JP2019213435A - Master unit, system, and slave unit - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a master unit, a system and a slave unit which allow for utilization of a system, even when the number of units to be connected exceeds the power supply capability of the system.SOLUTION: A master unit comprises: a power supply part 280 for supplying power to multiple slave units; an acquisition unit 210 for acquiring operation information including the operation time of each slave unit and power consumption thereof during operation time from each of the multiple slave units; an adjustment part 240 for adjusting the operation timing each of the multiple slave units, so that the total power consumption of the multiple slave units does not exceed the upper limit of power capable of being supplied from the power supply part, on the basis of the operation information; and a transmission section (communication unit) 220 for transmitting information, indicating operation timing each of the multiple slave units adjusted by the adjustment part, to respective slave units.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a master device, a system, and a slave device.

A technique relating to power supply in a connected measuring device including a master unit and two or more measuring units is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-148874

  It is desirable that the system can be operated even when the number of connected units exceeds the power supply capacity of the system. It is also desirable to reduce the power consumption of the system.

  In a first aspect, a master device is provided. The master device includes a power supply unit that supplies power to the plurality of slave devices. The master device may include an acquisition unit that acquires operation information including information indicating an operation time of each slave device and power consumption during operation of each slave device from each of the plurality of slave devices. Based on the operation information, the master device includes an adjustment unit that adjusts the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices so that the total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices does not exceed the upper limit of power that can be supplied from the power supply unit. You may be prepared. The master device may include a transmission unit that transmits information indicating the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices adjusted by the adjustment unit to each slave device.

  The operation information may include information indicating each operation cycle of the plurality of slave devices. The adjustment unit includes a plurality of slave devices so that the total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices does not exceed the upper limit of power that can be supplied from the power supply unit, and each of the plurality of slave devices can operate periodically in each operation cycle. The operation timing of each slave device may be adjusted.

  The operation information may further include information indicating the amount of data transmitted between each slave device and the master device when a plurality of slave devices operate. Based on the operation information, the adjustment unit is configured so that the total amount of data transmitted between the plurality of slave devices and the master device does not exceed the upper limit of the amount of data that the master device can communicate with the plurality of slave devices. The operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices may be adjusted.

  The master device may further include an output unit that outputs warning information including information indicating a slave device whose operation timing cannot be determined by adjustment by the adjustment unit.

  The operation information may further include information indicating the priority of each of the plurality of slave devices. Based on the information indicating the priority included in the operation information, the adjustment unit prioritizes the operation timing of the slave device with the higher priority among the plurality of slave devices over the operation timing of the slave device with the lower priority. You may decide.

  The operation information may further include information indicating the operation cycle of each of the plurality of slave devices. When there is a slave device that cannot determine the operation timing of the operation cycle that matches the operation cycle indicated by the operation information by adjustment by the adjustment unit, the adjustment unit increases the operation cycle of the slave device having a lower priority. Thus, the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices may be adjusted so that the total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices does not exceed the upper limit of the power that can be supplied from the power supply unit.

  The operation information may further include information indicating an allowable range of each operation cycle of the plurality of slave devices. If there is a slave device that cannot determine the operation timing of the operation cycle that matches the operation cycle indicated by the operation information by the adjustment by the adjustment unit, the adjustment unit has a predetermined priority among the plurality of slave devices. By adjusting the operation cycle of the lower slave device within the allowable range of the operation cycle of the slave device, so that the total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices does not exceed the upper limit of power that can be supplied from the power supply unit, The operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices may be adjusted.

  Each of the plurality of slave devices may have a real-time clock that counts the time for each slave device to start an operation at an instructed operation timing. The master device may further include a real-time clock that measures the time at which the times of the real-time clocks possessed by each of the plurality of slave devices are synchronized.

  The master device transmits a synchronization signal for synchronizing the time of the real-time clock included in the master device and the time of the real-time clock included in each of the plurality of slave devices to the plurality of slave devices at a predetermined cycle. A transmission unit may be further provided.

  When the acquisition unit acquires the operation information from the new slave device, the adjustment unit displays the operation information of the new slave device received from the new slave device and the plurality of slaves transmitted from the transmission unit to the plurality of slave devices. The operation timing of the new slave device may be determined based on the operation timing of each device and the operation information of each of the plurality of slave devices.

  In a second aspect, a system is provided. The system may include the master device described above. The system may include the slave device described above.

  In a third aspect, a slave device is provided. The slave device operates with power supplied from the master device. The slave device may include a transmission unit that transmits operation information including information indicating an operation time during which the slave device performs a predetermined operation and power consumption when the slave device performs the predetermined operation. The slave device may include a receiving unit that receives information indicating the operation timing determined by the master device from the master device. The slave device may include a slave device control unit that is activated at an operation timing determined by the master device and causes the slave device to execute the predetermined operation during the operation time.

  The summary of the invention does not enumerate all the features of the present invention. In addition, a sub-combination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

1 schematically shows an overall configuration of a system 10 according to an embodiment. The functional block of the master apparatus 40 is shown notionally. The functional block of the slave apparatus 30 is shown notionally. The operation timing when only the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, and the slave device 30e are connected to the master device 40 is shown. The case where the slave apparatus 30c is newly connected to the master apparatus 40 is shown. A case where the slave device 30d is newly connected to the master device 40 is shown. Another example when the slave device 30d is newly connected to the master device 40 is shown.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solving means of the invention.

  FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the overall configuration of a system 10 according to an embodiment. The system 10 includes a master device 40, a slave device 30a, a slave device 30b, a slave device 30c, a slave device 30d, a slave device 30e, and a connection cable 100. The master device 40 manages the entire system 10. The slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, the slave device 30c, the slave device 30d, and the slave device 30e are, for example, so-called IoT devices.

  The slave device 30a operates with power supplied from the master device 40. Specifically, the slave device 30 a operates with power supplied from the slave device 30 through the power supply line in the connection cable 100. The slave device 30a does not have a self power supply. The slave device 30a starts at the operation timing instructed from the master device 40, stops operating after operating for a predetermined operation time.

  As an example, the slave device 30a is a camera. The slave device 30a is activated at an operation timing instructed by the master device 40, performs a photographing operation over a predetermined photographing time, transmits photographing data to the master device 40, and then stops the operation.

  The slave device 30b, the slave device 30c, and the slave device 30d are sensors, for example. The slave device 30b, the slave device 30c, and the slave device 30d are sensors such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and an illuminance sensor. The slave device 30e is a storage device having a data storage function.

  The slave device 30b, the slave device 30c, the slave device 30d, and the slave device 30e operate with power supplied from the slave device 30 through the power supply line of the connection cable 100, similarly to the slave device 30a. The slave device 30b, the slave device 30c, the slave device 30d, and the slave device 30e do not have a self-power supply like the slave device 30a. Similarly to the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, the slave device 30c, the slave device 30d, and the slave device 30e are activated at the operation timing instructed from the master device 40 and perform operations for a predetermined operation time. Stop the operation. As described above, the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, the slave device 30c, the slave device 30d, and the slave device 30e have the same function as the slave device with respect to the master device 40 except that the contents of the operations are different. For this reason, the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, the slave device 30c, the slave device 30d, and the slave device 30e may be collectively referred to as the slave device 30 unless otherwise specifically distinguished.

  The slave device 30 is detachable from the master device 40. For example, the slave device 30 can be attached to and detached from the master device 40 in accordance with the insertion / extraction of the connection cable 100.

  Each of the slave devices 30 performs a predetermined operation over a predetermined operation time at a predetermined operation cycle. For example, the slave device 30b measures the temperature or the like over a predetermined measurement time, transmits the temperature data to the master device 40, and then stops the operation. The slave device 30b repeats the measurement of the temperature or the like performed over a predetermined operation time at a predetermined operation cycle.

  When the slave device 30 is connected to the master device 40 through the connection cable 100, the slave device 30 transmits information indicating the operation cycle, operation time, and power consumption of the slave device 30 to the master device 40 through the data communication bus in the connection cable 100. . Based on the operation cycle, operation time, and power consumption received from the slave device 30, the master device 40 does not exceed the upper limit of the power that can be supplied from the master device 40. As described above, the operation timing of the slave device 30 is adjusted, and information indicating the operation timing is transmitted to the slave device 30. The slave device 30 is activated when the time indicated by the operation timing instructed by the master device 40 is reached, performs a predetermined operation over a predetermined operation time, and then stops the operation. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the total power consumption of the slave device 30 from exceeding the upper limit of the power that can be supplied from the master device 40. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the entire system from being stopped due to power shortage.

  FIG. 2 conceptually shows functional blocks of the master device 40. Master device 40 includes a real-time clock 270, a battery 272, a master device control unit 200, a power supply unit 280, and an output unit 290. The master device control unit 200 includes an acquisition unit 210, a communication unit 220, a synchronization signal transmission unit 230, and an adjustment unit 240.

  The communication unit 220 is connected to the data communication bus 110 of the connection cable 100. The synchronization signal transmission unit 230 is connected to the synchronization signal transmission line 120 of the connection cable 100. The power supply unit 280 is connected to the power supply line 130 of the connection cable 100.

  The power supply unit 280 supplies power to the plurality of slave devices 30. The power supply unit 280 generates power to be supplied to the plurality of slave devices 30 using power supplied from a commercial power source. There is an upper limit to the power that can be supplied to the slave device 30 by the power supply unit 280.

  The communication unit 220 communicates with the slave device 30 through the data communication bus 110. The communication unit 220 receives operation information transmitted from the slave device 30 through the data communication bus 110. The operation information includes information indicating the operation time of the slave device 30 and the power consumption during the operation of the slave device 30. The operation information received by the communication unit 220 is supplied to the acquisition unit 210.

  The acquisition unit 210 acquires operation information of each of the plurality of slave devices 30. As described above, the acquisition unit 210 acquires the operation information of each slave device 30 from each of the plurality of slave devices 30 through the communication unit 220. Based on the operation information acquired by the acquisition unit 210, the adjustment unit 240 prevents the total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices 30 from exceeding the upper limit of power that can be supplied from the power supply unit 280. Adjust each operation timing. The communication unit 220 transmits information indicating the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices 30 adjusted by the adjustment unit 240 to each slave device 30. The operation timing is an example of a transmission unit that transmits information indicating the operation timing to the slave device 30, for example, the communication unit 220 indicating the timing at which the slave device 30 is activated.

  The operation information may include information indicating each operation cycle of the plurality of slave devices 30. The adjustment unit 240 allows the total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices 30 not to exceed the upper limit of the power that can be supplied from the power supply unit 280, and each of the plurality of slave devices 30 can operate periodically in each operation cycle. As described above, the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices 30 may be adjusted.

  The operation information may further include information indicating the amount of data transmitted from each slave device 30 to the master device 40 when the plurality of slave devices 30 operate. Based on the operation information, the adjustment unit 240 determines that the total amount of data transmitted between the plurality of slave devices 30 and the master device 40 is the upper limit of the amount of data that the master device 40 can communicate with the plurality of slave devices 30. You may adjust each operation | movement timing of the some slave apparatus 30 so that it may not exceed.

  The output unit 290 outputs warning information including information indicating the slave device 30 whose operation timing cannot be determined by adjustment by the adjustment unit 240. For example, the output unit 290 may be a small monitor provided in the master device 40. The output unit 290 may display characters indicating the slave device 30 whose operation timing could not be determined. The character indicating the slave device 30 may be included in the operation information and transmitted from the slave device 30 to the master device 40.

  The operation information may include information indicating the priority of each of the plurality of slave devices 30. Based on the information indicating the priority included in the operation information, the adjustment unit 240 sets the operation timing of the slave device 30 having a higher priority among the plurality of slave devices 30 to the operation of the slave device 30 having the lower priority. It may be determined with priority over timing.

  The operation information may include information indicating each operation cycle of the plurality of slave devices 30. When there is a slave device 30 that cannot determine the operation timing of the operation cycle that matches the operation cycle indicated by the operation information by the adjustment by the adjustment unit 240, the adjustment unit 240 determines the operation cycle of the slave device 30 with the lower priority. By making it lower, the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices 30 may be adjusted so that the total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices 30 does not exceed the upper limit of power that can be supplied from the power supply unit 280.

  The operation information may include information indicating an allowable range of each operation cycle of the plurality of slave devices 30. When there is a slave device 30 that cannot determine the operation timing of the operation cycle that matches the operation cycle indicated by the operation information due to the adjustment by the adjustment unit 240, the adjustment unit 240 determines the priority in advance among the plurality of slave devices 30. The power that can be supplied from the power supply unit 280 by adjusting the operation cycle of the slave device 30 lower than the given priority within the allowable range of the operation cycle of the slave device 30 The operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices 30 may be adjusted so as not to exceed the upper limit.

  The real time clock 270 measures the time in the master device 40. Real time clock 270 is driven by battery 272. The real-time clock 270 is driven by the power supplied from the battery 272 and holds time information even when the power of the master device 40 is turned off.

  As will be described later, each of the plurality of slave devices 30 has a real-time clock 370 that measures the time for each slave device 30 to start an operation at an instructed operation timing. The time of the real time clock 370 of the slave device 30 is synchronized with the time of the real time clock 270. That is, the real-time clock 270 provided in the master device 40 measures the time at which the times of the real-time clocks 370 of the plurality of slave devices 30 are synchronized.

  The synchronization signal transmission unit 230 generates a plurality of synchronization signals for synchronizing the time of the real time clock 270 included in the master device 40 and the time of the real time clock 370 included in each of the plurality of slave devices 30 at a predetermined cycle. Output to the slave device 30. In the real-time clock, a time shift may occur due to an individual error of the crystal resonator. In order to correct the time shift, the synchronization signal transmission unit 230 outputs a synchronization signal to the slave device 30 at a predetermined cycle.

  The synchronization signal is transmitted to the slave device 30 through the synchronization signal transmission line 120. The synchronization signal indicates a specific date and time measured by the master device 40, for example. When the slave device 30 detects the synchronization signal through the synchronization signal transmission line 120, the slave device 30 sets the time information of the real-time clock 370 to a specific date and time. Thereby, the time of the real-time clock 370 of the plurality of slave devices 30 can be synchronized with the time of the real-time clock 270. Therefore, the slave device 30 can be activated at the correct operation timing determined by the master device 40.

  When the acquisition unit 210 acquires operation information from the new slave device 30, the adjustment unit 240 receives the operation information of the new slave device 30 received from the new slave device 30 and the plurality of slave devices 30 from the communication unit 220. The operation timing of the new slave device 30 is determined based on the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices 30 and the operation information of each of the plurality of slave devices 30 transmitted to. Thus, even when a new slave device 30 is added to the system, the operation timing can be adjusted so that the total power consumption of the slave device 30 does not exceed the upper limit of power that can be supplied from the power supply unit 280.

  FIG. 3 conceptually shows functional blocks of the slave device 30. The slave device 30 includes a slave device control unit 300, a communication control unit 320, a real time clock 370, a power supply control unit 330, a power supply circuit 380, an operation unit 390, a communication power supply path 322, a battery 372, Is provided.

  The operation unit 390 is a functional block that performs a unique operation of the slave device 30. For example, in the slave device 30a, the operation unit 390 performs an operation related to the photographing function. In the slave device 30b, the slave device 30c, and the slave device 30d, the operation unit 390 performs an operation related to the measurement function. In the slave device 30e, the operation unit 390 performs an operation related to the data storage function. Here, a detailed description of the operation of the operation unit 390 is omitted, and a function as a slave device that is a common function of each slave device 30 will be described.

  The real-time clock 370 measures the time for the slave device 30 to start operation at the instructed operation timing. Real time clock 370 may be driven by battery 372. The real-time clock 370 is driven by the power supplied from the battery 372 and holds time information even when the power of the slave device 30 is off, that is, when the power is not supplied from the power supply circuit 380.

  As described above, the master device 40 outputs a synchronization signal to the synchronization signal transmission line 120. When the communication control unit 320 detects the synchronization signal on the synchronization signal transmission line 120, the communication control unit 320 sets the time of the real-time clock 270 to a specific date and time. Thereby, time can be synchronized between the master device 40 and the slave device 30.

  The communication control unit 320 can operate with relatively low power. For example, the power consumption of the communication control unit 320 is lower than the power consumption of the slave device control unit 300.

  When the connection cable 100 is connected to the slave device 30, the power supply circuit 380 is connected to the power supply line 130. The power supply circuit 380 uses the power supplied from the power supply line 130 to generate power supplied to each unit of the slave device 30. When the power supply circuit 380 is connected to the power supply line 130, the power supply circuit 380 generates power that can operate at least the communication control unit 320. The power generated by the power supply circuit 380 is supplied to the communication control unit 320 through the communication power supply path 322. As a result, only the communication control unit 320 is activated in the slave device 30, and the communication control unit 320 can communicate with the master device 40 through the data communication bus 110.

  The communication control unit 320 transmits operation information of the slave device 30 when communication with the master device 40 becomes possible. The operation information may be stored in a nonvolatile memory included in the communication control unit 320. The operation information includes an operation time in which the slave device 30 performs a predetermined operation, an operation cycle in which the predetermined operation is performed, power consumption when the slave device 30 performs a predetermined operation, and the slave device 30 operates. Data amount transmitted between the slave device 30 and the master device 40, the priority of the slave device 30, identification information of the slave device 30, character information indicating the slave device 30, and the like. As described above, the operation information may include information indicating the allowable range of the operation cycle of the slave device 30.

  As described above, the master device 40 transmits information indicating the operation timing determined based on the operation information received from the slave device 30 to the slave device 30. Further, the master device 40 transmits time information measured by the real time clock 270 to the slave device 30.

  As a result, the communication control unit 320 receives information indicating the operation timing determined by the master device 40 from the master device 40. Further, the communication control unit 320 receives time information that is timed by the real-time clock 270 of the master device 40.

  The communication control unit 320 sets the time information of the real time clock 370 in the time information received from the master device 40. Further, the communication control unit 320 sets the alarm time of the real-time clock 370 to the operation start time so that a trigger signal is generated from the real-time clock 370 at the operation start time determined from the operation timing received from the master device 40. The communication control unit 320 stops the operation when the alarm time is set. As a result, the slave device 30 enters a state in which the power supply circuit 380 does not substantially acquire power from the power supply line 130.

  The real time clock 370 outputs a trigger signal to the power supply control unit 330, the slave device control unit 300, and the communication control unit 320 when the time counted by the real time clock 370 becomes an alarm time. When a trigger signal from the real-time clock 370 is input to the power supply control unit 330, the power supply control unit 330 controls the power supply circuit 380 so that power for operating each unit of the slave device 30 including the power supply circuit 380 can be generated. As a result, the slave device control unit 300 becomes operable, and the slave device control unit 300 is activated in accordance with the trigger signal and enters an operating state. Further, the communication control unit 320 is activated in response to a trigger signal from the real time clock 370 and enters an operating state.

  When the slave device control unit 300 is activated, the slave device control unit 300 controls the operation unit 390 to execute a specific operation of the slave device 30. When the operation time defined by the operation information elapses after activation, the slave device control unit 300 stops the operation of the operation unit 390 and stops operating itself. Similarly, the communication control unit 320 stops operation when the operation time determined by the operation information has elapsed after activation. Thereby, the slave apparatus 30 will be in the stop state which does not consume electric power substantially.

  As described above, the slave device control unit 300 causes a predetermined operation to be executed according to the information indicating the operation timing determined by the master device 40 and the operation time. The slave device control unit 300 is activated when power is supplied at the operation start time indicated by the operation timing, and stops operation when the operation time has elapsed since the activation.

  As described above, the master device 40 adjusts the operation timing of the slave device 30 so that the slave device 30 can operate within the range of power supply capability that the master device 40 can supply to the slave device 30. To do. As a result, the number of slave devices 30 operating simultaneously can be prevented from exceeding the power supply capability of the master device 40. Therefore, the possibility that the system stops can be suppressed. Further, since the slave device 30 does not substantially acquire power from the power supply line 130 in the stopped state, the power consumption of the entire system can be reduced.

  FIG. 4 shows the operation timing when only the slave device 30 a, the slave device 30 b, and the slave device 30 e are connected to the master device 40. Here, it is assumed that the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, and the slave device 30e operate intermittently with a period T.

  When the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, and the slave device 30e are connected to the master device 40 through the connection cable 100, the adjustment unit 240 is based on the operation information of each of the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, and the slave device 30e. Thus, the operation timing is adjusted so that the slave device 30a operates from time t0 to time t2a, the slave device 30b operates from time t2a to time t2b, and the slave device 30e operates from time t0e to time t2e. For example, the time t2a is a time after the operation time of the slave device 30a from the time t0. The time t2b is a time after the operation time of the slave device 30b from the time t2a. The time t2e is a time after the operation time of the slave device 30e from the time t0e.

  The communication unit 220 transmits the time t0, the time t2a, and the time t0e as operation timings to the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, and the slave device 30e, respectively. Thereby, as described above, in the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, and the slave device 30e, a trigger is output from the real-time clock 370 at time t0, time t2a, and time t0e, and the slave device control unit 300 is activated. Then, the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, and the slave device 30e operate.

  In FIG. 4, the upper limit of the power that the master device 40 can supply to the slave device 30 is indicated by Pmx. By distributing the operation timings of the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, and the slave device 30e, it is possible to prevent the total power consumption of the slave device 30 from exceeding Pmx over the entire period T.

  In FIG. 4, the upper limit of the amount of data that can be transmitted between the master device 40 and the slave device 30 is indicated by Dmx. By distributing the operation timings of the slave device 30a, the slave device 30b, and the slave device 30e, the total amount of data transmitted between the master device 40 and the slave device 30 exceeds Dmx over the entire period T. Can be avoided.

  The operation information from the slave device 30a is transmitted from the slave device 30a, the power consumption of the slave device 30a, the operation time of the slave device 30a, the data transmission period from the slave device 30a to the master device 40 within the operation time. The data amount Da and the information indicating the operation cycle T are included. In FIG. 4, a period between time t1a and time t2a indicates a period in which the slave device 30a transmits data to the master device 40.

  Similarly, the operation information from the slave device 30b includes the power consumption of the slave device 30b, the amount of data Db transmitted from the slave device 30b, the operation time of the slave device 30b, and the slave device 30b to the master device 40 within the operation time. Information indicating the data transmission period, the data amount Db transmitted from the slave device 30a, and the operation period T are included. In FIG. 4, a period between time t1b and time t2b indicates a period during which the slave device 30b transmits data to the master device 40.

  Similarly, the operation information from the slave device 30e includes the power consumption of the slave device 30e, the operation time of the slave device 30e, the data transmission period to the slave device 30e within the operation time, and the amount of data that can be transmitted to the slave device 30e. Information indicating De and the operation period T is included. In FIG. 4, a period between time t0e and time t2e indicates a period in which the slave device 30e receives data from the master device 40.

  The adjustment unit 240 adjusts the operation timing of the slave device 30 based on Dmx and the number of data communication buses 110 so that the amount of data transmitted between the slave device 30 and the master device 40 does not exceed the data capacity. To do. If the number of data communication buses 110 is 1, a plurality of slave devices 30 cannot communicate with the master device 40 at the same time. Therefore, when the number of buses of the data communication bus 110 is 1, the adjustment unit 240 determines the operation timing of the slave device 30 based on the operation information so that the periods during which each slave device 30 transmits or receives data do not overlap. adjust.

  In the master device 40, the master device control unit 200 processes data transmitted from the master device 40a, the master device 40b, and the master device 40c during the period T, and transmits the processed data to the slave device 30e. For example, the master device control unit 200 compresses and holds the RAW image data transmitted from the slave device 30a, and transmits the compressed RAW image data to the slave device 30e at the operation timing of the slave device 30e. Similarly, the master device control unit 200 performs and holds predetermined data processing such as thinning processing and correction processing on the measurement data transmitted from the slave device 30b, and at the operation timing of the slave device 30e, The data processed data is transmitted to the slave device 30e.

  FIG. 5 shows a case where the slave device 30 c is newly connected to the master device 40. When the slave device 30c is connected to the master device 40, the operation information of the slave device 30c is transmitted to the master device 40. The adjustment unit 240 determines the operation timing of the master device 40c based on the operation information of the slave device 30c. The operation information includes the power consumption of the slave device 30c, the operation time of the slave device 30c, the data transmission period (t1c to t2c) to the master device 40 within the operation time, the amount of data Dc transmitted to the master device 40, and the operation Includes period T.

  The adjustment unit 240 operates the slave device 30c between the time t2b and the time t1e because the operation time of the slave device 30c is shorter than the period between the time t2b and the time t1e in which no slave device 30 operates. Judge that you can. Thereby, the adjustment unit 240 determines to operate the slave device 30c from time t2b. Then, the communication unit 220 transmits time t2b to the slave device 30c as the operation timing of the slave device 30c. Since the operation timing of the other slave devices 30 is not changed, the communication unit 220 transmits the operation timing only to the slave device 30c. As described above, the adjustment unit 240 determines the operation timing of the slave device 30 so that the operation of the slave device 30c starts after the operation end time of the slave device 30 so that the operation times of the plurality of slave devices 30 do not overlap. You can do it.

  FIG. 6 shows a case where the slave device 30 d is newly connected to the master device 40. When the slave device 30d is connected to the master device 40, the operation information of the slave device 30d is transmitted to the master device 40. The adjustment unit 240 determines the operation timing of the master device 40d based on the operation information of the slave device 30d. The operation information includes the power consumption of the slave device 30d, the operation time of the slave device 30d, the data transmission period (t1d to t2d) to the master device 40 within the operation time, the data amount Dd transmitted to the master device 40, and the operation Information indicating the period T is included.

  The adjustment unit 240 determines that the operation time of the slave device 30d overlaps with the operation period of any one of the slave devices 30 because the operation time of the slave device 30d is longer than the period between the time t2c and the time t1e when none of the slave devices 30 operate. The adjustment unit 240 determines the operation timing of the slave device 30d so that the total value of power consumption does not exceed Pmx. In addition, the adjustment unit 240 determines the operation timing of the slave device 30d so that the total amount of data transmitted to and from the slave device 30 does not exceed Dmx. In addition, the adjustment unit 240 determines the operation timing of the slave device 30d so that the number of slave devices 30 that simultaneously transmit data to and from the master device 40 does not exceed the number of transmission data communication buses 110.

  The shaded area in FIG. 6 indicates the total power consumption when the operation timing of the slave device 30d is overlapped with the operation timing of the slave device 30a. Thus, even if the operation timing of the slave device 30d is overlapped with the operation timing of the slave device 30a, the total power consumption does not exceed Pmx. The total amount of data transmitted to the master device 40 does not exceed Dmx. Further, the data transmission period of the slave device 30d does not overlap with the data transmission period of the slave device 30a. Therefore, the adjustment unit 240 determines that the slave device 30d can be operated from time t0, which is the operation start time of the slave device 30a, and determines to operate the slave device 30d from time t0. Then, the communication unit 220 transmits time t0 to the slave device 30d as the operation timing of the slave device 30d. Since the operation timing of the other slave devices 30 is not changed, the communication unit 220 transmits the operation timing only to the slave device 30d.

  FIG. 7 shows another example when the slave device 30 d is newly connected to the master device 40. Unlike the cases shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the slave device 30 a transmits shooting data to the master device 40 in parallel with the shooting operation. If the number of data communication buses 110 is 1, the slave device 30a and the slave device 30d cannot be operated in an overlapping manner as shown in FIG. Therefore, the adjustment unit 240 shifts the operation timing of the slave device 30d in time within the period T, and searches for an operation timing that does not overlap the data transmission period.

  The shaded area in FIG. 7 shows a state in which the operation timing of the slave device 30d is shifted so that the data transmission period of the slave device 30d starts following the data transmission period of the slave device 30a. Thus, by shifting the operation timing of the slave device 30d, the total power consumption does not exceed Pmx, the total data amount does not exceed Dmx, and the data transmission period of the slave device 30d and the data transmission of the slave device 30a Periods can be prevented from overlapping. Therefore, the adjustment unit 240 determines that the slave device 30d can be operated from time t0d in FIG. 7 and determines to operate the slave device 30d from time td0. Thereby, the communication unit 220 transmits the time td0 to the slave device 30d as the operation timing of the slave device 30d. Since the operation timing of the other slave devices 30 is not changed, the communication unit 220 transmits the operation timing only to the slave device 30d.

  With reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, the adjustment example of the operation timing of the slave device 30 has been described using an example that is relatively easy to adjust. However, for example, the slave device 30 whose operation timing has already been determined due to the connection of a new slave device 30 may require readjustment of the operation timing. In such a case, the adjustment unit 240 may appropriately determine an operation timing of all the slave devices 30 by appropriately adopting an appropriate algorithm. Then, the communication unit 220 may transmit the changed operation timing to the slave device 30 whose operation timing has changed.

  As described above, the priority of the slave device 30 may be included in the operation information. The adjustment unit 240 may be arranged so that the operation timings of the slave devices 30 are distributed within a cycle in descending order of priority. When the slave device 30 that cannot arrange the operation timing within the period is generated, the character information of the slave device 30 included in the operation information may be output to the output unit 290. When the allowable range of the operation cycle is included in the operation information, the operation cycle of the slave device 30 that cannot arrange the operation timing within the cycle may be extended within the allowable range. In addition, the communication unit 220 may transmit information instructing not to operate to the slave device 30 whose operation timing cannot be arranged within the cycle.

  As described above, in the system composed of the master device 40 and a plurality of slave devices 30 that can be attached to and detached from the master device 40, the slave device 30 operates only during the operation period permitted by the master device 40, In the other period, it will be in a stop state, and it will be in the state which does not consume the electric power from the master apparatus 40 substantially. Therefore, the master device 40 can operate the slave device 30 in the power that the master device 40 can supply to the slave device 30. Thereby, even if the number of slave devices 30 increases, it is possible to prevent the power supply capability of the master device 40 from being exceeded. For example, even if the total power consumption when the slave devices 30 operate simultaneously exceeds the power supply capability of the power supply unit 280, the operation timing is distributed so as not to exceed the power supply capability of the master device 40. Can do. Thereby, since it is not necessary to increase the power supply capability of the power supply unit 280 in the master device 40, an increase in cost of the master device 40 can be suppressed.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the description of the scope of claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The execution order of each process such as operation, procedure, step, and stage in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, the description, and the drawings is particularly “before” or “prior to”. It should be noted that the output can be realized in any order unless the output of the previous process is used in the subsequent process. Regarding the operation flow in the claims, the description, and the drawings, even if it is explained using “first”, “next”, etc. for convenience, it means that it is essential to carry out in this order. It is not a thing.

10 System 30 Slave device 40 Master device 100 Connection cable 110 Data communication bus 120 Synchronization signal transmission line 130 Power supply line 200 Master device control unit 210 Acquisition unit 220 Communication unit 230 Synchronization signal transmission unit 240 Adjustment unit 270 Real-time clock 272 Battery 280 Power supply Unit 290 output unit 300 slave device control unit 320 communication control unit 322 communication power supply path 330 power supply control unit 370 real time clock 372 battery 380 power supply circuit 390 operation unit

Claims (12)

A power supply unit for supplying power to a plurality of slave devices;
An acquisition unit that acquires operation information including information indicating the operation time of each slave device and the power consumption during operation of each slave device from each of the plurality of slave devices;
An adjustment unit that adjusts the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices based on the operation information so that a total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices does not exceed an upper limit of power that can be supplied from the power supply unit; ,
A master device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits information indicating the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices adjusted by the adjustment unit to each slave device. The operation information includes information indicating an operation cycle of each of the plurality of slave devices,
The adjustment unit is configured such that a total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices does not exceed an upper limit of power that can be supplied from the power supply unit, and each of the plurality of slave devices operates periodically in each operation cycle. The master device according to claim 1, wherein the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices is adjusted so as to be able to. The operation information further includes information indicating the amount of data transmitted between each slave device and the master device when the plurality of slave devices operate,
Based on the operation information, the adjustment unit is configured such that a total data amount transmitted between the plurality of slave devices and the master device is an upper limit of a data amount that the master device can communicate with the plurality of slave devices. The master device according to claim 1, wherein the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices is adjusted so as not to exceed. 4. The master device according to claim 1, further comprising: an output unit that outputs warning information including information indicating a slave device whose operation timing cannot be determined by adjustment by the adjustment unit. 5. The operation information further includes information indicating the priority of each of the plurality of slave devices,
Based on the information indicating the priority included in the operation information, the adjustment unit determines the operation timing of the slave device having a higher priority among the plurality of slave devices, and the operation of the slave device having the lower priority. The master device according to claim 4, wherein the master device is determined with priority over timing. The operation information further includes information indicating an operation cycle of each of the plurality of slave devices,
When there is a slave device that cannot determine the operation timing of the operation cycle that matches the operation cycle indicated by the operation information by the adjustment by the adjustment unit, the adjustment unit determines the operation cycle of the slave device having the lower priority. 6. The operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices is adjusted so that the total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices does not exceed an upper limit of power that can be supplied from the power supply unit by making the length longer. The master device described. The operation information further includes information indicating an allowable range of each operation cycle of the plurality of slave devices,
When there is a slave device that cannot determine the operation timing of the operation cycle that matches the operation cycle indicated by the operation information by adjustment by the adjustment unit, the adjustment unit has the priority set in advance among the plurality of slave devices. By adjusting the operation cycle of the slave device lower than the predetermined priority within the allowable range of the operation cycle of the slave device, the total power consumption of the plurality of slave devices can be supplied from the power supply unit. The master device according to claim 5, wherein the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices is adjusted so as not to exceed the upper limit. Each of the plurality of slave devices has a real-time clock that measures the time for each slave device to start operation at the instructed operation timing,
The master device is
The master device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a real-time clock that measures a time at which times of the real-time clocks included in each of the plurality of slave devices are synchronized. A synchronization signal for transmitting a synchronization signal for synchronizing the time of the real-time clock included in the master device and the time of the real-time clock included in each of the plurality of slave devices to the plurality of slave devices at a predetermined period. The master device according to claim 8, further comprising a transmission unit. When the acquisition unit acquires the operation information from a new slave device, the adjustment unit receives the operation information of the new slave device received from the new slave device, and the plurality of slave devices from the transmission unit. The operation timing of the new slave device is determined based on the operation timing of each of the plurality of slave devices and the operation information of each of the plurality of slave devices transmitted to the network. The master device according to one item. The master device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A system comprising the slave device. A slave device that operates with power supplied from a master device,
A transmission unit that transmits operation information including information indicating an operation time when the slave device performs a predetermined operation and power consumption when the slave device performs the predetermined operation;
A receiver that receives information indicating the operation timing determined by the master device from the master device;
A slave device comprising: a slave device controller that is activated at an operation timing determined by the master device and causes the slave device to execute the predetermined operation during the operation time.

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