JP2014225833A - Private smart grid system and smart power supply tap - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform control of a connected apparatus and monitoring of the amount of power consumption.SOLUTION: A private smart grid system 1 comprises: a smart power supply tap 10 that is connected with a PLC network 3, and also connected with a product, such as an electric appliance 110, that does not have a communication function, and performs measurement of the amount of power consumption of the electric appliance and operation control; a central control terminal 20 that is connected with the PLC network 3 and manages the measured amount of power consumption; and a server 30 that predicts the amount of power consumption thereafter on the basis of the amount of power consumption managed by the central control terminal 20. The smart power supply tap 10 includes: a PLC communication unit 11 that performs communication with the central control terminal 20; a power measuring unit 13 that measures the amount of power consumption of the connected electric appliance per predetermined time; and an IR sensor unit 12 that transmits an IR control signal to control the operation of the electric appliance to the electric appliance on the basis of an IR sensor control signal received from the central control terminal 20. The smart power supply tap transmits the measured amount of power consumption to the central control terminal 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to a private smart grid system and a smart power strip, and more particularly to a system and a power strip that manage control, usage status, power consumption, and the like of devices that do not have a connected communication function.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a technology called a smart grid that can manage power used in general households, offices of companies, etc., and perform remote control of various electric appliances connected has attracted attention. In the smart grid concept, it is possible to measure the amount of power used for each outlet provided on a wall or the like (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In order to supply power to various electric appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, TVs, PCs, monitors, etc. used in general households and company offices, connect electric appliances to outlets, multi-tap, etc. In order to measure the power consumption in units, it is necessary to provide an outlet for measuring the power usage.

JP 2011-150664 A

  However, such power consumption measurement outlets can measure the power consumption of connected appliances, but remote control such as identification of the type of connected appliances and power ON / OFF. There was a problem that could not be done.

  For electrical appliances connected to wall outlets, etc., power consumption can be measured by using the power consumption measurement outlet described above. For lighting fixtures that are supplied with power using different caps, etc., the power consumption cannot be measured.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the problems in the conventional technology described above, and includes a private smart grid system and a smart power strip that can control connected devices and monitor power consumption. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a private smart grid system for managing power consumption and controlling the device in a device that does not have a communication function, and is connected to a PLC network and has a communication function. A smart power strip that is connected to a device that does not have the power, measures the power usage of the device and controls the operation of the device, and the power usage of the device that is connected to the PLC network and measured by the smart power strip A central control terminal that manages power consumption and a server that predicts power usage based on the power usage managed by the central control terminal, and the smart power strip is connected to the central control terminal via the PLC network. A communication unit that communicates with each other, a power measurement unit that measures the power usage of the connected devices at predetermined time intervals, and the communication unit. An IR control signal for controlling the operation of the device corresponding to the connected device based on an IR sensor control signal for controlling the operation of the device received from the central control terminal via the unit. And transmitting the measured power consumption to the central control terminal via the communication unit.

  And according to this invention, while transmitting the electric power consumption of the connected apparatus measured in the smart power strip to the central control terminal, the IR sensor control signal is transmitted from the central control terminal to the smart power strip. Therefore, it becomes possible to monitor the amount of power used in the electrical appliance connected to the smart power strip and to remotely control the electrical appliance using the central control terminal.

  In the private smart grid system, the smart power strip further includes an ID setting unit that sets identification information for identifying the type of the connected device, and the set identification information is used as the measured power. The usage amount is transmitted to the central control terminal via the communication unit, and the central control terminal can store the identification information and the measured power usage amount in association with each other. As a result, the power consumption can be managed for each device connected to each smart power strip.

  In the private smart grid system, the smart power strip further includes a sensor connection unit that connects a sensor that detects an external state every predetermined time, and the information indicating the external state detected by the sensor includes the information It can transmit to the said central control terminal via a communication part.

  In the private smart grid system, the IR sensor unit can learn an operation that allows remote operation of the connected device. Thereby, the electrical appliance connected to the smart power strip can be controlled more appropriately by remote control from the central control terminal.

  The present invention is also a smart power strip that is connected to a PLC network and that is connected to a device that does not have a communication function, and that measures the power consumption of the device and controls the operation of the device. A communication unit that communicates with an external control device via a network, a power measurement unit that measures power usage of the connected device at predetermined time intervals, and the external control via the communication unit An IR sensor unit for transmitting an IR control signal for controlling the operation of the device corresponding to the connected device to the device based on an IR sensor control signal for controlling the operation of the device received from the apparatus The measured power usage is transmitted to the external control device via the communication unit. According to the present invention, as in the case of the above-described invention, it is possible to monitor the amount of electric power used in the electrical appliance connected to the smart power strip, and to remotely control the electrical appliance using an external control device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to control connected devices and monitor power consumption.

It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the private smart grid system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of a smart power strip. It is the schematic which shows an example of the external appearance of a smart power strip. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the external appearance of a smart power strip. It is the schematic which shows the further another example of the external appearance of a smart power strip.

  Next, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a private smart grid system according to the present invention. In this private smart grid system 1, a room in a home or company office, for example, a room 100, a kitchen 200, and a living room 300 are shown. Are connected by a power line 2 and a PLC network 3 that performs power line communication. A central control terminal 20 is connected to the PLC network 3. The central control terminal 20 is connected to the Internet 40, and a server 30 is connected to the Internet 40.

  The room 100 includes, for example, an electric appliance 110 that does not have a communication function, such as an electric lamp 110a, a television 110b, and an air conditioner 110c, and each electric appliance 110 is connected to the power line 2 via the smart power tap 10 that is individually connected. Connected to.

  The kitchen 200 includes, for example, appliances 210 having no communication function, such as a refrigerator 210a, a microwave oven 210b, a ventilation fan 210c, and an electric lamp 210d, and each appliance 210 has a smart power strip 10 connected individually. To the power line 2.

  The living room 300 includes, for example, electric appliances 310 having no communication function, such as an electric lamp 310a, a television 310b, and an air conditioner 310c. Each electric appliance 310 is connected to the power line 2 via the smart power strip 10 connected individually. Connected to.

  The smart power tap 10 is connected to a power outlet provided on the walls of the room 100, the kitchen 200, and the living room 300, and connected to the power plugs of the appliances 110, 210, and 310. The smart power strip 10 acquires various types of information regarding each electrical appliance, and controls each connected electrical appliance based on the control of the central control terminal 20 connected via the PLC network 3. Details of the smart power strip 10 will be described later.

  The central control terminal 20 is provided in, for example, a home or company office, and each smart power tap 10 and each smart power source connected to the appliances 110, 210, and 310 provided in the room 100, the kitchen 200, and the living room 300. Management and control of the electrical appliance connected to the tap 10 is performed.

  Here, each smart power strip 10 is assigned an IP (Internet Protocol) address, and the central control terminal 20 exchanges various information with each smart power strip 10 based on this IP address. For example, the central control terminal 20 uses the PLC network 3 to transmit various information such as the power consumption of the appliances connected to each smart power strip 10 and data from various sensors provided in the smart power strip 10 described later. And receiving identification information for identifying the electrical appliance connected to each smart power strip 10. Then, the received identification information and various types of information such as power consumption are stored in association with each other.

  The central control terminal 20 transmits various stored information to a server 30 described later, and receives a control signal and the like from the server 30 for suppressing power consumption in a home, a company office, or the like. .

  Further, the central control terminal 20 transmits an IR sensor control signal for controlling the operation of an electrical appliance having an IR (Infrared) sensor function connected to the smart power strip 10 (for example, power ON / OFF control) to the PLC. It transmits to the smart power strip 10 via the network 3.

  The server 30 is provided in an external place different from, for example, a home or company office, and collects various types of information such as power consumption from the central control terminal 20 in each home or company office. And based on the collected information, the future (for example, after 1 hour) prediction of the power consumption in the future, and if necessary, transmit a control signal or the like for suppressing the power usage to each central control terminal 20, Control overall power usage.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the smart power strip 10 includes a PLC communication unit 11, an IR sensor unit 12, a power measurement unit 13, an ID (IDentification) setting unit 14, a sensor connection unit 15, and a GUI (Graphical User Interface) display unit 16. The memory unit 17 and a central control unit 18 for controlling each unit are provided.

  The PLC communication unit 11 is connected to the PLC network 3 and communicates with other smart power taps 10 and the central control terminal 20 using a predetermined protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). .

  The IR sensor unit 12 receives an IR sensor control signal for controlling the operation of the electrical appliances 110, 210, 310 from the smart power tap 10 via the PLC communication unit 11 connected to the PLC network 3, and the received IR The sensor control signal is converted to an IR control signal corresponding to the electrical appliance connected to the smart power strip 10 and transmitted to the electrical appliance connected to the smart power strip 10. As the operation control of the electrical appliance, the power supply can be turned on / off mainly. For example, when the electrical appliance connected to the smart power tap 10 is an air conditioner, the power supply is turned on / off other than the power on / off. Also, temperature adjustments and reservations can be made. In addition, for example, when the electric appliance is a television set, a power source timer can be set, and when the electric appliance is a lighting device such as an electric light, brightness adjustment can be performed.

  Here, the IR sensor unit 12 has a learning function and uses an electric appliance remote controller connected to the smart power strip 10 to perform an operation that can be remotely operated, and an IR control signal corresponding to each operation. You can learn and save.

  The power measuring unit 13 measures the power usage of the electrical appliance connected to the smart power strip 10 and stores the obtained power usage in the memory unit 17 described later. In addition, the power measurement unit 13 transmits the power usage obtained by the measurement to a device designated in advance such as the central control terminal 20 via the PLC communication unit 11 every predetermined time.

  The ID setting unit 14 sets an ID (identification information) for identifying the type or type of the electrical appliance connected to the smart power strip 10, and stores the set electrical appliance identification information in the memory unit 17. At the same time, the data is transmitted to the designated device via the PLC communication unit 11. Identification information can be set using a DIP (Dual In-line Package) switch or the like. For example, identification of connected electrical appliances can be performed by a combination of ON / OFF of a plurality of switches provided in the DIP switch. Information can be set.

  The sensor connection unit 15 is connected to various sensors for detecting an external state such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a brightness sensor, and a vibration sensor provided outside, and acquires sensor information measured by these sensors. Then, the acquired sensor information is stored in the memory unit 17 and transmitted to the designated device via the PLC communication unit 11 every predetermined time.

  The GUI display unit 16 stores and displays basic setting information such as an IP address in the smart power strip 10. The memory unit 17 stores various types of information such as the power usage measured by the power measurement unit 13, sensor information acquired by the sensor connection unit 15, and setting information set by the GUI display unit 16.

  Next, the external appearance of the smart power strip 10 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the smart power strip 10 is provided with an outlet connection portion 19 for connecting to the wall-side outlet 50, and an unillustrated device connection portion for connecting an electrical appliance plug.

  Further, the smart power strip 10 is connected to an IR sensor unit 12 for transmitting an IR sensor control signal to the connected electrical appliance, an ID setting unit 14 for setting an ID, and various external sensors. And a sensor connection unit 15 is provided.

  3 shows the smart power strip 10 that can be applied to an electrical appliance that is normally used with a plug connected to the wall outlet 50, the present invention is not limited to this. Can also be applied to lighting fixtures having different bases.

  For example, when the smart power strip 10 is applied to a fluorescent lamp, a smart power strip 10A shown in FIG. 4 is used. In this example, the fluorescent lamp 60 is connected to the smart power strip 10A. The smart power strip 10 </ b> A is provided with a fluorescent lamp connecting portion (not shown) for connecting to the base of the fluorescent lamp 60, and a base 19 </ b> A for connecting a socket for connecting the fluorescent lamp 60. Similarly to the smart power tap 10, the smart power tap 10 </ b> A is provided with an IR sensor unit 12, an ID setting unit 14, and a sensor connection unit 15.

  For example, when the smart power strip 10 is applied to an incandescent light bulb, a smart power strip 10B shown in FIG. 5 is used. In this example, an incandescent bulb 70 is connected to the smart power strip 10B. The smart power tap 10 </ b> B is provided with a not-shown light bulb connecting portion for connecting to the base of the incandescent light bulb 70, and a base 19 </ b> B for connecting to a socket for connecting the incandescent light bulb 70. Similarly to the smart power strips 10 and 10A, the smart power strip 10B is provided with an IR sensor unit 12, an ID setting unit 14, and a sensor connection unit 15.

  Next, the operation of the private smart grid system 1 having the above configuration will be described.

  First, the case where the electric power consumption in this private smart grid system 1 is managed is demonstrated. Prior to managing the power consumption, an electrical appliance is connected to the smart power strip 10, and the ID of the connected electrical appliance is set by an operation on the ID setting unit 14 of the smart power strip 10.

  The smart power strip 10 measures the power consumption of the electrical appliance connected by the power measurement unit 13 and sends the measured power usage and the set ID to the central control terminal 20 via the PLC communication unit 11. Send.

  Next, the central control terminal 20 stores and manages the power usage amount and ID received from the smart power tap 10 in association with each other. Further, the central control terminal 20 transmits the stored power usage amount in each smart power tap 10 to the server 30 via the Internet 40.

  The server 30 predicts future power usage based on the power usage received from the central control terminal 20. Then, based on the predicted power usage, a control signal or the like for suppressing the power usage is transmitted to the central control terminal 20 via the Internet 40 as necessary.

  Next, the case where the electrical appliance connected to the smart power strip 10 is remotely controlled will be described.

  The central control terminal 20 transmits an IR sensor control signal for causing the electrical appliance connected to the smart power strip 10 to execute a predetermined operation to the smart power strip 10 via the PLC network 3.

  The smart power strip 10 receives the IR sensor control signal via the IR sensor unit 12, converts the received IR sensor control signal into an IR control signal corresponding to the electrical appliance connected to the smart power strip 10, and is connected. To the IR receiver of the electrical appliance.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the smart power strip connected to the PLC network and capable of measuring the power consumption of the electrical appliance, and the power usage of the electrical appliance from the smart power strip connected to the PLC network. By providing a central control terminal that receives the amount, it is possible to monitor the amount of power used in the appliance connected to the smart power strip.

  In addition, since the smart power strip includes the IR sensor unit, it is possible to remotely control the appliance based on the IR sensor control signal received from the central control terminal.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments of the present invention, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the smart power tap 10 </ b> B has been described as being applied to an incandescent bulb, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to an LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulb.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Private smart grid system 2 Power line 3 PLC network 10, 10A, 10B Smart power tap 11 PLC communication part 12 IR sensor part 13 Power measurement part 14 ID setting part 15 Sensor connection part 16 GUI display part 17 Memory part 18 Central control part 19 Outlet connection part 19A, 19B Base 20 Central control terminal 30 Server 40 Internet 50 Wall side outlet 60 Fluorescent lamp 70 Incandescent light bulb 100 Room 110 Electrical appliance 200 Kitchen 210 Electrical appliance 300 Living 310 Electrical appliance

Claims (5)

A private smart grid system for managing power usage in devices not having communication functions and controlling the devices,
A smart power strip connected to the PLC network and connected to a device that does not have a communication function to measure the power consumption of the device and control the operation of the device;
A central control terminal connected to the PLC network and managing the power usage of the device measured by the smart power strip;
A server for predicting the power usage based on the power usage managed by the central control terminal,
The smart power strip is
A communication unit that communicates with the central control terminal via the PLC network;
A power measuring unit that measures the power consumption of the connected device every predetermined time; and
Based on the IR sensor control signal for controlling the operation of the device received from the central control terminal via the communication unit, the IR control signal for controlling the operation of the device corresponding to the connected device An IR sensor unit for transmitting to the device,
The private smart grid system, wherein the measured power usage is transmitted to the central control terminal via the communication unit. The smart power strip is
An ID setting unit for setting identification information for identifying the type of the connected device;
Transmitting the set identification information together with the measured power usage to the central control terminal via the communication unit;
The private smart grid system according to claim 1, wherein the central control terminal stores the identification information and the measured power usage in association with each other. The smart power strip is
It further has a sensor connection part for connecting a sensor for detecting an external state every predetermined time,
The private smart grid system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information indicating an external state detected by the sensor is transmitted to the central control terminal via the communication unit.   4. The private smart grid system according to claim 1, wherein the IR sensor unit learns an operation that allows remote operation of the connected device. 5. A smart power strip connected to a PLC network and connected to a device that does not have a communication function to measure the power usage of the device and control the operation of the device,
A communication unit that communicates with an external control device via the PLC network;
A power measuring unit that measures the power consumption of the connected device every predetermined time; and
An IR control signal for controlling the operation of the device corresponding to the connected device based on an IR sensor control signal for controlling the operation of the device received from the external control device via the communication unit. An IR sensor unit for transmitting to the device,
The smart power strip, wherein the measured power consumption is transmitted to the external control device via the communication unit.

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