JP2007249542A - Environmental load value calculation system, environmental load value calculation device and environmental load value calculation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an environmental load value calculation system, an environmental load value calculation device and an environmental load value calculation method for precisely calculating an environmental load value in a use stage. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic and electrical appliance 1 is provided with a function execution part 11 for executing a plurality of functions F<SB>1</SB>, F<SB>2</SB>, through F<SB>n</SB>; an operation history collection part 12 for collecting the operation history of each of the plurality of functions F<SB>1</SB>, F<SB>2</SB>, through F<SB>n</SB>; and an IC tag 13 for recording the operation history of each function collected by the operation history collection part 12. The operation history of the IC tag 13 is transmitted to an IC reader 2 by radio, and an environmental load value is calculated by a computer 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an environmental load value calculation system, an environmental load value calculation device, and an environmental load value calculation method for calculating an environmental load value representing a load applied to an environment by an electronic / electrical device having a plurality of functions.

  In recent years, along with the social increase in global environmental issues, not only environmental considerations caused by production activities in factories, but also reductions in environmental load values that represent the environmental load on electronic and electrical equipment itself are required. ing.

  Here, life cycle assessment (LCA) has attracted attention as a method for quantitatively evaluating the environmental load value of electronic and electrical equipment. LCA is a technique for analyzing and evaluating the environmental load value from the stage where electronic and electronic equipment is manufactured to the stage where it is discarded, and for improving the environmental load value. In other words, LCA is to grasp and evaluate the environmental load value through the life cycle of electronic and electrical equipment (raw material collection → manufacturing → distribution → use → disposal / recycling, etc.).

  In this way, LCA is not a partial assessment of the life cycle of electronic and electrical equipment, but a comprehensive assessment of the life of electronic and electrical equipment. LCA is a load value such as air pollution, resource efficiency, and waste amount. It is characterized in that it can be used quantitatively to make a scientific or rational improvement.

  Here, when calculating the environmental load value of electronic and electrical equipment by LCA, the environmental load value at the use stage among the stages such as material, manufacture, distribution, use and disposal is based on the uniform use of electronic and electrical equipment. The calculation is performed on the assumption. In other words, the usage period of the electronic electrical device, the usage time of one day, etc. are uniformly determined and calculated on the assumption that the usage history of the electronic electrical device is used.

In addition, a technique has been proposed in which the operation status of each part in the electronic / electric equipment is grasped based on operation information such as the number of operations and the number of operations of the electronic / electric equipment, and used for determining whether maintenance or recycling is possible ( Patent Document 1).
JP-A-10-222568

  Some electronic and electrical devices have different usage conditions for each user. For such electronic and electrical devices, assuming that the electronic and electrical devices are uniformly used, calculating the environmental load value, It is difficult to accurately calculate the environmental load value at the use stage of electronic and electrical equipment.

  In general, although electronic and electronic devices have various functions, not all of these functions are necessary for users, and there are functions that most users never use. Although such a function is a factor that increases the environmental load value of electronic and electrical equipment, it is the actual situation that the determination of necessity is made by a survey using a user questionnaire or the like.

  Furthermore, when it comes to sophisticated electronic and electrical equipment, the history of power-on time at the use stage is stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk in the electronic and electrical equipment, and the power-on time and the average power consumption from the start of use to disposal are stored. By multiplying, it is possible to calculate the amount of power consumption at the use stage of the electronic and electrical equipment. However, it is difficult to accurately grasp the user usage status of various functions of the electronic / electrical device at the use stage of the electronic / electrical device. In addition, for example, when the history of power-on time in the use stage is written on the hard disk in the electronic electrical equipment and the electronic electrical equipment is no longer needed, in the disposal stage of the electronic electrical equipment, In many cases, it becomes impossible to read data from the hard disk, and in this case, it is difficult to grasp the user usage status at the use stage.

  Further, in the technology proposed in Patent Document 1 for grasping the operation status of each component based on operation information such as the number of operations and the number of operations of an electronic / electrical device and using it for determining whether maintenance or recycling is possible, It is not specified that the environmental load value is accurately calculated by checking the value judgment of each function from the manifestation status of each function.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an environmental load value calculation system, an environmental load value calculation device, and an environmental load value calculation method that can accurately calculate an environmental load value in a use stage.

An environmental load value calculation system of the present invention that achieves the above object includes an electronic and electrical device having a plurality of functions, a reading device that acquires information from the electronic and electrical device, and a computer that calculates an environmental load value based on the information. An environmental load value calculation system comprising:
The above electronic and electrical equipment
An operation history collection unit that collects an operation history of each of the plurality of functions;
An IC tag in which an operation history for each function collected by the operation history collection unit is recorded,
The reading device is
A data receiving unit for obtaining an operation history for each function from the IC tag;
A data transmission unit for transmitting the acquired operation history to the computer,
The computer
Obtain an operation history for each function from the reading device,
An environmental load value for each function is calculated based on the operation history.

  In order to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks in the prior art, the present inventors have studied a method for collecting operation histories for each function of an electronic / electric product, and as a result of intensive studies, the IC is a non-contact writable device IC. In the electronic and electrical equipment equipped with a tag, the usage status of each function at the use stage is recorded on the device, and the environmental load value that allows the user usage status to be accurately grasped from the function operation history from the start of use to disposal A calculation system was devised.

  The environmental load value calculation system according to the present invention collects operation histories of each of a plurality of functions of an electronic / electrical device and records them in an IC tag. The environmental load value for each function is calculated based on the operation history by the computer. For this reason, the operation history of the electronic and electrical equipment can be recorded on the IC tag in real time, and the accurate function operation history at the use stage can be grasped. In addition, since the operation history is acquired by a reading device that is not physically connected to the electronic / electrical device, even when the electronic / electrical device is destroyed when the electronic / electrical device is discarded, the electronic / electrical device The reading device that has acquired the operation history of each of the plurality of functions is not destroyed, and the information in the IC tag is acquired in a non-contact manner by the reading device, so that the IC tag can be Even if the location is not known, the operation history in the IC tag can be acquired by the reading device and transmitted to the computer to calculate the environmental load value for each function. Accordingly, the operation history can be obtained accurately and reliably in the use stage, and the environmental load value in each use function can be calculated accurately by calculating the environmental load value for each function based on the operation history. Can do. In addition, it is possible to reduce the environmental load value at the manufacturing stage of the electronic electrical device by feeding back the value judgment of the function to the design of the electronic electrical device and removing the unnecessary function.

  Here, the operation history is preferably the number of times of use or operating time.

  In this way, it is possible to accurately grasp the operation history of each of a plurality of functions.

  Moreover, it is also a preferable aspect that the environmental load value is a value converted into carbon dioxide based on the power consumption.

  If it does in this way, it can utilize for the means which improves air pollution.

An environmental load value calculation device of the present invention that achieves the above object is an environmental load value calculation device that calculates an environmental load value of an electronic electric device having a plurality of functions,
An operation history for each function is acquired from the electronic / electrical device, and an environmental load value for each function is calculated based on the operation history.

  The environmental load value calculation device of the present invention acquires an operation history for each function from an electronic / electrical device, and calculates an environmental load value for each function based on the operation history. For this reason, it is possible to accurately and surely acquire the operation history for each function in the use stage of the electronic and electrical equipment, and calculate the environmental load value for each function. Therefore, it is possible to accurately calculate the environmental load value at the use stage of the electronic and electrical equipment. In addition, it is possible to reduce the environmental load value at the manufacturing stage of the electronic electrical device by feeding back the value judgment of the function to the design of the electronic electrical device and removing the unnecessary function.

Furthermore, the environmental load value calculation method of the present invention that achieves the above object is an environmental load value calculation method for calculating an environmental load value of an electronic electrical device having a plurality of functions,
Obtaining an operation history for each function from the electronic device;
A step of calculating an environmental load value for each function based on the operation history;
It is characterized by performing.

  The environmental load value calculation method of the present invention executes a step of obtaining an operation history for each function from the electronic and electrical equipment, and then executes a step of calculating an environmental load value for each function based on the operation history. It is. For this reason, it is possible to accurately and surely acquire the operation history for each function in the use stage of the electronic and electrical equipment, and calculate the environmental load value for each function. Therefore, it is possible to accurately calculate the environmental load value at the use stage of the electronic and electrical equipment. In addition, it is possible to reduce the environmental load value at the manufacturing stage of the electronic electrical device by feeding back the value judgment of the function to the design of the electronic electrical device and removing the unnecessary function.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an environmental load value calculation system, an environmental load value calculation device, and an environmental load value calculation method that can accurately calculate an environmental load value in a use stage.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an environmental load value calculation system according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows an environmental load value calculation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The environmental load value calculation system shown in FIG. 1 includes an electronic electrical device 1, an IC reader 2 (equivalent to an example of a reading device according to the present invention) to which information from the electronic electrical device 1 is transmitted wirelessly, and the IC reader. 2 is composed of a computer 3 called a workstation or a personal computer that calculates an environmental load value representing a load applied to the environment by the electronic and electrical equipment 1 based on the data from 2.

  The electronic / electrical device 1 includes a main body 1_1 and a remote controller 1_2.

The body portion 1_1, a plurality of functions _{F 1,} F 2 of the electronic and electric equipment 1 has, ..., the function execution unit 11 for executing the _{F n} are provided. The function execution unit 11 has a function _{F 1} executing unit 11_1, function _{F 2} executing unit 11_2, ..., and a function _{F n} execution unit 11_N.

The main body 1_1 is provided with an operation history collection unit 12 that collects operation histories of the plurality of functions F ₁ , F ₂ ,..., F _n . The operation history collection unit 12 includes a history collection unit 12_1, a date acquisition unit 12_2, a history storage control unit 12_3, and a history storage communication unit 12_4.

Furthermore, the operation history for each function F ₁ , F ₂ ,..., F _n collected by the operation history collection unit 12 is recorded in the main body unit 1 _ ₁ , and is recorded in response to reading from the external IC reader 2. An IC tag 13 that wirelessly transmits the operation history being recorded to the IC reader 2 is provided. The IC tag 13 includes a data receiving unit 13_1, a data recording unit 13_2, and a data transmitting unit 13_3.

  The main body 1_1 includes a main body operation unit 14, a remote control receiving unit 15, a control command conversion unit 16, and an operation control unit 17.

  On the other hand, the remote control unit 1_2 includes a remote control operation unit 18 and a remote control transmission unit 19.

In the electrical and electronic devices 1, the remote control unit 18 on the remote controller unit 1_2, an electric signal for requesting to perform the functions F _n of the electronic electrical apparatus 1 is input to the remote control transmitter 19. In response to this, the remote control transmission unit 19 transmits a message to that effect to the main unit 1_1.

The main body portion 1_1, an electrical signal requesting to perform the functions F _n is received by the remote control receiving portion 15. The received electrical signal is transmitted to the control command converter 16. The electric signal can be transmitted from the main body operation unit 14 to the control command conversion unit 16 in the same manner.

The control command conversion unit 16 converts the command for expressing a functional F _n electric signal transmitted represented, transmits the function execution unit 11 via the operation control unit 17. In response to this, the function execution unit 11 operates the function _Fn execution means.

Various functions F ₁ , F ₂ ,..., F _{n included in the} electronic / electric equipment 1 are operated by the flow of the electric signal. Command for expressing the function F _n transmitted from the control command conversion unit 16 at this time is transmitted simultaneously to the operation history collection unit 12, via the history collection unit 12_1 provided for the operation history collection unit 12 Input to the history storage control means 12_3, and the history storage control means 12_3 converts the IC tag 13 into information that can be recorded and saved (for example, binarized numerical values). This information becomes function usage information. At this stage, the date and time information acquired by the date and time acquisition unit 12_2 is added to the function usage information.

  The function usage information to which the date / time information is given (corresponding to an example of the operation history in the present invention) is transmitted from the history storage communication unit 12_4 to the IC tag 13 which is one form of a writable device. The function usage information transmitted to the IC tag 13 is recorded and accumulated in the data recording unit 13_2 via the data receiving unit 13_1. The function usage information stored in the IC tag 13 can be read by the external IC reader 2. Here, the operation history collecting unit 12 and the IC tag 13, and the IC tag 13 and the IC reader 2 perform transmission and reception of signals wirelessly and in a non-contact manner.

  The IC reader 2 includes a data reception unit 21, a calculation unit 22, a data storage unit 23, and a data transmission unit 24. The data receiving unit 21 receives the function usage information transmitted from the IC tag 13. The received function usage information is subjected to arithmetic processing by the arithmetic unit 22 and stored in the data storage unit 23. The data stored in the data storage unit 23 is transmitted from the data transmission unit 24 to the computer 3. The computer 3 calculates the environmental load value of the electronic electrical apparatus 1 by using the data as at least a part of the calculation of the environmental load value representing the load applied to the environment. Next, the output image of the operation history will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram in which a plurality of functions of the electronic / electric device shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in time series for each week. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the number of times the plurality of functions shown in FIG. 2 are used.

FIG 2, a plurality of functions _{F 1, F 2, F 3} , ..., for _{F n,} used after 0-1 weeks the number _{f 1-1, f 2-1, f 3-1} , ..., f n _-1 ; Number of uses f _1-2 , f _2-2 , f _3-2 , ..., f _n-2 ;, ..., (m-1)-Number of uses f ₁ after m weeks _-M , f2 _-m , f3 _-m , ..., fn _-m are shown.

Further, in FIG. 3, a representative, a plurality of functions _{F 1,} F _2, F 3, ..., three times using the function _{F 1,} F 2, _{F 3} of the _{F n,} after 1 week A graph graphed over m weeks is shown.

As is apparent from FIG. 3, it can be seen that the function F ₁ is constantly used immediately after the start of use. In addition, the function F ₂ it can be seen that are no longer then most use but immediately after the start of use has been utilized. Furthermore, functions F ₃ it can be seen that no substantially used from the beginning.

  Next, the computer 3 calculates the power consumption for each function based on, for example, the number of uses and the unit power consumption for the function. Then, CO2 conversion is performed for each function based on the power consumption.

  Thus, it becomes possible to calculate the environmental load value at the time of use of the electronic equipment 1 by LCA for each function by accurately knowing the usage history of each function. In addition, it is an effective material for determining the necessity of each function in consideration of not only the number of times of use but also an environmental load value such as a CO2 equivalent amount.

  As described above, in the environmental load value calculation system according to the present embodiment, the user usage status and history of various functions of the electronic electrical device 1 can be accurately grasped at the stage of use of the electronic electrical device 1. In addition, when the electronic electrical device 1 is discarded, information can be acquired from the IC tag 13 even if the main part of the electronic electrical device 1 is inoperable. The value can be calculated accurately. Furthermore, it is possible to determine whether each function is necessary or not from the usage history of various functions of the electronic electrical device 1 for each attribute relating to the usage mode. By selecting necessary and sufficient functions, the electronic electrical device 1 The environmental load value can be reduced.

Next, an embodiment of the electronic / electric equipment 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Here, an HDD recorder was used as the electronic / electrical device 1, and an environmental load value during use of the HDD recorder was calculated. The standard power consumption of the HDD recorder during operation is 20 W (maximum power consumption is 74 W), and the power consumption during standby is 4.7 W. The usage period of the HDD recorder was set to one week.
Example 1
Example 1 is a case of a heavy user (20 recorded programs, recording time 12.5 hours, viewing time 10 hours). Table 1 shows data for a heavy user.

  As a result of actually attaching the watt-hour meter to the HDD recorder and performing the actual measurement, it was 2.70 kWh (average power consumption = 50 W) as shown in the Reference: Power consumption (actual value) column of Table 1.

  On the other hand, as a result of calculation according to Example 1 (recording the usage status of each function and sending data to the IC tag every hour), it was 2.69 kWh as shown in the total column of Table 1.

When this is converted into CO2 (0.44 kgCO2 / kWh), the measured value (2.70 kWh) is 1.19 kgCO2 and the calculated value (2.69 kWh) in Example 1 is 1.18 kgCO2. 1 was almost the same as the actual measurement value, and it was found that the calculation result of the environmental load value according to Example 1 to which the present invention was applied was high in accuracy.
(Example 2)
Example 2 is a case of a light user (recorded program number 2 titles, recording time 2 hours, viewing time 2 hours). Table 2 shows data for a light user.

  The actual value measured with the watt-hour meter was 1.2 kWh as shown in the Reference: Power consumption (actual value) column of Table 2.

  On the other hand, as a result of calculation according to Example 2, as shown in the total column of Table 2, it was 1.17 kWh (average power consumption = 5 W).

  When this is converted to CO2 (0.44 kgCO2 / kWh), the measured value is 0.53 kgCO2 emission, and the calculated value according to Example 2 is 0.51 kgCO2 emission, which is the environmental load value according to Example 2 to which the present invention is applied. The calculation result of was found to be highly accurate.

Next, a comparative example will be described.
(Comparative Example 1)
Comparative Example 1 is a case where a usage situation is assumed.

Based on the results of a one-week use situation (power-on time) survey based on a user questionnaire, the operating time is assumed to be 8 hours (h) and multiplied by the average power consumption of the device. in this way,
(Power consumption during operation x Operating time) + (Power consumption during standby x Standby time)
= 20W x 8h + 4.7W x 144h = 0.84kW
Met. When this was converted into CO 2 (0.44 kg CO 2 / kWh), 0.37 kg CO 2 was discharged, which was largely different from the actually measured value and confirmed to be inaccurate.
(Comparative Example 2)
Comparative Example 2 is a method (in the case of a heavy user) based on recording of power-on time.

In this method of recording the power-on time and multiplying by the average power consumption of the device,
(Power consumption during operation x Operating time) + (Power consumption during standby x Standby time)
= 20W x 24h + 4.7W x 144h = 1.16kW
Met. When this was converted to CO2 (0.44 kgCO2 / kWh), 0.51 kgCO2 was discharged, which was significantly different from the actual measurement value and confirmed to be inaccurate.
(Comparative Example 3)
Comparative Example 3 is a method (in the case of a light user) based on recording of power-on time.

In this method of recording the power-on time and multiplying by the average power consumption of the device,
(Power consumption during operation x Operating time) + (Power consumption during standby x Standby time)
= 20W x 9.5h + 4.7W x 144h = 0.87kW
Met. When this was converted into CO2 (0.44 kgCO2 / kWh), it was discharged as 0.38 kgCO2, confirming that it was very different from the actual measurement value and inaccurate.

It is a figure which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the environmental load value calculation system of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram in which a plurality of functions of the electronic / electric device shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in time series for each week. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the number of uses of a plurality of functions illustrated in FIG. 2 in a graph.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic electrical equipment 1_1 Main body part 1_2 Remote control part 2 IC reader 3 Computer 11 Function execution part 11_1 Function F ₁ Execution means 11_2 Function F ₂ Execution means 11_n Function F _n Execution means 12 Operation history collection part 12_1 History collection means 12_2 Date and time acquisition means 12 — 3 History storage control means 12 — 4 History storage communication means 13 IC tag 13 — 1 Data reception section 13 — 2 Data recording section 13 — 3 Data transmission section 14 Main body operation section 15 Remote control reception section 16 Control command conversion section 17 Operation control section 18 Remote control operation section 19 Remote control transmission section 21 Data Receiving Unit 22 Computing Unit 23 Data Storage Unit 24 Data Transmitting Unit

Claims (5)

An environmental load value calculation system comprising: an electronic and electrical device having a plurality of functions; a reading device that acquires information from the electronic and electrical device; and a computer that calculates an environmental load value based on the information,
The electronic electrical equipment is
An operation history collection unit that collects an operation history of each of the plurality of functions;
An IC tag in which an operation history for each function collected by the operation history collection unit is recorded,
The reading device includes:
A data receiving unit for obtaining an operation history for each function from the IC tag;
A data transmission unit for transmitting the acquired operation history to the computer,
The computer
Obtain an operation history for each function from the reading device,
An environmental load value calculation system for calculating an environmental load value for each function based on the operation history.   The environmental load value calculation system according to claim 1, wherein the operation history is a use count or an operation time.   The environmental load value calculation system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the environmental load value is a value converted into carbon dioxide based on a power consumption amount. An environmental load value calculation device for calculating an environmental load value of an electronic electric device having a plurality of functions,
An environmental load value calculation apparatus that acquires an operation history for each function from the electronic and electrical equipment and calculates an environmental load value for each function based on the operation history. An environmental load value calculation method for calculating an environmental load value of an electronic electric device having a plurality of functions,
Obtaining an operation history for each function from the electronic device;
Calculating an environmental load value for each function based on the operation history;
The environmental load value calculation method characterized by performing.

Images