JP2012114666A - Load control switch and load control switch system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a load control switch which enables a user to easily improve its function so that the load control switch has a radio signal receiving function without involving wiring work.SOLUTION: A load control switch 1 comprises: a terminal module 2 which is directly attached to an attachment frame installed on a wall surface of a building and to which an electric wire is connected; an opening and closing function module 3 which is detachably mounted on the terminal module 2 and has an electronic switch function controlling on/off of a load in response to a control signal input from the outside; and an operation handle 4 which is detachably mounted on the opening and closing function module 3 and has a radio signal reception circuit 45 which receives the control signal from a remote controller.

Description

  The present invention relates to a load control switch and a load control switch system that can be improved in function so that a user can easily have a radio signal reception function even if they are not qualified as an electrician.

  In recent years, a load control switch provided on a wall of a building or the like provided with a wireless signal receiving function has been proposed so that a load such as a ventilation fan or a lighting device can be turned on and off by a remote control device or the like. Assuming that a load control switch that simply controls on / off of a load was originally installed, replacing such a load control switch with one having a radio signal receiving function requires wiring work. Therefore, the user cannot replace it by himself and has to ask a person who has the qualification of an electrician.

  On the other hand, in recent years, as called DIY (Do It Yourself), it has become popular for users to purchase parts at home centers and to replace parts themselves. In the current system, for example, as described in Non-Patent Document 1, the user can only select the color and design of the operation handle in a home center and the like, and the load control switch body cannot be freely replaced. The annoyance remains.

  Further, in the case of an electronic switch having a semiconductor switch element such as a triac as a main switch element, it is possible to control on / off of a load in accordance with a signal output from a radio signal receiving device or a human body sensor. . Therefore, if an external signal input terminal is provided in advance in an electronic load control switch and a radio signal receiver or a human body sensor can be connected to the electronic load control switch by the user himself / herself, the load control switch can be manufactured at low cost. Function can be improved.

Panasonic Electric Works Electrical Equipment Catalog 2010-2012 Page 19

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the conventional example, and a load control switch capable of improving the function so that the user can easily have a wireless signal receiving function without wiring work. And it aims at providing a load control switch system.

  In order to achieve the above object, a load control switch according to an aspect of the present invention is directly attached to a mounting frame installed on a wall surface of a building, and is detachable from the terminal module to which an electric wire is connected. An open / close function module having an electronic switch function for controlling on / off of a load according to a control signal input from the outside, and the control that is detachably attached to the open / close function module and transmitted from a remote control device An operation handle having a wireless signal receiving circuit for receiving a signal is provided.

  The open / close function module is an electronic switch having a semiconductor switch element as a main switch element, and the mounting surface of the open / close function module on which the operation handle is mounted has at least two first contacts to which the control signal is input. And a push-on / push-off switch operated by the operation handle, and at least two of the operation handles facing the mounting surface of the open / close function module are in contact with the first contact. It is preferable that a second contact is provided, and a radio signal receiving circuit connected to a control circuit of the electronic switch via the first contact and the second contact is provided inside the operation handle.

  It is preferable that three or more of each of the first contact and the second contact are provided, and driving power is supplied from the electronic switch to the radio signal receiving circuit via the first contact and the second contact. .

  Alternatively, it is preferable that the wireless signal receiving circuit is supplied with driving power from a primary battery built in the operation handle.

  Alternatively, the wireless signal receiving circuit includes a power generating element and a secondary battery for charging the power generated by the power generating element, and the wireless signal receiving circuit receives driving power from the power generating element or the secondary battery. Preferably it is supplied.

  The control circuit of the electronic switch includes a dimming circuit, the wireless signal receiving circuit receives a dimming signal transmitted from the remote control device, and the dimming circuit is a load according to the dimming signal It is preferable to control light control.

  It is preferable that the operation handle has a substantially square shape when viewed from the front, and can be mounted in two directions orthogonal to the mounting surface of the opening / closing function module.

  Alternatively, it is preferable that the radio signal receiving circuit has a plurality of receiving antennas having different directions, and selects an optimal receiving antenna according to a reception situation.

  The load control switch system according to one aspect of the present invention is directly attached to a mounting frame installed on a wall surface of a building, and is detachably attached to a terminal module to which an electric wire is connected, and the terminal module, respectively. At least a plurality of opening / closing function modules having a switching function for controlling on / off of a load and a plurality of operation handles detachably attached to the opening / closing function module, one of the plurality of opening / closing function modules being An electronic switch having a semiconductor switch element as a main switch element, and a mounting surface of the open / close function module to which the operation handle is mounted, at least two first contacts to which the control signal is input, and the operation handle A push-on / push-off switch operated by One of the operation handles is provided with at least two second contacts in contact with the first contact on the back surface facing the mounting surface of the open / close function module, and the first contact and the second contact are provided therein. A radio signal receiving circuit connected to the control circuit of the electronic switch via a contact is provided, and the terminal module has one opening / closing function module selected from the plurality of opening / closing function modules, and the plurality of operation handles. One load control switch is configured by mounting one operation handle selected from the above.

  According to the present invention, the load control switch is divided into a terminal module to which an electric wire is connected and an open / close function module that is detachably attached to the terminal module, and a radio signal receiving circuit is provided on the operation handle. Therefore, the user can select only the operation handle or a combination of the opening / closing function module and the operation handle and perform replacement without performing wiring work. When the electronic switch is mounted from the beginning as the open / close function module, the operation handle may be replaced with one having a wireless signal receiving circuit. Further, when a mechanical switch is first mounted as an open / close function module, the open / close function module and the operation handle may be replaced with ones each having an electronic switch and a radio signal receiving circuit.

The figure which shows the structure of the load control switch which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the modification of the said load control switch. The figure which shows the structure of the other modification of the said load control switch. The figure which shows the structure of the further another modification of the said load control switch.

  A load control switch and a load control switch system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a load control switch 1 according to the present embodiment. The load control switch 1 includes, for example, a terminal module 2 to which an electric wire 5 such as a VVF (Vinyl insulated Vinyl sheathed Flat-type cable) is connected, an opening / closing function module 3 having a switch function, and an operation handle 4. It consists of

  The terminal module 2 includes an inlet 21 into which the core wire 51 of the electric wire 5 from which the insulation coating has been removed is inserted, and an outlet 22 into which the socket 31 of the open / close function module 3 is inserted. The inlet 21 is the same as that of a conventional load control switch that is automatically locked when the core wire 51 of the electric wire 5 is inserted. The structure of the outlet 22 is not particularly limited, and may be a simple electrical contact or a structure like an outlet. In the latter case, a sliding shutter may be provided on the outlet 22 in order to prevent electric shock. In FIG. 1, the terminal module 2 is exemplified by a two-wire type, but may be a three-wire type. The terminal module 2 is installed by an electrician who has specialized knowledge, such as an electrician. According to the configuration of this embodiment, once the terminal module 2 is installed, it is not normally replaced. Note that the terminal module 2 is smaller than the conventional load control switch because the open / close function module 3 is separated. For this reason, the adapter 6 or the like is used when it is attached to a conventional attachment frame.

  The open / close function module 3 is an electronic switch having a semiconductor switch element as a main switch element. A push-on / push-off switch 33 operated by the operation handle 4 is provided on the mounting surface 32 to which the operation handle 4 of the opening / closing function module 3 is mounted. Further, on the mounting surface 32 of the opening / closing function module 3, a support shaft 34 that is fitted to a bearing 42 provided on the back surface 41 of the operation handle 4 is provided. The back surface 41 of the operation handle 4 is in contact with the push-on / push-off switch 33 in a state where the bearing 42 is fitted to the support shaft 34, that is, in a state where the operation handle 4 is mounted on the opening / closing function module 3. A projection 43 is provided. The operation handle 4 is normally held biased in one direction by a spring of a push-on / push-off switch 33 formed asymmetrically with respect to the support shaft 34 (or the bearing 42).

  As is well known from Non-Patent Document 1, the size of the operation handle 4 is determined by the number of load control switches attached to the attachment frame. For example, when only one load control switch is attached to the attachment frame, an operation handle having a size substantially the same as a rectangular opening formed in the decorative plate is used so as to be called a single. In addition, when two load control switches are attached to the attachment frame, an operation handle having a size that is ½ of the height dimension of the rectangular opening formed in the decorative plate is used (width), as called double. Directional dimensions are the same). Furthermore, when three load control switches are attached to the attachment frame, an operation handle having a size of 1/3 of the height dimension of the rectangular opening formed in the decorative plate is used as a triple. Needless to say, you can choose from multiple colors and designs as before.

  A circuit board 35 is provided inside the open / close function module 3, and a control circuit 36 composed of a semiconductor switch element such as a triac is mounted on the circuit board 35. When the operation handle 4 is operated by the user, the push-on / push-off switch 33 is turned on or off, and the load is turned on or off accordingly.

  A circuit board 44 is provided inside the operation handle 4, and a radio signal receiving circuit 45 and antennas 46 and 47 are mounted on the circuit board 44. Further, a plurality of (for example, three) first contacts 37 are provided on the mounting surface of the open / close function module 3, and a plurality of (general) contacts the first contact 37 on the back surface 41 of the operation handle 4. The same number of second contacts (spring pieces) 48 are provided. As a result, the electronic switch control circuit 36 and the radio signal receiving circuit 45 are connected via the first contact 37 and the second contact 47. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the driving power of the wireless signal receiving circuit 45 is supplied from the electronic switch via the first contact 37 and the second contact 48.

  The antennas 46 and 47 are arranged so that substantially the same parts are orthogonal to each other, and only one of them is selected and used. As is well known, a radio wave transmitted from a remote control device (not shown) or the like includes a horizontal polarization component and a vertical polarization component, and whichever of the reception states is better depending on the surrounding radio wave environment. The antenna 46 or 47 can be selected. The selection of the antenna 46 or 47 may be switching to a switch by the user or automatic switching by the radio signal receiving circuit 45.

  For example, when a lighting device such as an incandescent lamp or an LED is connected as a load, it is effective to give the load control switch a dimming function. In that case, a dimming circuit is further provided in the control circuit 36 of the electronic switch, and the dimming signal transmitted from the remote control device is received by the radio signal receiving circuit 45. The dimming circuit is an illumination that is a load in accordance with the dimming signal. What is necessary is just to comprise so that light control of an apparatus may be carried out.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 2, at least two first contacts 37 and two second contacts 48 are provided, and the driving power is supplied from the primary battery 49 built in the operation handle 4 to the wireless signal receiving circuit 45. Has been. For example, in the case of two-wire wiring, the load control switch 1 is connected in series with the commercial power source and the load. The driving power of the control circuit 36 of the open / close function module 3 of the load control switch 1 is supplied from a commercial power source. That is, even when the load is off, standby power for causing the CPU of the control circuit 36 to stand by is consumed, resulting in a minute current flowing through the load. Similarly, the radio signal receiving circuit 45 is also on standby so that it can always receive a control signal from the remote control device even when the load is off. Here, as in the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, when the driving power of the wireless signal receiving circuit 45 is supplied from the open / close function module 3, the current flowing through the load increases when the load is off. When the load is an incandescent lamp, etc., it will not be a problem. However, in the case of a load that has low power consumption and a current value that decreases as the voltage of the commercial power supply increases, such as an LED, a control circuit There is a possibility that the LED is turned on by the current resulting from the standby power of 36. Therefore, as in the modification shown in FIG. 2, by supplying driving power from the built-in primary battery 49 to the wireless signal receiving circuit 45, it is possible to prevent erroneous lighting of the LEDs. If a lithium ion battery, for example, is used as the built-in primary battery 49, a battery life of 3 to 5 years is ensured (depending on the frequency of use). Further, when the remaining battery life is low, an alarm that prompts battery replacement may be output.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 3, the operation handle 4 includes a power generation element 61 such as a solar battery and a secondary battery 62 for charging the power generated by the power generation element 61, and the radio signal reception circuit 45 includes the power generation element 61. Alternatively, driving power is supplied from the secondary battery 62. As the power generation element 61, a piezoelectric element or the like can be used in addition to the solar battery. For example, the operation handle 4 is biased in a certain direction by a spring of the push-on / push-off switch 33. Therefore, if a piezoelectric element is provided on the back surface 41 of the operation handle 4 so that pressure is constantly applied to the piezoelectric element, it is possible to generate power about the driving power of the wireless signal receiving circuit 45.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 3, the operation handle 4 has a substantially square shape when viewed from the front, and can be mounted in two directions orthogonal to the mounting surface 32 of the opening / closing function module 3. Only one antenna 46 is mounted on the circuit board 44, and the receiving direction of the antenna 46 can be set to an optimum direction by changing the mounting direction of the operation handle 4 to the open / close function module 3. On the back surface of the operation handle 4, two sets of bearings 42A and 42B and second contacts 48A and 48B, which are arranged so that their directions are orthogonal to each other, are provided. In this case, the first contact 37A of the open / close function module 3 is a spring piece. By making the operation handle 4 square, the number of load control switches that can be attached to one attachment frame is limited to one or two, but the number of antennas is only one, and the configuration of the radio signal receiving circuit 45 Simplification and cost reduction.

  The simplest configuration of the open / close function module 3 includes a mechanical switch having a movable contact and a fixed contact. For example, if the operating handle is rotated in one direction around the spindle, the movable contact contacts the fixed contact, and if the operating handle is rotated in the reverse direction, the movable contact moves away from the fixed contact, or A mechanical push-on / push-off switch or the like is conceivable (not shown because of public knowledge). These mechanical switches are simple in function only to turn the load on or off, but at a low cost.

  According to the load control switch configured as described above, if only the terminal module 2 is installed in advance, the user purchases the opening / closing function module 3 suitable for his / her purpose and the operation handle 4 corresponding thereto at a home center or the like. Thus, the load control switch can be replaced by itself. For example, assuming that the cheapest mechanical switch is mounted as the opening / closing function module 3 when moving in, and the user wants to control the lighting device on and off from a remote control device, the opening / closing function module 3 having an electronic switch, What is necessary is just to purchase the operation handle 4 and remote control device provided with the signal reception function, and to exchange them by themselves. As a result, for example, it is not necessary to request a construction contractor to perform electrical work, and the function of the load control switch can be improved or changed at a low cost and at any time. The load control switch system of the present invention includes, for example, two types of terminal modules 2 dedicated to two wires and three, a plurality of types of opening / closing function modules 3 exemplified in the above embodiment, and a plurality of types of operation handles 4 adapted thereto. Etc. In the above embodiment, the case where radio waves are used as the wireless signal receiving function has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a wireless signal receiving function using infrared rays or the like may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Load control switch 2 Terminal module 21 Inlet 22 Outlet 3 Opening / closing function module 31 Socket 32 Mounting surface 33 Push-on / push-off switch 34 Support shaft 35 Circuit board 36 Control circuit 37, 37A 1st contact 4 Operation handle 41 Back surface 42, 42A, 42B Bearing 43 Protrusion 44 Circuit board 45 Radio signal receiving circuit 46, 47 Antenna 48, 48A, 48B Second contact 49 Primary battery 5 Electric wire 51 Core wire 61 Power generation element 62 Secondary battery

Claims (9)

A terminal module that is directly attached to a mounting frame installed on the wall of the building and to which an electric wire is connected;
An open / close function module that is detachably attached to the terminal module and has an electronic switch function for controlling on and off of a load in accordance with a control signal input from the outside;
A load control switch comprising an operation handle that is detachably attached to the open / close function module and has a radio signal receiving circuit that receives the control signal transmitted from a remote control device. The open / close function module is an electronic switch having a semiconductor switch element as a main switch element,
On the mounting surface of the open / close function module on which the operation handle is mounted, there are provided at least two first contacts to which the control signal is input and a push-on / push-off switch operated by the operation handle. And
At least two second contacts that contact the first contact are provided on the back surface of the operation handle facing the mounting surface of the open / close function module, and the first contact and the first contact are provided inside the operation handle. 2. The load control switch according to claim 1, further comprising a radio signal receiving circuit connected to the control circuit of the electronic switch via two contacts.   Three or more of the first contact and the second contact are provided, respectively, and driving power is supplied from the electronic switch to the radio signal receiving circuit via the first contact and the second contact. The load control switch according to claim 2.   The load control switch according to claim 2, wherein the wireless signal receiving circuit is supplied with driving power from a primary battery built in the operation handle.   The wireless signal receiving circuit includes a power generation element and a secondary battery for charging the power generated by the power generation element, and the wireless signal reception circuit is supplied with driving power from the power generation element or the secondary battery. The load control switch according to claim 2.   The control circuit of the electronic switch includes a dimming circuit, the wireless signal receiving circuit receives a dimming signal transmitted from the remote control device, and the dimming circuit is a load according to the dimming signal The load control switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein dimming control is performed.   The operation handle is substantially square in a front view, and can be mounted in two directions perpendicular to the mounting surface of the open / close function module. Load control switch as described in.   The load according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the radio signal reception circuit includes a plurality of reception antennas having different directions, and selects an optimal reception antenna according to a reception situation. Control switch. A terminal module that is directly attached to a mounting frame installed on the wall of the building and to which an electric wire is connected;
A plurality of open / close function modules that are detachably mounted on the terminal module and each have a switch function for controlling at least on and off of a load;
It is composed of a plurality of operation handles that are detachably attached to the opening / closing function module,
One of the plurality of open / close function modules is an electronic switch having a semiconductor switch element as a main switch element, and the control signal is input to a mounting surface of the open / close function module to which the operation handle is mounted. At least two first contacts and a push-on / push-off switch operated by the operation handle;
One of the plurality of operation handles is provided with at least two second contacts in contact with the first contact on the back surface facing the mounting surface of the open / close function module, and the first contact and A radio signal receiving circuit connected to the control circuit of the electronic switch via the second contact is provided;
A load control switch is configured by mounting one opening / closing function module selected from the plurality of opening / closing function modules and one operation handle selected from the plurality of operation handles on the terminal module. A load control switch system.

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