JP2010056615A - Load control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and reliably open and close a load even if fading occurs in a load control system. <P>SOLUTION: A lighting control system has: a remote controller that has three antennas having mutually different polarization surfaces of radiated radio waves and can transmit a lighting signal by radio waves; and a switch capable of receiving the lighting signal. In the remote controller, a radio transmission circuit section transmits the lighting signal by a transmission mode using one of the antennas based on control by a control section when a human detection sensor detects a human body. The control section sets the transmission mode to be a first transmission mode in initial signal transmission when an illuminance sensor does not detect a change in illuminance within prescribed time by signal transmission processing, and sets the transmission mode to be second and third transmission modes in second signal transmission and third signal transmission, respectively. The transmission mode is changed automatically, thus achieving reliable communication under environment having fading by a polarization diversity effect. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a load control system that receives a signal transmitted by radio waves from a transmitter by a receiver and controls a load according to the signal.

  In recent years, a load control configured to receive a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter by a switch disposed on a construction surface such as a wall surface, and perform an opening / closing operation of a lighting device or the like based on the signal received by the switch. A system is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a load control system, by using wireless communication, for example, a highly functional switch can be replaced with an existing switch without performing wiring work with other parts of the load control system. Or it can newly arrange | position easily.

  In such a load control system using wireless communication, depending on the application, it is preferable to transmit and receive signals using infrared light when transmitting and receiving signals between the transmitter and the switch using wireless communication using radio waves. It may be more desirable than you do. This is because there is a merit that the area of the transmitter that can transmit a signal in the wireless communication is wider than that in the infrared light due to the radio wave transmission or diffraction of the wireless communication. However, even when wireless communication using radio waves is used as described above, communication may not be performed properly between the transmitter and the switch. In this case, for example, the user operates the transmitter. However, the load is not opened and closed as intended by the user.

Such a problem may occur due to the influence of fading, for example. In other words, if fading occurs due to the occurrence of reflected waves in the radio propagation path according to the positional relationship between the transmitter and the switch, the position of obstacles, etc. around it, the intensity of the radio wave reaching the switch is reduced This makes it difficult to receive the signal transmitted from the transmitter. In order to prepare for the occurrence of fading, a method is known in which the same signal is transmitted from each of a plurality of antennas one or more times in advance in preparation for fading. However, in that case, since the number of times of signal transmission increases, there is a problem that power consumption increases.
JP 2006-253092 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a load control system with low power consumption of a transmitter capable of easily and reliably opening and closing a load even in an environment where fading occurs. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 has a transmitter for transmitting a signal by radio waves and a function for receiving radio waves, and is connected to a load to control at least on / off of the load. In the load control system having the receiver, the transmitter includes an antenna unit, a wireless transmission circuit unit that transmits a signal from the antenna unit, and a trigger that outputs a trigger signal when a certain state is detected The receiver includes: a detection unit; a load state detection unit that detects a change in environment due to the load; and a control unit that controls the wireless transmission circuit unit based on the trigger signal and transmits a predetermined signal. An antenna unit, a radio reception circuit unit that receives radio waves using the antenna unit and extracts a signal, a load control circuit unit that opens and closes a power feeding path from a power source to the load, and the radio reception circuit unit A control unit that controls the operation of the load control circuit in response to the received signal, and configured to operate the load in response to a trigger signal output from the trigger detection means. The unit is configured to be able to radiate radio waves in a plurality of transmission modes having different antenna characteristics, and the wireless transmission circuit unit is configured to be able to transmit a signal by switching the plurality of transmission modes, and the trigger When a trigger signal is output from the detection means, a predetermined signal is transmitted in a predetermined transmission mode among the plurality of transmission modes, and then an environmental change due to the load is detected by the load state detection means within a predetermined time. If not, the predetermined signal is transmitted in a transmission mode different from at least the transmission mode in which the signal was transmitted immediately before the plurality of transmission modes, and Is intended to repeat these operations until the change of the environment by the load is detected by said load condition detecting means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the wireless transmission circuit unit transmits the predetermined signal two or more times after the predetermined time has elapsed, and then the load state within a predetermined time. When no change in the environment due to the load is detected by the detection means, a transmission mode different from the transmission mode transmitted immediately before among the plurality of transmission modes and a transmission mode different from the transmission mode are already transmitted. The predetermined signal is transmitted continuously in at least one transmission mode among the transmission modes performed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the wireless transmission circuit unit transmits the predetermined signal two or more times after the predetermined time has elapsed, and then further performs the load state within a predetermined time. When a change in environment due to the load is not detected by the detection means, the predetermined signal is transmitted a plurality of times for each transmission mode while sequentially switching a plurality of transmission modes for signal transmission.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the trigger signal is output from the trigger detection unit, the wireless transmission circuit unit outputs the predetermined signal last time. The predetermined signal is transmitted using the transmission mode in which transmission is performed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the antenna section of the transmitter includes a plurality of antennas having different polarization planes, and the radio receiving circuit section includes: The transmission mode can be switched by switching an antenna used for signal transmission among the plurality of antennas.

  The invention of claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the antenna section of the transmitter has a plurality of antennas with different mounting positions, and the radio reception circuit section is The transmission mode can be switched by switching an antenna used for signal transmission among the plurality of antennas.

  The invention of claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the antenna section of the transmitter has a plurality of antennas having different directivities, and the radio reception circuit section is The transmission mode can be switched by switching an antenna used for signal transmission among the plurality of antennas.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a trigger signal is output and a predetermined signal is transmitted, for example, when a communication failure due to fading causes no change in the environment due to a load within a predetermined time, the previous time Signal transmission is performed in a transmission mode in which antenna characteristics are different from those during transmission. Therefore, the possibility of communication failure can be reduced without requiring the user to change the transmission mode, and the load can be easily and reliably opened and closed. In addition, since signal transmission is not always performed in a plurality of transmission modes, the power consumption of the transmitter can be reduced compared to a transmitter that always performs signal transmission in a plurality of transmission modes.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the signal transmission is performed again even in the transmission mode in which the signal transmission has already been performed at the time of transmission of the predetermined signal after the third time, particularly when the fading occurs temporarily. At the time of transmission, when a state in which communication can be satisfactorily performed in the transmission mode in which signal transmission has already been performed, communication can be performed in that transmission mode more quickly.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, during the transmission of a predetermined signal after the third time, by performing signal transmission a plurality of times for each transmission mode while sequentially switching the transmission mode, fading in the surrounding environment until then is performed. It is possible to reliably and promptly communicate when the occurrence state changes.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when a trigger signal is output, signal transmission is performed in a transmission mode in which communication is considered to have succeeded last. Therefore, for example, compared with the case of always transmitting in the same transmission mode when transmitting a predetermined signal for the first time, it is possible to reduce the possibility of communication failure and to enable more reliable and prompt communication. it can.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, every time a predetermined signal is transmitted, the signal can be transmitted by radio waves having different polarization planes. Due to the effect of wave diversity, the interference state of radio waves can be changed, and communication can be reliably performed.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, every time a predetermined signal is transmitted, the signal can be transmitted by radio waves from an antenna with a different mounting position. Therefore, even if communication fails due to fading during the previous transmission Thus, fading can be prevented by changing the interference state of radio waves due to the effect of space diversity, thereby enabling more reliable communication.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, every time a predetermined signal is transmitted, the signal can be transmitted by radio waves having different directivities. The radio wave interference state can be changed by the effect of the diversity, and communication can be surely performed.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a lighting control system as an example of a load control system according to the present embodiment. The lighting control system 1 includes a lighting device 150 as a load, a remote controller (transmitter; hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 151 that transmits a radio signal by radio waves, a power source (see FIG. 2) 50 that is, for example, a commercial AC power source, and a lighting device. A switch (receiver) 152 and the like are connected in series to 150 via an electric wire.

  The remote controller 151 is provided with a human sensor (trigger detection means) 151a for detecting the presence or absence of a human body H in a predetermined area, an illuminance sensor (load state detection means) 151b for measuring ambient illuminance, and the like. As will be described later, the switch 152 turns on or off the illumination device 150 in accordance with a radio signal transmitted from the remote controller 151 and received. That is, the lighting control system 1 employs a unidirectional communication method from the remote controller 151 to the switch 152. Here, in the present embodiment, the illumination device 150 made of an incandescent lamp is exemplified as the load. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other illumination devices such as a fluorescent lamp and a fluorescent lamp electronic ballast, as well as illumination. It may be a load other than the device. The switch 152 has an operation handle that can be operated by the user from the outside, for example, and is configured so that the lighting device 150 can be turned on or off by directly operating the operation handle. May be.

  FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of the remote controller 151 and the switch 152. In addition to the human sensor 151a and the illuminance sensor 151b, the remote controller 151 includes, for example, an antenna unit 11 having three antennas 11a, 11b, and 11c as described later, and a wireless transmission circuit unit 12 that transmits a signal from the antenna unit 11. , A control unit 13 for controlling the operation of the remote controller 151, a battery 14 for supplying electric power to these electric circuits, and the like. The remote controller 151 is configured in a box shape in which each unit is housed in a housing, for example.

  The human sensor 151a detects, for example, the presence or absence of the human body H in a predetermined area by detecting thermal radiation radiated from the human body H. When the human body H is detected, a human body detection signal (trigger signal) is detected. Is sent to the control unit 13. The illuminance sensor 151b is composed of, for example, a photodiode, and detects a change in illuminance due to the lighting operation or extinguishing operation of the illumination device 150, and sends the detected change in illuminance to the control unit 13 as an environment change signal.

  The control unit 13 is configured by a microcomputer or the like, and controls the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 and the like. When a human body detection signal is input, or after that, an environment change signal is input within a predetermined period as described later. When not, a lighting signal for lighting the lighting device 150 is generated. When a lighting signal or the like is input from the control unit 13, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 modulates and amplifies the lighting signal or the like, and transmits the signal by superimposing it on a carrier wave of a wireless channel having a predetermined frequency.

  The switch 152 is connected to the lighting device 150 connected to the lighting device 150, for example, the antenna 21 such as a loop antenna, the wireless reception circuit unit 22 that receives radio waves by the antenna 21, the control unit 23 that controls the operation of the switch 152. A load control circuit unit 24 that opens and closes the power supply path and a power supply circuit 25 that supplies power to the lighting device 150 from a power supply 50 of 100 V, for example, are provided. The switch 152 is formed in a two-module size, for example, a wide handle type continuous switch (see JIS C 8304) having a rectangular box-shaped body made of synthetic resin, and is attached to a mounting frame or the like conforming to the standard. And placed in a switch box embedded in the wall surface. Note that the switch 152 is not limited to the one embedded in the wall surface as described above, and may be attached to, for example, a wall surface or a ceiling.

  Based on the control of the control unit 23, the radio reception circuit unit 22 receives radio waves of a channel having a predetermined frequency. The load control circuit unit 24 includes a switching element (for example, a triac) that opens and closes a power supply path from the power supply circuit 25 to the lighting device 150. The control unit 23 is configured by a microcomputer or the like, and performs switching control of the switching element of the load control circuit unit 24 in accordance with the signal received by the wireless reception circuit unit 22. For example, when the lighting signal is received by the wireless reception circuit unit 22, the control unit 23 performs switching control for switching between a state where power is supplied to the lighting device 150 and a state where power is not supplied. The power supply circuit 25 supplies operating power to the control unit 23 and the like. In the switch 152, when the load control circuit unit 24 opens a power supply path to the lighting device 150, the power supply circuit 25 charges the capacitor to generate an operating power supply for the switch 152. On the other hand, when the load control circuit unit 24 closes the power supply path from the power supply circuit 25 to the lighting device 150, the power supply path is periodically set for a predetermined time within a range that does not affect the lighting state of the lighting device 150. The capacitor is opened and charged to the capacitor, and when closed outside a predetermined time, the capacitor is discharged to generate an operating power supply. Thereby, the switch 152 can connect the power supply circuit 25 and the illumination device 150 in series by two lines. Since this type of power supply circuit 25 is conventionally known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-357443, etc.), illustration and description of a detailed configuration and operation are omitted. The configuration of the power supply circuit 25 is not limited to this, and power may be constantly supplied from the power supply 50 to the switch 152.

  In the lighting control system 1, when the human sensor 151a of the remote controller 151 detects the human body H, the control unit 23 of the switch 152 turns on the power supply to the lighting device 150, and then a certain time has elapsed (for example, 1 minute has elapsed). After) The power supply to the lighting device 150 is turned off. That is, when the human body H is detected by the human sensor 151a and a lighting signal is transmitted from the remote controller 151, the switching element of the load control circuit unit 24 is switched by the control of the control unit 23 of the switch 152, and the lighting device 150 Lights up. Thereby, the user can switch the illuminating device 150 to a lighting state by being located in a predetermined area.

  Here, the three antennas 11a, 11b, and 11c constituting the antenna unit 11 of the remote controller 151 have different polarization planes and have different antenna characteristics. For example, the first antenna 11a has antenna characteristics that radiate radio waves with vertical polarization, and the second antenna 11b has antenna characteristics that radiate radio waves with horizontal polarization. The third antenna 11c has an antenna characteristic that emits radio waves with oblique polarization, which is neither vertical polarization nor horizontal polarization. That is, the antenna unit is configured to be able to radiate radio waves in a plurality of transmission modes having different antenna characteristics by the first antenna 11a to the third antenna 11c. Each of the first antenna 11a to the third antenna 11c is, for example, a small dipole antenna. Note that the types of the first antenna 11a to the third antenna 11c and the polarization characteristics of the emitted radio wave are not limited to this. For example, a loop antenna or the like may be used. It may be configured to release.

  Based on the control of the control unit 13, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 switches the three first antennas 11 a to 11 c and transmits the signal to the radio wave after a human body detection signal is transmitted from the human sensor 151 a. The process of transmitting (hereinafter referred to as signal transmission process) is performed. That is, the radio transmission circuit unit 12 selects one of the first antenna 11a to the third antenna 11c having different antenna characteristics, and the polarization planes of the first transmission mode to the third transmission mode are different from each other. The signal is transmitted by switching between the two transmission modes. In the signal transmission process, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 controls the control unit 13 when the illuminance sensor 151b does not detect a change in illuminance within a predetermined time (for example, within 1 second) after the human sensor 151a detects the human body H. Based on the control, the transmission mode is changed.

  The controller 13 can detect the presence / absence of an operation by the lighting device 150 based on whether or not an environment change signal is input from the illuminance sensor 151b. That is, when the environmental change signal is not input from the illuminance sensor 151b, the control unit 13 determines that the lighting device 150 is not turned on. The signal transmission process is performed when, for example, the incandescent lamp of the lighting device 150 is burned out after a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed since the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 transmitted the first signal. The process ends when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b. The signal transmission process is also terminated when a change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time after the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 transmits the first signal.

  Hereinafter, an operation mode of the transmission mode changing operation in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 shows an example of the operation mode of the transmission mode changing operation. The operation example shown in the figure is a case where a change in illuminance is not detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time after the human body H is detected by the human sensor 151a. Here, the predetermined time has elapsed three times. Shows the case. Here, the transmission timing of the signal transmitted from the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 by transmission of the human body detection signal by the human sensor 151a is indicated as “# 1”, and the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 is transmitted after each predetermined time thereafter. The transmission timings of the signals transmitted from are indicated as “# 2” to “# 4”, respectively.

  When a change in illuminance is not detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time, the control unit 13 switches the three antennas 11a, 11b, and 11c in turn, thereby switching the transmission mode and transmitting a signal. That is, first, when a human body detection signal is transmitted by the human sensor 151a (# 1), as shown in the figure, the control unit 13 generates a lighting signal and transmits an antenna that transmits the signal, for example, the first antenna ( ANT1) 11a, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission processing in the first transmission mode using the first antenna 11a, and starts signal transmission processing. Thereafter, in the signal transmission process, when the illumination device 150 is not turned on and no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time (# 2), the control unit 13 transmits a signal immediately before. The transmission mode is switched so that a signal is transmitted by a second antenna (ANT2) 11b different from the first antenna 11a. Then, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 switches to the second antenna 11b and performs signal transmission in the second transmission mode.

  Thereafter, in the signal transmission process, when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time (# 3), similarly, a third antenna (ANT3) that is different from the second antenna 11b that has transmitted the signal immediately before. ) Signal transmission is performed in the third transmission mode using 11c. Furthermore, after that, in the signal transmission process, when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time (# 4), the control unit 13 causes the first antenna to be output every time a predetermined time elapses from # 4. 11a, the second antenna 11b, the third antenna 11c,..., Etc. are changed in order to change the transmission mode.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a human body detection signal is output from the human sensor 151a in the signal transmission process, the remote controller 151 transmits a predetermined signal, and then the illuminance sensor 151b within the predetermined time passes the illuminance. Detect changes in At this time, when a change in illuminance is not detected within a predetermined time, the transmission mode is changed by switching the three antennas 11a, 11b, and 11c each time, and the transmission mode is sequentially changed from the transmission mode that transmitted the previous signal. Perform signal transmission. For this reason, even if communication fails due to fading, etc. during the previous transmission, signal transmission is performed in a transmission mode that has different antenna characteristics from the previous transmission, so communication may fail due to the effect of polarization diversity. Can be lowered. In addition, the possibility of communication failure can be reduced without requiring the user to change the transmission mode, and the lighting device 150 can be turned on easily and reliably. In addition, power consumption can be reduced compared to a remote controller that always transmits signals with the three antennas 11a, 11b, and 11c.

  In the present embodiment, the number of antennas of the antenna unit 11 is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more. FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation mode of the transmission mode changing operation when signals can be transmitted and received by n or more antennas (ANT1, ANT2,... ANTn) 11a, 11b,. At this time, a change in illuminance is not detected by the illuminance sensor 151b from when the human body detection signal is transmitted by the human sensor 151a (# 1) until the predetermined time n-1 times thereafter (#n). Then, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 first performs signal transmission in the transmission mode using the first antenna 11a in # 1.

  After that, the radio transmission circuit unit 12 changes the transmission mode by changing the antenna in order of the second antenna 11b, the third antenna 11c,. Send. After that, the signal transmission process is terminated due to a change in illuminance, and when the signal transmission process is newly started at # n + 1, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 controls the control unit 13. Based on this, signal transmission is performed by the first antenna 11a. As described above, even when the number of antennas is large, that is, when the number of transmission modes is large, similarly, the transmission mode can be automatically changed to enable reliable communication.

  Further, the antenna unit may be configured with, for example, one microstrip antenna instead of a plurality of antennas. Such a microstrip antenna can be manufactured at a relatively low manufacturing cost, and radio waves having various polarization planes can be radiated by changing the feeding point. That is, in this case, the radio transmission circuit unit 12 can transmit signals in a plurality of transmission modes having different polarization planes by changing the feeding point to the microstrip antenna. It is possible to reliably communicate with the effect.

  In the above-described embodiment, the change mode of the antennas 11a, 11b,... Used for signal transmission, that is, the change mode of the transmission mode is not always changed in the same order. That is, for example, the transmission mode may be changed in the reverse order to the order changed in the previous signal transmission process, and each time a predetermined time elapses, a signal is transmitted at least immediately before a plurality of transmission modes. What is necessary is just to be comprised so that a predetermined signal may be transmitted by the transmission mode different from the transmitted mode. Further, in a new signal transmission process, the transmission mode in which signal transmission is performed for the first time may not always be the same predetermined transmission mode as described above.

  In the present embodiment, the three antennas of the antenna unit are not limited to those having different planes of polarization, and other antenna characteristics may be different from each other. For example, by using three antennas having different attachment positions and switching them as described above, transmission may be performed in three transmission modes having different phases of radio waves reaching the switch 152. FIG. 5A shows an example of the configuration of the antenna unit 111 in which the antennas 111a, 111b, and 111c are arranged so that the mounting positions are different. In that case, by changing the transmission mode, it is possible to change the radio wave interference state by the effect of space diversity so that fading does not occur, and communication can be reliably performed. In order to obtain the effect of such spatial diversity, for example, since the spatial interval at which fading occurs is a minimum and half the wavelength of the radio wave, the antennas 111a, 111b, and 111c are connected as shown in the figure. What is necessary is just to arrange | position with a half wavelength interval, and the number of antennas should just be two or more. Further, for example, the antenna unit may be configured using three antennas having different directivities of radiated radio waves, and may be configured to transmit radio waves in three transmission modes having different radio wave directivities. . FIG. 5B shows a configuration of the antenna unit 211 having the three antennas 211a, 211b, and 211c having different directivities. In that case, due to the effect of directional diversity, changing the transmission mode changes the path of the radio wave that reaches the switch 152, which is the same reception point, so that the radio wave interference status is changed so that fading does not occur. Can be reliably communicated.

  Next, an illumination control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiment described below, each component of the illumination device 150, the remote controller 151, and the switch 152 is the same as that in the first embodiment described above, and will be described with the same reference numerals. In the second embodiment, the antenna unit 11 includes two antennas, for example, a first antenna 11a and a second antenna 11b, and a transmission mode change operation of the remote control 151 performed by the control unit 13 and the wireless transmission circuit unit 12. However, this is different from the first embodiment described above.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation mode of the transmission mode changing operation of the remote control 151 in the second embodiment. When a human body detection signal is transmitted from the human sensor 151a in the signal transmission process (# 1), the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 controls the first antenna (ANT1) as in the first embodiment under the control of the control unit 13. Signal transmission in 11a is performed (first transmission mode), and signal transmission processing is started. In the signal transmission process, when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time (# 2), the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission with the second antenna (ANT2) 11b (first 2 transmission mode).

  Thereafter, in the signal transmission process, when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time (# 3), the control unit 13 generates a lighting signal and transmits the signal immediately before the second antenna. The antenna is changed to the first antenna 11a different from 11b (first transmission mode). Further, subsequently, the control unit 13 changes the antenna to a second antenna 11b that is an antenna that has already transmitted signals and is different from the first antenna 11a that performs signal transmission this time, and generates a lighting signal. As a result, the radio transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission in the first transmission mode using the first antenna 11a, and subsequently performs signal transmission also in the second transmission mode using the second antenna 11b. Although only the third signal transmission is shown in the figure, the signal transmission process may continue because the illuminance sensor 151b does not detect a change in illuminance within a predetermined time thereafter. In this case, each time the signal is transmitted, the radio transmission circuit unit 12 is an antenna different from the antenna, following the signal transmission in the transmission mode using the antenna different from the antenna that transmitted the signal immediately before. In the signal transmission process, signal transmission is performed in a transmission mode using an antenna that has already performed signal transmission.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, in the signal transmission process, when the third and subsequent signals are transmitted due to communication failure or the like, even in the transmission mode using the antenna that has already transmitted the signal automatically. Send the signal again. Therefore, especially when fading occurs temporarily, the surrounding radio wave environment has changed since the previous signal was transmitted with the antenna, and the antenna is in a state where it can communicate satisfactorily at the time of the signal transmission. Therefore, reliable communication can be performed more promptly due to the effect of polarization diversity.

  In the second embodiment, the number of transmission modes is not two but may be larger. In this case, for example, the transmission mode may be changed and signal transmission may be performed as follows. That is, first, in the same signal transmission process, the transmission mode at the first and second signal transmission is changed to the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode, respectively, and signal transmission is performed. Then, the transmission mode at the time of the third signal transmission is two transmission modes, for example, a third transmission mode different from the previously transmitted second transmission mode and a first transmission mode selected from the two transmission modes already transmitted. Send a signal with. Also, the transmission mode at the time of the fourth signal transmission is transmitted in a fourth transmission mode different from the third transmission mode of the previous signal transmission and, for example, the second transmission mode selected from the three transmission modes already transmitted. . By thus changing the transmission mode and transmitting signals, reliable communication can be performed promptly as described above. Note that the above-described change mode of the transmission mode is merely an example, and the change order of the transmission mode may not be this. In addition, when performing signal transmission after the third time in the same signal transmission processing, not only a total of two transmission modes including one transmission mode in which signal transmission has already been performed, but two or more transmissions in which signal transmission has already been performed Transmission may be performed in a total of three or more transmission modes including the mode. That is, in the second embodiment, the third and subsequent signal transmission modes and the number of transmission modes may be appropriately selected and set.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the operation mode of the transmission mode changing operation of the remote control 151 in the illumination control system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the illumination control system 1 can transmit and receive signals with, for example, two antennas 11a and 11b. In the signal transmission process, after the human body detection signal is transmitted by the human sensor 151a (# 1), the predetermined control is performed. The operation until the change of illuminance is not detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within the time (# 2) is the same as in the second embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, thereafter, in the same signal transmission process, the third and subsequent signal transmissions are performed when the illuminance sensor 151b does not detect a change in illuminance within a predetermined time (# 3). At this time, in the third signal transmission, the signal is transmitted in the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode as in the second embodiment, but the transmission mode is alternately switched twice in total for each transmission mode. However, signal transmission is performed four times in total. That is, when performing the third signal transmission, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission by the first antenna 11a based on the control of the control unit 13 (first transmission mode). Subsequently, signal transmission is performed in the order of the second transmission mode, the first transmission mode, and the second transmission mode while the antenna is alternately switched to the second antenna 11b, the first antenna 11a, and the second antenna 11b.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, by performing signal transmission while changing the transmission mode alternately every second for each transmission mode, the occurrence of fading in the surrounding radio wave environment until then is confirmed. Even if there is a change, it is possible to reliably and promptly communicate. The order of switching the transmission mode is not limited to the above. For example, at the third signal transmission, signal transmission is performed twice in the first transmission mode, and then signal transmission is performed twice in the second transmission mode. May be. Moreover, you may make it transmit a signal 3 times or more about each transmission mode. In the third embodiment, a signal may be transmitted and received in three or more transmission modes by using three or more antennas. In this case, for example, in the third and subsequent signal transmissions, What is necessary is just to select and set suitably the frequency | count and transmission order which repeat transmission in each transmission mode.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the operation mode of the transmission mode change operation of the remote control 151 in the illumination control system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 uses the human sensor 151a to perform the human body in the signal transmission process based on the control of the control unit 13 in addition to the transmission mode changing operation similar to the first embodiment. When the detection signal is transmitted, signal transmission is performed in the transmission mode in which the previous communication was successful.

  That is, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs the first signal transmission of a new signal transmission process in the transmission mode in which the signal transmission was last performed in the previous signal transmission process. For example, it is assumed that signal transmission is performed in the first transmission mode using the first antenna 11a in the previous signal transmission processing, the change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time, and the signal transmission processing is completed. . Then, as shown in the figure, when a human body detection signal is transmitted by the human sensor 151a in a new signal transmission process (# 1), the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission in the first transmission mode. Do.

  Thereafter, in the signal transmission process, when the illuminance sensor 151b does not detect a change in illuminance within a predetermined time, the transmission mode is changed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 is connected to the second antenna. It is assumed that signal transmission is performed in the second transmission mode using 11b (# 2), a change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b, and the signal transmission process is completed. Thereafter, when the first signal transmission (# 3) of yet another new signal transmission process is performed, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission at the end of the previous signal transmission process under the control of the control unit 13. Signal transmission is performed in the second transmission mode.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, when signal transmission processing is performed, signal transmission is performed in a transmission mode that is considered to have succeeded in communication at the end. Therefore, the possibility of communication failure can be reduced, and communication can be performed more reliably.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of each of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, when the human sensor 151 a of the remote controller 151 detects the human body H, the control unit 23 of the switch 152 may turn off the power supply to the lighting device 150. For example, instead of the human sensor 151a, an illuminance sensor for the purpose of detecting the darkness may be provided. In this case, for example, when the indoor illuminance falls below a predetermined illuminance, the illuminance sensor sends a trigger signal corresponding to the human body detection signal to the control unit 13 to start the signal transmission process. May be. Also in the second to fourth embodiments, as described in the first embodiment, the antenna unit may be configured to obtain the effects of space diversity and directivity diversity. Furthermore, the antenna unit may be composed of a plurality of antennas whose antenna characteristics are complexly different from each other, such as different polarization planes and attachment positions and / or directivities. Even in that case, it is possible to change the fading occurrence state by changing the transmission mode.

  Further, the mode of signal transmission by the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 is not limited to the above, and is configured to perform signal transmission in such a manner that a plurality of characteristic parts of the first to fourth embodiments are provided. It may be. For example, as in the second embodiment, in the same signal transmission process, signal transmission in the first transmission mode by changing the transmission mode and signal transmission in the second transmission mode that is the transmission mode that has already been transmitted are performed. It is assumed that the third signal transmission is performed and the signal transmission process is completed. At this time, when a human body detection signal is subsequently sent out by the human sensor 151a and a new signal transmission process is started, as shown in the fourth embodiment, for example, in the first transmission mode in which signal transmission was performed last. Signal transmission may be performed, or signal transmission may be performed in the second transmission mode in which signal transmission was performed last. As described above, even when the configuration is combined with the above embodiments, communication failure due to fading can be prevented by automatically changing the transmission mode and performing signal transmission in the same signal transmission processing. it can.

  In addition to the illumination control system that controls on / off of the illumination device as described above, the present invention provides an air conditioning system, a hot water supply system, or a transmitter that turns on / off the operation according to a signal transmitted from the transmitter. It can also be used in a load control system used for other purposes, such as a security system that receives a predetermined signal transmitted from the terminal and performs a notification operation. That is, in a transmitter used for remote control by transmitting a signal instructing the operation of the load control system by radio waves, the transmission mode is automatically changed in the manner as described above, and the signal is transmitted. By configuring to transmit, it is possible to prevent a communication failure and easily and reliably control the load even in an environment with fading.

The figure which shows an example of the illumination control system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the remote control and switch of the said illumination control system. The figure which shows an example of the signal transmission aspect of the said remote control. The figure which shows the modification of the signal transmission aspect of the said remote control. (A) is a figure which shows the structure of one modification of the antenna part of the said remote control, (b) is a figure which shows the structure of another modification of the antenna part. The figure which shows an example of the signal transmission aspect of the remote control of the illumination control system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the signal transmission aspect of the remote control of the illumination control system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the signal transmission aspect of the remote control of the illumination control system which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

1 Lighting control system (load control system)
11, 111, 211 Antenna unit 11a, 11b, 11c, 111a, 111b, 111c, 211a, 211b, 211c (transmitter) antenna 12 Wireless transmission circuit unit 13 (transmitter) control unit 21 (receiver) antenna 22 wireless reception circuit unit 23 (receiver) control unit 24 load control circuit unit 25 power supply circuit 150 lighting device (load)
151 Remote controller (transmitter)
151a Human sensor (trigger detection means)
151b Illuminance sensor (load state detection means)
152 switch (receiver)

Claims (7)

In a load control system having a transmitter for transmitting a signal by radio waves, and a receiver having a function of receiving radio waves and having a control function connected to a load and controlling at least on / off of the load,
The transmitter includes an antenna unit, a radio transmission circuit unit that transmits a signal from the antenna unit,
Trigger detection means for outputting a trigger signal when a predetermined state is detected; load state detection means for detecting a change in environment due to the load; and controlling the wireless transmission circuit unit based on the trigger signal; A control unit for transmitting a signal,
The receiver includes an antenna unit, a radio reception circuit unit that receives a radio wave using the antenna unit and extracts a signal, a load control circuit unit that opens and closes a power supply path from a power source to the load, and the radio reception circuit A control unit for controlling the operation of the load control circuit according to the signal received by the unit,
The load is configured to operate according to a trigger signal output from the trigger detection means,
The antenna portion of the transmitter is configured to be able to radiate radio waves in a plurality of transmission modes having different antenna characteristics from each other,
The wireless transmission circuit unit includes:
It is configured to be able to transmit a signal by switching the plurality of transmission modes,
When a trigger signal is output from the trigger detection means, a predetermined signal is transmitted in a predetermined transmission mode among the plurality of transmission modes, and then the load state detection means changes the environment due to the load within a predetermined time. Is not detected, the predetermined signal is transmitted in a transmission mode different from at least the transmission mode in which the signal was transmitted immediately before the plurality of transmission modes, and the load state detection means detects the environmental condition caused by the load. A load control system that repeats these operations until a change is detected.   The wireless transmission circuit unit performs the transmission of the predetermined signal two or more times after the lapse of the predetermined time, and then when the load state detection means does not detect an environmental change due to the load within the predetermined time. Among the plurality of transmission modes, a transmission mode different from the transmission mode transmitted immediately before, and a transmission mode different from the transmission mode and at least one transmission mode among transmission modes that have already transmitted signals. The load control system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined signal is transmitted continuously.   The wireless transmission circuit unit performs the transmission of the predetermined signal two or more times after the lapse of the predetermined time, and then when the load state detection means does not detect an environmental change due to the load within the predetermined time. The load control system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined signal is transmitted a plurality of times for each transmission mode while sequentially switching a plurality of transmission modes for signal transmission.   The wireless transmission circuit unit transmits the predetermined signal using a transmission mode in which the predetermined signal was transmitted last time when a trigger signal is output from the trigger detection unit. The load control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The antenna portion of the transmitter has a plurality of antennas having different polarization planes,
5. The radio reception circuit unit is configured to be able to switch the transmission mode by switching an antenna used for signal transmission among the plurality of antennas. 6. Load control system as described in. The antenna portion of the transmitter has a plurality of antennas with different mounting positions,
5. The radio reception circuit unit is configured to be able to switch the transmission mode by switching an antenna used for signal transmission among the plurality of antennas. 6. Load control system as described in. The antenna section of the transmitter has a plurality of antennas having different directivities from each other,
5. The radio reception circuit unit is configured to be able to switch the transmission mode by switching an antenna used for signal transmission among the plurality of antennas. 6. Load control system as described in.

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