JP2023082529A - blind device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a blind device that enables individual control of a slat group including two or more slats while improving the efficiency of PV cell power generation power extraction.SOLUTION: A blind device includes: two or more slats in which solar cells are arranged; and a communication unit that executes communication with a control unit that controls the two or more slats. The two or more slats are classified as one of two or more first slat groups which are a group of slats having the solar cells electrically connected in series or parallel, and are classified as one of two or more second slat groups which are a group of slats controllable by the control unit. Each of the two or more first slat groups is included in one of the two or more second slat groups without crossing a boundary of the two or more second slat groups.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a blind device.

In recent years, in a blind device having slats, a technique of arranging photovoltaic cells (hereinafter referred to as PV (Photovoltaic) cells) on the surface of the slats has been proposed. In addition, in a blind device in which PV cells are not arranged on the slats, a technology has been proposed in which the slats of the blind device are classified into two or more slat groups and each of the two or more slat groups is individually controlled (for example, , Patent Document 1).

WO 2020/241131 pamphlet

By the way, in a blind device in which PV cells are arranged on a slat, it is assumed that two or more PV cells are electrically connected in series to improve the extraction efficiency of power generated by the PV cells.

Under this assumption, in a group of slats with PV cells electrically connected in series, if each slat operates with different behavior (e.g., adjusting the angle), damage to the power line connecting the PV cells will occur. there is a possibility.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to individually control a slat group including two or more slats while improving the extraction efficiency of power generated by a PV cell. An object of the present invention is to provide a blind device that

One aspect of the disclosure includes two or more slats on which solar cells are arranged, and a communication unit that performs communication with a control device that controls the two or more slats, and the two or more slats are electrically Two or more first slat groups, which are a group of slats having the solar cells connected in series or in parallel, and which are a group of slats controllable by the control device classified into any of the second slat groups, and each of the two or more first slat groups is one of the two or more second slat groups without straddling the boundary of the two or more second slat groups Included in one is the blind device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a blind device capable of individually controlling a group of slats including two or more slats while improving the extraction efficiency of power generated by PV cells.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a power management system 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a facility 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a blind device 140 according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the EMS 160 according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the slat group according to the embodiment.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the following description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals are given to the same or similar parts. However, the drawings are schematic.

[Embodiment]
(power management system)
A power management system according to an embodiment will be described below. A power management system may simply be referred to as a power system.

As shown in FIG. 1, power management system 1 has facility 100 . The power management system 1 may include a power management server 200. FIG.

Here, facility 100 and power management server 200 are configured to be able to communicate via network 11 . The network 11 may include the Internet, may include a dedicated line such as a VPN (Virtual Private Network), or may include a mobile communication network.

The facility 100 is interconnected with the power system 12 and may be supplied with power from the power system 12 or may be supplied with power to the power system 12 . Power from power system 12 to facility 100 may be referred to as tidal power, purchased power, or demand power. Power from facility 100 to power system 12 may be referred to as reverse flow power or sold power. In FIG. 1, as the facility 100, facilities 100A to 100C are illustrated.

Although not particularly limited, the facility 100 may be a facility such as a residence, a facility such as a store, or a facility such as an office. Facility 100 may be an apartment complex containing two or more residences. The facility 100 may be a complex facility including at least two or more facilities of residences, shops, and offices. Details of facility 100 will be described later (see FIG. 2).

The power management server 200 may be managed by a business operator such as a local power company. A local power company may be a power company operated by a municipality or the like. The power management server 200 is a server managed by businesses such as a power generation business, a power transmission and distribution business, a retail business, and a resource aggregator. The resource aggregator may be a power company that adjusts the power supply and demand balance of the power grid 12 in a VPP (Virtual Power Plant). The adjustment of the power supply and demand balance may include trading (hereinafter referred to as negawatt trading) in which the reduced power of the facility 100 (tidal power) is exchanged for value. Adjusting the power supply and demand balance may include trading increased power of reverse flow power for value. The resource aggregator may be an electric power company that provides reverse flow power to power generation companies, power transmission/distribution companies, retailers, and the like in the VPP.

(institution)
A facility according to the embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 2 , the facility 100 has a solar cell device 110 , a power storage device 120 , a fuel cell device 130 , a blind device 140 , a load device 150 and an EMS (Energy Management System) 160 . Facility 100 may have measurement device 190 . Additionally, facility 100 has a communication device 300 that communicates directly or indirectly with blind device 140 .

The solar cell device 110 is a distributed power source that generates power according to light such as sunlight. For example, the solar cell device 110 is composed of a PCS (Power Conditioning System) and a solar panel. In embodiments, the solar cell device 110 may be an example of a power generation device installed at the facility 100 .

The power storage device 120 is a distributed power source that charges and discharges power. For example, the power storage device 120 is composed of PCS and power storage cells. In the embodiment, power storage device 120 may be an example of a power storage device installed in facility 100 .

The fuel cell device 130 is a distributed power source that uses fuel to generate power. For example, the fuel cell device 130 is composed of PCS and fuel cells.

For example, the fuel cell device 130 may be a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), or a phosphoric acid fuel cell. It may be a type fuel cell (PAFC; Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell) or a molten carbonate type fuel cell (MCFC; Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell).

The blind device 140 is a device that is attached to a window of a predetermined space and has a solar battery cell (hereinafter referred to as PV (Photovoltaic) cell). The predetermined space may be a room in the facility 100 or the floor of the facility 100 . It is a device that can block the sunlight to a predetermined space where the blind device 140 is installed. The blind device 140 may be attached inside the predetermined space relative to the window, or may be attached outside the predetermined space relative to the window. Specifically, the blind device 140 is a device that has a plurality of slats and operates the plurality of slats with a motor or the like.

The slat has a rectangular front surface and a rectangular back surface. The rectangular front surface may be a slightly curved convex surface (hereinafter referred to as convex surface). The rectangular back surface may be a concave surface (hereinafter referred to as a concave surface) that is slightly curved. Controlling the slats may include controlling at least one of hoisting of the slats, payout of the slats, and angle adjustment of the slats. Also, controlling the slats may include controlling some of the slats. That is, the control of the slats may include control of a predetermined number of slats among the plurality of slats.

The blind device 140 may be of a horizontal type in which slats extending horizontally with respect to the ground or floor are arranged vertically with respect to the ground or floor. The slats extending along the direction may be of the vertical type arranged horizontally with respect to the ground or floor surface. The blind device 140 may be referred to as an electric blind. The blind device 140 may be referred to as a PV-powered blind.

In an embodiment, the blind device 140 has slats on which PV cells are arranged. PV cells are placed on the surface of the slats. Specifically, the PV cells are placed on the convex side of the slats. It may also be arranged on the concave surface of the slat, or on both the convex and concave surfaces of the slat. Therefore, the blind device 140 may be considered to be an example of a distributed power source that generates power according to light such as sunlight. The blind device 140 may or may not include a PCS. The PCS of the solar cell device 110 may be used as the PCS of the PV cells arranged on the slats. Details of the blind device 140 will be described later (see FIG. 3).

The load device 150 is a device that consumes power. For example, the load device 150 may include an air conditioner that adjusts the temperature of the predetermined space, or a lighting device that adjusts the illuminance of the predetermined space. Air conditioners and lighting devices are examples of predetermined devices that adjust the environment of a predetermined space. Air conditioners and lighting devices may be considered devices affected by the operation of the blind device 140 . The load device 150 may include video equipment, audio equipment, refrigerators, washing machines, personal computers, and the like.

EMS 160 manages power for facility 100 . EMS 160 may control solar cell device 110 , power storage device 120 , fuel cell device 130 , blind device 140 and load device 150 . In the embodiment, the EMS 160 is exemplified as a device that receives control commands from the power management server 200, but such a device may be called a Gateway or simply a control unit. Details of the EMS 160 will be described later (see FIG. 4).

Measurement device 190 measures the power flowing from power system 12 to facility 100 . Measurement device 190 may measure reverse power flow from facility 100 to power system 12 . For example, metering device 190 may be a Smart Meter belonging to a power company. The measuring device 190 may transmit to the EMS 160 every first interval an information element indicating the measurement result (integrated value of the power flow or reverse flow power) at the first interval (for example, 30 minutes). The measurement device 190 may send an information element to the EMS 160 indicating the measurement result at a second interval (eg, 1 minute) that is shorter than the first interval.

(blind device)
A blind device according to an embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 3, the blind device 140 has a communication section 141, a slat 142, and a control section 143. As shown in FIG.

The communication unit 141 is configured by a communication module. The communication module can be a wireless communication module that conforms to standards such as IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, ZigBee, Wi-SUN, LTE, 5G, 6G, and standards such as IEEE802.3 may be a wired communication module conforming to

For example, the communication unit 141 controls communication between the blind device 140 and the EMS160. In other words, communication unit 141 communicates with EMS 160 . Such communication is performed using a protocol conforming to the second protocol. In the following, ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) is mainly exemplified as the second protocol.

First, information elements included in messages used in communication may include information elements for specifying the operation mode of blind device 140 .

Such messages may include messages (eg, SET commands) instructing to control the blind device 140 in an operating mode, and messages requesting the operating mode being applied to the blind device 140 (eg, GET commands). ) may be included. Such messages may include messages (eg, GET response commands, INF commands) that inform the operating mode being applied to the blind device 140 . A GET response command is a command transmitted in response to a GET command, and an INF command is a message autonomously transmitted by the blind device 140. FIG.

The SET command includes an information element for blind device 140 to specify the operation mode of blind device 140 . The GET response command and the INF command contain information elements for EMS 160 to identify the operating mode of blind device 140 .

The slat 142 is a member that adjusts the sunlight in the space where the blind device 140 is installed. PV cells may be placed on the surface of the slats 142 .

Control unit 143 may include at least one processor. The at least one processor may be formed by a single integrated circuit (IC), or by a plurality of communicatively coupled circuits (such as integrated circuits and/or discrete circuit(s)). good too.

Specifically, the control unit 143 controls the blind device 140 . For example, the control unit 143 may control at least one of winding up the slats 142 , extending the slats 142 , and adjusting the angle of the slats 142 . Also, the control unit 143 may control some of the slats 142 . That is, the control unit 143 may control a predetermined number of slats among the plurality of slats.

The operation modes of the blind device 140 may include at least one of the following operation modes (first to fifth operation modes).

The first operation mode is an operation mode that adjusts the angle of the slats 142 so as to maximize the power generated by the PV cells. That is, in the first operation mode, the power generated by the PV cells is prioritized over the sunlight in the predetermined space. The first operating mode may be referred to as a power generation priority mode.

The second operating mode is an operating mode that searches for the angle of the slats 142 that maximizes the generated power of the PV cells. Specifically, in the second operation mode, the angle of the slats 142 that maximizes the power generated by the PV cells is searched for by measuring the power generated by the PV cells while gradually changing the angle of the slats 142 . The slats 142 whose angles are changed in the second operating mode may be part of a plurality of slats 142 provided in the blind device 140 .

The third operation mode is an operation mode that adjusts the angle of the slats 142 based on at least one of the illuminance and temperature of the predetermined space. Specifically, in the third operation mode, the angles of the slats 142 may be adjusted so that the illuminance of the predetermined space becomes the target illuminance. A sensor that detects illuminance may be provided in the blind device 140 and may be configured to communicate with the blind device 140 . The target illuminance may be set by the user. In the third operation mode, the angle of the slats 142 may be adjusted so that the temperature of the predetermined space reaches the target temperature. A sensor that detects temperature may be provided in the blind device 140 and may be configured to communicate with the blind device 140 . A target temperature may be set by the user. A third mode regarding the temperature of the predetermined space may be referred to as room temperature priority mode.

A fourth operation mode is an operation mode for adjusting the angle of the slats 142 so as to maximize the illuminance of the predetermined space. That is, in the fourth operation mode, the sunlight in the predetermined space is prioritized over the power generated by the PV cells. A fourth operation mode may be referred to as a lighting priority mode.

A fifth operation mode is an operation mode in which the angle of the slats 142 is adjusted based on the power consumption of the predetermined device and the power generated by the PV cells. In other words, the fifth operation mode is an operation mode for minimizing the power consumption of a given device minus the power generated by the PV cells. The fifth operation mode may be considered as an operation mode for maximizing the power generated by the PV cells minus the power consumed by the predetermined device. The fifth operation mode may be called a power consumption priority mode.

(EMS)
The EMS according to the embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 4, the EMS 160 has a first communication section 161, a second communication section 162, and a control section 163.

The first communication unit 161 is configured by a communication module. The communication module can be a wireless communication module that conforms to standards such as IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, ZigBee, Wi-SUN, LTE, 5G, 6G, and standards such as IEEE802.3 may be a wired communication module conforming to

For example, the first communication unit 161 communicates with the power management server 200 via the network 11. FIG. The first communication unit 161 performs communication according to the first protocol, as described above. For example, the first communication unit 161 receives the first message from the power management server 200 according to the first protocol. The first communication unit 161 transmits the first message response to the power management server 200 according to the first protocol.

The second communication unit 162 is configured by a communication module. The communication module can be a wireless communication module that conforms to standards such as IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, ZigBee, Wi-SUN, LTE, 5G, 6G, and standards such as IEEE802.3 may be a wired communication module conforming to

For example, the second communication unit 162 communicates with devices included in the facility 100 (the solar cell device 110, the power storage device 120, the fuel cell device 130, or the blind device 140). The second communication unit 162 communicates according to the second protocol, as described above. For example, the second communication unit 162 transmits the second message to the distributed power sources according to the second protocol. The second communication unit 162 receives the second message response from the distributed power sources according to the second protocol. As mentioned above, the second message may be a message containing an information element for specifying the operating mode of the blind device 140. FIG.

Control unit 163 may include at least one processor. The at least one processor may be formed by a single integrated circuit (IC), or by a plurality of communicatively coupled circuits (such as integrated circuits and/or discrete circuit(s)). good too.

Specifically, the control unit 163 controls each configuration installed in the EMS 160 . For example, the control unit 163 instructs the blind device 140 to set the operation mode by transmitting the second message.

(Slat group)
A slat group according to the embodiment will be described below. In FIG. 5, two or more slats 142 of the blind device 140 are schematically represented.

As shown in FIG. 5, the two or more slats are classified into one of two or more first slat groups 142A and one of two or more second slat groups 142B.

Each of the two or more first slat groups 142A is a group of slats having PV cells electrically connected in series. Specifically, the PV cells of slats 142 forming first slat group 142A are electrically connected in series by power line 145 . The PV cells of the slats 142 forming one end of the first slat group 142A are connected to extraction electrodes 146. As shown in FIG. The PV cells of the slats 142 forming the other end of the first slat group 142A are also connected to the extraction electrodes, but such a configuration is omitted in FIG. 5 for simplicity of explanation.

FIG. 5 illustrates a case where one first slat group 142A includes four slats 142, but the number of slats 142 included in one first slat group 142A may be two or more. Therefore, the number of slats 142 included in one first slat group 142A may be 3 or less, or 5 or more. The number of slats 142 included in first slat group 142A may differ for each first slat group 142A.

5 illustrates a case where the blind device 140 has three first slat groups 142A (that is, first slat group 142A-1 to first slat group 142A-3). The number of one slat group 142A should be two or more. Therefore, the number of first slat groups 142A may be two, or four or more.

Each of the two or more second slat groups 142B is a group of slats controllable by a controller (EMS 160 in the embodiment). Each of the two or more second slat groups 142B may be considered as a group of slats that can be driven by one motor 148. Specifically, slats 142 forming second slat group 142B are connected to motor 148 by power line 147 .

In FIG. 5, the second slat group 142B-1 and the second slat group 142B-2 are illustrated as the second slat group 142B. A case where the second slat group 142B-1 includes four slats 142 and the second slat group 142B-2 includes eight slats 142 is illustrated. The slats 142 forming the second slat group 142B-1 are connected to the motor 148X, and the slats 142 forming the second slat group 142B-2 are connected to the motor 148Y.

FIG. 5 illustrates a case where one second slat group 142B includes four or eight slats 142, but the number of slats 142 included in one second slat group 142B may be two or more. Just do it. Therefore, the number of slats 142 included in one second slat group 142B may be 3 or less, 5 or more, 7 or less, or 9 or more. The number of slats 142 included in second slat group 142B may differ for each second slat group 142B.

5 illustrates a case where the blind device 140 has two second slat groups 142B (that is, the second slat group 142B-1 to the second slat group 142B-2). The number of two-slat groups 142B should be two or more. Therefore, the number of second slat groups 142B may be three or more.

As described above, the first slat group 142A and the second slat group 142B are a group of slats summarized from different points of view. Therefore, all of the two or more slats 142 of the blind device 140 are classified into one of the two or more first slat groups 142A. Similarly, all of the two or more slats 142 of the blind device 140 are classified into one of the two or more second slat groups 142B.

Under this premise, each of the two or more first slat groups 142A is included in any one of the two or more second slat groups 142B without straddling the boundaries of the two or more second slat groups 142B. be At least one of the two or more second slat groups 142B may include multiple first slat groups 142A.

For example, in the case shown in FIG. 5, the first slat group 142A-1 is included in the second slat group 142B-1 without straddling the boundary between the second slat group 142B-1 and the second slat group 142B-2. be The first slat group 142A-2 is included in the second slat group 142B-2 without straddling the boundary between the second slat group 142B-1 and the second slat group 142B-2. The first slat group 142A-3 is included in the second slat group 142B-2 without straddling the boundary between the second slat group 142B-1 and the second slat group 142B-2. The second slat group 142B-2 includes two first slat groups 142A (first slat group 142A-2 and first slat group 142A-3).

Since the second slat group 142B is a group of slats that can be controlled by a control device (EMS 160 in the embodiment), similar control may be applied to two or more second slat groups 142B at the same time. . The group of controllable slats 142 may be managed by the controller as a controller setting (eg, motion limit). A group of controllable slats may thus be driven by more than one motor 148 . For example, a different motor 148 may be connected to each of all the slats 142 of the blind device 140 .

(Action and effect)
In the embodiment, each of the two or more first slat groups 142A is included in any one of the two or more second slat groups 142B without straddling the boundaries of the two or more second slat groups 142B. According to such a configuration, even if different controls are applied to each of the two or more second slat groups 142B, the behavior of the slats 142 constituting the first slat group 142A is unified. Damage to the power line 145 that connects the PV cells in series can be suppressed. That is, it is possible to individually control the first slat group 142A including two or more slats 142 while improving the extraction efficiency of the power generated by the PV cells.

[Other embodiments]
Although the present invention has been described by the above-described embodiments, the statements and drawings forming part of this disclosure should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Various alternative embodiments, implementations and operational techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

The above disclosure exemplifies the case where each of the two or more second slat groups 142B is a group of slats that can be driven by one motor 148. FIG. However, the above disclosure is not so limited.

For example, each of the two or more second slat groups 142B may be considered a group of slats whose angle can be controlled by a controller (eg, EMS 160). In such cases, the group of slats whose angle can be controlled may be managed in the controller as a controller setting (eg, motion limit). Thus, a group of slats whose angle can be controlled may be driven by two or more motors 148 . For example, a different motor 148 may be connected to each of all the slats 142 of the blind device 140 . Since the second slat group 142B is a group of slats whose angles can be controlled, the angles of two or more slats 142 constituting the second slat group 142B may be simultaneously controlled to a predetermined angle.

For example, each of the two or more second slat groups 142B may be considered to be a group of slats to which an operating mode (eg, first to fifth operating modes) can be applied by the controller (eg, EMS 160). good. In such cases, the group of slats to which the operating mode may apply may be managed in the controller as a controller setting (eg, operating limit). A group of slats to which an operating mode can be applied may thus be driven by two or more motors 148 . For example, a different motor 148 may be connected to each of all the slats 142 of the blind device 140 . Since the second slat group 142B is a group of slats to which an operation mode can be applied, one operation mode may be applied simultaneously to two or more second slat groups 142B. In addition, in the second slat group 142B to which one operation mode is applied, control of different angles of the mutually adjacent slats 142 is allowed as long as the angle difference between the mutually adjacent slats 142 does not exceed the threshold value. good too.

In the above disclosure, the second slat group 142B may be considered as a group of slats forming the smallest controllable unit by the control device (EMS 160 in the embodiment). For example, in a case where the blind device 140 has a total of eight slats 142, the smallest controllable unit may be two slats 142 (a group of slats). In such cases, 4 slats 142 (2 granules) may be controlled simultaneously, and 8 slats 142 (4 granules) may be controlled simultaneously. That is, the control device (EMS 160 in the embodiment) does not necessarily need to apply different control to each minimum unit, and may apply the same control to two or more minimum units.

The above disclosure illustrated the case where the first slat group 142A was a group of slats having PV cells electrically connected in series. However, the above disclosure is not so limited. The first slat group 142A may be a group of slats having PV cells electrically connected in parallel.

In the above disclosure, the EMS 160 was exemplified as a control device that controls the two or more slats 142 of the blind device 140. FIG. However, the above disclosure is not so limited. The control device may be a remote controller for controlling the blind device 140 . The remote controller may be a dedicated controller for the blinds device 140 . The remote controller may be a communication device (eg, smart phone, tablet terminal, etc.) that directly or indirectly communicates with the blind device 140 .

Although not particularly limited, the operating mode may be read as an operating state.

In the above disclosure, ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) was mainly described. However, the above disclosure is not so limited. The above disclosure is also applicable to other protocols such as SEP2.0, KNX.

Although not specifically mentioned in the above disclosure, at least some of the functions of EMS 160 may be executed by a server arranged on network 11 . In other words, EMS 160 may be provided by a cloud service.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Power management system, 11... Network, 12... Power system, 100... Facility, 110... Solar cell device, 120... Power storage device, 130... Fuel cell device, 140... Blind device, 141... Communication part, 142... Slat, 142A... First slat group, 142B... Second slat group, 143... Control unit, 145... Power line, 146... Extraction electrode, 147... Power line, 148... Motor, 150... Load device, 160... EMS, 161... First communication Unit, 162...Second communication unit, 163...Control unit, 190...Measurement device, 200...Power management server

Claims (5)

two or more slats on which the solar cells are arranged;
a communication unit that performs communication with a control device that controls the two or more slats,
The two or more slats are
classified into one of two or more first slat groups, which are a group of slats having the solar cells electrically connected in series or in parallel, and
classified into one of two or more second slat groups, which are a group of slats controllable by the control device;
A blind device, wherein each of the two or more first slat groups is included in any one of the two or more second slat groups without straddling the boundaries of the two or more second slat groups. 2. A blind apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said two or more second slat groups comprises a plurality of first slat groups. 3. A blind device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of said two or more second slat groups is a group of slats driven by one motor. 4. A blind device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said two or more second groups of slats is a group of slats whose angle can be controlled by said controller. 5. A blind device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said two or more second groups of slats is a group of slats to which an operating mode can be applied by said control device.

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