JP2006311339A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control system for enabling a relation setting device to recognize that correspondence relation data are registered in a master unit. <P>SOLUTION: The relation setting device 2 as a terminal with an individual control switch 3a and a collective control switch 3b attached thereto is connected to a signal line 5 connected to the master unit 1. A relay 4 with an identification code attached is attached to the master unit 1, and when the individual control switch 3a or the collective control switch 3b is operated, the master unit 1 controls the opening/closing of the relay 4 associated with the individual control switch 3a or the collective control switch 3b by correspondence relation data. The correspondence relation data are set by using the relation setting device 2 and transferred to the master unit 1 from the relation setting device 2. When the master unit 1 registers the correspondence relation data transferred from the relation setting device 2, the master unit 1 notifies the relation setting device 2 of the registration and makes a buzzer of the relation setting device 2 ringing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control system that transmits switch on / off information to a parent device using network technology, and the parent device instructs opening / closing of a relay based on the switch on / off information.

  Conventionally, as a remote control system of this type, a plurality of terminals are connected to the signal line connected to the master unit, and a switch or relay is connected to each terminal unit. There is provided a technique for transmitting and receiving switch on / off information and instructing a terminal connected to the relay to open and close the relay from the master unit, thereby opening and closing the relay in association with the on and off of the remote switch (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  In order to associate the switch and the relay, an identification code is assigned to the switch and the relay, and the correspondence between the switch and the relay is performed using the correspondence relationship of the identification code in the parent device. In the case where only one switch or relay can be connected to one terminal, there is one in which the address of the terminal and the identification code are made to correspond one-to-one. In addition, in the case where a plurality of switches or relays can be connected to one terminal, the load number for identifying each switch or relay in the terminal is combined as subordinate information of the terminal address, and the address and load number are combined. In some cases, switches or relays are individually identified by using a combination of the above and an identification code. In either case, it is equivalent to assigning an identification code to each of the switch and the relay. Therefore, in the following description, it is assumed that the identification code is assigned to each of the switch and the relay.

  A signal line is connected to the master unit, and each terminal is connected to the signal line. In addition, the correspondence between the switch and the relay is registered in advance as correspondence data using an identification code in the parent device, and on / off information by operating the switch is transmitted to the parent device together with the identification code of the switch. The parent device refers to the identification code of the correspondence data, extracts the relay associated with the switch, and gives an opening / closing instruction to the extracted relay. Therefore, the correspondence between the switch and the relay can be freely set according to the content of the correspondence data set in the parent device.

  In addition to one-to-one correspondence between switches and relays, one-to-many correspondence is also possible. One switch is associated with a multi-circuit relay, and the operation of opening and closing a plurality of relays collectively with one switch is as follows. There are pattern control for specifying and controlling, and group control for controlling the whole to the same open / close state. For example, if lighting fixtures are controlled by relays, pattern control sets the correspondence data specified for the lighting on / off status of individual lighting fixtures, and group control collectively sets lighting fixtures within the range to be controlled. Correspondence data to be turned on or off is set.

  In order to perform group control or pattern control, a relation storage unit that stores correspondence data in the parent unit has a group address or pattern address corresponding to a switch that performs group control or pattern control, and relays within a range to be controlled. When a switch that performs group control or pattern control is operated by associating an identification code, the identification code of the relay to be controlled is expanded by collating with the relation storage unit, and the open / close state of the relay is determined. Then, give instructions to control the relay with each identification code.

By the way, in order to set the correspondence data in the parent device, there has conventionally been provided a device called a selector switch in which a large number of switches are collected in one device body (see, for example, Patent Document 2). When the selector switch is used, relays to be subjected to pattern control and group control can be intensively selected at one place.
JP-A-8-154285 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-37879

  However, when the correspondence data is set in the parent device by the selector switch, the selector switch cannot know whether the correspondence data is registered in the parent device, so the user can actually operate the switch. Otherwise, there was a problem that it could not be confirmed that the correspondence data was set in the parent device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned reasons, and its purpose is to register that the correspondence data set by the relationship setting device is registered in the parent device via the signal line, and that the relationship setting device has registered from the parent device. It is to provide a remote control system in which the relationship setting device can know that the correspondence data has been registered in the parent device.

  The present invention relates to a parent device to which a signal line is connected, a terminal device to which an identification code is assigned and transmitting on / off information of a switch to the parent device through the signal line, and an identification code to which the identification code is given and transmitted from the terminal device to the parent device A remote control system comprising a plurality of relays that the master unit instructs to open / close in response to on / off information, wherein the master unit includes a relationship storage unit in which correspondence data for associating switches and relays with identification codes is registered. When receiving on / off information of a switch through a signal line, a parent device control unit for instructing opening / closing of a relay associated with the switch by correspondence data; And a registration processing unit for sending a registration notification to the signal line after registration is completed, and a relation setting unit for creating correspondence data and transferring it to the parent unit is connected to the signal line. The relationship setter is capable of generating correspondence data between the switch and the relay, a data creation unit that creates correspondence data, a data storage unit that stores the created correspondence data, and correspondence data stored in the data storage unit. A transfer processing unit that transfers to a parent device, and a notification unit that performs reception notification when a registration notification is received from the parent device within a specified time after the transfer of correspondence data by the transfer processing unit. .

  The switch may be an electronic switch in addition to a mechanical switch. For example, an electronic switch having an optical sensor or a human sensor and outputting on / off information can be used.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the correspondence data is transmitted from the relation setting device to the parent device via the signal line, and when the registration of the correspondence data is completed in the parent device, the parent device sends a registration notification to the signal line. Since the relationship setting device receives the registration notification from the parent device through the signal line within the specified time after the correspondence data is transferred to the parent device, the relationship setting device notifies that the correspondence data has been set in the parent device. It becomes possible to confirm at a distance by the setting device. As a result, the user who uses the relationship setting device has an advantage that the user can surely know that the transferred correspondence relationship data has been set in the parent device and can feel a sense of security.

  FIG. 1A shows the overall configuration of this embodiment. In the illustrated example, a relay 4 is attached to the parent device 1, and a switch 3 is attached to the relationship setting device 2 connected to the parent device 1 via a signal line 5. Therefore, the relationship setting device 2 has a function as a terminal device. Although the relationship setting device 2 requires the switch 3, a terminal device provided with the switch 3 may be provided separately from the relationship setting device 2. The relay 4 is attached to the master unit 1. However, a slave unit as a terminal unit with the relay 4 is provided separately from the master unit 1, and the slave unit is connected to the signal line 5 connected to the master unit 1. May be. The signal line 5 is a two-wire system and transmits a transmission signal by a time division multiplex transmission system.

  Here, the transmission signal includes a start pulse indicating the start of signal transmission, mode data indicating the signal mode, address data for transmitting an address for designating each terminal, and control data for instructing opening / closing of the relay 4 Control data to be transmitted (including the load number of the relay 4 of the slave unit), checksum data for detecting a transmission error, and applying a constant voltage between the signal lines 5 to receive a return signal from the terminal unit Including the signal return period. In a period excluding the signal return period, a bipolar (± 24 V) voltage signal obtained by pulse width modulation of data is used. In the signal return period, a current signal that changes the current flowing through the signal line 5 depending on whether a low impedance is inserted between the signal lines 5 in the terminal is used. The load number of the slave relay 4 is specified by the bit position of the control data (for example, if the control data is 8 bits, the 4 load numbers are distinguished by assigning 2 bits to one load number). To do).

  In the illustrated example, only the relay 4 attached to the parent device 1 is shown, and when the opening / closing of the relay 4 attached to the parent device 1 is controlled, a transmission signal is not necessary, but transmission is performed inside the parent device 1. The relay 4 is controlled using a signal equivalent to the signal. That is, the relay 4 attached to the parent device 1 controls the opening and closing using information corresponding to the address and the load number, similarly to the relay 4 of the child device. Hereinafter, in order to treat the relay 4 attached to the parent device 1 and the relay 4 attached to the child device equivalently, information specifying the relay 4 is referred to as an identification code. Similarly, information (a combination of an address and a load number) for specifying the switch 3 is also called an identification code.

  On the other hand, the relationship setting device 2 includes an individual control switch 3 a and a collective control switch 3 b as the switches 3. In the illustrated example, eight individual control switches 3a are provided, and four collective control switches 3b are provided. The relationship setting device 2 includes a setting operation device 20 used in combination with the individual control switch 3a and the collective control switch 3b. The configuration and operation of the setting operator 20 will be described later. The relationship setting device 2 is attached to a construction surface such as a wall surface by using an attachment frame for an embedded wiring device.

  The master unit 1 has a container body 10 formed in an L shape in plan view, and the relay 4 can be attached to and detached from the container body 10. That is, the container body 10 is extended perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 10a from the main body portion 10a which is the size of the circuit breaker for wiring (so-called distribution board agreement size) and a part of the side surface of the main body portion 10a. The relay mounting portion 10b is formed in an L shape, and up to eight relays 4 can be mounted on the relay mounting base 10b. In a state in which the relay 4 is attached to the relay mounting base 10b, the dimensions of the relay 4 and the relay mounting base 10b are designed to be the distribution board agreement dimensions. Therefore, in a state where eight relays 4 are mounted on the container body 10, it can be stored in a panel such as a distribution board. Each relay 4 is given an identification code according to the mounting position. That is, an identification code is assigned to each position where the relay 4 is mounted on the relay mounting base 10b, and the relay 4 mounted at each position is identified by the mounting position identification code.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the internal circuit of the master unit 1 includes a power supply block 11, a driver block 12, and a terminal board block 13. The power supply block 11 includes a power supply circuit 11b that generates a power supply for an internal circuit from a commercial power supply connected to a power supply terminal 11a provided in the main body 10a. The driver block 12 includes a voltage detection circuit 12 a that detects whether or not power supply from a commercial power source is started, and a signal transmission / reception circuit 12 b that serves as an interface connected to the signal line 5. The signal transmission / reception circuit 12b transmits a transmission signal, which is a voltage signal, to the signal line 5, and the relationship setting unit while the signal transmission / reception circuit 12b applies a constant voltage between the signal lines 5 during the signal return period. 2 (or a terminal) receives a return signal which is a current signal.

  By the way, the main circuit of the parent device 1 is provided in the terminal board block 13, and the terminal board block 13 is provided with a parent device control unit 14 including a microcomputer. The microcomputer constituting the parent device control unit 14 has a built-in memory functioning as a relationship storage unit 15 in which correspondence data for associating the switch 3 and the relay 4 with an identification code is registered. When the correspondence data is received through the line 5, it also functions as the registration processing unit 16 that registers the correspondence data in the relation storage unit 15 and sends a registration notification to the signal line 5 after the registration is completed.

  The terminal board block 13 is provided with a connector 17 for detachably connecting the relay 4 and a relay control power circuit 13a for generating a power source for driving the relay 4 from the output of the power circuit 11b. . The relay 4 includes a two-terminal contact terminal t 1 connected to the relay contact and a five-terminal control terminal t 2 connected to the connector 17. Two terminals of the control terminal t2 are coil terminals for energizing a coil built in the relay 4, and the other two terminals are auxiliary contact terminals built in the relay 4 and connected to an auxiliary contact linked to the relay contact. The remaining one terminal is a connection detection terminal that is short-circuited with one auxiliary contact terminal.

  Accordingly, the terminal board block 13 includes a relay presence detection circuit 18a for detecting whether the relay 4 is connected to the connector 17 by being connected to the connection detection terminal and one of the auxiliary contact terminals, and the auxiliary contact terminal. A relay state monitoring circuit 18b that detects the open / closed state of the relay contact, a relay ON control circuit 18c that is connected to the coil terminal and energizes to turn on the relay contact, and is connected to the coil terminal and turns off the relay contact. And a relay OFF control circuit 18d for energizing the power supply.

  The relay presence detection circuit 18a, the relay state monitoring circuit 18b, the relay ON control circuit 18c, and the relay OFF control circuit 18d are provided for each relay 4 (that is, for each connector 17), and are connected to the parent device control unit 14. Therefore, the attachment / detachment of the relay 4 to / from the connector 17 and the opening / closing state of the relay contact are notified to the parent device control unit 14, and the opening / closing state of the relay contact is controlled by an instruction from the parent device control unit 14.

  Note that a reset circuit 19 is attached to the microcomputer constituting the parent device control unit 14 so that the microcomputer can be forcibly reset when the microcomputer runs away. A signal terminal 13b connected to the signal transmission / reception circuit 12b provided in the driver block 12 and connected to the signal line 5 is also provided.

  Thus, the parent device 1 always performs polling for periodically transmitting a transmission signal whose address has been changed cyclically to the signal line 5. When the switch 3 is operated in the terminal unit during regular polling, the terminal unit sends an interrupt signal synchronized with the start pulse of the transmission signal to the signal line 5, and the terminal unit that generated the interrupt signal has an interrupt flag. The latch state is set.

  On the other hand, when the base unit control unit 14 detects the interrupt signal, it sends a transmission signal with the mode data as the search mode. When the terminal in the latched state receives the transmission signal in the search mode, Return the address. The parent device control unit 14 that has received the address transmits a transmission signal requesting the return of the latched state to the terminal device of the address, and confirms whether or not the terminal is in the latched state, thereby generating the interrupt signal. Make sure that there is. When it is confirmed that the terminal has generated the interrupt signal, a transmission signal for releasing the latched state is transmitted, and the latched state of the terminal is released.

  When receiving the request from the terminal device by the above-described operation, the parent device control unit 14 instructs opening / closing of the relay 4 associated with the switch 3 according to the correspondence data registered in the relationship storage unit 15. In the illustrated example, since the relay 4 is connected to the parent device 1, the parent device control unit 14 gives an instruction to the relay ON control circuit 18 c or the relay OFF control circuit 18 d to control the open / close state of the relay 4. Whether the relay contact is turned on or turned off depends on the state before the control. If the pre-control is on, the relay contact is turned off. If the pre-control is off, the relay contact is turned on. Further, when the relay 4 to be controlled is attached to the slave unit connected via the signal line 5, the control data is transmitted to the slave unit using the transmission signal, and the relay 4 attached to the slave unit is transmitted. Instruct to open and close. The relay 4 is a latching type.

  Next, the relationship setting device 2 will be described. The relationship setting device 2 used in the present embodiment is configured by combining the individual control switch 3a and the collective control switch 3b with the setting operation device 20 as described above. The setting operation machine 20 includes a base unit (not shown) fixed to the construction surface and a portable unit that can be attached to and detached from the base unit (FIG. 3 shows a portable unit of the setting operation machine 20. The operation differs between the state in which the portable unit is coupled to the base unit and the state in which the portable unit is separated from the base unit, but this embodiment relates to the operation in the state in which the portable unit is coupled to the base unit. Therefore, the function in the separated state will not be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the body of the setting operation device 20 in the relationship setting device 2 includes a display unit 21 formed of a liquid crystal display and an operation unit formed of a plurality of switches (described later) to be pressed. Provided. The switch is configured to open and close the contact using the elasticity of a thin resin sheet, for example, and is pressed with a minute stroke. A triangular mark M1 is displayed on the upper part of the display unit 21, and the operation state of the relationship setting device 2 is “address setting”, “normal mode”, or “PG setting” depending on the position of the mark M1. Is shown.

  “Address setting” is automatically selected when the portable unit is separated from the base unit, and in this operating state, it functions as a setting device for setting an address individually for the terminal device.

  The terminal is provided with an EEPROM, and the address of the terminal is written in the EEPROM. Further, writing and reading of data to and from the EEPROM are performed using optical wireless signals. When the portable unit is separated from the base unit, wireless signals can be exchanged. The relationship setting unit 2 includes a light emitting element 31a and a light emitting circuit 31b, as shown in FIG. An element 32a and an optical receiving circuit 32b are provided.

  The function of the switch 3 is classified into individual control (individual), pattern control (P), and group control (G). In the center of the display unit 21, characters “individual”, “P”, and “G” are written, and the function of the switch 3 is indicated at the position of the triangular mark M2. The function selection operation is performed with the function selection key (switch) K1.

  In the individual control, for example, an address is represented by a numerical value of 1 to 48, and a load number of 4 circuits can be set to each address. In pattern control and group control, for example, an address is represented by a numerical value of 1 to 16. An address is displayed on the right side of the display unit 21, and a load number is shown on the left side. The address selection uses two address switching keys (switches) K3 and K4. The address switching key K3 changes the address in the increasing direction, and the address switching key K4 changes the address in the decreasing direction. The load number is selected using a circuit switching key (switch) K2. The function selection key K1 and the circuit switching key K2 cyclically select options.

  In “address setting”, when the address displayed on the display unit 21 is set in the terminal unit, the setting key K5 is pressed, and when the address set in the terminal unit is received and displayed on the display unit 21. Press the confirmation key K6. Further, the clear key K7 is used to erase the address displayed on the display unit 21, and the forward key K8 is used to cyclically change the identification code displayed on the display unit 21 by one.

  On the other hand, in a state where the portable unit is coupled to the base unit, “normal mode” and “PG setting” can be selected. “Normal mode” and “P / G setting” are alternately selected every time the switching key K10 is pressed. The “normal mode” is an operation mode for controlling opening / closing of a desired relay 4 using the individual control switch 3a and the collective control switch 3b. When either the individual control switch 3a or the collective control switch 3b is pressed, As described above, an interrupt signal synchronized with the transmission signal is generated, and the opening and closing of the relay 4 corresponding to the switch 3 is controlled using the correspondence data registered in the relation storage unit 15 in the parent device 1.

  When “P / G setting” is selected, the registration key K11 and the clear key K12 can be used in addition to the function selection key K1 and the address switching keys K3 and K4. In “P / G setting”, which relay 4 is associated with the collective control switch 3b in pattern control or group control is selected by operating the individual control switch 3a. That is, since the relays 4 are associated with the individual control switches 3a on a one-to-one basis, a plurality of relays 4 to be collectively controlled when the collective control switch 3b is pressed are designated by the individual control switches 3a. To do. Further, since only the pattern control and the group control are selected, the function selection switch K1 alternately switches between “P” and “G” for each pressing operation.

  A specific operation example will be described. When “P / G setting” is selected by the switch key K10, the master unit 1 is notified of the transition to the registration mode by the transmission signal. When one of the collective control switches 3b is pressed after shifting to the registration mode, the pattern address or group address set in the collective control switch 3b is displayed on the display unit 21. When the relay 4 that is the object of pattern control or group control is associated with the remote collective control switch 3b, the function selection key K1 is used to select the pattern control and group control, and the address switching keys K3 and K4 are selected. Use to specify pattern address or group address.

  When the collective control switch 3b that performs pattern control or group control is determined, the relay 4 that is the control target can be specified by using the individual control switch 3a. In the case of the putter control, “non-control target” and “on” and “off” are cyclically selected every time the individual control switch 3a is pressed. In the case of group control, the control is performed every time the individual control switch 3a is pressed. Excluded and On are alternately selected. Therefore, when pattern control is performed by the collective control switch 3b, it is possible to specify for each relay 4 whether each relay 4 is excluded from the control target, turned on during operation, or turned off during operation. Further, when performing group control with the collective control switch 3b, it is possible to collectively designate whether the designated relay 4 is excluded from the control target or turned on during operation. As described above, the setting operation unit 20, the individual control switch 3a, and the collective control switch 3b constitute a data creation unit that creates correspondence data between the switch 3 and the relay 4.

  When the correspondence relationship between each collective control switch 3b and the relay 4 to be controlled is set as described above, the setting content is stored in the data storage unit 33a (see FIG. 4). The correspondence data stored in the data storage unit 33a in this way is transferred to the parent device 1 via the transfer processing unit 33b when the registration key K11 is pressed. If the clear key K12 is pressed, the parent device 1 is instructed to clear the contents of the pattern address or group address displayed on the display device 21 at that time. The registered correspondence data is deleted.

  In order to perform the above-described operation, the setting operation unit 20 (portable unit) is provided with a setting unit processing unit 30 mainly composed of a microcomputer as shown in FIG. A multiplex transmission / reception circuit 34 serving as an interface with the signal line 5 is connected. A power supply circuit 36 is connected to the signal terminal 35 connected to the signal line 5. In the power supply circuit 36, when the portable unit is coupled to the base unit and connected to the signal line 5, the signal line The transmission signal passing through 5 is rectified and smoothed to secure an internal power supply, and power is supplied from the battery B to the internal circuit when the portable unit is removed from the base unit. Since the setting operation device 20 does not need to be operated at all times, a power key K9 is attached so that the power can be turned on and off. When the portable unit is coupled to the base unit and the power key K9 is pressed to turn on the power, the "normal mode" is operated.

  Further, the setting operation device 20 includes the above-described keys K1 to K12, an operation input circuit 37 that provides operation information of the keys K1 to K12 to the setting device processing unit 30, and a buzzer circuit as a notification unit that notifies various states. 38. Further, an oscillation circuit 39 for supplying a clock signal to the setter processing unit 30 and a reset circuit 40 for resetting at the time of abnormal operation or the like are also provided.

  By the way, as described above, when the correspondence relationship data stored in the data storage unit 33a is transferred to the parent device 1 and stored in the relationship storage unit 15 of the parent device 1, the relationship between the parent device 1 and the relationship setting device 2 is determined. In the meantime, information is transmitted in the procedure of FIG. That is, the relationship setting device 2 functions in the same manner as the terminal device for the parent device 1, and sends an interrupt signal to the signal line 5 in synchronization with the start pulse of the transmission signal when the registration key K11 is operated. (P1), the relationship setting device 2 enters a latch state in which the interrupt flag is set. On the other hand, when the master control unit 14 detects the interrupt signal, it transmits a transmission signal whose mode data is the search mode (P2). When the relationship setting device 2 in the latched state receives the search mode transmission signal, the relationship setting device 2 returns the address during the signal return period (P3), and the parent device control unit 14 receiving the address responds to the address (that is, The transmission signal for requesting the return of the latched state is transmitted to the relationship setting device 2 (P4), and an interrupt signal is generated for requesting the registration of the correspondence data by checking whether or not it is in the latched state. Confirm (P5). Also, correspondence data is transmitted during this period. When receiving the correspondence data from the relationship setting device 2, the parent device control unit 14 transmits a transmission signal for releasing the latched state (P6), and releases the latched state of the terminal (P7). Further, when the latch state is released, it is notified that the correspondence relationship data has been registered in the relationship storage unit 15 (P8).

  When the setting unit processing unit 30 of the relationship setting unit 2 receives the notification of the registration of the correspondence data from the parent device 1 within the time specified after the transfer of the correspondence data by the transfer processing unit 33b, the buzzer circuit as a notification unit 38 is controlled to sound a buzzer. Therefore, the user can confirm that the correspondence data has been registered in the parent device by sounding the buzzer after pressing the registration key K11.

It is a block diagram which shows the remote control monitoring system used for this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the transmission unit used for the same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Master unit 2 Relation setting unit (Data creation part)
3 Switch 3a Individual control switch (Data creation part)
3b Batch control switch (data creation unit)
4 relay 5 signal line 14 parent device control unit 15 relation storage unit 16 registration processing unit 33a data storage unit 33b transfer processing unit 38 buzzer circuit (notification unit)

Claims (1)

  Responds to the master unit to which the signal line is connected, the terminal unit to which the identification code is given and the switch on / off information is transmitted to the master unit through the signal line, and the on / off information to which the identification code is given and transmitted from the terminal unit to the master unit The master unit is a remote control system including a plurality of relays for instructing opening and closing, and the master unit includes a relation storage unit in which correspondence data for associating the switch and the relay with an identification code is registered, and a signal line When the switch ON / OFF information is received, the master unit control unit instructs the opening / closing of the relay associated with the switch by the correspondence data, and when the correspondence data is received through the signal line, the correspondence data is registered and registered in the relation storage unit. And a registration processing unit that sends a registration notification to the signal line after completion, and a relationship setting unit that creates correspondence data and transfers it to the parent unit can be connected to the signal line The relationship setting device includes a data creation unit that creates correspondence data between the switch and the relay, a data storage unit that stores the created correspondence data, and correspondence data stored in the data storage unit as a parent device. A remote control system comprising: a transfer processing unit that transfers data; and a notification unit that performs reception notification when a registration notification is received from a parent device within a specified time after the transfer of correspondence data by the transfer processing unit.

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