JP3277237B2 - Wireless control system and wireless transmitter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless control system and a wireless transmitter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a wireless control system, for example, when a predetermined abnormal state is detected by a wireless transmitter having a function as a sensor for detecting an abnormality, a control signal to that effect is transmitted from the wireless transmitter. Is transmitted to the wireless receiver side. In such a system, not only does the wireless transmitter output a control signal when an abnormality is detected,
Even when no abnormality is detected, a so-called diagnostic signal is regularly transmitted to the wireless receiver at regular time intervals. If the wireless transmitter periodically outputs a diagnostic signal in this manner, the wireless receiver can confirm whether the wireless transmitter is operating properly, and the wireless transmitter can be operated in a faulty manner. In the case where the battery runs out or a radio wave obstruction occurs, these can be detected at an early stage. Thus, in the conventional device, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, if the time interval Tb at which the wireless transmitter periodically transmits the diagnostic signal indicated by the arrow A is set to 1.2 hours, the timer is set. The configuration is such that the first diagnostic signal is transmitted and output 1.2 hours after the power-on operation of the wireless transmitter is performed.

[0003]

However, in the above conventional apparatus, for example, when a wireless control system is installed, the power of the wireless transmitter is turned on in order to confirm whether or not the system operates properly. However, the diagnostic signal is oscillated when a time set as the periodic transmission time, for example, 1.2 hours has elapsed. Therefore, conventionally, there has been a problem that the operation of the system cannot be inspected unless the elapse of 1.2 hours after the installation of the system, and the operation of the system is wasted.

Incidentally, as a measure for solving the above-mentioned difficulty, conventionally, for example, an operator causes a predetermined abnormal situation artificially at a position near the wireless transmitter, and the abnormal situation is detected by the wireless transmitter. Accordingly, a method has been adopted in which a predetermined control signal is transmitted and output from a wireless transmitter. However, such a method is troublesome because it is necessary for the worker to go to the place where the wireless transmitter is installed. Also, if the control signal was output while the worker was located near the wireless transmitter,
In some cases, the operator may not be able to properly confirm the transmission / reception state of the wireless signal due to, for example, a cause of radio interference, and the above difficulties cannot be adequately solved.

[0005] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and when checking whether the wireless transmitter functions properly after the construction of the wireless control system or the like, the worker waits for a long time. It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need for an operator or to step into a position where a wireless transmitter is installed every time, and to easily and easily confirm the operation in a short time.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein a diagnostic signal for status monitoring is periodically transmitted at regular time intervals. A wireless control system comprising: a wireless transmitter that outputs wirelessly; and a wireless receiver that performs predetermined signal processing based on a diagnostic signal output from the wireless transmitter, wherein the wireless transmitter performs a power-on operation. Is performed, the diagnostic signal is wirelessly output at least once at a time before the regular transmission time of the diagnostic signal is reached.

A wireless transmitter according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a timer circuit for measuring time, and a state wherein a predetermined periodical transmission time set in advance by the timer circuit is measured. A wireless transmission unit that outputs a diagnostic signal for monitoring, wherein when the power supply to the timer circuit and the wireless transmission unit is started, the wireless transmission unit is set to a time shorter than the regular transmission time. And a control unit for controlling the wireless transmission unit to be driven when the predetermined time is counted by the timer circuit.

[0008]

In the wireless control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the power of the wireless transmitter is turned on after installation of the system or at the time of maintenance and inspection, the diagnostic signal of the wireless signal is transmitted. The diagnostic signal is output wirelessly at an earlier time before the regular transmission time is reached. Therefore, it is possible to confirm whether or not the wireless transmitter operates properly by using such a diagnostic signal, and since the diagnostic signal is output at an early stage, the operator has to wait unnecessarily for a long time. There is no need to keep it. Also, there is no need for the operator to go to the installation position of the wireless transmitter. Furthermore, after the worker who has installed the wireless transmitter turns on the power, the diagnostic signal can be output at a time after the worker has left the installation place, so that the worker may have trouble in wireless transmission and reception. This is also resolved.

In the wireless transmitter according to the second aspect of the present invention, when power supply to the timer circuit and the wireless transmission unit is started, a predetermined time set to be shorter than the periodical transmission time thereafter is set. When the time is measured, the control means drives the wireless transmission unit to wirelessly output the diagnostic signal. Therefore, the diagnostic signal can be output at an early time before the regular transmission time has arrived, and the same operation as in the case of the first aspect can be obtained.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a wireless control system according to the present invention. This system includes a plurality of wireless transmitters S (S1 to Sn), a wireless receiver R that receives wireless signals transmitted from these wireless transmitters S and determines the contents thereof, It comprises a monitor panel K for executing desired processing such as generation of an alarm or notification to the outside via the telephone line L according to the content of the signal. Incidentally, the wireless receiver R can be integrated with the monitoring panel K.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the wireless transmitter S shown in FIG. This wireless transmitter S is a signal processing unit 1 composed of a CPU or the like.
A storage unit 2 functioning as a system memory, a setting switch 3 provided with a unique ID code setting switch, a power on / off or reset switch, and time measurement are performed on (corresponding to control means according to the present invention). Timer circuit 4,
A wireless transmitter 5 for outputting a predetermined wireless signal, which will be described later, and an I / O for connecting a security sensor C
The O port 6 and the like are interconnected. A battery 7 is applied as an example of the driving source, and a power supply circuit 8 connected to the battery 7 supplies necessary electric power to each circuit device including the signal processing unit 1. Storage unit 2
Can be used for storing data such as a house code unique to the wireless control system set by the setting switch 3 and an ID code unique to the wireless transmitter S. However, the battery-operated wireless transmitter S , A memory of a type in which stored data is preferably not erased even when the power of a battery is exhausted, for example, an EEPROM
It is desirable to use such as.

As the security sensor C, one or more desired sensors such as a fire or gas leak detection sensor can be used according to the user's request. Is detected, a detection signal to that effect is input to the I / O port 6. The security sensor C may be externally attached to the wireless transmitter S, or may be built in the wireless transmitter S.

The signal processing unit 1 includes a security sensor C
When an abnormality detection signal is received from the controller, the wireless transmitter 5 is driven at that point in time, and control is performed so as to wirelessly output a control signal having a format as shown in FIG. The signal processing unit 1 also has a diagnostic signal output control function in addition to the control signal output control function. That is, the signal processing unit 1 basically drives the wireless transmission unit 5 every time a predetermined time (for example, 1.2 hours) preset by the setting switch 3 is measured by the timer circuit 4 to drive the wireless transmission unit 5 to the predetermined time. Is controlled to wirelessly output the diagnostic signal. However, when the wireless transmitter S is newly turned on by turning on or replacing the battery 7, or when the same operation as the power-on operation is performed by operating the reset switch of the setting switch 3 or the like, the diagnosis is performed. A fixed time (for example, 1 minute to 5 minutes) set in advance as a time shorter than the periodical signal transmission time
Is configured to control the wireless transmission unit 5 to be driven at the time measured by the timer circuit 4. still,
Although the diagnostic signal is not basically different from the control signal in the format shown in FIG. 3, the control signal has data indicating that an abnormal situation has occurred, whereas the diagnostic signal has data indicating that an abnormal situation has occurred. It is different in that it has data indicating that it does not.

When the wireless receiver R in FIG. 1 receives a control signal or a diagnostic signal from the wireless transmitter S, a house code or an ID code added to the signal is registered in the wireless receiver R in advance. When the data coincides with the data, the content of the signal is determined, and an alarm generation process or the like is performed in accordance with the content. The wireless receiver R has a display unit 10 for displaying, when receiving a diagnostic signal from the wireless transmitter S, an ID code indicating from which wireless transmitter S the diagnostic signal is transmitted, and a display unit 10 for displaying the diagnostic signal. An indicator lamp 11 or the like which is turned on or blinks at the time is provided.

In the wireless control system having the above-described configuration, when the system is installed, the wireless transmitter S is installed at a desired abnormality detection point, and then the battery 7 is set. If the battery 7 is already set, The operator only needs to operate the setting switch 3 to perform a power-on operation, and the operator can leave the place. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, when a short predetermined time Ta (for example, one minute) elapses from the time of the power-on operation, the arrow A1
The first diagnostic signal shown in FIG. Thereafter, a diagnostic signal indicated by an arrow A is sequentially output every time a predetermined periodical transmission time Tb (for example, 1.2 hours) elapses from the first transmission time of the diagnostic signal.

Therefore, the operator of the system does not need to wait for 1.2 hours as a regular transmission time to check whether the wireless control system operates properly. By outputting a desired diagnostic signal in one minute, it is possible to confirm the operating state of the system. In addition, if there is a minute after the power-on operation, the worker who has installed the wireless transmitter S can move away from the installation location of the wireless transmitter S.
It is also possible to prevent such an operator from causing an obstacle to radio waves transmitted wirelessly, and it is possible to confirm the operating state of the system under conditions that match actual use conditions.
On the wireless receiver R side, when such a diagnostic signal is received, the indicator lamp 11 is turned on or blinks, and at the same time, the unique ID code of the wireless transmitter S that has transmitted the diagnostic signal is displayed on the display unit 10. Therefore, each of the wireless transmitters S can be clearly distinguished and checked, which is convenient.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the diagnostic signal A1 is output only once before the periodic transmission of the diagnostic signal is executed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, after outputting the diagnostic signal several times at one minute intervals,
You may be comprised so that it may transfer to normal regular transmission. In short, the diagnostic signal may be output at least once at a time before the regular transmission time is reached.

[0018]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the wireless control system according to the first aspect of the present invention and the wireless transmitter according to the second aspect of the present invention, the power-on operation is performed. The diagnostic signal can be output from the wireless transmitter at an earlier time before the regular transmission time reaches later, so when checking whether the wireless transmitter functions properly after the system is constructed, etc. It is not necessary for the worker to wait until a predetermined long time set as the regular transmission time elapses, or to go to the installation position of the wireless transmitter one by one. In addition, a special effect that the checking operation can be easily performed is obtained. Further, according to the present invention, since a diagnostic signal can be output after a certain period of time has elapsed after the power-on operation of the wireless transmitter, the diagnostic signal is output in a state where no worker is near the wireless transmitter. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the worker from obstructing the transmission and reception of the wireless signal, and to obtain the advantage that the operation of confirming the system operation state in a situation that matches the actual system use condition can be appropriately performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a wireless control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a wireless transmitter according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a format of a wireless signal output from a wireless transmitter.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an example of a transmission timing of a diagnostic signal in the wireless transmitter according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of a transmission timing of a diagnostic signal in a conventional wireless transmitter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Signal processing part (control means) 2 Storage part 3 Setting switch 4 Timer circuit 5 Wireless transmission part 6 I / O port 7 Battery 8 Power supply circuit C Security sensor S Wireless transmitter R Wireless receiver

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideaki Okada 1048 Odakadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04Q 9/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A wireless transmitter for periodically outputting a diagnostic signal for condition monitoring wirelessly at regular time intervals;
A wireless receiver that performs a predetermined signal processing based on the diagnostic signal output from the wireless transmitter, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to output a diagnostic signal when a power-on operation is performed. Before the scheduled transmission time,
A wireless control system configured to wirelessly output a diagnostic signal at least once. 2. A timer circuit for measuring time, and a wireless transmission unit for outputting a diagnostic signal for state monitoring every time a predetermined periodical transmission time set by the timer circuit is measured. When power supply to the timer circuit and the wireless transmission unit is started, wireless transmission is performed when a predetermined time set to be shorter than the periodic transmission time is measured by the timer circuit. A wireless transmitter comprising control means for controlling the driving of the unit.