JP2010166690A - Electrical apparatus and control method therefor, program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain an apparatus network which carries out cooperation control of other electrical apparatus so that the total power used by the electrical apparatus is operated and maintained at a predetermined level or below by simply preparing the electrical apparatus without requiring any extra breaker or controller. <P>SOLUTION: In the apparatus network 1 connected with electrical apparatus 1-3 (11, 21, 31), the electrical apparatuses 1-3 respectively measure the information of power used by usage power measuring means (12, 22, 32) for measuring the power used and transfer it through communication means (15, 25, 35). One of the electrical apparatuses 1-3 serves as a master and is provided with a cooperation control means 13 for carrying out cooperation control of other electrical apparatus so that the total power used by the electrical apparatuses 1-3 is operated and maintained at a predetermined level or below. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric device that calculates the total electric power used by an electric device and maintains it at a predetermined value or less in a device network to which a plurality of electric devices are connected, and a control method and program thereof.

  In the conventional device network, the control means is provided separately from the electric device.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the breaker device 101 and the electric devices 104 to 106 are configured, and the total electric power used by the electric devices 104 to 106 is calculated and maintained below a predetermined value. The use permission / non-permission is determined in the breaker device 101 (see embodiments 0050 to 0085 of the invention, the flowchart of FIG. 5). Hereinafter, this is referred to as a cooperation control function in this specification.

  A network configuration diagram of this Patent Document 1 is shown in FIG. This is a 1: N type network centering on the power breaker device 101.

Further, as a similar configuration, it is also conceivable that the cooperative control function performed by the breaker device 101 is configured as a controller in a separate casing, and this is a remote controller such as a wall-embedded type. FIG. 7B shows such a network configuration diagram.
JP-A-10-94199

  However, the conventional method has the following problems.

  (1) The power breaker device needs to have a linkage control function, and cannot be handled by a power breaker in an existing house.

  (2) Even if the linkage control function can be retrofitted to an existing house as a controller in a separate housing, the user must prepare the controller separately from the electrical equipment.

  (3) If a malfunction occurs in the cooperative control function of the power breaker device (or controller), the use permission of the electric device may not be obtained, and the electric device may not be used at all.

  (4) As the number of electrical devices increases, communication traffic within the device network increases. There may be a delay in real-time control corresponding to the operation / operation of electrical equipment.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and can be configured only by preparing an electric device even in an existing house, and can cope with a malfunction of a cooperation control function of a power breaker device and a controller and an increase in communication traffic. The purpose is to realize a device network.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the electrical device of the present invention is a device network in which a plurality of electrical devices are connected. It is provided with a cooperation control means for controlling the other electric devices so as to calculate the electric power and maintain it below a predetermined value.

  This makes it possible to construct a device network that calculates the total power consumption of an electrical device and maintains it below a predetermined value simply by preparing the electrical device even in an existing house, and can cope with malfunctions in the linkage control function and an increase in communication traffic. Real equipment network.

  In the present invention, since the electric device becomes the master and calculates the total electric power used by the electric device and controls other electric devices so as to maintain the electric power below a predetermined value, only the electric device is prepared even in an existing house, for example. A device network can be configured.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an equipment network to which a plurality of electrical devices are connected, each electrical device has its own power usage information, and operates as a master to calculate the total power usage of the electrical device and maintain it below a predetermined value. It is an electric device provided with the cooperation control means which carries out cooperative control of the other electric devices.

  As a result, it is possible to configure a device network that calculates the total power consumption of the electrical device and maintains it below a predetermined value simply by preparing the electrical device. For example, even in an existing house, a device network can be configured simply by preparing the electrical device. .

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the electrical device provided with the cooperation control means acquires the role of the master of the device network from another electrical device in accordance with its on operation (or off operation) ( Or transferred to another device).

  As a result, when the electrical device is turned on, the master role is acquired from another electrical device, or when the electrical device is turned off, the master role is transferred to another electrical device to transfer the master to the other electrical device. It is possible to move to the most suitable electric device in the operation status of the electric device inside. That is, it is possible to cope with a malfunction of the control means and an increase in communication traffic.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an electrical device in a device network to which a plurality of electrical devices are connected, wherein each of the electrical devices measures its own power usage information and transmits it to a specific electrical device; The specific electric device that has received the used power information from the electric device calculates the total used power, and the specific electric device is another electric device so that the total used power is maintained below a predetermined value. And a step of transmitting the used power control information to perform cooperative control.

  As a result, it is possible to configure a device network that calculates the total power consumption of the electrical device and maintains it below a predetermined value simply by preparing the electrical device. For example, even in an existing house, a device network can be configured simply by preparing the electrical device. .

  The fourth invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the first invention.

  This can be realized by mounting the program of the present invention on the computer of the electric device. Since it is a program, the present invention can be realized by cooperating hardware resources such as electrical / information equipment, computers, and servers. Also, program distribution and installation can be simplified by recording on a recording medium or distributing a program using a communication line.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device network according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The device network 1 is composed of devices 1 to 3 (of course, there may be three or more devices). Each of the devices 1 to 3 includes power consumption measuring means 12, 22 and 32, cooperation control means 13, 23 and 33, master instruction means 14, 24 and 34, and communication means 15, 25 and 35.

  Each means will be described with the device 1 (the devices 2 and 3 are the same, so detailed description will be omitted).

  The used power measuring means 12 is a means for measuring the power used by the device 1 and is, for example, a watt meter. Since the voltage is fixed at home, an ampere meter may be used. The measured value is stored as power usage information and transmitted from the communication means 15.

  The cooperation control means 13 calculates the total power consumption of the electric devices 1 to 3 and controls the other electric devices so as to maintain the electric power at a predetermined value or less. The power usage information of the electrical devices 2 and 3 is received from each electrical device by the communication means 15. Details of the cooperation control will be described later with reference to a flowchart.

  The master instructing unit 14 instructs which of the devices 1 to 3 performs the master role in device network cooperation control. When the master instructing means 14 does not instruct the master, the electric device 1 becomes a slave. In the device network 1, one electric device serves as a master, and the other electric devices become slaves and follow the instructions of the master.

  Accompanying the operation of the device 1, the master role is acquired from another device or transferred to another device. For this purpose, information on the master is communicated with other devices via the communication means 15. Details will be described later.

  The communication unit 15 is a unit that communicates with the other devices 2 and 3 and the device 1, and includes wireless communication such as radio waves and infrared rays. In addition, power line communication using a power supply line as a communication medium may be used.

  Note that the function of the device 1 itself is not particularly illustrated as being included in the cooperation control means 13. For example, when the device 1 is a cooking device such as an IH cooking heater, the cooking function is included in the cooperation control means 13.

  The device 1 is configured as described above. Since the devices 2 and 3 have the same configuration, any device can be a master, and the other devices can be cooperatively controlled so that the total power consumption of the devices 1 to 3 can be calculated and maintained below a predetermined value. is there.

  Also, since the role of the master can be acquired or transferred between devices, the device that is operating in the device network and the device that is most suitable for the operating state can be set as the master. It is.

  Therefore, even in an existing house, a device network can be configured simply by preparing devices, and the other devices can be linked and controlled so that the total power consumption of the devices 1 to 3 is calculated and maintained below a predetermined value.

  Moreover, even if the cooperation control function of the device 1 becomes defective, it is possible to avoid a situation in which all devices in the device network cannot be used by the device 2 or the device 3 performing the cooperation control as a master.

  Furthermore, in the past, a controller having a cooperative control function has always been in an operating state and the controller itself uses electric power. No longer needed. There is no need to prepare a power breaker device having a linkage control function.

  Conventionally, since cooperative control is performed via a controller or a power breaker device, the communication traffic of the device network 1 increases as the number of devices increases. According to the present embodiment, since the central device for cooperative control becomes a master, communication can be performed directly between devices, and communication traffic is reduced. Real-time control corresponding to the operation / operation of the device can be performed.

  FIG. 2 shows a flow of cooperative control performed between the devices 1 to 3.

  Here, the device 1 is described as a master and the devices 2 and 3 are described as slaves. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same applies even if the device 2 (or the device 3) is a master.

  Each of the devices 1 to 3 obtains its own power usage information by the power usage measuring means 12, 22, 32 (S1a, b, c).

  The master device 1 transmits a request for power consumption information of other devices from the communication means 15 (S2). The devices 2 and 3 that have received the response transmit the power consumption information measured by the power consumption measurement means of the devices 2 and 3 from the communication means 15 to the device 1 and respond (S3).

  Alternatively, polling communication may be used for the request and response (S2, S3) of the power usage information. Instead of requesting from the master, it may be transmitted periodically from the slave.

  The device 1 that has received the used power information from each device calculates the total used power, which is the sum, in the cooperation control means 13 (S4). A device that cannot receive a response is regarded as non-operating and the power consumption is set to zero.

  The cooperation control means 13 adjusts the total power consumption when the total power usage is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S6). The following allocation is performed in the devices 1, 2, and 3 so that the power used is kept below a predetermined value so that the power used in the device network is kept below a predetermined value.

  Priorities are determined among the devices 1, 2, and 3, and “low power consumption operation” with low power consumption is performed from devices with low priorities. The low power consumption operation may include turning off the operation.

  The cooperation control means 13 stores in advance the power used when each device is in a low power consumption operation, and can calculate the total power consumption so as to be equal to or less than a predetermined value.

  For example, in the order of priority, the device 1 is an IH cooking heater, the device 2 is an air conditioner in the living room, the device 3 is an air conditioner in a separate room, and the device 3 is operated with low power consumption (decreasing the air volume of the air conditioner or changing the set temperature). ).

Next, when the total power consumption does not fall below the predetermined value only by the low power consumption operation of the device 3,
The device 2 is also switched to the low power consumption operation.

  If the total power consumption still does not fall below the predetermined value, the device 1 is also switched to the low power consumption operation.

  Alternatively, it may be recommended to notify the user of the status of power usage and stop any of the devices 1 to 3.

  The master device 1 transmits the used power control information to the device 2 and the device 3 after adjusting the allocation of the total used power (S7). This information includes a control command “device 2 does not operate with low power consumption, and device 3 operates with low power consumption”. Or you may leave it to the cooperation control means by the side of how to control including the information of the electric power which can be allocated with each apparatus.

  Then, for example, the device 1 and the device 2 do not perform the low power consumption operation, and the device 3 performs the low power consumption operation, so that the cooperation control is performed so that the power consumption in the device network is maintained below a predetermined value (S8a). , B, c).

  In addition, after performing cooperation control (S8), you may remeasure measured electric power like S1-S3, and may perform the request | requirement / response communication of electric power usage, and may adjust total electric power consumption.

  For example, S1 to S8 are repeated at regular intervals. S1 to S8 are repeated when the master device 1 is operated or when the operation is changed.

  As described above, in a device network in which a plurality of electrical devices are connected, each electrical device has its own power usage information, one of which becomes a master, and calculates the total power usage of the electrical device to a predetermined value or less. Other electrical devices can be controlled in a coordinated manner to maintain.

  Thereby, it can be configured only by preparing an electrical device, and for example, a device network can be configured only by preparing an electrical device even in an existing house.

  The master instructing means 14 that instructs which of the devices 1 to 3 in the device network performs the master role will be described below.

  In the device network of the first embodiment, the role of the master is acquired from another device or transferred to another device as the device operates. For this purpose, information about the master is communicated with other devices via the communication means.

  For master acquisition and transfer, the master priority order is determined in advance in the devices 1, 2, and 3, and when a master acquisition request is received from the device, it is mastered with the device that has been acting as the master until then. Priorities are compared, and a master that has made a master acquisition request acquires a master when the master priority is higher.

  This is shown in the flow of FIG.

  For example, it is assumed that the device 2 and the device 3 perform cooperative control. Assume that the device 2 is acting as a master (S10b, c). The device 1 is in an operation off state.

  When the device 1 is turned on (S11), a master acquisition request is transmitted to the devices 2 and 3 (S12). This includes the master priority information of the device 1.

  The master device 2 receives this, and the master instruction means 24 compares the master priorities (S13). If the device 2 itself has a higher master priority than the device 1, the master is held (S14). When the master priority of the device 1 is higher than that of the device 2, the master is transferred (S15).

  The determination result of master holding and transfer is included in the master information and transmitted to the devices 1 and 2 (S16).

  The device 1 that has received this acquires the master and plays the role of the master in the master instruction means 14 (S17a). The device 2 becomes a slave (S17b). The device 3 changes its master for cooperative control to the device 1 (S17c).

  Such comparison of the master priorities (S13 to S16) is performed only by the master instruction means of the device having the role of master. In the case of FIG. 3, since the device 3 is a slave, this is not performed. However, when the device 2 is a slave and the device 3 is a master, the device 3 compares the master priorities (S13 to S16).

  When the master device 1 is turned off, the master role is transferred to another device.

  Although not shown in detail, a master transfer request is transmitted when the device is turned off as in the case of master acquisition (FIG. 3). This includes the master priority information of the device 1.

  The device 2 receives this and performs master priority comparison by the master instruction means. When the device 2 itself has a higher master priority than the device 1, the device 2 acquires the master, and the devices 1 and 3 acquire the master. Send information. As a result, the master is transferred from the device 1 to the device 2.

  When both the device 2 and the device 3 have a higher master priority than the device 1 (or lower), the device 2 and the device 3 communicate master information, and the higher master priority acquires the role of the master. To do.

  As described above, the master priorities are compared to acquire and transfer masters. There are several setting methods for determining the master priority.

  (1) A method in which the master priority is set higher for a device that uses more power. In this way, since the device with the largest power consumption becomes the master, it is easy to perform cooperative control.

  For this purpose, the master instruction means stores the master priority order of its own device. Master priority is set in advance for each device in descending order of power consumption. Devices that consume a large amount of power include heating cooking devices, air conditioning devices, and drying devices.

  Alternatively, the master instruction means stores master priorities of a plurality of devices connected to the device network, and updates the master priorities according to the device network status (operating states of the plurality of devices, etc.).

For example, the power consumption information response (S3) in FIG. 2 is received, the power usage information for each device is stored, and the master priority is updated. Not only the response of power consumption information (S3), the power consumption information for each device may be shared between devices of the device network by other communication. The device itself may measure its own power consumption and periodically transmit it on the device network.

  The master instructing means stores the maximum value of the power consumption information for each device received in the past and sets the master priority in the descending order, even if a new device is connected to the device network and added. It can be updated at any time corresponding to.

  Note that when the device network is changed significantly, the stored power usage information and master priority for each device are reset, so a master priority reset signal is sent from each device's master instruction means to each device. The memory of the instruction means is initialized.

  (2) Higher master priority for devices that require real-time control. The master priority of cooking equipment that requires real-time control is increased, and the master priority of air-conditioning equipment that does not require much real-time control is lowered. If it does in this way, cooperation control will be performed centering on a cooking appliance as a master by cooperation control, and it can cook well.

  Devices that require real-time control include cooking devices, vacuum cleaners, audiovisual devices, information devices, and the like.

  Devices that do not require much real-time control include air conditioners, refrigeration equipment, heating equipment, washing machines, and drying equipment.

  For this purpose, the master instruction means stores the master priority order of its own device. Master priority is set for each device in order from the device that requires real-time control.

  (3) A method of increasing the master priority for a device having a shorter usage time. In this way, since the device that is used preferentially for a short time becomes the master, it is easy to perform cooperative control.

  For this purpose, the master instruction means stores the master priority order of its own device. Master priority is set for each device in ascending order of usage time, assuming usage time in advance. There are cooking appliances, vacuum cleaners, etc. as equipment with short usage time.

  Alternatively, the master instruction means stores master priorities of a plurality of devices connected to the device network, and updates the master priorities according to the device network status (operating states of the plurality of devices, etc.).

  For example, in FIG. 3, the master acquisition request (S12) at the time of the on operation and the master transfer request at the time of the off operation are received, the usage time for each device is measured and stored, and the master priority is updated. Not only the master acquisition request / transfer request, but the usage time of each device may be measured by communication such as a response of power usage information. Alternatively, the device itself may measure its own usage time and transmit it on the device network.

  The master instructing means stores the maximum value of usage time for each device received in the past and sets the master priority in ascending order, so that even if a new device is connected to the device network and added, Corresponding updates can be made at any time.

  If the device network is changed significantly, the stored usage time information and master priority for each device are reset, so that a master instruction resetting signal is sent from each device's master instruction means to each device. The memory of the instruction means is initialized.

(4) Increase the master priority from the device that is turned on first. In this way,
The number of times the master moves is reduced by turning on / off the device that was turned on later. When turning off the device that was turned on first, transfer the master to the second oldest device.

  The master instruction means stores the usage time lengths of a plurality of devices connected to the device network, and updates the master priority according to the device network status (such as the operation status of the devices).

  For example, in FIG. 3, the master acquisition request (S12) at the time of the on operation and the master transfer request at the time of the off operation are received, the usage time length for each device is measured and stored, and the master priority is updated. Not only the master acquisition request / transfer request, but the device itself may measure its own usage time length and transmit it on the device network.

  Then, the master instruction means stores the usage time length of each device received in the past and sets the master priority in the descending order, so that even if a new device is connected and added to the device network, this is supported. Can be updated at any time.

  (5) Increase the master priority from the device that was turned on most recently. In consideration of the fact that the device is turned on for use by the user, the device that has been turned on most recently serves as the master. When this is turned off, the master is transferred to the second most recently turned on device.

  The master instruction means stores the use start times of a plurality of devices connected to the device network, and updates the master priority according to the device network status (such as the operation status of the plurality of devices).

  For example, in FIG. 3, the master acquisition request (S12) at the time of the on operation is received, the use start time for each device is measured and stored, and the master priority is updated. Not only the master acquisition request / transfer request, but the device itself may measure its own use start time and transmit it on the device network.

  The master instructing means stores the use start time for each device received in the past and sets the master priority order in the closest order. Can be updated at any time.

  There are other methods for setting the master priority, but in either case, the device user can select and change the device that will play the role of master, and learn and customize the master priority according to the user's usage. I will do it.

  Note that the master priority in the above (5) is often the case where the user is near the master because the device that the user has turned on will act as the master. Therefore, when the adjustment result of the total power consumption is informed to the user and the adjustment result is different from the user's request, when the user selects / changes the adjustment, the device closest to the user becomes the master to make the adjustment. This is easy to use and can reduce communication traffic between devices.

  Therefore, the master priority is operated while switching the above (1) to (5). For example, the master priorities of (2), (3), and (5) are used for weekdays and housework time zones in which various devices are turned on according to the day of the week and time. The master priorities of (1) and (4) are used for holidays and late-night hours when there are many times when the device is not turned on and when there are many timer operations.

Since the operation time zone varies depending on the installation location of the device network, this is learned using the history of the on operation and the off operation for a predetermined period.

  Each master instruction means may store and operate the master priorities for (1) to (5) in parallel, or send a reset signal at the switching time with one master priority. The master priority storage may be reset.

  Therefore, if there is a constantly operating device such as a refrigerator, the device may have a role of managing a switching time and transmitting a reset signal.

  Note that the on-operation of the device includes an operation of turning on the device, an operation of increasing the power consumption by operating the device, and an operation of increasing the power consumption by performing a program operation of the device. The operation of turning off the device includes an operation of turning off the power of the device, an operation of reducing the power consumption by operating the device, and an operation of reducing the power consumption by performing a program operation of the device.

(Embodiment 2)
4 and 5 are a block diagram and an operation flowchart showing the configuration of the device network in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The difference from the first embodiment is that a breaker 41 is provided, and the power consumption of the entire device network 1 is measured and used for cooperative control (FIG. 4).

  The breaker 41 is at the parent of the power supply line of the device network 1 and is provided at a position where the power supplied to the device network 1 can be cut off or the power supplied to the device network 1 can be measured. Used power measuring means 42 and communication means 45 are provided. There is no linkage control means or master instruction means.

  Then, in FIG. 5, the master device 1 transmits a request for power consumption information to the breaker 41 (S2), obtains the power consumption of the entire device network 1 (S3), and calculates the total power consumption. (S4) -Adjustment of total used power (S6) and transmission of used power control information (S7).

  The feature of the second embodiment is that the total power consumption can be adjusted without measuring the power usage for all of the plurality of slave devices.

  That is, although the devices 1 to 3 are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, even if other devices 4 (not shown) are connected to the device network 1 and operate, the breaker 41 can grasp the total power consumption. Therefore, even if the device 4 does not include the power consumption measuring unit, the communication unit, the master instruction unit, and the cooperation control unit, the master can adjust the total power consumption including the operation of the device 4.

  In other words, this means that it does not have power consumption measuring means, communication means, master instruction means, and link control means, such as equipment that is used infrequently, equipment that uses less power, low-cost equipment, and equipment that is temporarily connected. Can be used by connecting to the equipment network, can increase the flexibility of the system.

  The device may be any device such as a home device or a business device. In an information device such as a personal computer, the cooperation control means and the master instruction means may be executed by a program.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to calculate the total power consumption of an electrical device and maintain it at a predetermined value or less in a device network in which a plurality of electrical devices are connected in a home, office, factory, or the like. Furthermore, it can utilize for global warming prevention by using this invention and maintaining the total electric power consumption of an electric equipment below a predetermined value in the apparatus network of the area | region or the whole earth.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the apparatus network in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the apparatus network in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows another operation | movement of the apparatus network in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the apparatus network in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the apparatus network in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional equipment network (A) The figure which shows the structure of the conventional apparatus network (b) The figure which shows another structure

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device network 11, 21, 31 Device 41 Breaker 12, 22, 32, 42 Power consumption measuring means 13, 23, 33 Cooperation control means 14, 24, 34 Master instruction means 15, 25, 35, 45 Communication means

Claims (4)

In the device network to which a plurality of electric devices are connected, each of the electric devices has its own power usage information, and the master device calculates the total power usage of the electric device and maintains it below a predetermined value as a master. An electric device provided with a cooperative control means for cooperatively controlling The electrical device provided with the cooperation control means acquires the role of the master of the device network from another electrical device (or transfers to another device) with its on operation (or off operation). The electrical equipment described. In a method for controlling an electrical device in a device network in which a plurality of electrical devices are connected,
Each of the electrical devices measures its own power usage information and transmits it to a specific electrical device; and
The specific electrical device that has received power usage information from other electrical devices calculates the total power usage;
A control method comprising: a step in which the specific electric device transmits use power control information to another electric device to perform cooperative control so that the total used power is maintained at a predetermined value or less. A program for causing a computer to execute the electrical apparatus according to claim 1.