JP2014212437A - Control system and control method of electrical apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption of an electrical apparatus.SOLUTION: A lighting device 10 comprises a light source 110, a lighting side communication unit 120 and a control unit 130. The light source 110 is a light source of illumination light of the lighting device 10. The lighting side communication unit 120 communicates with an electrical apparatus 20 by radio. The control unit 130 transmits power-off notification information indicating that the light source 110 is to be turned off, to the electrical apparatus 20 via the lighting side communication unit 120. The electrical apparatus 20 comprises an apparatus side communication unit 210 and a mode transition unit 220. The apparatus side communication unit 210 communicates with the lighting side communication unit 120 of the lighting device 10. The mode transition unit 220 causes the electrical apparatus 20 to perform transition to a power-saving mode when the apparatus side communication unit 210 receives the power-off notification information from the lighting device 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to a control system and a method for controlling an electrical device.

  In order to perform wireless communication, it is necessary to install an access point for wireless communication at a place where wireless communication is performed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that an access point for wireless communication is attached to a lighting fixture.

  In Patent Document 2, when the remaining amount of water in the water server is low, a device that manages the remaining amount of water in the water server notifies the call center of water delivery via a communication network. It is described to do.

International Publication No. 2008/007514 JP 2012-188141 A

  In recent years, interest in environmental impact has increased. For this reason, this inventor examined reducing the power consumption of an electric equipment by making an illuminating device and an electric equipment interlock | cooperate.

  The objective of this invention is providing the control system and control method of an electric equipment which can reduce the power consumption of an electric equipment.

According to the invention, a lighting device;
With electrical equipment,
The lighting device includes:
A light source;
Lighting-side communication means for wirelessly communicating with the electrical device;
Control means for transmitting off notification information indicating that the light source is turned off to the electric device via the illumination side communication means;
Have
The electrical equipment is
Device-side communication means for communicating with the illumination-side communication means;
When the device-side communication means receives the off notification information, mode shift means for shifting the electric device to a power saving mode;
A control system is provided.

According to the present invention, when an illumination device having a light source and an illumination-side communication unit that communicates wirelessly with an electrical device, when the light source is turned off, off-notification information is transmitted via the illumination-side communication unit to the electrical device. To
The electric device is provided with a method of controlling the electric device that shifts to a power saving mode when the off notification information is received.

  According to the present invention, the power consumption of an electrical device can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the control system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the control system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the control system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the control system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control system which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the control which the control system in 4th Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control system which concerns on 5th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

  In the following description, each component of each device is not a hardware unit configuration but a functional unit block. Each component of each device is an arbitrary combination of hardware and software, mainly a CPU of a computer, a memory, a program loaded in the memory, a storage medium such as a hard disk for storing the program, and a network connection interface. It is realized by. There are various modifications of the implementation method and apparatus.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system according to the first embodiment. The control system includes a lighting device 10 and an electric device 20. The electric device 20 is disposed in a region illuminated by the lighting device 10. For example, if the lighting device 10 is indoor lighting, the electric device 20 is disposed in the same room as the lighting device 10. The electrical device 20 may be an office device such as a printer or a computer, or may be a device that supplies articles to a person such as a water supply or a vending machine.

  The illumination device 10 includes a light source 110, an illumination-side communication unit 120, and a control unit 130. The light source 110 is a light source of illumination light of the illumination device. The illumination side communication unit 120 communicates with the electrical device 20 wirelessly. The control unit 130 transmits off notification information indicating that the light source 110 is turned off to the electrical device 20 via the illumination-side communication unit 120. The off notification information is generated by the control unit 130 when, for example, the user of the lighting apparatus 10 switches off the lighting.

  The electrical device 20 includes a device-side communication unit 210 and a mode transition unit 220. The device side communication unit 210 communicates with the illumination side communication unit 120 of the illumination device 10. The mode transition unit 220 causes the electrical device 20 to transition to the power saving mode when the device-side communication unit 210 receives the off notification information from the lighting device 10. The power saving mode is a mode in which the power consumption is lower than that during the operation, and the form thereof is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control system shown in FIG. The light source 110 of the illumination device 10 is turned on / off according to an instruction from the user. And the control part 130 of the illuminating device 10 will transmit OFF notification information to the electric equipment 20 via the illumination side communication part 120, if the light source 110 turns off (step S100) (step S102).

  When the mode transition unit 220 of the electrical device 20 receives the off notification information via the device-side communication unit 210, the mode transition unit 220 causes the electrical device 20 to transition to the power saving mode (step S104).

  When the light source 110 of the lighting device 10 is turned off, there is a high possibility that there is no person in the area illuminated by the lighting device 10. For this reason, as in the present embodiment, when the light source 110 is turned off, inconvenience is less likely to occur even if the electric device 20 is shifted to the power saving mode. Since the electric device 20 is shifted to the power saving mode, the power consumption of the electric device 20 can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system according to the second embodiment. The control system according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the control system according to the first embodiment except for the following points.

  First, the illumination side communication part 120 of the illuminating device 10 functions as a wireless communication access point. The illumination-side communication unit 120 connects the device-side communication unit 210 of the electric device 20 to the communication network 30. The communication standard in the illumination side communication unit 120 is, for example, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), but may be another standard, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control system shown in FIG. The operations shown in steps S100 to S104 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The device-side communication unit 210 of the electric device 20 transmits standby mode notification information indicating that the device-side communication unit 210 shifts to the standby mode after the electric device 20 shifts to the power saving mode (step S104). It transmits to the illumination side communication part 120 (step S106). At this time, the device-side communication unit 210 confirms that there is no remaining information to be transmitted to the illumination-side communication unit 120. Thereafter, the device-side communication unit 210 shifts to the standby mode (step S108). Note that the device-side communication unit 210 does not communicate wirelessly with the outside (for example, the illumination-side communication unit 120 or another wireless communication terminal) in the standby mode. For this reason, the power consumption of the device side communication unit 210 in the standby mode is less than the power consumption of the device side communication unit 210 in the operation mode.

  And the illumination side communication part 120 of the illuminating device 10 will transfer to standby mode, if standby mode notification information is received from the apparatus side communication part 210 (step S110). Note that the illumination-side communication unit 120 does not communicate wirelessly with the outside (for example, the device-side communication unit 210 or another wireless communication terminal) in the standby mode. For this reason, the power consumption of the illumination side communication part 120 in standby mode is less than the power consumption of the illumination side communication part 120 in operation mode.

  According to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, since the illumination side communication unit 120 functions as an access point for wireless communication, the device side communication unit 210 can be connected to the communication network 30.

  Further, as described above, when the light source 110 of the lighting device 10 is turned off, there is a high possibility that there is no person in the area illuminated by the lighting device 10. For this reason, even if the illumination side communication part 120 and the apparatus side communication part 210 will be in standby mode, possibility that a problem will arise is low. And the illumination side communication part 120 and the apparatus side communication part 210 will be in standby mode, and these power consumptions can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the light source 110 shifts to the standby mode after receiving the standby mode notification information from the device-side communication unit 210. For this reason, it can suppress that the apparatus side communication part 210 transfers to standby mode, while the apparatus side communication part 210 is communicating with the illumination side communication part 120. FIG.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system according to the third embodiment. The control system according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the control system according to the second embodiment except for the following points.

  First, the electric device 20 includes a consumable 230 and a replenishment necessity determination unit 240. The supply necessity determination unit 240 is an example of a maintenance necessity determination unit.

  When the electric device 20 has a printing function, the consumable 230 is, for example, ink or toner. When the electric device 20 is a water supply machine (water server) or a vending machine, the consumable item 230 is, for example, water or a product.

  The supply necessity determination unit 240 includes a sensor that detects the remaining amount of the consumable item 230 and determines whether or not the supply of the consumable item 230 is necessary. When the supply necessity determination unit 240 determines that the supply of the consumable item 230 is necessary, the supply request information is sent to the management server 40 via the device side communication unit 210, the illumination side communication unit 120, and the communication network 30. Send.

  Further, if the device-side communication unit 210 is in the standby mode when transmitting the supply request information, the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 requests the device-side communication unit 210 to return to the operation mode. Send. Then, after shifting to the standby mode, the device-side communication unit 210 shifts from the standby mode to the operation mode when receiving operation request information from the replenishment necessity determination unit 240.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control system according to the present embodiment. This figure shows the processing when the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 transmits replenishment request information to the management server 40.

  The replenishment necessity determination unit 240 detects the necessity of replenishment of the consumables 230 (step S200), and transmits replenishment request information to the device side communication unit 210 (step S202). If the device-side communication unit 210 is not in the standby mode (step S204: No), the replenishment request information is transmitted to the management server 40 via the illumination-side communication unit 120 of the illumination device 10 (steps S206 and S208). ).

  On the other hand, when the device-side communication unit 210 receives supply request information during the standby mode (step S204: Yes), the device-side communication unit 210 determines transmission error information indicating that the supply request information could not be transmitted to the communication network 30. It returns to the part 240 (step S210). When receiving the transmission error information, the supply necessity determination unit 240 transmits the operation request information to the device side communication unit 210 (step S212).

  When receiving the operation request information from the replenishment necessity determination unit 240, the device-side communication unit 210 shifts from the standby mode to the operation mode (step S214). And the apparatus side communication part 210 performs a connection process between the illumination side communication parts 120 of the illuminating device 10 (step S216). Thereby, communication between the apparatus side communication part 210 and the illumination side communication part 120 is established.

  Thereafter, the device-side communication unit 210 transmits communication start information indicating that communication with the illumination-side communication unit 120 has been established to the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 (step S218). Then, the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 requests the replenishment request information from the device side communication unit 210 again (step S220). The device-side communication unit 210 transmits the replenishment request information received from the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 to the management server 40 via the illumination-side communication unit 120 (steps S222 and S224).

  Thereafter, when receiving the supply request information, the management server 40 transmits the received information to the supply necessity determination unit 240 (steps S226, S228, and S230). When receiving the reception information, the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 transmits standby mode request information requesting to shift to the standby mode to the device-side communication unit 210 (step S232). The device-side communication unit 210 ignores the standby mode request information when another wireless device is connected (step S234: Yes). If the wireless device is not connected (step S234: No), the process shifts to the standby mode (step S236).

  According to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained. Further, the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 transmits the operation request information to the device-side communication unit 210 and shifts the device-side communication unit 210 to the operation mode even when the device-side communication unit 210 is in the standby mode. The replenishment request information can be transmitted to the management server 40.

  Further, the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 receives information (reception information) indicating that replenishment request information has been received from the management server 40, and then transmits standby mode request information to the device-side communication unit 210. Therefore, an increase in power consumption of the device side communication unit 210 can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the following determination unit may be provided instead of the supply necessity determination unit 240. The determination unit determines a maintenance time of the electric device 20 or detects a failure of the electric device 20. In this case, instead of the replenishment request information, the determination unit transmits information indicating that the maintenance time has come or information indicating that the electric device 20 has failed.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system according to the fourth embodiment. The control system according to the present embodiment is the same as the control system according to the third embodiment except for the following points.

  First, the device-side communication unit 210 communicates with other devices 50 wirelessly. Communication between the device-side communication unit 210 and the device 50 may be performed at a different frequency from the communication between the device-side communication unit 210 and the illumination-side communication unit 120. The device 50 is connected to the communication network 30 via the device side communication unit 210 and the illumination side communication unit 120.

  And when the illumination side communication part 120 transfers to standby mode, it transmits the instruction information (connection instruction information) for connecting with the communication network 30 to the apparatus 50 via another communication apparatus (access point).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control performed by the control system according to the present embodiment. In the example shown in the figure, the processing up to step S104 is the same as the processing shown in FIG.

  After the electric device 20 shifts to the power saving mode (step S104), the device-side communication unit 210 of the electric device 20 is connected to the other device 50 via the device-side communication unit 210 and the illumination-side communication unit 120 of the lighting device 10. It is confirmed whether or not the communication network 30 is connected (step S300). When connected (step S300: Yes), the above connection instruction information is transmitted to the device 50 (step S302). And the apparatus side communication part 210 will receive the information (connection completion information) that it connected with the communication network 30 via the other communication apparatus from the apparatus 50 (step S304: Yes), and will perform the process after step S106. Do.

  On the other hand, when the other device 50 is not connected (step S300: No), the device-side communication unit 210 performs the processing after step S106 as it is.

  According to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the third embodiment can be obtained. Further, the device-side communication unit 210 of the electric device 20 can be used as an access point for the device 50. Furthermore, even if the electrical device 20 receives the off notification information when the device 50 uses the device-side communication unit 210 as an access point, the device-side communication unit 210 causes the device 50 to be connected via another communication device. After connecting to the communication network 30, the system shifts to the standby mode. Therefore, interruption of communication between the device 50 and the communication network 30 can be suppressed.

(Fifth embodiment)
The functional configuration of the control system according to the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment or the fourth embodiment.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control system according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the operations up to step S210 are the same as the operations shown in FIG.

  When receiving the error information from the device-side communication unit 210 of the electric device 20 (step S211: Yes), the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 of the electric device 20 returns to step S202 after a predetermined time has elapsed, and again requests replenishment Send information.

  While the device-side communication unit 210 and the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 repeat the processing shown in steps S202, S204, S210, and S211, the device-side communication unit 210 shifts from the standby mode to the operation mode at any timing. Therefore, the replenishment necessity determination unit 240 can transmit the replenishment request information to the management server 40 via the device side communication unit 210, the illumination side communication unit 120 of the lighting device 10, and the communication network 30.

  And management server 40 will transmit reception information to replenishment necessity judgment part 240, if replenishment request information is received (Steps S226, S228, and S230). The subsequent processing is the same as the processing shown in FIG.

  According to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the third embodiment or the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, these are the illustrations of this invention, Various structures other than the above are also employable.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Illuminating device 20 Electrical equipment 30 Communication network 40 Management server 50 Equipment 110 Light source 120 Illumination side communication part 130 Control part 210 Equipment side communication part 220 Mode transition part 230 Consumables 240 Supply necessity judgment part

Claims (10)

A lighting device;
With electrical equipment,
The lighting device includes:
A light source;
Lighting-side communication means for wirelessly communicating with the electrical device;
Control means for transmitting off notification information indicating that the light source is turned off to the electric device via the illumination side communication means;
Have
The electrical equipment is
Device-side communication means for communicating with the illumination-side communication means;
When the device-side communication means receives the off notification information, mode shift means for shifting the electric device to a power saving mode;
A control system comprising: The control system according to claim 1,
The illumination side communication means is a control system for connecting the electric device to a communication network. The control system according to claim 2,
The device-side communication means of the electrical device is
When receiving the off notification information, the standby mode notification information indicating to shift to the standby mode is transmitted to the illumination side communication means, and the standby mode is shifted,
The illumination-side communication means of the illumination device is a control system that shifts to a standby mode when receiving the standby mode notification information. The control system according to claim 3,
The electrical device includes a maintenance necessity determination unit that determines whether or not the maintenance of the electrical device is necessary and, when maintenance is necessary, transmits maintenance request information to the outside through the device side communication unit,
The maintenance necessity determination means, when transmitting the maintenance request information, if the device side communication means is in a standby mode, operation request information requesting the device side communication means to return to the operation mode. Transmitted to the device-side communication means,
A control system in which the device-side communication unit shifts from the standby mode to the operation mode when receiving the operation request information from the maintenance necessity determination unit after shifting to the standby mode. The control system according to claim 4.
The electrical device includes consumables,
The maintenance necessity determination means determines whether or not the consumables need to be replenished, and transmits replenishment request information as the maintenance request information when the consumables need to be replenished. In the control system according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The device-side communication means is
Relay communication between other devices and the illumination side communication means,
When receiving the off notification information, send connection instruction information for instructing the other device to connect to the communication network via other communication means,
A control system that shifts to a standby mode after receiving information indicating that the communication device is connected to the communication network from another device via another communication means. A lighting device having a light source and an illumination-side communication unit that communicates wirelessly with an electrical device transmits off notification information to the electrical device via the illumination-side communication unit when the light source is turned off.
The method for controlling an electric device, wherein the electric device shifts to a power saving mode when receiving the off notification information. In the control method of the electric equipment according to claim 7,
The lighting device connects the electrical device to a communication network,
The device-side communication means of the electrical device shifts to a standby mode when receiving the off-notification information, and transmits standby mode notification information indicating the transition to the standby mode to the lighting device,
The control method of the electric equipment which the said illumination side communication means of the said illuminating device transfers to standby mode, when the said standby mode notification information is received. In the control method of the electric equipment according to claim 7,
The lighting device connects the electrical device to a communication network,
The electrical equipment is
Have consumables,
When it is necessary to replenish the consumables, and when the consumables need to be replenished, send replenishment request information to the outside via the device-side communication means of the electrical device,
A control method for an electric device that causes the device-side communication unit to return to an operation mode when the device-side communication unit is in a standby mode when transmitting the replenishment request information. In the control method of the electric equipment according to claim 8 or 9,
The device-side communication means is
Relay communication between other devices and the illumination side communication means,
A control method for an electric device that transmits connection instruction information for instructing the other device to connect to the communication network via another communication unit when the off notification information is received.

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