JP4162236B2 - Heat source machine communication system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat source communication system, and more particularly to a technique for linking an adapter device for connecting HA terminal equipment and a heat source communication system.

  Conventionally, in the field of gas appliances (heat source units) such as gas water heaters, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, an automatic notification device (T-NCU) which is a network control unit between a heat source unit and a public telephone line is used. ) And a heat source machine system configured to transmit information of the heat source machine (and the terminal device of the heat source machine) to a monitoring server via a public telephone line by the automatic notification device has been proposed.

  On the other hand, in the field of housing equipment such as lighting fixtures and air conditioners, these home equipment is connected to a home controller (equipment control device) equipped with a microcomputer via a home bus. Home automation (hereinafter referred to as “HA”) that enables centralized control (specifically, on / off control of house equipment, or management of connection status and operation status of equipment) Along with this, housing equipment (hereinafter referred to as “HA terminal equipment”) with an HA terminal for connection to the home controller is provided. Here, the HA terminal device means a housing equipment device provided with an HA terminal conforming to a standard such as the Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association standard (hereinafter the same).

JP-A-6-185742

  By the way, it is convenient for the user if such a heat source device system and the HA system are integrated and the HA terminal device can be remotely managed using the operation device of the heat source device and the monitoring server described above. However, communication specifications (specifically, two-core communication in the heat source system and transmission / reception 2 in the HA system) are used in the heat source system including the heat source unit and its operation device and the HA system including the adapter device and the HA terminal device. Since the four-core communication of the voltage level signal consisting of the system is different, a system for integrating them has not been proposed.

  Further, in the above-described HA system, the adapter device outputs an on / off control command to the HA terminal device or acquires operating status (device on / off) data from the HA terminal device. Since only the management is performed, simply connecting the heat source unit communication system and the HA system by communication means that the heat source unit system cannot grasp what type (model) of HA terminal device is connected to the adapter device. There's a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the object of the present invention is to enable linked operation with a monitoring server and to collectively manage remote operation of HA terminal devices on the heat source system side. An object of the present invention is to provide a possible heat source communication system.

To achieve the above object, the heat source machine communication system according to claim 1 of the present invention, in the heat source device communications system comprising a heat source unit and its operating device, comprising a plurality of HA terminal for connecting an HA terminal equipment An adapter device is provided, and the operation device and the adapter device are each connected to the heat source device via a two-core communication line, and the adapter device is at least between the HA terminal device connected to the HA terminal. Device control means for transmitting and receiving control information and communication means for communication with the heat source communication system, and the connection status and operation status of the HA terminal device via the heat source device for each HA terminal. is configured to transmit to the operating device, the heat source unit communication system, the connection status and operating status of each HA terminal obtained by communication with the communication means the operation instrumentation Provided with a display control means for displaying on the display unit, and a command transmitting means for transmitting a command comprising a command for specifying the on / off switching of the HA terminal in response to the operation of the operation device to the adapter device, finger Ordinance The HA terminal device is remotely operated by a command transmitted from the transmission means .

A heat source machine system according to claim 2 of the present invention is the heat source machine system according to claim 1, wherein the heat source machine communication system is connected to each HA terminal obtained by communication with the adapter device, and Information display means for identifying which of the HA terminals the operation status is information of the device connected to, and storage means for storing model data for model display for each HA terminal, the display control means When displaying the connection status and operation status for each HA terminal , model information is displayed based on the identification result and the model data.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the heat source unit communication system according to the second aspect, wherein the model data stored in the storage means is set by operating the operation unit of the operation device. It is made possible.

Furthermore, the heat source unit communication system according to claim 4 of the present invention is the network control unit for communication connection with an external server in the heat source unit communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. And a communication interface for transmitting / receiving information to / from.

According to the heat source machine communications system of claim 1 of the present invention, in the heat source device communications system comprising a heat source unit and its operating device, comprising a plurality equipped adapter device HA terminal for connecting the HA terminal equipment The operation device and the adapter device are each connected to the heat source device via a two-core communication line, and the adapter device transmits control information to at least the HA terminal device connected to the HA terminal. Equipment control means for transmitting and receiving and communication means for communication with the heat source communication system, and the connection status and operation status of the HA terminal equipment are sent to the operating device via the heat source for each HA terminal. is configured to transmit, the heat source unit communication system, displays the connection status and operating status of each HA terminal obtained by communication with the communication unit on the display unit of the operation device Provided with a display control means for, the command comprising a command for specifying the on / off switching of the HA terminal in response to the operation of the operation device comprises a command transmitting means for transmitting to said adapter device, is transmitted from the finger Ordinance transmitting means Since the HA terminal device is remotely operated by the command, it is possible to centrally manage information such as the connection status and operation status of the HA terminal device using the operating device of the heat source system. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to integrate the heat source communication system and the HA system without requiring a dedicated display device for the HA system.
Further, the HA terminal device connected to the adapter device can be remotely operated using the operation device of the heat source system.

Moreover, according to the heat source unit communication system according to claim 2 of the present invention, the heat source unit communication system includes any one of the HA states in which the connection status and the operation status for each HA terminal obtained by communication with the adapter device are Information identifying means for identifying whether the information is a device connected to the terminal, and storage means for storing model data for model display for each HA terminal, wherein the display control means is provided for each HA terminal. When displaying the connection status and operation status , the model information is displayed based on the identification result and the model data. Therefore, what type of model is the information displayed on the display unit connected to the adapter device? Can be easily grasped.

  Further, according to the heat source unit communication system according to claim 3 of the present invention, the model data stored in the storage means can be set by operating the operation unit of the operation device. Even when a new HA terminal device is connected or when the connected device is changed, the display on the display unit can be matched with the connection status of the actually connected HA terminal device.

Furthermore, according to the heat source unit communication system according to claim 4 of the present invention, the adapter device includes a communication interface for transmitting / receiving information to / from a network control device for communication connection with an external server. Therefore, the HA terminal device can be remotely operated and information managed via the monitoring server, and the convenience for the user is further improved.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a heat source machine communication system according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the present invention. The heat source device communication system shown in FIG. 1 includes a heat source device 1, a remote controller (operation device) 2 and an adapter device 3 as main parts, as shown.

  The heat source unit 1 is composed of a multifunctional hot water supply device having a single function of hot water supply using gas or oil as fuel, a function of dropping hot water into a bathtub, a function of supplying hot water to a hot water heater, or the like. In addition, since the structure regarding the hot water supply function, warm water dropping, warm water supply function, etc. in this kind of gas water heater is already well known, the description of the structure and operation is omitted here, and the communication function exclusively related to the present invention. The configuration and operation related to will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the heat source unit 1 includes a communication interface unit 11 for power superimposition communication connected to the remote controller 2 and the adapter device 3 via a two-core communication line 4, and the communication interface unit 11. A control device 12 that generates and processes communication signals transmitted and received between the remote controller 2 and the adapter device 3 via the above, a storage device (storage means) 13 for storing model data to be described later, and DC power generation The power supply device 14 is configured as a main part. In the illustrated example, only one remote controller 2 as an operation device is connected to the heat source unit 1, but a plurality of remote controllers can be connected.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the remote controller 2 generates a communication signal transmitted and received between the communication interface unit 21 to which the communication line 4 is connected and the heat source unit 1 through the communication interface unit 21. A control unit 22 for processing, an operation unit 23 for inputting a remote operation to the heat source unit 1 and the like, and a display device (display unit) 24 for displaying operation contents in the operation unit 23 and information acquired by communication. It is provided as a main part. In the figure, reference numeral 25 denotes a remote control power supply unit that separates the DC power supplied from the heat source unit 1 via the communication line 4 from the communication signal and supplies it as drive power to each remote control unit.

  The adapter device 3 is a device for controlling the operation of a plurality of HA terminal devices 5 (on / off control) and managing the connection status and operation status of the HA terminal device 5, and is not particularly illustrated. A microcomputer for controlling and managing the HA terminal device 5 described above, generating and processing a communication signal with the heat source unit 1, and a communication interface (communication means) for power superimposed communication for communication with the heat source unit 1. It is provided as a main part. In the illustrated example, four terminals 31 to 34 are provided as terminals (HA terminals) for connecting the HA terminal device 5 (more specifically, via the interface unit 6). The communication line 4 connected to the heat source device 1 is connected to the communication interface.

  More specifically, this adapter device 3 is a device for connecting HA terminal devices 5 (four units of reference numerals 51 to 54 in the illustrated example) conforming to the Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association standard JEM 1427, and the microcomputer is A control signal for switching on / off the device is transmitted (via the interface unit 6) to the HA terminal devices 51 to 54 connected to the HA terminals 31 to 34. On the other hand, the HA terminal device 5 that has received this control signal switches the on / off state of the device in accordance with the control signal, and adapts the current operation status (signal indicating whether the operation is on or off) as monitoring information. Return to device 3. The microcomputer determines that there is no connection of the HA terminal device 5 to the HA terminal when no monitoring signal is returned from the HA terminal device 5 side.

  As the HA terminal device 5, various devices such as an air conditioner, a lighting fixture, an electric shutter, and a floor heating device can be used as long as they meet the above standards.

  Next, the operation of the heat source machine communication system configured as described above will be described. As described above, in the present embodiment, the remote controller 2 and the adapter device 3 are connected by the same two-core communication line 4 via the heat source unit 1 and are configured to be able to communicate with each other. Between the adapter device 3 and the remote control 2, information (connection status, operation status, etc.) of the HA terminal device 5 included in the adapter device 3 is transmitted to the remote control 2 via the heat source device 1. Remote operation commands for the individual HA terminal devices 5 are transmitted to the adapter device 3.

  More specifically, the adapter device 3 includes the connection status of the HA terminal device 5 at the HA terminals 31 to 34 (whether or not the device is connected for each HA terminal) and the operation status (the device ON / OFF status for each HA terminal). Information (control information) is transmitted to the heat source unit 1 for each HA terminal.

  The heat source device 1 that has received the control information identifies in the control device 12 whether the received control information is information about the HA terminal device 5 connected to which HA terminal of the adapter device 3 (in this case). The control device 12 of the heat source unit 1 functions as information identification means). This identification is performed based on information (terminal specifying data) for specifying the HA terminal included in the control information transmitted from the adapter device 3. When the HA terminal device 5 connected to which HA terminal is identified, the model data stored in the storage device 13 is added to the remote controller 2 based on the identification result.

  Here, the model data is composed of data in which the user inputs and stores information on the model for each HA terminal using the operation device of the remote controller 2 when the HA terminal device 5 is connected to the adapter device 3. The The model data is preferably data that specifies at least the type of the HA terminal device 5 (type such as an air conditioner or a lighting fixture). For example, the model data is composed of more detailed information data such as a specific model name. It is also possible.

  On the other hand, in the remote controller 2, by receiving the control information to which the model data is added, the control unit 22 automatically recognizes the connection of the adapter device 3, and the display unit 24 can display the control information. . Therefore, in this state, when a status display request for the adapter device 3 (HA terminal device 5) is made by a predetermined operation of the operation unit 23, the control unit 22 causes the display unit 24 to display the adapter device 3 (HA terminal device 5). Display the status display screen. That is, in this case, the control unit 22 of the remote controller 2 functions as display control means.

  Specifically, on the remote controller 2 side, when displaying the control information, together with the control information (connection status, operation status, etc.), the HA terminal device 5 is based on the model data added by the heat source unit 1. Model information that identifies the type of the device is displayed.

  The control information and model information can be displayed in characters such as “air conditioner on” and “air conditioner off”, and the type and status of the model can be displayed as characters or icons (icons) that can be recognized at a time. Is possible. Here, an example of an icon is shown in FIG. 4A is an icon indicating ON / OFF of the air conditioner, FIG. 4B is an icon indicating ON / OFF of the floor heating device, FIG. 4C is an icon indicating opening / closing of the electric shutter, 4 (d) shows icons indicating ON / OFF of the lighting fixture. When using the above-described icons, data related to these icons is stored in advance in the display unit 24 of the remote controller 2, and the data is used for display. Further, as the icon, not only a still image but also a moving image can be adopted.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the remote controller 2 of the heat source device 1 can confirm the display of the control information (the presence or absence of connection and the operating status) of the HA terminal device 5 connected to the adapter device 3. The state of the HA terminal device 5 can be easily confirmed without using a dedicated display device for the HA terminal device 5.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the control information transmitted from the adapter device 3 and the addition of the model data are performed by the heat source device 1 has been described. For example, the storage device 13 is provided on the remote controller 2 side, and If the control unit 22 of the remote controller 2 has a function of identifying whether the received control information is information about the HA terminal device 5 connected to which HA terminal of the adapter device 3, the remote controller 2 side The series of processes described above can be performed. That is, in this case, the control unit 22 of the remote controller 2 functions as an information identification unit. Further, data relating to the icon is stored in the adapter device 3 in advance, information on the HA terminal device 5 connected to the HA terminal is identified, and the stored data relating to the icon is transmitted to the remote controller 2 for display. May be.

  On the other hand, a remote operation command input to the HA terminal device 5 is input using the operation unit 23 of the remote controller 2. That is, remote control command commands that can be analyzed by the adapter device 3 (specifically, designation of the HA terminals 31 to 34 and on / off switching commands) are prepared in the control unit 22 of the remote controller 2. The command is configured to be transmitted from the remote controller 2 to the adapter device 3 by a predetermined operation of the operation unit 23. Specifically, by operating the operation unit 23, the HA terminals 31 to 34 of the adapter device 3 in the remote controller 2 such as “HA terminal 31 on (or off)” and “HA terminal 32 off (or on)”. The operation command is set and transmitted every time. That is, in this case, the control unit 22 and the operation unit 23 constitute a command transmission unit for the adapter device 3.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the HA terminal device 5 connected to the adapter device 3 can be individually remotely controlled using the remote controller 2 of the heat source device 1. When inputting a remote operation command in the remote controller 2, the model information described above is used to display on the display unit 24 what model is connected to each HA terminal 31 to 34 of the adapter device 3. Is preferred.

Embodiment 2
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment shows a configuration in which the heat source machine communication system shown in the first embodiment described above is connected to an external monitoring server.

  In the present embodiment, although not particularly illustrated, a communication interface for transmitting / receiving information to / from the network control device 9 described later is added to the adapter device 3, and the adapter device 3 is connected via the communication interface. Since the configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment except that (and the heat source unit 1) is communicably connected via the communication line 4, the parts having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. To do.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 7 denotes a monitoring server installed in a service center of a gas company or the like, and this monitoring server 7 is connected to a public telephone line 8, and the public telephone line 8 and network control described later. The information obtained from the heat source unit 1 and the adapter device 3 through the device 9 is centrally managed, and the HA terminal device 5 connected to the heat source unit 1 and the adapter device 3 through the public telephone line 8 On the other hand, it is composed of a computer system that outputs remote control commands individually or uniformly.

  The remote control command output from the monitoring server 7 to the heat source unit 1 and the adapter device 3 is output on a regular basis based on a predetermined time or cycle set on the control program of the monitoring server 7. In addition to the above, it is also possible to output based on a command from a communication terminal (not shown) (for example, a mobile phone or a mobile personal computer) connected to the monitoring server 7 in communication.

  Reference numeral 9 denotes a network control device that is connected to the monitoring server 7 via the public telephone line 8, specifically, communication by a telephone terminal (telephone) (not shown), and an adapter device. 3 is provided with a communication switching function for switching between data communication by 3 and using the public telephone line 8. In the present embodiment, a T-NCU is preferably used as the network control device 3.

  Therefore, in the heat source unit communication system shown in the second embodiment, in addition to the operation of the first embodiment described above, information (operation status, failure history, etc.) of the heat source unit 1 and the adapter unit via the adapter unit 3 Information on the HA terminal device 5 connected to 3 (device connection status, operation status, etc.) can be transmitted to the monitoring server 7 and connected to the adapter device 3 based on a remote operation command from the monitoring server 7 The operation control (ON / OFF control) of the HA terminal device 5 and the operation control of the heat source device 1 can be performed.

  Therefore, according to the heat source apparatus communication system shown in the second embodiment, the monitoring server 7 can perform remote operation and information management of the HA terminal device 5 and the heat source apparatus 1, so that the heat source apparatus communication system is more convenient for the user. Can provide.

  Note that the above-described embodiments merely show preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these, and various design changes can be made within the scope thereof.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the control of the HA terminal device 5 by the adapter device 3 is the on / off control has been described. However, more detailed operation control can be performed. In the above-described embodiment, the case where four HA terminals are provided in the adapter device 3 has been described. However, the number of the terminals can be appropriately changed in design.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the connection between the monitoring server 7 and the network control device 9 is via the public telephone line 8, but the connection between them is another public communication line, for example, wide area communication such as the Internet. It is also possible to carry out via a network. In this case, the network control device 9 is appropriately selected from devices other than the T-NCU according to the mode of the communication line to be used.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the heat-source equipment communication system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a heat source machine in the heat source machine communication system. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the remote control in the same heat source unit communication system. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display mode of the remote control in the same heat source unit communication system. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of 2nd Embodiment of the same heat source unit communication system.

1 Heat source machine 2 Remote control (operating device)
3 Adapter device 4 Communication line 5 HA terminal device 6 Interface unit 7 Monitoring server 8 Public telephone line 9 Network control device

Claims (4)

In the heat source device communications system comprising a heat source unit and its operating device, the adapter device including a plurality of HA terminal for connecting an HA terminal equipment is provided,
The operating device and the adapter device are each connected to the heat source device via a two-core communication line,
The adapter device includes at least device control means for transmitting / receiving control information to / from an HA terminal device connected to the HA terminal, and communication means for communication with the heat source communication system, HA terminal device The connection status and the operation status of are configured to be transmitted to the operation device via the heat source unit for each HA terminal,
The heat source unit communication system includes display control means for displaying the connection status and operation status for each HA terminal obtained by communication with the communication means on the display unit of the operating device, and according to the operation of the operating device. And a command transmission means for transmitting a command comprising an HA terminal designation and an on / off switching command to the adapter device, and remotely operating the HA terminal device by the command transmitted from the command transmission means. Heat source machine communication system. The heat source communication system is information identifying means for identifying whether the connection status and operation status of each HA terminal obtained by communication with the adapter device is information on the device connected to which HA terminal; Storage means for storing model data for model display for each HA terminal;
2. The heat source device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays model information based on the identification result and the model data when displaying the connection status and operation status of each HA terminal. Communications system.   The heat source unit communication system according to claim 2, wherein the model data stored in the storage unit can be set by operating an operation unit of the operation device. The heat source device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the adapter device includes a communication interface for transmitting and receiving information to and from a network control device for communication connection with an external server. Communications system.

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