JP2011030339A - Power supply device, and remote control terminal device used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power supply device capable of controlling timing with which each power supply unit starts power supply and a remote control terminal device used therefor. <P>SOLUTION: The power supply device includes multiple power supply units configured to switch supply or non-supply of power from an external power supply to an electronic apparatus, a receiving unit configured to receive an order command indicating the order of turning on power to the power supply units from the remote control terminal device, and a power-on processing unit that turns on power to the power supply units according to the order command. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply device that supplies power to an electronic device, and a remote control terminal device used therefor.

Conventionally, there has been a power supply device that distributes power supplied from an external power source to electronic devices such as a PC (Personal Computer), a server, or a monitor. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, such a conventional power supply apparatus includes power supply units 2 ₁ to 2 _n (n is an arbitrary integer) that receives power supply from an external power source 1, and power supply units 2 ₁ to 2 ₁ . _2n includes a hub 3, a communication line 4 such as the Internet, and a PC 6 for remote operation connected via the hub 5. The power supply units 2 _{1 to} 2 _n and the hub 3 and the hub 5 and the PC 6 are connected by a LAN (Local Area Network) cable. The power supply units 2 _{1 to} 2 _n are mounted on, for example, a rack mount system.

Each of the power supply units 2 _{1 to} 2 _n has a plurality of ports 7 for distributing and outputting the power supplied from the external power source 1, and each port 7 includes a PC included in the electronic device 8. , Servers, monitors, etc. are connected. In addition, the power supply units 2 ₁ to 2 _n incorporate a relay such as a relay that connects / cuts off between each port 7 and the external power supply 1.

When the operator performs input processing for selecting the power supply units 2 ₁ to 2 _n and the port 7 for the PC 6, a control command representing the input content is sent from the PC 6 via the communication line 4 to the power supply units 2 ₁ to 2 _n . The relay that is input to the corresponding power supply unit and connected to the port 7 specified by the control command is closed. As a result, power is supplied from the port 7 to the electronic device 8 such as a PC, a server, or a monitor (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-272754 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-183693 JP-A-2-096444

By the way, in the conventional power supply device, when each of the power supply units 2 ₁ to 2 _n starts supplying power all at once, the power that can be supplied by the power supply device may be exceeded due to the inrush current.

In each of the power supply units 2 _{1 to} 2 _n , the timing for connecting the relays of the respective ports 7 can be shifted with a delay, but the timing at which each of the power supply units 2 ₁ to 2 _n starts to supply power Could not be controlled.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device capable of controlling the timing at which each power supply unit starts power supply, and a remote control terminal device used therefor.

  A power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of power supply units that switch supply / non-supply of power supplied from an external power source to an electronic device, and the plurality of power supply units. A receiving unit for receiving a turn command indicating the turn-on order from the remote control terminal device, and a power-on processing unit for turning on the plurality of power supply units in response to the turn command.

  The order command may be specified using an IP address or a MAC address of the power supply unit.

  In addition, the power supply unit includes a plurality of terminals for connecting the electronic device, and the order command includes a terminal order command representing an order of power supply from the plurality of terminals, and the power The supply unit may switch the supply / non-supply of power to the electronic device via the plurality of terminals according to the terminal order command included in the order command received by the receiving unit. Good.

  The receiving unit may be attached to the power supply unit.

  The receiving unit may be connected to the power supply unit through a communication line.

  A remote control terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used for any one of the power supply devices.

  In addition, the remote control terminal device may include a control unit that acquires an IP address or a MAC address from the power supply device and creates an order command that represents a power-on order of the plurality of power supply units.

  The present invention can provide a power supply device capable of controlling the timing at which each power supply unit starts power supply, and a remote control terminal device used therefor.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the conventional electric power supply apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electric power supply apparatus 10 of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electric power supply part 11 of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the remote control apparatus terminal 100 used for the electric power supply apparatus 10 of embodiment, (A) is a front view, (B) is a block diagram which shows an internal structure. It is a figure which shows the data stored in the memory | storage part 114 of the remote control terminal device 100 used for the electric power supply apparatus 10 of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which connected the remote control terminal device 100 to the electric power supply part 11 of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process which registers the order of power activation in the remote control terminal device 100 used for the electric power supply apparatus 10 of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of turning on a power supply based on the order command which the electric power supply part 11 received. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of the power supply part 11 which received the port number turning on a power supply.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a power supply device of the present invention and a remote control terminal device used therefor are applied will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply apparatus 10 according to the embodiment.

The power supply device 10 of the present embodiment includes power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n and communication units 12 _{1 to} 12 _n as one form of a reception unit. The communication units 12 _{1 to} 12 _n are built in each of the power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n . Here, n is an arbitrary integer and represents the unit number of the power supply unit 11.

Hereinafter, when each of the power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n is not distinguished, it is referred to as a power supply unit 11. Similarly, when not distinguishing each of the communication units 12 _{1 to} 12 _n , they are referred to as communication units 12. In FIG. 2, a plurality of power supply units 11 and communication units 12 are shown, but at least one power supply unit 11 and one communication unit 12 may be provided. Further, although in FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the communication unit ₁₂ 1 to 12 _n are incorporated in the power supply unit ₁₁ 1 to 11 _n, the communication unit ₁₂ 1 to 12 _n outside of the power supply unit ₁₁ 1 to 11 _n It may be attached to.

Each of the power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n includes four ports 14 for outputting power supplied from the external power supply 1, and each port 14 has an electronic device 8 such as a PC, a server, or a monitor. Is connected. The power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n perform supply / non-supply of the power supplied from the external power supply 1 to the electronic device in a switching manner. Note that the number of ports 14 is not limited to four, and at least one port may be used.

The communication units 12 _{1 to} 12 _n are connected to the hub 3 via the LAN cable 13A, and are connected to the remote control terminal device 100 via the communication line 4 such as the Internet, the hub 5, and the LAN cable 13B. The communication units 12 _{1 to} 12 _n are interface units that receive an order command indicating the power-on order of the power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n from the remote control terminal device 100 and input the order command to the internal processing unit of the power supply unit 11. . The internal processing unit of the power supply unit 11 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Remote control terminal device 100 transmits an order command to power supply device 10 of the present embodiment. Details of the remote control terminal device 100 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply unit 11 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply unit 11 includes four relays 15 connected to the external power supply 1. A port 14 is connected to the output side of each relay 15. The power supply unit 11 includes an input / output (I / O) processing unit 16, a serial port 17, a control unit 18, and a storage unit 19 in addition to the communication unit 12, the port 14, and the relay 15.

  The I / O processing unit 16 is a processing unit that performs processing for switching on / off of the relay 15 based on an order command input from the control unit 18.

  The serial port 17 is a port used when connecting the remote control terminal device 100 to the power supply unit 11 in order to transmit the IP address and the MAC address when registering the order of the power supply unit 11 in the remote control terminal device 100. . The remote control terminal device 100 is connected to the power supply unit 11 via a serial communication cable such as RS232C.

  The control unit 18 is a main control unit that performs control processing necessary for driving the power supply unit 11, and is configured by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 18 transmits a power-on command for causing the other power supply unit 11 corresponding to the order command to turn on power based on at least the order command input from the remote control terminal device 100 via the communication unit 12. Process.

  The control unit 18 may be configured by one CPU together with the communication unit 12 and the I / O processing unit 16.

The storage unit 19 is a memory that stores data necessary for driving the power supply unit 11, and is configured by, for example, a nonvolatile memory. The storage unit 19 includes at least an IP (Internet Protocol) address and a MAC (Media Access Control) address for specifying the power supply unit 11 (which is one of 11 _{1 to} 11 _n ), and four relays. The terminal order command indicating the order of connecting 15 is stored.

  4A and 4B are diagrams showing the configuration of the remote control device terminal 100 used in the power supply device 10 of the embodiment, where FIG. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a block diagram showing the internal configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the remote control terminal device 100 includes a housing 101, a registration button 104, a full power ON button 105, a liquid crystal display unit 106, and a serial port 107.

  The casing 101 is a rectangular parallelepiped resin-made casing, and includes an order selection button 102, a port selection button 103, a registration button 104, an all power ON button 105, a liquid crystal display unit 106, and a serial port 107. Expressed and held.

  The order selection button 102 is a button to be pressed when the operator selects the order of registration when registering the power-on order of the power supply unit 11 in the remote control device terminal 100.

  The port selection button 103 is a button that the operator presses when selecting the port number of the port 14. Each time the port selection button 103 is pressed, the port numbers (1 to 4) can be switched in order.

  The registration button 104 is a button that the operator presses when registering the order selected by the order selection button 102 or when registering the port 14 selected by the port selection button 103. The order selected by the order selection button 102 is fixed when the registration button 104 is pressed.

  The all power ON button 105 is a button that the operator presses when transmitting an order command from the remote control device terminal 100 to the power supply unit 11.

  The liquid crystal display unit 106 is a display unit for displaying the order of the power supply unit 11, the IP address, the MAC address, the port number, and the like.

  The serial port 107 is a port used when connecting the remote control terminal device 100 to the power supply unit 11 in order to acquire an IP address and a MAC address when registering the order of the power supply unit 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the remote control terminal device 100 includes an I / O processing unit 111, a control unit 112, a communication unit 113, and a storage unit 114.

  The I / O processing unit 111 is a process of inputting a command indicating that there is a press to the control unit 112 at least when the registration button 104 and the all power ON button 105 are pressed. Processing to display on the liquid crystal display unit 106 when a command to represent is sent, and processing to input to the control unit 112 when the IP address and MAC address are input from the serial port 107.

  The control unit 112 generates / outputs commands according to input operations performed on the registration button 104 and the all power ON button 105, generates display content to be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 106, and the like from the serial port 107. A process of storing the input IP address and MAC address in the storage unit 114 is performed. The control unit 112 is constituted by a CPU, for example.

  The communication unit 113 is an interface unit that outputs the order command generated by the control unit 112 and transmits the order command to the power supply unit 11 via the hub 5, the communication line 4, and the hub 3.

The storage unit 114 is a memory that sequentially stores data representing the IP addresses, MAC addresses, and port numbers of the power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n , and is configured by, for example, a nonvolatile memory.

  Note that the I / O processing unit 111, the control unit 112, and the communication unit 113 may be configured by one CPU.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the storage unit 114 of the remote control terminal device 100 used in the power supply device 10 according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 shows the IP addresses, MAC addresses, and port numbers of the power supply apparatuses 111, 11k, and 11n as an example. Note that k is an integer that satisfies 1 <k <n.

IP address and MAC address of the power supply unit ₁₁ 1 to 11 _n is allocated for each of the power supply unit ₁₁ 1 to 11 _n. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the storage unit 114 of the remote control terminal device 100 is associated with an IP address, a MAC address, and a port number and arranged in the order of power-on and stored as a database.

The IP address and the MAC address are data used to identify one power supply unit 11 from the power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n . The data representing the port number is data used for control for turning on each of the four ports 14 of the power supply unit 11.

  Data representing the IP address, MAC address, and port number represents an order command, and data representing the port number represents a terminal order command. The terminal order command is included in the order command.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the remote control terminal device 100 is connected to the power supply unit 11 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, in a state of connecting the remote control terminal apparatus 100 to the power supply unit 11 _1, the remote control terminal apparatus 100 obtains the IP address and MAC address of the power supply unit 11 _1. Here, the remote control terminal 100 and the power supply unit 11 _1, the serial port 107 (see FIG. 4 (B) refer) and serial port 17 may be connected by a cable for serial communication such as RS232C example (see FIG. 3) .

The remote control terminal device 100 acquires from the power supply unit 11 in the state in which the power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n are connected to the power supply unit 11 that wants to register the power-on order and IP addresses in the order in which the power is to be turned on. And the MAC address are registered side by side. At this time, the order of the ports 14 is registered in addition to the order of the power supply units 11. By registering these, the data shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing for registering the power-on order in the remote control terminal device 100 used in the power supply device 10 according to the embodiment. This process is executed by the control unit 112 in the remote control terminal device 100.

  When remote control terminal device 100 is connected to power supply unit 11, the process is started.

  The control unit 112 determines whether an IP address and a MAC address have been acquired from the power supply unit 11 (step S1). The process of step S1 is repeatedly executed until acquisition of the IP address and the MAC address is confirmed.

  When acquiring the IP address and the MAC address from the power supply unit 11, the control unit 112 determines whether or not the port number is specified by pressing the port selection button 103 (step S2).

  When the port number is designated, the control unit 112 determines whether or not the order is selected (step S3). The order is selected by pressing the order selection button 102 (see FIG. 4A) of the remote control terminal device 100.

  When the order is selected, the control unit 112 determines whether or not the order is confirmed by pressing the order registration button 104 (step S4).

  When the order is determined, the control unit 112 stores the IP address, the MAC address, and the port number in the storage unit 114 in association with the order (step S5).

  When the IP address, the MAC address, and the port number are stored in the storage unit 114 in association with the order, the control unit 112 determines whether or not the registration of the other port 14 is performed (step S6). .

  When the control unit 112 determines that the other port 14 is not registered and ends, the series of processing ends.

  Moreover, the control part 112 returns a flow to step S1, when it determines with No in step S1-S4 or S6.

  Thus, the processing by the control unit 112 is completed, and the database shown in FIG. 5 is completed.

  Next, processing when the power is turned on based on the order command transmitted from the remote control terminal device 100 to the power supply unit 11 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing when power is turned on based on the order command received by the power supply unit 11.

Here, the remote control terminal 100 is connected to the hub 5 through the LAN cable 13B, as shown in FIG. 2, the order instruction is transmitted to the power supply unit 11 _1, the power supply unit 11 ₁ of the controller 18 A case where the processing shown in FIG. 8 is executed will be described.

  When receiving the order command, the control unit 18 stores the order command in the storage unit 19 (step S10).

The control unit 18 sequentially reads out the order commands stored in the storage unit 19 according to the order, and the power supply unit 11 (any _{one of} 11 _{1 to} 11 _n ) specified by the IP address and the MAC address represents data (terminal) (Order command) is transmitted (step S11). In the case where the IP address and MAC address represents the power supply unit 11 _1, the control unit 18 connects the relay 15 corresponding to the port number.

  The control unit 18 checks whether there is data in the next order (step S12). If there is next data, the control unit 18 repeatedly executes the process of step S11. If there is no next data, the control unit 18 ends the process.

Through the processes in steps S10 to S12, the port is connected to the power supply unit 11 (any _{one of} 11 _{1 to} 11 _n ) in the order registered in the database (see FIG. 5) created in the remote control terminal device 100. Data representing the number is transmitted.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the power supply unit 11 that has received the port number turns on the power. This process is executed by the control unit 18 in the power supply unit 11 that has received the port number.

  When receiving the port number (step S20), the control unit 18 connects the relay 15 corresponding to the port 14 of the port number (step S21).

  The control unit 18 determines whether or not it is the last transmitted port number (step S22). If it is the last port number, the process is terminated, and if there is still another received port number, the flow is stepped. Return to S21.

  Accordingly, power is sequentially supplied from the four ports included in the power supply unit 11.

  As described above, according to the power supply device 10 of the present embodiment, the power-on sequence of the power supply unit 11 can be easily registered by the remote control terminal device 100 by the processing shown in FIG. Moreover, the database (refer FIG. 5) for producing | generating an order instruction | command can be created by registering the turn-on order of the power supply part 11. FIG.

Further, according to the power supply device 10 of the present embodiment, the power supply units 11 (11 _{1 to} 11 _n of the power supply units 11, 11 _{1 to} 11 _n are processed in the order registered in the database (see FIG. 5) by the processing illustrated in FIGS. Power can be supplied from any one of the ports 14 to the electronic device (see FIG. 2).

For this reason, the power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n do not start supplying power all at once, and furthermore, the timing at which the ports 14 in each 11 _{1 to} 11 _n start supplying power can be shifted. Thus, it is possible to provide a power supply device that can suppress the occurrence of inrush current and can stably supply power.

Conventionally, it has been impossible to set or control the timing at which a plurality of power supply units start power supply. However, according to the power supply device 10 of the present embodiment, the remote control terminal device 100 is connected to each of the power supply units 11 ₁ to 11 ₁ . each of just the power supply unit 11 ₁ to 11 _n connected to 11 _n can be easily set the timing for starting the power supply. Also, at that time, it is possible to also set the order to supply power from the port 14 of the power supply unit 11 ₁ to 11 within _n, it is possible to supply power more stable.

In the above, in addition to the order of the power supply unit 11 ₁ to 11 _n, it has been described the configuration order also registered for supplying power from a port 14 included in each of the power supply unit 11 ₁ to 11 _n, the port The order in which power is supplied from 14 does not necessarily have to be registered. Depending on the power to be handled, power supply may be started simultaneously at each port 14, or power may be supplied from each port 14 in a predetermined order.

In the above description, the remote control terminal device 100 is connected to the LAN cable 13B and the order command is transmitted in a state where the remote control terminal device 100 is connected to the power supply units 11 _{1 to} 11 _n via the communication line 4 such as the Internet. Order command in a state in which the serial port 107 (see FIG. 4A) of the remote control terminal device 100 is connected to the serial port 17 (see FIG. 3) of the power supply unit 11 via a serial communication cable (not shown). May be transmitted from the remote control terminal device 100 to the power supply unit 11.

  Since the power supply apparatus 10 of the present embodiment can set the power supply order and start power supply without using a PC, power can be supplied via the PC like a conventional power supply apparatus (see FIG. 1). Compared to the case of starting supply, it is not necessary to wait for the start-up time, and it is possible to set the order of power supply and start power supply at any time.

  Moreover, the power supply apparatus 10 of the present embodiment may include a PC 6 as in the conventional power supply apparatus shown in FIG. In this case, the remote control terminal device 100 may be connected to the PC 6, a database representing the order command may be stored in the memory or the like of the PC 6, and the PC 6 may perform power supply of the power supply unit according to the order.

  Moreover, although the form which identifies the electric power supply apparatus 11 using both an IP address and a MAC address was demonstrated above, when it can identify by any one, it is not necessary to use both.

  In the above description, the power supply device 10 that transmits the order command from the remote control terminal device 100 connected to the LAN cable 13B to the power supply unit 11 has been described. You may comprise so that order instructions may be transmitted between the electric power supply part 11 and the remote control terminal device 100. FIG.

  Moreover, you may comprise so that order instructions may be transmitted between the remote control terminal device 100 and the electric power supply part 11 using infrared communication instead of wireless LAN.

  As described above, the power supply device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention and the remote control terminal device used for the power supply device have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiment. Various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

3,5 hub 4 communication line 10 power supply apparatus 11, 11 ₁ to 11 _n power supply unit 12, 12 ₁ to 12 _n communication unit 13A, 13B LAN cable 14 port 15 Relay 16 I / O processing unit 17 serial port 18 control Unit 19 Storage unit 100 Remote control terminal device 101 Case 111 I / O processing unit 112 Control unit 113 Communication unit 114 Storage unit

Claims (7)

A plurality of power supply units for switching supply / non-supply of electric power supplied from an external power source to an electronic device;
A receiving unit for receiving an order command representing a turn-on order of the plurality of power supply units from a remote control terminal device;
A power supply processing unit that powers on the plurality of power supply units in response to the order command.   The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order command is specified using an IP address or a MAC address of the power supply unit. The power supply unit has a plurality of terminals for connecting the electronic device, and the order command includes a terminal order command representing an order of power supply from the plurality of terminals,
The power supply unit switches power supply / non-supply to the electronic device via the plurality of terminals according to the terminal order command included in the order command received by the receiving unit. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   4. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit is attached to the power supply unit. 5.   4. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit is connected to the power supply unit through a communication line. 5.   A remote control terminal device used for the power supply device according to claim 1.   The remote control terminal device according to claim 6, further comprising: a control unit that acquires an IP address or a MAC address from the power supply device, and generates an order command that indicates a power-on order of the plurality of power supply units.

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