as.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and the purpose of the present invention is to allow a user to easily install and to use an existing switch as it is. It is an object of the present invention to provide a switch switching control device that enables a device or the like to be accurately operated remotely.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention has the following features.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switch remote control device for operating an on / off operation of a switch based on a remote instruction. The switch remote control device communicates with the outside and faces the handle of the switch. A push-down unit that mechanically pushes down the push-down unit, a push-down unit drive unit that drives the push-down unit, and the push-down unit that pushes down the handle by the push-down unit based on an instruction received by the communication unit. And a control unit that controls the driving unit.

  A second aspect of the present invention is the switch remote control device according to the first aspect, further comprising a state detection unit for detecting a current switch state.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the switch remote control device according to the second aspect, wherein the state detecting unit detects a state of the switch based on a driving state of the push-down unit driving unit. To do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switch remote control device for operating a switch on / off operation based on a remote instruction, a communication unit for performing communication with the outside, and illumination for illuminating according to the state of the switch Facing the handle of the switch having a portion, a push-down portion that mechanically pushes down the handle, a push-down portion drive portion that drives the push-down portion, and an instruction received by the communication portion, And a control unit that controls the pressing unit driving unit to be pressed down by the pressing unit.

  A fifth aspect of the invention is the switch remote control device according to the fourth aspect of the invention, further comprising a state detection unit that detects a current switch state.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the switch remote control device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the state detection unit detects a state of the switch based on a lighting state of the illumination unit.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the switch remote control device according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, wherein the push-down portion is made of a material that illuminates the illumination of the illumination portion. Features.

  The features of the present invention and the technical significance thereof will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments. However, the following embodiment is only one embodiment of the present invention, and the meaning of the present invention or the terms of each constituent element is limited to those described in the following embodiment. is not.

  According to the present invention, installation is possible by a simple mounting operation to an existing switch. As a result, a remote control request by a user is received, and the existing switch is mechanically operated based on the received control request. can do.

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

  FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a network-compatible device system using a switch switching control device according to an embodiment.

  The network-compatible device system includes a lighting fixture 10, a rocker switch 20, a switch switching control device 30, and an operation terminal 40.

  The lighting fixture 10 is an electric fixture owned before networking in the house, and is a lighting fixture in the present embodiment. In this lighting fixture 10, the lighting fixture is turned on / off or the like by a pressing operation of the rocker switch 20 embedded in the wall.

  The rocker switch 20 is a switch that switches on / off the lighting fixture 10 by pushing down the handle 21. This rocker switch is also referred to as a seesaw switch, and has a structure in which a spring assists the operation of the movable piece, so that a switch from contact to contact is possible instantaneously.

  The switch switching control device 30 has a communication function, and can be connected to a home network or the like. Specifically, a control instruction from another apparatus having a transmission function such as the terminal apparatus 40 is received, and the rocker switch 20 is pushed down based on the received control instruction. Further, the pressed state of the rocker switch 20 is detected, and the result is transmitted to the host device or the like. The switch switching control device 30 is mounted on the outer surface of the rocker switch 20.

  The terminal device 40 is connected to a home network or the like, and is a terminal device that transmits a control instruction to a device corresponding to the network or receives and displays information indicating the state of the device. In the present embodiment, a control instruction is transmitted to the switch switching control device 30 and status information transmitted from the switch switching control device 30 is received.

  Hereinafter, the switch switching control device 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration according to the present embodiment of the switch switching control device 30 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where the switch switching control device 30 is attached to the rocker switch 20. 3A is a view of the rocker switch 20 viewed from above, FIG. 3B is a view of the rocker switch 20 viewed from the front, and FIG. 3C is a view of the rocker switch 20 viewed from the side.

  As shown in the figure, the switch switching control device 30 includes a control unit 31, a push-down unit drive unit 32, a communication unit 33, a push-down state detection unit 34, and a push-down unit 35.

  The control unit 31 controls each component in the apparatus. In the present embodiment, based on the information received by the communication unit 33 and information managed by the communication unit 33, the instruction information is transmitted to the pressing unit driving unit 32 so as to operate the pressing unit 35. Further, the state information of the pressing unit 35 acquired by the pressing state detection unit 34 is processed and transmitted to the communication unit 33 to be transmitted to the terminal device 40.

  The push-down unit drive unit 32 drives the push-down unit 35 applied to the handle 21 of the rocker switch 20 so as to mechanically change the state of the rocker switch 20.

  The push-down portions 35 push down both ends of the handle 21 of the rocker switch 20 alternately. FIG. 3 is a view showing a state where the push-down portion 352 pushes down one end portion 212 of the handle 21. As shown in this figure, the push-down portions 351 and 352 are located in contact with the end portions 211 and 212 of the handle 21 of the rocker switch 20 or with a slight gap therebetween, so as to mechanically change the state of the rocker switch 20. In addition, a pressing operation is performed by the pressing drive unit 32. The push-down portions 351 and 352 are in the state facing the end portions 211 and 212 of the handle 21 of the rocker switch 20 as described above, even when the push-down operation is not instructed, and when the push-down operation is instructed. In this state, the handle end 211 or 212 of the rocker switch 20 is pushed down.

  The push-down unit 35 and the push-up unit drive unit 32 are not limited in their configuration as long as the push-down unit 35 can push down the end portions 211 and 212 of the handle 21 of the rocker switch 20.

  The pressed state detection unit 34 detects the pressed state of the rocker switch 20, generates information indicating the detected pressed state of the rocker switch 20, and transmits this information to the control unit 31. The detection of the pressed state is determined based on the driving state of the pressed unit driving unit 32. Specifically, for example, the driving state of the pressing unit driving unit 32 is performed by detecting a signal indicating a driving state in a driving circuit (not shown) in the pressing unit driving unit 32.

  The communication unit 33 communicates with an external device such as the terminal device 40. Information indicating a control instruction received from the terminal device 40 or the like is transmitted to the control unit 31, and information indicating the pressed state of the rocker switch 20 is transmitted to an external device such as the terminal device 40 according to the control of the control unit 31. Send to.

  As described above, the switch switching control device 30 may be installed in any way as long as the end of the push-down portion 35 can push down the end portions 211 and 212 of the handle 21 of the rocker switch 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it can also be installed adjacent to the rocker switch 20.

  Also, the rocker switch 20 can be operated by directly pushing down the push-down portion 35 of the switch switching control device 30.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart schematically showing the switch switching operation of the switch switching control device 30 shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, when the end portion 211 of the handle 21 is pushed down, that is, when the push-down portion 351 is driven to push down the end portion 211, the locker The switch 20 is in a switch-off state, and when the end portion 212 of the handle 21 is pushed down, that is, when the push-down portion 352 is driven to be pushed down, the rocker switch 20 is switched on. It is a state.

  The drive state of the push-down unit drive unit 32, that is, the switch push-down state and the switch on / off state of the rocker switch are associated in advance in the control unit 31 of the switch switching control device 30.

  First, when a switch switching instruction is transmitted from the terminal device 40 to the switch switching control device 30, in the switch switching control device 30, the communication unit 33 receives this (s50).

  The information received by the communication unit 33 is transmitted to the control unit 31, and the control unit 31 determines whether the received information is information for instructing switching of the switch. It is analyzed which state is switched off (s52).

  As a result of the analysis in s52, if the received information is not information for instructing to switch the switch, this process is terminated (s54N).

  On the other hand, as a result of the analysis in s52, when the received information is information instructing to switch the switch (s54Y), the control unit 31 subsequently acquires information indicating the current switch pressing state. The pressed state detection unit 34 is instructed.

  Information indicating the current switch pressing state detected by the pressing state detection unit 34 is transmitted to the control unit 31 (s56).

  The control unit 31 compares the current switch depression state transmitted from the depression state detection unit 34 with the switch switching instruction information received and analyzed by the communication unit 33 (s58).

  As a result of the comparison in s58, if the current switch pressing state is different from the switch state already instructed by the switch switching instruction information (s58N), the switch switching instruction information is instructed to the pressing unit drive unit 32. As a result, the push-down part 35 pushes down the end part (211 or 212 in FIG. 3) of the handle 21 of the rocker switch 20 (s60), and this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, as a result of the comparison of s58, when the current switch pressing state is already the switch state indicated by the switch switching instruction information (s58Y), this process is terminated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart schematically showing an operation when the switch switching control device 30 shown in FIG. 1 detects a switch state.

  When a switch state detection instruction is transmitted from the control unit 31 of the switch switching control device 30 (s70), the pressed state detection unit 34 of the switch switching control device 30 detects the driving state of the pressing unit drive unit 32. And transmitted to the control unit 31. The control unit 31 refers to the previously stored driving state of the pressing unit driving unit 32, that is, the correspondence between the pressed state of the switch and the on / off state of the switch, and the detected pressing unit It is determined whether the drive state of the drive unit 32, that is, the pressed state of the switch, is the on or off state of the switch of the rocker switch 20 (s72).

  The control unit 31 generates information to be transmitted to the terminal device 40 based on the information indicating the switch state of the rocker switch 20 transmitted from the pressed state detection unit 34 (s74), and the generated information is transmitted to the communication unit. 33.

  The communication unit 33 transmits the information transmitted to be transmitted to the terminal device 40 (s76), and ends this process.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the switch switching control device 30 having a communication function and a structure for pushing down the end portions (211, 212) of the handle 21 of the rocker switch 20 is attached to the rocker switch 20. When the switch switching instruction transmitted from the terminal device 40 or the like is received, the push-down portion 35 of the switch switching control device 30 pushes down the handle 21 of the rocker switch 20 based on the instruction, thereby setting the desired switch state. be able to.

  In addition, the pressed state detection unit 34 of the switch switching control device 30 detects the state of the switch, and notifies the external terminal device 40 and the like of the switch state, so that the state of the switch made without going through the switch switching control device 30 Always know the current switch status, including changes.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment which concerns on this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various changes are possible.

  In the above embodiment, the detection of the pressed state by the pressed state detecting unit 34 is determined based on the driving state of the pressed unit driving unit 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the handle 21 is illuminated. In the case of the rocker switch 20 that is provided with a portion and lights up the illuminating portion in the depressed state, the lighting state of the illuminating portion in the rocker switch 20 may be detected.

  Further, at this time, the pressing part 35 may be configured so that the illuminating state of the illuminating part of the rocker switch 20 in contact with the pressing part 53 can be visually recognized by using a permeable material.

  In the above-described embodiment, the pressed state detection unit 34 automatically detects a change in the state of the rocker switch 20, but the control unit 31 periodically switches the pressed state detection unit 34. You may make it inquire about the state of.

  In the above embodiment, the terminal device 40 is used as the external device that communicates with the switch switching control device 30. However, the terminal device 40 is connected to a server that performs overall control of devices connected to the home network and other networks. Control may be instructed from the connected devices, or the state of the switch may be notified to these devices.

  The embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately modified in various ways within the scope of the technical puncture indicated in the claims.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the switch switching control apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the aspect of the switch switching control apparatus which concerns on embodiment. 3 is a flowchart schematically showing a switch switching operation. It is a flowchart which shows roughly the operation | movement at the time of acquisition of a switch state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Lighting fixture 20 Rocker switch 30 Switch switching control apparatus 40 Terminal device

Claims (7)

A switch remote control device for operating a switch on / off operation based on a remote instruction,
A communication unit that communicates with the outside,
A pressing part facing the switch handle and mechanically pressing down the handle;
A pressing unit driving unit that drives the pressing unit;
Based on the instruction received in the communication unit, a control unit that controls the push-down unit drive unit to push down the handle by the push-down unit;
A switch remote control device characterized by comprising: The switch remote control device according to claim 1,
Furthermore, a state detection unit that detects the current switch state,
A switch remote control device comprising: The switch remote control device according to claim 2,
The state detection unit detects a switch state based on a driving state of the push-down unit driving unit.
A switch remote control device characterized by that. A switch remote control device for operating a switch on / off operation based on a remote instruction,
A communication unit that communicates with the outside,
A pressing portion that faces the handle of the switch having an illuminating portion that illuminates according to the state of the switch, and mechanically pushes down the handle;
A pressing unit driving unit that drives the pressing unit;
Based on the instruction received in the communication unit, a control unit that controls the push-down unit drive unit to push down a handle by the push-down unit,
A switch remote control device comprising: The switch remote control device according to claim 4,
Furthermore, a state detection unit that detects the current switch state,
A switch remote control device comprising: The switch remote control device according to claim 5,
The state detection unit detects a switch state based on a lighting state of the illumination unit.
A switch remote control device characterized by that. The switch remote control device according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
The push-down part is made of a material that makes the illumination of the illumination part transparent.
A switch remote control device characterized by that.

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