JP5123412B2 - Sensor system - Google Patents

Abstract

In this sensor system, which is provided with a plurality of human presence sensors (240A-240G) having different operation modes, the different operation modes include a low-power consumption mode, in which power consumption of the human presence sensors is suppressed, and a non low-power consumption mode. Each of the human presence sensors includes: a sensor unit for sensing a change of presence of human; a communication unit for communicating with external apparatuses; and a control unit for switching the operation mode of the human presence sensor to the low power consumption mode or to the non low-power consumption mode.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor system, and more particularly to a sensor system including a plurality of human sensors.

  From the viewpoint of reducing energy consumption, a system that collectively manages the amount of power consumed by home appliances is provided. In such a system, a human sensor is installed in the house, and operation control of lighting, air-conditioning equipment, etc. is performed (when there are no people, the equipment is turned off or the brightness, and the set temperature is changed). However, in order to reduce the power consumption related to the system, it is also required to reduce the power consumption of the human sensor itself.

  In order to meet such a demand, an illumination control system according to Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-33837) has been proposed.

JP 2010-33837 A

  The sensor of the lighting control system of Patent Document 1 is activated based on the opening / closing of the door or the brightness of the space, that is, even if there is no change in the presence of a person, such as the door opening / closing due to wind or the brightness change due to sunlight. Electric power is consumed due to useless activation. Moreover, since the sensor is premised on cooperation with a door opening / closing sensor or a brightness sensor, it lacks versatility.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sensor system that can reduce power consumption.

  In a sensor system including a plurality of human sensors having different operation modes according to an aspect of the present invention, the different operation modes include a low power consumption mode in which power consumption of the human sensor is suppressed, and non-low A power consumption mode is included. The sensor system includes a sensor unit for sensing a change in the presence of a person, a communication unit for communicating with an external device, and an operation mode of the human sensor in a low power consumption mode or And a control unit for switching to the non-low power consumption mode.

  Preferably, the communication unit receives a control command based on a detection signal by a sensing operation of another human sensor, and the control unit switches the operation mode of the human sensor according to the received control command.

  Preferably, the sensor system further includes a controller that communicates with each human sensor. The controller includes a communication interface for communicating with a plurality of human sensors, a memory that stores identification information assigned to other human sensors, corresponding to the identification information assigned to each human sensor, A processor for controlling each human sensor so as to change an operation mode.

  The processor transmits, via the communication interface, a control command including identification information stored in the memory corresponding to the identification information of the transmission source human sensor of the detection signal received via the communication interface.

  Each human sensor transmits a detection signal based on a sensing operation to the controller through the communication unit, and receives a control command including identification information from the controller.

  Preferably, when the processor determines that a change from the absence of the person to the presence is detected based on the received detection signal, the control command includes a startup command for changing the operation mode to the startup mode.

  Preferably, the control unit of each human sensor transmits a control command based on a detection signal by a sensing operation of the human sensor to the other human sensor.

  Preferably, the controller transmits an operation control signal to the plurality of devices based on the received detection signal, and the area where the plurality of devices are installed overlaps with the area where the plurality of human sensors are installed.

  Preferably, the low power consumption mode includes a startup mode in which the sensor unit is capable of sensing operation, and the non-low power consumption mode is a mode in which the sensor unit is incapable of sensing operation and is compared with the startup mode. A sleep mode with low power consumption is included.

  Preferably, the low power consumption mode includes an active mode in which the communication unit is capable of communication operation, and the non-low power consumption mode is a mode in which the communication unit is incapable of communication operation and is compared with the active mode. Includes sleep mode with low power consumption.

  A controller according to another aspect of the present invention includes a communication interface for communicating with a plurality of human sensors having different operation modes, and a processor for changing the operation mode of each human sensor according to a control command. Prepare.

  The different operation modes include a low power consumption mode in which power consumption of the human sensor is suppressed and a non-low power consumption mode.

  Corresponding to the identification information assigned to each human sensor, the processor stores the identification information assigned to the other human sensor in the memory, and sends a detection signal from the sensing operation of the human sensor via the communication interface. When receiving, the control command including the identification information stored in the memory corresponding to the identification information of the source human sensor of the received detection signal is transmitted via the communication interface.

  A sensor control method according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a communication interface for communicating with a plurality of human sensors having different operation modes, and corresponding person identification information assigned to each human sensor. A memory for storing identification information assigned to other human sensors to be controlled based on a detection signal of the human sensor, and a processor for controlling each human sensor so as to change an operation mode according to a control command Is a sensor control method in a controller including the above.

  The different operation modes include a low power consumption mode in which power consumption of the human sensor is suppressed and a non-low power consumption mode. In the sensor control method, when the processor receives a detection signal from the sensing operation via the communication interface, the processor reads out the identification information corresponding to the identification information of the source human sensor of the received detection signal from the memory; and the processor Transmitting a control command including the identification information read by the reading step via the communication interface.

  According to the present invention, the human sensor can change the power consumption of the entire sensor system by switching its own operation mode between the low power consumption mode in which power consumption is suppressed and the non-low power consumption mode. Can be reduced.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the example of arrangement | positioning in the indoor of the human sensitive sensor which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the human sensitive sensor which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the structure of the home controller which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the table of the home controller which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the frame for communication which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flowchart concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a processing flowchart concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a figure explaining the table of the human sensitive sensor concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a processing flowchart concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is another block diagram of the frame for communication which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation mode of the human sensitive sensor which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a whole block diagram of the other network system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will not be repeated.

  In this embodiment mode, the home appliance is an electric device used in a house and refers to an electric device driven by electric power supplied from the outside. A house refers to a house, an office, etc., for example.

  Terms used in the present embodiment will be described. In order to detect a change in the presence of a person, the “human sensor” receives, for example, infrared rays emitted from the surface of the human body and detects the presence of the person based on the received signal. The detection method is not limited to this, and another method, for example, an infrared beam may be emitted and reflected light of the beam may be received.

  The human sensor includes a sensor and a communication unit, and has a plurality of different “operation modes”. The different operation modes include a low power consumption mode in which power consumption is suppressed and a non-low power consumption mode. Specifically, a “start-up mode” that is a non-low power consumption mode and a “sleep mode” that is a low power consumption mode are included. “Activation mode” refers to an operation mode in which a change in the presence of a person can be sensed, and “pause mode” refers to an operation mode in which the sensing operation is not possible and consumes less power than the activation mode. The different operation modes further include an “active mode” that is a non-low power consumption mode and a “sleep mode” that is a low power consumption mode for the communication unit. “Active mode” refers to a mode in which communication with an external device is possible, and “Sleep mode” refers to an operation mode in which communication with an external device is not possible and consumes less power than the active mode. .

[Embodiment 1]
<Overall configuration of network system>
First, the overall configuration of the network system according to the present embodiment will be described. Referring to FIG. 1, network system 1 according to the present embodiment is installed in, for example, a house, an office, a factory, or the like. The network system 1 includes an air conditioner 200A installed in a living room, a television 200B installed in the living room, a curtain opening / closing device 200C installed in the living room, a refrigerator 200D installed in the kitchen, and a light installed in the dining room. Includes household appliances such as 200E. The illustrated home appliances are examples, and the present invention is not limited to these.

  The network system 1 includes a solar power generation device 200X, a battery 200Y, and a power conditioner 200Z for controlling them. The battery 200Y may be installed in a house or the like, or may be an automobile battery that is also used as a house battery. Network system 1 further includes human sensors 240A to 240G.

  The network system 1 includes a home controller 100 for controlling home appliances 200A to 200E, a solar power generation device 200X, a battery 200Y, a power conditioner 200Z for controlling them, human sensors 240A to 240G, and the like. The home controller 100 communicates with the home appliances 200A to 200E, the solar power generation device 200X, the battery 200Y, the power conditioner 200Z for controlling them, the human sensors 240A to 240G, and the like via a wired or wireless network 401. Is possible. The home controller 100 uses, for example, a wireless local area network (LAN), ZigBee (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), wired LAN, or PLC (Power Line Communications) as the network 401. The home controller 100 may be portable, may be detachable from a base (not shown) placed on a table, or may be fixed to a wall of a room. Good.

  In the network system 1 according to the present embodiment, the power conditioner 200Z supplies power to the battery 200Y, the system, the home appliances 200A to 200E, and the human sensors 240A to 240G via the power line 402. And the power conditioner 200Z acquires electric power from the solar power generation device 200X, the battery 200Y, and a system (such as an electric power system provided by an electric power company) via the power line 402.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 1 includes a sensor system in which the home controller 100 controls the human sensors 240A to 240G. Here, for the purpose of explanation, the human sensors 240A to 240G are collectively referred to as the human sensors 240.

<Overview of network system operation>
In the network system 1, when the home controller 100 receives the detection signal based on the sensing operation from the human sensors 240 </ b> A to 240 </ b> G, the home controller 100 controls the operation of each of the plurality of home appliances 200 </ b> A to 200 </ b> E by transmitting an operation control signal based on the detection signal. To do.

  Here, the area where household appliances 200A to 200E are installed and the area where human sensors 240A to 240G are installed partially or entirely overlap. Therefore, by storing information in which each home appliance is associated with a human sensor installed in the vicinity of the home appliance, according to the stored information, the human sensor is based on the detection signal of the human sensor. It is possible to control the operation of home appliances near the sensor.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the network system 1 for realizing such a function will be described in detail.

<Example of human sensor installation>
With reference to FIG. 2, the example of arrangement | positioning in the indoor of a human sensitive sensor is demonstrated. Referring to FIG. 2, the room is divided into rooms RD, RE, RF, and RG. A person can walk along the corridor into the room RD or RE when entering from the entrance, and can enter the rooms RF and RG as he further proceeds through the corridor. In each room, home appliances 200A to 200E are installed (not shown).

  In each room, human sensors 240D, 240E, 240F and 240G are attached on the wall surface, more preferably on the ceiling surface. In the hallway, human sensors 240A, 240B, and 240C are attached in order from the entrance toward the back of the hallway. A human sensor 240A is attached to the entrance, and human sensors 240B and 240C are attached near the entrance door of each room.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the operation mode of the entrance human sensor 240A is always the activation mode. Further, it is assumed that a person starts moving from the entrance and then moves according to a route connected to each room as indicated by a route RT.

<Configuration of human sensor>
The human sensors 240A to 240G have the same configuration. With reference to FIG. 3, the circuit configuration of the human sensor 240 will be described. The human sensor 240 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 241, a sensor 242, a 5V power supply circuit 243 for supplying electric power from the power line 402 to each part in the human sensor 240, the home controller 100, and other human sensors 240. A communication I / F (abbreviation of interface) 244, a memory 245, and a timer 249. The 5V power supply circuit 243 includes an SW (switch) circuit 248 that switches ON / OFF of power supply to the sensor 242.

  The sensor 242 includes a photodiode that receives infrared rays and outputs a detection signal, which is an electric signal having a level corresponding to the received light level, to the CPU 241 for the sensing operation. The photodiode operates with, for example, a 5V rated power supply. The SW circuit 248 controls the 5V power supply circuit 243 in accordance with a signal from the CPU 241, thereby switching ON / OFF (supply / cutoff) of the power supply voltage (5V) signal supplied to the sensor 242. In the start mode, the rated power (5 V) is supplied to the sensor 242 and is shut off in the sleep mode. Therefore, although the sensing operation is impossible in the sleep mode, the power consumption in the human sensor 240 can be reduced compared to the activation mode.

  The CPU 241 transmits a detection signal from the sensor 242 to the home controller 100 via the communication I / F 244. Further, the CPU 241 determines whether or not a change from the absence of the person to the presence is detected based on the detection signal.

  The memory 245 stores a controller address 246 for identifying the home controller 100 for communication and a self address 247 assigned for identifying the human sensor 240.

  The communication I / F 244 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and a communication circuit unit (a modulation circuit, a demodulation circuit, an error correction circuit, etc.) for communicating with an external device (the home controller 100 or the human sensor 240). The MPU switches the operation mode of the communication I / F 244 to an active mode or a sleep mode according to a control signal from the CPU 241. The MPU supplies power from the power supply circuit 243 to the communication circuit unit in the active mode, but cuts off the power in the sleep mode. Therefore, in the sleep mode, communication operation with an external device is impossible, but the power consumption in the human sensor 240 can be reduced compared to the active mode.

<Configuration of home controller 100>
One aspect of the configuration of the home controller 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 4A, the home controller 100 includes a memory 101, a display 102, a tablet 103, a button 104, a communication interface 105, a speaker 107 for outputting audio, a clock 108 for measuring time, and A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 110 is included.

  The memory 101 is realized by various types of RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), a hard disk, and the like. For example, the memory 101 is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk-Read Only Memory), which is used via a reading interface. USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, memory card, FD (Flexible Disk), hard disk, magnetic tape, cassette tape, MO (Magnetic Optical Disc), MD (Mini Disc), IC (Integrated Circuit) card (excluding memory cards) It is also realized by a medium for storing a program in a nonvolatile manner such as an optical card, a mask ROM, an EPROM, and an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

  The memory 101 stores a control program executed by the CPU 110 and data for the control program. The data includes a table 101A and a self address 101B for identifying itself for communication.

  The display 102 displays the state of the home appliances 200A to 200E and the power conditioner 200Z by being controlled by the CPU 110. The tablet 103 detects a touch operation with a user's finger and outputs a user instruction based on the detected operation to the CPU 110. The user can also give a user instruction to the CPU 110 by operating the button 104.

  In the present embodiment, a tablet 103 is laid on the surface of the display 102. That is, in the present embodiment, display 102 and tablet 103 constitute touch panel 106. However, the home controller 100 may not have the tablet 103.

  The communication interface 105 is controlled by the CPU 110 to communicate with the home appliances 200A to 200E and the human sensors 240A to 240G via the network 401.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the clock 108 of the home controller 100 and the timer 249 of each human sensor 240 are synchronized with each other to measure time.

  FIG. 4B shows functions realized by the CPU 110 executing the program in the memory 101. The CPU 110 generates and generates, as the functions, a reading unit 111 for searching the table 101A and reading data, a storage unit 112 for storing information given by a user instruction in the table 101A, and a control command. The command transmission unit 113 for transmitting the control command via the communication I / F 105 is included.

  The storage unit 112 is installed in the vicinity of the human sensor to be controlled based on the detection signal of the human sensor corresponding to the address assigned to each human sensor based on the information given by the user instruction. Addresses assigned to other human sensors are stored in the table 101A.

  When the reading unit 111 receives a detection signal from the human sensor 240 via the communication interface 105 via the communication interface 105, the reading unit 111 searches the table 101A based on the address of the source human sensor 240 of the received detection signal, Read the address of the human sensor.

  The command transmission unit 113 generates a control command including the address read by the reading unit 111 and transmits the control command via the communication interface 105.

  Here, each function in FIG. 4B is configured by a program, but may be configured by a combination of a program and a circuit module.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a table 101A stored in the memory 101. The table 101A stores the addresses of other human sensors 240 installed in the vicinity of the human sensor 240 corresponding to the addresses of the human sensors 240. In FIG. 5, “240A” to “240G” are used as addresses of the human sensors 240A to 240G for the sake of explanation. In the table 101A, for example, when the presence sensor 240A detects a change from the absence of a person to the presence, the address “240B” of the presence sensor 240B is used as the address of the nearby presence sensor 240 whose operation mode should be changed to the activation mode. "Is stored in association with each other. Similarly, when the human sensor 240B detects, the addresses of the human sensors 240A and 240C to 240E are stored in association with each other as the human sensor 240 in the vicinity to be activated. The same applies to the other human sensors 240C to 240G.

  In the present embodiment, the nearby human sensor 240 is determined according to the movement route of the person as shown by the route RT in FIG. Therefore, the human sensor 240 that should change the operation mode to the activation mode can be determined according to the movement route.

<About communication frames>
With reference to FIG. 6, the frame structure for communication according to the present embodiment will be described. The frame includes a header HE including frame type data, a data portion DB, and a termination portion ST including a stop bit indicating the termination of the frame. The home controller 100 and the human sensor 240 determine the type of the received frame based on the type data of the header HE of the received frame.

  A frame F1 in FIG. 6A transmitted from the home controller 100 is a frame for transmitting a control command, and includes a destination address, a transmission source address, and a start / pause command in the data part DB. The start / stop command indicates a start command for changing the operation mode to the start mode or a stop command for changing the operation mode to the stop mode.

  A frame F2 in FIG. 6B transmitted from the human sensor 240 is a frame for transmitting the detection signal of the sensor 242, and includes a destination address, a transmission source address, and a detection code in the data part DB. The detection code refers to a code based on a detection signal output from the sensor 242.

  When the detection signal is input from the sensor 242, the CPU 241 of the human sensor 240 generates a frame F2 that stores a detection code based on the detection signal, and transmits the frame F2 via the communication I / F 244. In the frame F2, a controller address 246 and a self address 247 read from the memory 245 by the CPU 241 are stored as a destination address and a transmission source address, respectively.

  When the CPU 110 of the home controller 100 receives the frame F1 via the communication I / F 105, the reading unit 111 searches the table 101A based on the transmission source address of the received frame F1 and reads the address of the nearby human sensor 240. . The command transmission unit 113 generates a frame F1 that stores the start command and transmits the frame F1 via the communication I / F 105. In the frame F1, the address of the other human sensor 240 read by the reading unit 111 from the table 101A and the self address 101B are stored as a destination address and a source address, respectively.

<Control by home controller 100>
The control of the human sensor 240 by the home controller 100 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. It is assumed that, among the human sensors 240A to 240G, the human sensor 240A installed at the entrance is always set to the start mode as described above, and the other human sensors are set to the sleep mode in advance. .

  The CPU 110 of the home controller 100 determines whether or not to receive a frame from the human sensor 240 via the communication I / F 105 (step S1). If it is determined that the frame F2 is received based on the type data of the header HE of the received frame (YES in step S1), the CPU 110 analyzes the frame F2 (step S3). The reading unit 111 searches the table 101A based on the transmission source address acquired by frame analysis. As a result of the search, the address of the corresponding human sensor 240 in the vicinity is read and output to the command transmission unit 113 (step S5).

  The command transmission unit 113 stores the address of the nearby human sensor 240 input from the reading unit 111 as a destination address, and generates a frame F1 in which an activation command is stored (step S7). The generated frame F1 is transmitted via the communication I / F 105 (step 9).

  The operation of each human sensor will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 241 of each human sensor 240 determines whether or not to receive a frame via the communication I / F 244 (step S31). If it is determined that the frame has been received (YES in step S31), it is determined whether it is the frame F2 based on the type data of the header HE of the received frame, and whether the destination address of the received frame matches the self address of the memory 245 And based on the determination result, it is determined whether or not it is the frame F2 addressed to itself (step S33). If it is determined that it is not the frame F2 addressed to itself (NO in step 33), the received frame is discarded (step S35), and the process returns to step S31.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the frame is addressed to itself (YES in step 33), the frame F2 is temporarily stored in the memory 245. The CPU 241 analyzes the received frame F2 stored in the memory 245, and reads a control command from the data part DB (step S37). The CPU 241 switches the operation mode of the human sensor 240 based on the read control command (step 39).

  When the CPU 241 determines that the control command indicates “start command”, the CPU 241 switches the operation mode to the start mode. Specifically, the CPU 241 outputs a start signal to the power supply circuit 243. When the signal is input, the power supply circuit 243 controls the SW circuit 248 to output a voltage signal of 5 V to the sensor 242. Accordingly, a human sensing operation by the nearby human sensor 240 can be performed according to the human movement route.

  Here, the command transmission unit 113 transmits the control command frame F1 including the activation command over a certain period in order to maintain the nearby human sensor 240 in the activation mode for a certain period based on the movement time of the person. Repeat. Thereafter, a control command frame F1 including a pause command is generated and transmitted to the nearby human sensor 240. When the CPU 241 of each nearby human sensor 240 receives the frame F <b> 1 in which the control command indicates “pause command”, the CPU 241 outputs a signal for pausing to the power supply circuit 243. When the power supply circuit 243 receives the signal, the power supply circuit 243 controls the SW circuit 248 to stop outputting the 5V voltage signal. The nearby human sensor 240 shifts to the sleep mode and then enters a power saving state until receiving a “start command”.

<Control by human sensor 240>
With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10, a procedure in which each human sensor 240 controls the human sensor 240 nearby instead of the home controller 100 will be described. Here again, it is assumed that the human sensor 240A installed at the entrance among the human sensors 240A to 240G is always set in the start mode, and the other human sensors 240 are set in the pause mode in advance.

  For this control, the memory 245 of each human sensor 240 stores a table 245A as shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 9, in table 245A, when human sensor 240 detects a change from the absence of a person to the presence, the address of human sensor 240 in the vicinity that should change the operation mode to the startup mode is stored. Stored. FIG. 9 illustrates a table 245A of the human sensor 240B. In the present embodiment, the table 245A is distributed from the home controller 100 to each human sensor 240 and stored in the memory 245. However, the user operates the switch (not shown) of the human sensor 240 to input. Also good.

  Referring to FIG. 10, CPU 241 of human sensor 240 determines whether or not a detection signal is input from sensor 242 (step S11). When the detection signal is input (YES in step S11), the CPU 241 searches the table 245A of the memory 245 and reads the address of the nearby human sensor 240 (step S17). Then, a frame F1 in which the read address is stored in the destination address is generated (step S19). In the generated frame F1, the self address 247 of the memory 245 is stored as a transmission source address, and an “activation command” is stored as a control command. The generated frame F1 is transmitted via the communication I / F 244 (step S21).

  The human sensor 240 receives the frame F1 transmitted in step S21 according to the flowchart of FIG. The human sensor 240 that has received the frame F1 addressed to itself switches the operation mode to the start mode based on the control command of the reception frame F1, and starts the sensing operation.

  Thus, even if the human sensor 240 transmits a control command, the CPU 241 keeps the nearby human sensor 240 in the start mode for a certain period based on the movement time of the person. The control command frame F1 including is repeated over a certain period, and then the control command frame F1 including the pause command is generated and transmitted to the nearby human sensor 240.

  Whether the nearby human sensor 240 is controlled by the home controller 100 or the human sensor 240 depends on the operation of an external switch (not shown) of each human sensor 240 and the button 104 of the home controller 100. It is assumed that it can be switched freely by the above operation.

  As described above, the human sensor 240 is not activated in conjunction with the movement of the door or the lighting device, but activates another human sensor according to a change in the presence of a person, and thus has versatility.

(Modification)
In the network system 1 described above, the power consumption is reduced by switching the operation mode of each human sensor 240 between the start mode and the sleep mode with respect to the sensor 242, but the power consumption of the human sensor 240 is reduced. The method is not limited to this, and the power consumption may be reduced by switching between the active mode and the sleep mode for the communication I / F 244 as follows.

  With reference to FIG. 11, a frame configuration for communication according to a modification of the present embodiment will be described. The basic configuration of the frame according to the modified example includes a header HE, a data part DB, and a termination part ST, as described above. The home controller 100 and the human sensor 240 determine the type of the received frame based on the type data of the header HE of the received frame.

  The type of the frame F3 in FIG. 11A transmitted from each human sensor 240 indicates a frame for requesting the home controller 100 for data addressed to itself, and in the data part DB of the frame F3, A destination address, a source address, and a request code are included. The type of the frame F4 in FIG. 11B indicates a frame in which data transmitted by the home controller 100 in response to the request code of the frame F3 is stored. The configuration of the frame F4 is the frame in FIG. Since it is the same as that of F1, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating switching between the active mode and the sleep mode related to the communication I / F 244 according to the modification of the present embodiment. The CPU 241 of each human sensor 240 according to the modification outputs a control signal for mode switching based on the time data from the timer 249. When the control signal from the CPU 249 instructs to switch to the active mode, the MPU of the communication I / F 244 turns on (supplies) the power to the communication circuit unit and instructs to switch to the sleep mode. The power to the communication circuit unit is turned off (cut off).

  As shown in FIG. 12, the operation mode related to the communication I / F 244 is intermittently switched to the active mode or the sleep mode based on the control signal for mode switching. Here, it is assumed that the period of the active mode and the switching period to the active mode are set to a period and a period in which the home controller 100 can receive the frame F4 addressed to itself at an appropriate timing, and the length of this period. Further, it is assumed that the period is acquired in advance by an experiment. As shown in the figure, the home controller 100 is in a mode in which communication is always possible.

  In FIG. 12, in order to easily reduce the power consumption, the active mode period per unit period is set to be sufficiently shorter than the sleep mode period. The operation mode switching pattern is not limited to the mode shown in FIG.

  In operation, the communication I / F 244 of the human sensor 240 communicates with the home controller 100 in the active mode. Specifically, the frame F3 is generated and transmitted to the home controller 100. When the home controller 100 receives the frame F3, if the frame F4 addressed to the requesting human sensor 240 is generated, the home controller 100 transmits the frame F4 as a response. When the CPU 241 receives the frame F4 from the home controller 100 via the communication I / F 244, the CPU 241 switches the operation mode related to the sensor 242 to the start mode or the sleep mode based on the content of the received frame F4 according to the procedure of FIG.

  In the active mode, the communication I / F 244 transmits a frame F <b> 2 generated based on the detection result of the sensor 242 to the home controller 100. Upon receiving the frame F2, the home controller 100 generates a frame F4 (or F2) based on the received frame F2 in accordance with the procedure of FIG. 7, and transmits the frame F4 to the other human sensor 240. The other human sensor 240 receives the frame F4 from the home controller 100 via the communication I / F 244 in the active mode. Then, the CPU 241 switches the operation mode related to the sensor 242 to the start mode or the sleep mode based on the content of the reception frame F4 according to the procedure of FIG.

  Thus, by intermittently switching the operation mode related to the communication I / F 244 to the active mode or the sleep mode, the power consumption of the human sensor 240 itself can be reduced.

(Other variations)
FIG. 13 shows a network system 1B according to a modification. In the network system 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the home appliances 200A to 200E communicate with the home controller 100. However, in the network system 1B, each home appliance except the home appliance 200B supplies power to the home appliance. Communication with the home controller 100 is performed by communication devices (smart taps) 400A to 400E attached to a power outlet. Home appliances 200A to 200E excluding home appliance 200B are detachably attached to communication devices 400A to 400E via outlets 250A to 250E.

  Similarly, human sensors 240A to 240G are detachably attached to communication devices 440A to 440G. Therefore, the area where the human sensor 240 is installed can be freely changed in accordance with the installation area of home appliances, for example, and can be changed in accordance with the change of the resident's movement route. Communication devices 440 </ b> A to 440 </ b> G are connected to network 401 and power line 402. The human sensors 240A to 240G are supplied with power via the attached communication devices 440A to 440G, and can communicate with the home controller 100 and other human sensors.

  Other configurations of network system 1B are the same as those of network system 1, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

[Other embodiments]
The CPU 110 of the home controller 100 executes various types of information processing by executing various programs stored in the memory 101. Similarly, the CPU 241 of the human sensor 240 implements the above-described functions by executing a program stored in the memory 245.

  Processing in home controller 100 and human sensor 240 is realized by software executed by each hardware and CPU. Such software may be stored in advance in the memories 101 and 245. The software may be stored in a storage medium and distributed as a program product. Alternatively, the software may be provided as a program product that can be downloaded by an information provider connected to the so-called Internet.

  Such software is read from the storage medium by using a reading device (not shown) or downloaded by using the communication interfaces 105 and 244 and temporarily stored in the memories 101 and 245. The CPU reads the program from the memory and executes the program.

  As storage media, CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk-Read Only Memory), USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, memory card, FD (Flexible Disk), hard disk , Magnetic tape, cassette tape, MO (Magnetic Optical Disc), MD (Mini Disc), IC (Integrated Circuit) card (excluding memory card), optical card, mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) And the like, for example, a medium for storing the program in a nonvolatile manner.

  The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU but also a program in a source program format, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  1, 1B network system, 100 home controller, 101A, 245A table, 101B, 247 self address, 111 reading unit, 112 storage unit, 113 command transmission unit, 240, 240A-240G human sensor, 246 controller address, 401 network, 402 Power line, F1, F2, F3, F4 frame.

Claims (11)

A sensor system comprising a plurality of human sensors having different operation modes,
The different operation modes include a low power consumption mode in which power consumption of the human sensor is suppressed and a non-low power consumption mode.
Each human sensor is
A sensor unit for sensing changes in human presence;
A communication unit for communicating with an external device;
And a control unit for switching the operation mode of the person detecting sensor in the low power consumption mode or the non-low power mode seen including,
The communication unit receives a control command based on a detection signal by a sensing operation of another human sensor,
The control unit switches the operation mode of the human sensor according to the received control command . The sensor system further includes a controller that communicates with each human sensor,
The controller is
A communication interface for communicating with a plurality of human sensors;
Corresponding to the identification information assigned to each human sensor, a memory for storing the identification information assigned to other human sensors,
A processor for controlling each human sensor so as to change an operation mode,
The processor is
Transmitting the control command including the identification information stored in the memory corresponding to the identification information of the human sensor of the transmission source of the detection signal received via the communication interface, via the communication interface;
Each human sensor is
The sensor system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication unit transmits a detection signal based on a sensing operation to the controller and receives a control command including the identification information from the controller. When the processor determines that a change from absence to presence is detected based on the received detection signal, the control command includes a startup command for changing an operation mode to a startup mode. Item 3. The sensor system according to Item 2 . The control part of each human sensor is
The sensor system according to claim 1 , wherein a control command based on a detection signal by a sensing operation of the human sensor is transmitted to another human sensor. The control command includes a start command for changing an operation mode to a start mode when the control unit determines that a change from the absence of a person to the presence is detected based on the detection signal. 5. The sensor system according to 4 . The control command includes a pause command for changing the operation mode to the pause mode,
The sensor system according to claim 3 or 5 , wherein, when it is determined that a change from absence to presence is detected, a control command including a start command is transmitted, and then a control command including a pause command is transmitted. . The controller transmits an operation control signal to a plurality of devices based on the received detection signal,
The sensor system according to claim 2 , wherein an area where the plurality of devices are installed overlaps with an area where the plurality of human sensors are installed. The non- low power consumption mode includes a start mode in which the sensor unit can perform a sensing operation, and the low power consumption mode includes a mode in which the sensor unit is not capable of a sensing operation and is in the start mode. The sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , which includes a sleep mode in which power consumption is small compared. The non- low power consumption mode includes an active mode in which the communication unit can perform communication operation, and the low power consumption mode includes a mode in which the communication unit is incapable of communication operation and enters the active mode. The sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein a sleep mode that includes a smaller amount of power consumption is included. A communication interface for communicating with a plurality of human sensors having different operation modes;
A processor for changing the operation mode of each human sensor according to a control command;
The different operation modes include a low power consumption mode in which power consumption of the human sensor is suppressed and a non-low power consumption mode.
The processor is
Corresponding to the identification information assigned to each human sensor, the identification information assigned to the other human sensor is stored in the memory,
The control command including identification information stored in the memory corresponding to the identification information of the source human sensor of the received detection signal when receiving the detection signal by the sensing operation of the human sensor via the communication interface Is transmitted via the communication interface. A communication interface for communicating with a plurality of human sensors having different operation modes;
Corresponding to identification information assigned to each human sensor, a memory storing identification information assigned to another human sensor to be controlled based on a detection signal of the human sensor,
A sensor control method in a controller including a processor for controlling each human sensor so as to change an operation mode according to a control command,
The different operation modes include a low power consumption mode in which power consumption of the human sensor is suppressed and a non-low power consumption mode.
The sensor control method includes:
When the processor receives a detection signal due to a sensing operation via the communication interface, reading from the memory identification information corresponding to the identification information of the sender human sensor of the received detection signal;
And a step of transmitting, via the communication interface, the control command including the identification information read by the reading step.

Images