JP3912141B2 - Remote control system and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote control system including an energy supply blocking means for supplying and blocking an energy medium, a device using the energy medium, a blocking operation means for remotely operating the energy supply blocking means, and a remote controller for controlling the device. Is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a conventional remote control system.
[0003]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 41 is a management center for managing gas meter readings and gas meters, 42 is a public line as a telephone line, 43 is a terminal network controller as a line controller, and 44 is connected to the terminal network controller and wirelessly connected thereto. Radio devices A and 45 for performing communication are gas meters for measuring the amount of gas used, 46 is a radio device B connected to the gas meter, 47 is a gas water heater, and 48 is a gas water heater for transmitting and receiving control signals wirelessly. Wireless controller for hot water heater, 49 is a hot water heater remote controller for remotely controlling the hot water heater by radio, 50 is an antenna, 51 is a wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving radio signals, and 52 is a display unit for displaying the operating state of the water heater. , 53 is a control unit for transmitting / receiving and calculating the control signal of the gas water heater, and 54 is a meter device operation unit for controlling the gas shutoff valve opening / closing operation of the gas meter. That.
[0004]
The management center 41, the public line 42, the terminal network control device 43, the wireless device A44, the wireless device B46, and the gas meter 45 constitute a gas metering automatic meter reading system using wireless communication. The gas water heater 47, the gas water heater wireless controller 48, and the water heater remote controller 49 constitute a wireless system that controls the water heater wirelessly.
[0005]
The operation of the meter device operation unit 54 will be described. When a gas leak occurs and the gas shutoff valve of the gas meter 45 is shut off, the user returns the gas supply to the meter device operation unit of the water heater remote controller 49. When the valve opening operation is performed by operating 54, a valve opening signal is input to the control unit 53, and the control unit 53 transmits a valve opening signal of the gas shut-off valve to the wireless communication unit 51 to radiate radio waves via the antenna 50, The radio device B46 receives the signal and transmits it to the gas meter 45. The gas meter 45 that has received the valve opening signal controls the opening of the gas cutoff valve.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional configuration does not take into account the operating state of the gas water heater 47 on the system and the control signal transmitted from the management center 41 when the meter device operation unit 54 is operated. Even when the gas meter itself detects some abnormality and is in the shut-off state, even when the operation control of the gas water heater 47 is executed, the gas water heater is stopped again due to an error operation because the gas is in the shut-off state. End up.
[0007]
In addition, when the gas meter 45 is changed from the shut-off state to the return state, there are those that are likely to be controlled to the unsafe side when the equipment device is suddenly made operable. For example, when a natural disaster such as an earthquake occurs to enable supply from the shut-off control of the energy supply shut-off means, raw gas leaks from the gas water heater 47, and the electrical system also leaks or fires due to a short circuit. However, there is a problem that safety cannot be secured.
[0008]
Further, when a return operation for returning the shut-off state of the shut-off valve is performed, there is a problem that there is no means for the user to check and it is not known how long it will return.
[0009]
In addition, when the shutoff valve is shut off or returned, if the key input operation of the gas water heater 47 is performed during the shutoff or return process, the process is interrupted and the shutoff or return process is not reliably performed. Cases arise and there are safety issues.
[0010]
Also, when shutting down or returning from the management center 41 such as meter inspection or gas construction, if the user is using gas equipment such as the gas water heater 47 if shut down or reset regardless of the user's will There is a risk of equipment malfunction and failure.
[0011]
Further, when the gas meter 45 is manually returned to the valve, there is a problem that there is no means for the user to confirm that the return state is easily and reliably performed.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is to solve the above problems, an energy supply cutoff means for supplying and interruption of gas energy medium, and a device for using the gas energy medium, and interrupting the operation unit for remotely operating said energy supply cutoff means, In a remote control system including a remote control for controlling the device, a gas energy medium is first used when executing the control for operating the shut-off operation means to change the energy supply shut-off means from the shut-off state to the supply state. A device operation stop control is executed, and a cutoff control of the energy supply cutoff means is executed.
[0013]
And before executing the control to change from the cutoff state of the energy supply cutoff means to the supply state, regardless of whether the equipment is used or not, after stopping the equipment first and executing the cutoff control of the energy supply cutoff means, Since the control for supplying the energy is performed, it is possible to improve the safety of the device operation.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
First aspect of the present invention, an energy supply cutoff means for supplying and interruption of gas energy medium, and a device for using the gas energy medium, and interrupting the operation unit for remotely operating said energy supply interrupting means, said device In a remote control system including a remote controller for controlling, when the control for changing the energy supply shut-off means from the shut-off state to the supply state is performed by operating the shut-off operation means, first, the operation of the equipment using the gas energy medium The remote control system executes stop control and executes shut-off control of the energy supply shut-off means.
[0015]
Therefore, before executing the control to change the energy supply shut-off means from the shut-off state to the supply state, regardless of whether the equipment is used or not used, the equipment is first stopped and the energy supply shut-off means is shut off. It is possible to improve the safety of the equipment that performs the control to supply the power, and to prevent secondary disasters such as fires even after the restoration of natural disasters.
[0029]
The invention according to claim 2 is a program for causing a computer to function as all or part of the means of the remote control system according to claim 1 . Since it is a program, a part or all of the remote control system of the present invention can be easily realized using a microcomputer, a general-purpose computer, or a server. Also, program distribution and installation can be simplified by recording on a recording medium or distributing a program using a communication line.
[0030]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0031]
Example 1
An embodiment of the remote control system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a water heater which is a facility device using gas as a combustion medium (energy medium), 2 is a wireless transmission / reception means connected to the hot water heater 1 for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, and 3 is a wireless transmission / reception means 2 and wireless communication. A water heater remote controller serving as a remote control for the equipment using radio to communicate and control the water heater 1, 4 is a wireless transmission / reception means incorporated in the water heater remote controller 3, and 5 is a microcomputer that transmits and receives control signals. Control means 6 is a water heater operation stop means provided to stop the operation of the water heater.
[0032]
7 is a flow rate measuring device (gas meter) that measures the gas flow rate and integrates the amount of gas used by the user, 8 is a control unit that is built in the flow rate measuring unit and is configured by a microcomputer, and 9 is a blocker and opener for the gas flow path. Shut-off valve, which is an energy supply shut-off means for performing the shut-off operation, 10 is a valve shut-off / return means for shutting-off / opening the shut-off valve 9 by a control signal, and 11 is provided in the flow measuring device 7 and is manually returned from the shut-off state of the shut-off valve. A manual valve return means 12 that can perform processing is a wireless communication means that is connected to the flow rate measuring device 7 and is provided for performing wireless communication with the hot water supply remote controller 3.
[0033]
Reference numeral 13 denotes a water heater operating means for sending a water heater control signal when the user operates the water heater, and 14 is provided for remotely returning the shut-off state of the shutoff valve 9 of the flow rate measuring device 7 from the water heater remote controller 3. 15 is a valve shut-off operation means provided for shutting off the shut-off valve 9 of the flow rate measuring device 7 from the hot-water supply remote controller 3, and 16 is shut off when the shut-off valve is shut off or returned. Alternatively, valve shut-off / return time countdown means for calculating the time required for return and counting down, 17 is a state display means for displaying the operating state of the water heater 1, the open / close state of the shutoff valve 9 of the flow rate measuring device 7, and the like.
[0034]
Reference numeral 18 denotes a management center of a gas supplier that manages a flow rate measuring device (gas meter) installed in a user's home, 19 is a line network composed of telephone lines and information communication lines, and 20 is connected to the line network 19. Line network access means 21, which is a line control terminal connecting the user's home and the management center via the line network 19, is connected to the line network access means 20 and is wirelessly connected to the water heater 1, the water heater remote control 3, and the flow rate measurement. It is a wireless transmission / reception means for communicating with the device 7 (gas meter).
[0035]
22 is a shut-off / return confirmation means for the water heater remote controller 3 to confirm safe use after the return process control, and 23 is a shut-off / return process determination for judging whether the shut-off valve shut-off process and the return process are performed. Means 24 is a key input prohibiting means for disabling the input of operation means provided in the hot water heater remote control 3 such as a hot water heater control key, and 25 is a gas pipe which is a gas flow path.
[0036]
Next, the operation and action will be described. When the flow rate measuring device 7 (gas meter) is shut off due to some abnormality and the user performs the return operation of the shut-off valve 9, when the valve return operation means 16 provided in the hot water supply remote controller 3 is operated, the hot water heater operation is stopped first. The hot water heater operation stop signal is transmitted wirelessly by the means 6 through the wireless transmission / reception means 4 and received by the wireless transceiver 2 connected to the hot water heater 1, and the hot water heater 1 stops its operation. Regardless of whether the water heater 1 is in operation or stopped, a water heater operation stop signal may be transmitted as safety control. Then, after the control means 5 performs the shut-off control of the energy supply shut-off means 9, a valve return signal for supplying energy is transmitted, and the shut-off valve 9 is turned on by the valve shut-off / return means of the flow rate measuring device 7 (gas meter). Open and gas can be used. You may send the signal which stops supply of the commercial power source (not shown) connected to the water heater 1.
[0037]
With this configuration, before executing the control to change the energy supply cutoff means from the cutoff state to the supply state, the equipment is first stopped regardless of whether the equipment is used or not used. Since the shut-off control is executed, it is possible to improve the safety of the equipment that controls the supply of energy, and to prevent a secondary disaster such as a fire even after recovery from a natural disaster or the like.
[0038]
Further, when the shut-off valve 9 is shut off and the valve is returned by the user, when the user operates the valve return operating means 14 of the water heater remote control 3, a valve return signal is transmitted and transmitted to the control means 5, and the valve shut-off is performed. The estimated time required for the valve return is calculated by the return countdown means 16, and the predicted time required for the valve return is displayed on the state display means 17, and the countdown display is performed. At the same time, the valve return signal is radiated as a radio wave via the wireless transmission / reception means 4 and received by the wireless transmission / reception means 12 of the flow rate measuring device 7, and the cutoff valve 9 is opened and returned by the valve cutoff / return means 10 via the control means 8. The
[0039]
In addition, when the valve is returned, the estimated time is displayed together with how many minutes the usable state of the water heater 1 that is the equipment device will be usable, which is advantageous for the user.
[0040]
The blocking process is also performed in the same manner as described above, and the estimated time required for the blocking process is displayed on the status display unit 17 in a countdown manner.
[0041]
With this configuration, even when the user performs the shut-off or return operation of the shut-off valve 9, the user spends the time required for shut-off or return of the shut-off valve and how much it does not become annoying before the equipment can be used. It becomes possible to see at a glance whether the return process can be used in the time of, and it is possible to easily and reliably check the shutoff or return (opening) of the shutoff valve 9. Therefore, there is an effect that convenience and usability for the user are improved.
[0042]
Further, when the shutoff and return processing of the shutoff valve 9 is performed as described above, the water heater remote controller 3 determines whether the processing is currently being performed by the shutoff / return processing determination means 23 of the control means 5. When it is determined that the processing is being performed, the key input prohibiting unit 24 performs key input (control) such as the water heater operating unit 13, the valve shut-off operating unit 15, and the valve return operating unit 14 for controlling the water heater 1. Signal input) is disabled and the above control is not performed. When the valve shut-off or return process is completed, the shut-off / return process determining means 23 turns off (releases) the key input prohibiting means 24 to accept the input of the control signal.
[0043]
By configuring in this way, the operation of the water heater 1 and the flow rate measuring device 7 (gas meter) or the operation of the water heater 1 is disabled while the return process of the shut-off valve 9 by the wireless water heater remote controller 3 is being performed. The return process is interrupted and no radio wave collision occurs in the control signal transmitted from each wireless transmission / reception means, so that the return process is performed reliably.
[0044]
Further, when the recovery process of the shutoff valve 9 of the flow measuring device 7 (gas meter) at the user's home is performed from the management center 18, the return processing signal sent from the management center 18 is installed at the user's home via the network 19. The data is transmitted to the network access means 20 and converted into a radio signal by the radio transmission / reception means 21 and radiated as a radio wave. Then, it is received by the wireless transmission / reception means 4 of the water heater remote control 3 and sent to the control means 5 to display on the status display means 17 that a request for returning the shutoff valve 9 from the management center 18 is received. Then, a stop signal is sent to the equipment such as the water heater 1 and the equipment is stopped. Then, a valve shut-off signal is sent from the control unit 5 and radiated as a radio wave via the wireless transmission / reception means 4 and wireless transmission / reception means 12. Is transmitted to the flow rate measuring device 7 (gas meter) and the shutoff valve 9 is restored by the control means 8 and the valve shutoff / return means 10. After returning, the result is returned to the management center 18 and the result is displayed on the status display means 17. The blocking process is performed in the same procedure.
[0045]
In this way, the display for prompting the user's confirmation in the shut-off and return processing of the shut-off valve 9 from the management center 18 is performed, and the process is not performed until the user's confirmation operation is performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the shutoff valve 9 from being shut off or reset, and to prevent the shutoff valve 9 from being shut off during use of the gas appliance such as the water heater 1. The status display may be displayed on a device separate from the remote controller.
[0046]
When the shut-off valve 9 is shut off and the user manually returns the valve by the manual valve return means 11 on the flow rate measuring device 7 (gas meter) side, the user manually returns the manual valve 11 of the flow rate measuring device 7 (gas meter). Is operated, a stop signal is sent to the equipment such as the water heater 1, and after the equipment is stopped, the shut-off valve 9 is returned. Then, a signal indicating that the return processing is completed is sent from the control means 8 and converted into a radio signal by the radio transmission / reception means 12 and radiated as radio waves. Then, it is received by the wireless transmission / reception means 4 of the water heater remote control 3, and through the control means 5, the state display means 17 displays that the valve return has been performed reliably and notifies the user. Further, the control means 5 transmits a return processing completion signal to the wireless transmission / reception means 4, converts it to a wireless signal and radiates it as a radio wave. Then, it is received by the wireless transmission / reception means 21 and notifies the management center 18 via the network access means 20 and the network 19 of the completion of the return of the user's home valve. Note that the management center 18 may not be notified.
[0047]
Even when manual valve return is performed in this manner, after the equipment is stopped, a signal notifying the completion of the return process is transmitted to the water heater remote controller 3, so that the water heater remote controller 3 side can reliably perform the return. It can be confirmed that the convenience for the user can be improved.
[0048]
Further, by displaying the result of the return processing of the shut-off valve 9 on the status display means 17, the user can confirm the return of the shut-off valve 9 at a glance, and the convenience is further improved. In addition, since the user can easily understand that the return processing has been performed correctly, the gas can be used with confidence.
[0049]
In addition, even when the user manually performs the return process, the management center 18 is notified that the return process has been performed. Therefore, the management center confirms that the shutoff valve return process of the flow measurement device 7 (gas meter) at the user's home has been performed reliably. 18 will be confirmed. Therefore, management of energy supply (gas supply) can be managed more reliably. The serviceability of energy supply service providers will also be improved.
[0050]
Further, when the shut-off valve 9 is shut off and the user performs the valve return using the valve return means 14, a stop signal is sent to the equipment such as the hot water heater 1 and the equipment is stopped. Is restored. Then, a signal indicating that the return processing is completed is sent from the control means 8 and converted into a radio signal by the radio transmission / reception means 12 and radiated as radio waves. Thereafter, the safe use of the water heater 1 (measurement of the flow rate of the gas meter while the water heater 1 is stopped, detection of a short circuit of the commercial power source, etc.) is confirmed by the shut-off / return confirmation means 22. Therefore, if safe use of the equipment is confirmed by the shut-off / return confirmation means 22, a secondary disaster due to abnormality of the equipment after the energy supply is prevented, and the safety is improved.
[0051]
Then, the result confirmed by the shut-off / return confirmation means 22 may be displayed on the status display means 17 via the control means 5 to notify the user, or sent to the management center 18 via the network access means 20 and the network 19. You may report.
[0052]
In this embodiment, gas is used as the energy means, the energy supply shut-off means is the gas shut-off valve 9 provided in the flow measuring device 7 (gas meter), the equipment is the gas water heater 1, and the equipment remote is the gas water heater. The remote control 3 was used. Consists of a gas water heater 1 that is used almost every day in daily life, so that safety can be ensured when the use of gas equipment such as the gas water heater 1 is resumed after the gas meter is shut off, and the usability is not impaired. The serviceability of equipment manufacturers can be improved.
[0053]
In the present embodiment, the valve return operation means 14 and the valve shutoff operation means 15 have been described as separate means, but may be a single shutoff operation means. Moreover, it is good also as a separate housing | casing from the water heater remote control 3. FIG. The device and the wireless transmission / reception means are configured separately from the remote controller other than the water heater remote control, but the wireless transmission / reception means may be built-in or integrated. The water heater remote control 3 has a function of controlling the shutoff valve 9 of the wireless flow rate measuring device 7 (gas meter), but other devices such as a gas leak alarm, a fire sensor, a water leak detector, an intrusion sensor, and a leak detection sensor. Such a sensor device can be configured to control or display a state via wireless. With such a configuration, the convenience of the user can be greatly improved and the safety in the home can also be improved. It can also be configured to be able to control and monitor other equipment, a plurality of equipment or home appliances.
[0054]
Further, in this embodiment, the system is configured by using wireless from the standpoint of installation property and workability, but any communication path can be configured by wire, and there is a similar effect and optical communication may be used. Although the line network 19 has been described as a telephone line, it may be configured to connect to the line access means 20 and the management center 18 using a PHS line, a dedicated line, CATV, the Internet, or the like. Although the management center 18 has been described as a gas supplier, it may be another supplier (such as an electric power company). Moreover, it does not matter if there is more than one supplier. In the present embodiment, the wireless remote controller of the gas water heater 1 that uses gas as an energy medium has been described. It may be a home appliance).
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the facility device remote control system of the present invention first stops the device regardless of whether the device is used or not used before executing the control to change the energy supply blocking means from the blocking state to the supplying state . Since the interruption control of the energy supply interruption means is executed, it is possible to improve the safety of the device that performs the supply of energy, and to prevent secondary disasters such as a fire even after recovery from a natural disaster.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of a remote control system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a network system using a conventional remote control.
1 Water heater (equipment)
3 Water heater remote control (remote control)
6 Water heater operation stop means 7 Flow rate measuring device (gas meter)
9 Shut-off valve (energy supply shut-off means)
11 Manual valve return means (manual return means)
14 Valve return operating means (shut-off operating means)
15 Valve shut-off operation means (shut-off operation means)
16 Valve shut-off / return time count-down means 17 Status display means 18 Management center 19 Line network 20 Line network access means (access means)
22 Blocking / returning confirmation means (confirming means)
24 Key input prohibition means

Claims (2)

A remote controller comprising: an energy supply blocking means for supplying / blocking a gas energy medium; a device using the gas energy medium; a blocking operation means for remotely operating the energy supply blocking means; and a remote controller for controlling the device. In the system, when performing the control to operate the shut-off operation means to change the energy supply shut-off means from the shut-off state to the supply state, first, the operation stop control of the equipment using the gas energy medium is performed, and the energy A remote control system for executing the cutoff control of the supply cutoff means. A program for causing a computer to function as all or part of means of the remote control system according to claim 1 .

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