JP2010011065A - Control device and method of apparatus having push switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus control device and an apparatus control method allowing a device controlling an operation state of an apparatus equipped with a push switch from a remote location to be installed without refurbishing power wiring of the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This control device 1 is used for changing over an operation state of an apparatus 20 equipped with a push switch 63 for manually changing over the operation state, and includes: a communication part 2 receiving a signal changing over the operation state of the apparatus 20; a cylinder 42 changing over the operation state of the apparatus by pushing a push-button 73 for operating the push switch 63; and a control part 3 changing over the operation state of the apparatus 20 by operating the cylinder 42 when a signal for changing over the apparatus 20 is received by the communication part 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device and a control method for an electrical device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a control device and a control method for controlling an operation state of a device by a remote signal.

  There is a technology of an indoor wiring system that turns on / off a device connected to an outlet of a power line by a remote control signal for energy saving and safety in a disaster (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 describes a technique of an outlet wiring structure that can achieve disaster prevention and energy saving in the absence, and can flexibly cope with a redesign in a room and a change in usage. In the technique of Patent Document 1, a power supply line is branched into two systems including an LC line, an LN line, and an LS line, and the LC line and the LN line are connected to a normal outlet connection portion. Also connect the LC line and LS line to the security outlet connection. Then, a security power switch is interposed at the most upstream position in the LS line.

  In addition, there is a technique characterized by a shape that is attached to a socket part of a lighting device, for example, instead of being turned on and off at the outlet part in order to make the control device easy to attach (for example, Patent Document 2).

Patent Document 2 describes a technique for preventing forgetting to turn off lighting, reporting an abnormal state of a person, a fire, an illegal intrusion, and simply mounting the device. When the automatic mode is selected, the technique of Patent Document 2 determines whether a person exists in the room by a human sensor. The light output from the light transmitting element of the door sensor is reflected by the reflector and input to the light receiving element. When the door is opened, the amount of light input to the light receiving element of the door detection sensor decreases, and the output voltage decreases. This voltage is compared with a set voltage value, and when it becomes less than the set voltage value, it is determined that the door is opened. Then, the relay is turned on to light the bulb.
JP 2000-232734 A JP 2002-1000048 A

  However, the technique of Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is not easy to install and construct the control device, as listed as a problem to be solved in Patent Document 2. Further, even when the manual switch described in claim 13 of Patent Document 1 is used, there is a problem that the construction is not easy because it is necessary to separately install a device provided with the manual switch.

  On the other hand, in the technique of Patent Document 2, in order to attach the control device, for example, it is necessary to install the control device after once removing the socket portion of the lighting device, and the problem that the installation is difficult has not been solved. . Further, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10 of Patent Document 2, since a switch for control is installed separately from the existing switch, the operation after the installation of the control device is the original of the device. There was a problem that would be different.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides a control device and a control method capable of installing a device for remotely controlling the operating state of a device including a push switch without modifying the power supply wiring of the device. The purpose is to do.

The control device according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
A control device for switching an operating state of a device including a push switch for manually switching an operating state,
Receiving means for receiving a signal for switching the operating state of the device;
A switching operation means capable of switching the operating state of the device by pressing a button for operating the push switch;
Control means for operating the switching operation means to switch the operating state of the equipment when receiving a signal for switching the equipment by the receiving means;
It is characterized by providing.

The control method according to the second aspect of the present invention is:
A control method for switching an operating state of a device including a push switch for manually switching an operating state,
A receiving step of receiving a signal for switching the operating state of the device;
A control step of switching the operating state of the device by operating a switching operation means capable of switching the operating state of the device by pressing a button for operating the push switch when the switching signal is received in the receiving step;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the control device and the control method of the present invention, remote control for energy saving and disaster prevention can be realized without modifying the power supply wiring, even if the device includes a push switch that manually switches the operating state.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a device control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the device control system of the present invention includes a control instruction unit 30, a control device 1, a device 20, and a push switch 63. The push switch 63 is a switch for manually switching the operating state of the device 20, for example, on / off of the power source. The operating state includes device on / off, device operation mode, device operation stage, and the like. For example, there are an operation mode such as cooling, drying or heating of an air conditioner and a set temperature, a combination of lamps that emit light among a plurality of light-emitting lamps.

  The control instruction unit 30 transmits a signal for switching the operation state of the device 20 to the control device 1 by wireless or the like. The communication between the control instruction unit 30 and the control device 1 can use communication using radio waves such as low-power radio and wireless LAN, communication using infrared rays, or communication using power line carrier.

  The control device 1 receives a signal for switching the operating state of the device 20 from the control instruction unit 30, and operates the push switch 63 of the device 20 according to the signal. The control device 1 includes, for example, a communication unit 2, a control unit 3, a cylinder 42, a power supply 8, a cover 9, an adjustment unit 10, a storage unit 11, and a fixing unit 12.

  The communication unit 2 receives a signal for switching the operating state of the device 20 from the control instruction unit 30. The control unit 3 drives the cylinder 42 according to the signal received by the communication unit 2. The cylinder 42 abuts on the push button 73 of the push switch 63 and operates to push the push button 73 into the push switch 63 to switch the push switch 63 on or off. The fixing unit 12 fixes the control device 1 to the push switch 63 so as not to move when the push switch 63 is switched by reciprocating the cylinder 42.

  The adjusting unit 10 adjusts the operating range of the cylinder 42 according to the stroke of the push switch 63. In this case, the range in which the knob portion 52 reciprocates is adjusted to match the stroke of the push button 73 of the push switch 63. That is, the operating range of the cylinder 42 is adjusted. The storage unit 11 holds data of a stroke that the push switch 63 performs a switching operation.

  The power source 8 supplies power for operation to the communication unit 2, the control unit 3, the cylinder 42, the adjustment unit 10, and the storage unit 11. The cover 9 covers the communication unit 2, the control unit 3, the cylinder 42, the power supply 8, the adjustment unit 10, and the storage unit 11.

  The push switch 63 switches the contact each time the push button 73 attached to the switch is pressed once and returned. For example, a combination of four states of switching on / off of one circuit or on / off of two circuits is switched. Even if the switch state is 3 or more, the switching operation is a repetition of one operation of pressing and returning the push button 73, so the device control device may perform one type of reciprocating operation.

  In the example of FIG. 1, a case where the cylinder 42 is provided as an actuator for pressing the push button 73 is shown. The cylinder 42 is an electric cylinder, and for example, a structure in which one side is rotated by combining a screw and a spiral such as a nut and the other is linearly moved can be used. A configuration in which a rack and a pinion are used as the electric cylinder and the pinion is driven by a motor can also be used. A push-type solenoid can also be used as the actuator.

  For example, when a solenoid is provided as an actuator, the adjustment unit 10 and the storage unit 11 may be omitted because the stroke need not be adjusted if the energization time can be limited. In the case where the operation range is limited by the limit switch, the limit switch can be considered as the adjustment unit 10 and the storage unit 11.

  The controller 3 drives the cylinder 42 according to the received signal. The tip of the cylinder 42 contacts the push button 73 and pushes the push button 73 into the push switch 63. When the cylinder 42 is returned to the original position, the push button 73 returns and the state of the push switch 63 is switched by one.

  When the operation state of the device 20 is plural, the control instruction unit 30 instructs the number of push button operations from the current state to the state to be controlled. The control unit 3 operates the cylinder 42 as many times as instructed to switch the state of the push switch 63.

  The fixing unit 12 fixes the device control device 1 so as not to move with respect to the push switch 63 when the push button 73 is operated by the cylinder 42.

  The adjusting unit 10 automatically operates the cylinder 42 and operates until obtaining a moving amount that can be switched, and stores the result in the storage unit 11. Alternatively, the cylinder 42 may be manually operated to detect a stroke suitable for switching the push switch 63 and hold it as a parameter. Thereafter, when the cylinder 42 is operated, the cylinder 42 is operated according to the movement amount held by the storage unit 11.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structural example of the control device 1 according to the embodiment. 2A is an external view of the control device 1, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view.

  The cylinder 42 and the cover 9 are fixed by the cylinder fixing portion 15. Since the cylinder fixing portion 15 is made of, for example, a rubber material, the cylinder 42 and the cover 9 are fixed by being stretched with respect to the operation of pressing the switch. This is a configuration that does not hinder the pressing operation of the cylinder. When the cylinder 42 pushes the push button 73, the push switch 63 is switched.

  An operation when the user manually turns on / off the push switch 63 will be described. As a configuration, the cylinder 42 is included in the cover 9, and the cylinder 42 is fixed to the cover by the cylinder fixing portion 15. The rear part of the cylinder 4 is exposed from the cover.

  The user presses the rear part of the cylinder 42 when turning on / off the push switch 63. Then, the pushed cylinder 42 is pulled into the cover 9 and the push button 73 located in the back is pushed. Thereby, manual operation can be performed with respect to the push switch 63 similarly to before the control apparatus 1 is installed.

  When a push-type solenoid is provided as an actuator for operating the push switch 63, for example, the solenoid may be regulated so as not to come out of the cover 9 and held so as to slide. When the solenoid is driven, the protrusion of the plunger is pushed out and the push button 73 is pushed. When the solenoid is pushed by hand, the solenoid itself slides, and the protrusion of the plunger comes into contact with the push button 73 so that the push button 73 can be operated.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the control device according to the embodiment. First, when the control instruction unit 30 receives an on / off instruction from a user or an on / off instruction from a home automation system having a function such as turning off lighting when a user is absent by a human sensor (step S30). S101), an on / off instruction is transmitted to the communication unit 2 by wireless means (step S102).

  Upon receiving the on / off instruction, the communication unit 2 transmits an on / off instruction to the control unit 3 (step S103). The controller 3 instructs the cylinder 42 to push the push button 73 (step S104).

  The push button 73 is pushed into the push switch 63 by the downward pressure due to the operation of the cylinder 42 (step S105). As a result, the push switch 63 is switched (step S106).

  An operation when the stroke of the cylinder 42 is adjusted according to the operating length of the push button 73 of the push switch 63 will be described. First, since the stroke is determined by the amount of expansion / contraction operation of the cylinder 42, the expansion / contraction amount is adjusted.

  The adjusting unit 10 automatically expands / contracts the cylinder 42 and expands / contracts until a push-in amount capable of switching the switch is obtained, and the result is stored in the storage unit 11. For example, the amount of expansion / contraction at which the current of the cylinder 42 suddenly increases can be determined as the operation range. Alternatively, a configuration may be used in which the cylinder is manually operated and the expansion / contraction amount that realizes the stroke of the knob portion 52 suitable for switching the switch is held as a parameter.

  After the stroke of the cylinder 42 is determined by the adjusting unit 10, the cylinder 42 is expanded or contracted according to the expansion / contraction amount held by the storage unit 11 when the push button 73 is operated. By adjusting the amount of operation of the cylinder 42, it is possible to control the push switch 63 so that the push switch 63 is switched and the excessive tension is not applied to the push button 73.

  As described above, even when the switch for manually switching the operating state of the device 20 is the push switch 63 by the device control device of the embodiment, remote control of the switch for energy saving and disaster prevention is realized without construction, Furthermore, even when the control device is installed, it is possible to perform device control without hindering the conventional operation of switching the switch by the user.

  The first effect of the present invention is that remote control of switches for energy saving and disaster prevention can be performed without construction. The reason is that it has a control device shaped to cover an existing push switch and a cylinder that can be switched in accordance with a radio signal.

  The second effect of the present invention is that the operation unit of the push switch can be manually operated from above the control device in the same manner as the original operation of the switch for manually switching the device 20. The reason is that the rear part of the cylinder contained in the cover has a shape that is exposed from the cover, and by manually pushing the rear part of the cylinder, the existing push switch located at the back of the cylinder can be pushed. This is because the user can perform the switching operation of the push switch as the original operation of the push switch.

  Other suitable modifications of the present invention include the following configurations.

About the control apparatus which concerns on the 1st viewpoint of this invention,
Preferably, the switching operation means includes an actuator that moves in a direction of pressing a push button of the push switch.

  Preferably, a power supply for supplying electric power necessary for the operation of the receiving means, the switching operation means, and the control means is provided inside a cover that covers the switching operation means.

More preferably, an adjusting means for setting an operating range of the switching operation means for operating the push switch,
Storage means for storing the operating range set by the adjusting means;
It is characterized by providing.

  Preferably, the push switch can be manually operated while the switching operation means is attached to the push switch.

  Preferably, the receiving means receives a signal for switching an operation state of the device from a controller that controls the operation of the device including the device.

Regarding the control method according to the second aspect of the present invention,
Preferably, an adjustment step for setting an operating range of a pressing member for operating the push switch;
A storage step for storing the operating range set in the adjustment step;
With
The control step refers to the set operation range stored in the storage step, and activates the switching operation means in the operation range of the pressing member for operating the push switch.
It is characterized by that.

  Preferably, the receiving step receives a signal for switching the operation state of the device from a controller that controls the operation of the device including the device.

  In addition, the hardware configuration and the flowchart described above are merely examples, and can be arbitrarily changed and modified.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the apparatus control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control apparatus 2 Communication part 3 Control part 8 Power supply 9 Cover 10 Adjustment part 11 Memory | storage part 12 Fixing part 13 Instrument arrangement | positioning board 20 Equipment 30 Control instruction | indication part 42 Cylinder 63 Push switch 73 Push button

Claims (9)

A control device for switching an operating state of a device including a push switch for manually switching an operating state,
Receiving means for receiving a signal for switching the operating state of the device;
A switching operation means capable of switching the operating state of the device by pressing a button for operating the push switch;
Control means for operating the switching operation means to switch the operating state of the equipment when receiving a signal for switching the equipment by the receiving means;
A control device comprising:   The control device according to claim 1, wherein the switching operation unit includes an actuator that moves the push switch in a direction of pressing a push button.   3. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a power source that supplies electric power necessary for the operation of the receiving unit, the switching operation unit, and the control unit inside a cover that covers the switching operation unit. . Adjusting means for setting an operating range of the switching operation means for operating the push switch;
Storage means for storing the operating range set by the adjusting means;
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:   5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the push switch can be manually operated in a state where the switching operation unit is attached to the push switch. 6.   The control device according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit receives a signal for switching an operation state of the device from a controller that controls the operation of the device including the device. A control method for switching an operating state of a device including a push switch for manually switching an operating state,
A receiving step of receiving a signal for switching the operating state of the device;
A control step of switching the operating state of the device by operating a switching operation means capable of switching the operating state of the device by pressing a button for operating the push switch when the switching signal is received in the receiving step;
A control method comprising: An adjusting step for setting an operating range of a pressing member for operating the push switch;
A storage step for storing the operating range set in the adjustment step;
With
The control step refers to the set operation range stored in the storage step, and activates the switching operation means in the operation range of the pressing member for operating the push switch.
The control method according to claim 7.   The control method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the receiving step receives a signal for switching an operation state of the device from a controller that controls the operation of the device including the device.

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