JP6828995B2 - Relay type guide light - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a guide light that is installed on a road or the like and can blink in a relay manner in order to guide the flow of a vehicle or the like.

Conventionally, there are many guide lights installed on roads as commercial products. Among them, there are many types of guide lights in which multiple guide lights blink at the same time or in a relay type. These guide lights are usually installed side by side on many roads, and their installation and management are time-consuming. Specifically, since relay-type blinking and synchronous blinking are performed, it is necessary to set each guide light so as to blink at a predetermined timing, which requires a great deal of labor. In particular, in the case of relay-type blinking, set so that light flows in the traveling direction of the vehicle.

Therefore, there is disclosed a device that transmits a lighting mode, a lighting timing, and the like to a large number of slave units arranged in a master unit by wireless communication and sets them. Although the details are unknown, according to the disclosed documents, it is not necessary to directly set the slave unit as long as the setting is made on the master unit, and it is possible to set a plurality of slave units at the same time by the master unit. However, since communication is performed by radio waves, the reachable range depends on the frequency and output of radio waves. For example, when the guide lights are installed on the road for 1 km, the master unit needs to reach the slave unit 1 km away. Then, it is necessary to mount a wireless communication device having a considerable output on the master unit. Then, depending on the output, there is a possibility that a problem in the Radio Law may occur, such as falling under an illegal radio station. It should be noted that information on the installation order is required to make the relay blink, but it is unclear how this point is solved.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 exists as a technique that realizes communication with a small output wireless communication device so that communication can be performed remotely from a master unit to a slave unit without causing the above-mentioned problems. ..

JP 2014-20033

In the technique of Patent Document 1, the above-mentioned information on the installation order is given to the slave unit by communication between the master unit and the slave unit in the order registration work of the slave unit. That is, at the actual site, the work of possessing the master unit, arranging the slave unit, and bringing the master unit closer to the slave unit to perform the registration work (including the registration of the ranking in particular) is performed. Since the relay type blinking starts when the master unit starts emitting light, the master unit is usually given the highest rank. When lighting is performed based on this order, the installation order of the master unit is naturally the first. By the way, on a road, particularly a place such as an expressway, the slave unit is arranged in the traveling direction from the loading platform of a slow-moving truck. It is dangerous to drive backwards on the road to ensure safety. However, the fact that the master unit is installed at the beginning as described above means that the installation registration work of the slave unit is completed up to the end of the installation location and it is necessary to install the master unit at the beginning again. It will be necessary to bring and install the master unit from the end of the order, which is the installation location of the final installation order, to the beginning, which is the installation location of the first installation order of the slave unit. Since the place installed at the beginning of the slave unit is the most upstream side where the traveling vehicle flows, this act of bringing it is nothing but running backwards on the road, which is a problem for ensuring work safety and working time. There will be a problem that an extra run will be required.

In view of these problems, the present invention is a relay type guide light whose lighting order can be registered and whose lighting can be controlled based on the order, and all the guide lights including themselves are lit. Or because the registration order of the master unit that has the function of outputting the blinking start command can be set to the lowest (the installation position is the most downstream along the flow of the traveling vehicle), the problem of reverse running and the extra time Provide a relay type guide light that can solve the problem of necessity.

Specifically, the registration order acquisition unit, the registration order holding unit, the registration order output unit that outputs the held registration order, the lap timer, and the reset signal acquisition unit that acquires the reset signal are received. A reset unit that resets the orbiting timer with a reset signal, a reset signal output unit that outputs a reset signal in response to the acquisition of the reset signal, and the signals of each acquisition unit and each output unit are used with other relay type guide lights. Provided is a relay-type guide lamp having a short-range radio unit for transmitting and receiving, a light emitting unit, and a control unit for controlling the light emitting unit according to the time measurement of the circular timer and the held registration order.

Further, in addition to the above features, the control start command holding unit that holds the control start command of the light emitting unit by the control unit, the control start command output unit that outputs the held control start command, and the control start command are acquired. Provided is a relay type guide light further including a control start command acquisition unit.

In addition to the above features, a master unit slave unit discriminating unit that discriminates between a master unit and a slave unit, a lighting start command input unit, and an input of a lighting start command when it is determined that the unit itself is a master unit. According to the above, a relay type guide lamp having a lighting start control unit that controls a control start command output unit so as to output a held control start command is provided.

Further, in addition to the above features, the control time length measuring unit for measuring the control time length, which is the time after the control start command acquisition unit acquires the control start command, and the control time length exceeding a predetermined value. In the case where the first time length determination unit that determines whether or not the signal has been reached and the determination by the master unit / slave unit determination unit are determined to be the master unit, the determination result by the time length determination unit is the above. Provided is a relay type guide lamp further including a reset timing control unit that controls a reset signal output unit so as to output the reset signal in the case of excess or arrival.

Further, in addition to the above features, a second time length determination unit that determines whether the control time length exceeds or reaches a predetermined value, and a reset signal acquisition unit that determines whether the control time length exceeds or reaches a predetermined value have acquired a reset signal. If the reset signal acquisition judgment unit and the reset signal acquisition judgment unit determine that the reset signal has not been acquired, the reset signal is output so that the reset signal is output even if the reset signal is not acquired. Provided is a relay type guide lamp further comprising a reset signal output control unit for controlling the output unit.

Then, the present invention provides a relay type guide light operation program that can be read and executed by a computer and an operation method of the relay type guide light that is executed by the computer with respect to the processing flow that can obtain the same effect as the function of the above device.

In the relay type guide light of the present invention, the relay type blinking operation is possible with the slave unit installed first and the order registered as the head, and it is not necessary to arrange the master unit at the head position.

The figure which shows the lighting operation of the relay type guide lamp which concerns on this invention. Another diagram showing the lighting operation of the relay type guide light according to the present invention. Another diagram showing the lighting operation of the relay type guide light according to the present invention. The figure which shows the functional structure of the relay type guide light at the time of carrying out Example 1. The figure which showed an example of the order registration operation of the relay type guide light of Example 1. A flowchart showing an example of an outline of the processing flow in the first embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of the flow of the order registration process in the first embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of the flow of the reset process in the first embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of the flow of control / light emission processing in the first embodiment. The figure which shows the hardware composition of the relay type guide light which concerns on Example 1. The figure which shows the functional structure of the relay type guide light at the time of carrying out Example 2. A flowchart showing an example of the flow of the lighting start command processing in the second embodiment. The figure which shows the hardware composition of the relay type guide light which concerns on Example 2. The figure which shows the functional structure of the relay type guide light at the time of carrying out Example 3. A flowchart showing an example of the flow of the lighting start command processing in the third embodiment. The figure which shows the hardware composition of the relay type guide light which concerns on Example 3. The figure which shows the functional structure of the relay type guide light at the time of carrying out Example 4. A flowchart showing an example of the flow of the lighting start command processing in the fourth embodiment. The figure which shows the hardware configuration of the relay type guide light which concerns on Example 4. The figure which shows the outline of the lighting operation of the relay type guide light which concerns on Example 5. The figure which shows the functional structure of the relay type guide light at the time of carrying out Example 5. A flowchart showing an example of the flow of the lighting start command processing in the fifth embodiment. The figure which shows the hardware composition of the relay type guide light which concerns on Example 5.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The mutual relationship between the examples and the claims is as follows. Example 1 mainly relates to claims 1, 6 and 11, Example 2 mainly relates to claims 2, 7 and 12, Example 3 mainly relates to claims 3, 8 and 13, and Example 4 mainly relates to claims 3, 8 and 13. 4. Of claims 4, 9 and 14. The fifth embodiment mainly relates to claims 5, 10 and 15. The present invention should not be limited to these examples, and may be implemented in various embodiments without departing from the gist thereof.

<Overview>
In the relay type guide lights according to this embodiment, first, the registration order of the guide lights is set, and then the orbiting timer of all the guide lights is reset (all guides) by the signal from the master unit installed at the end in the direction of flow of the traveling vehicle. Synchronize the timing of the lights). On top of that, the light emitting part is controlled based on the timing and registration order of the orbiting timer of each guide light, triggered by a signal from the master unit, etc., and the guide light enables relay-type blinking across all guide lights. Is. The master unit and the slave unit have the same basic configuration, and an arbitrarily selected guide light can be used as the master unit and the remainder can be used as the slave unit.

1 (A), 1 (B), and 1 (C) are diagrams showing the operation of the relay type guide light assumed in this embodiment. In FIG. 1 (A), all the guide lights are turned on (1), turned off (2), and then turned on (3) repeatedly according to the passage of time, and it seems that they are blinking synchronously as a whole. .. Further, in FIG. 1B, three guide lights are turned on in order from the left side according to the passage of time, and the light appears to sway from left to right and from right to left as a whole. Such blinking can draw the attention of the viewer. In this example, three guide lights are lit, but this may be one, two, or four or more. Further, in FIG. 1 (C), two guide lights are lit in order from the left side according to the passage of time, and one of the guide lights overlaps with the guide light lit at the previous timing. By doing so, it is possible to realize a blinking operation in which light seems to flow from left to right. This makes it possible to suggest the driving direction to the driver and create a traffic flow. The above is merely an example of what is expected, and does not limit the embodiment of the present invention to such a flow.

Hereinafter, the functions and hardware contents of the relay type guide lights of this embodiment and the processing flow will be described in detail.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a relay type guide light according to this embodiment. The relay type guide light (0200) according to this embodiment includes a "registration order acquisition unit" (0201), a "registration order holding unit" (0202), a "registration order output unit" (0203), and a "circular type". "Timer" (0204), "Reset signal acquisition unit" (0205), "Reset unit" (0206), "Reset signal output unit" (0207), "Near field radio unit" (0208), " It has a "light emitting unit" (0209) and a "control unit" (0210).

The "registration order acquisition unit" (0201) has a function of acquiring the registration order of the guide lights. This function is realized in the order acquisition routine of the order registration program stored in the memory (ROM and RAM), and the operation of the CPU, the communication module, and the like. “Acquisition” means recognizing the registration order signal received by the short-range radio unit (0208) and setting the registration order holding unit (0202) into a storable state. The "registration order" is a value indicating the arrangement order of the slave units and the master units arranged on the road, and blinks in the order of arrangement by using the information on the arrangement order to determine the timing of turning on and off. Can be realized. This value is, for example, a decimal integer value starting from a certain value and incrementing, an integer value starting from a certain value and decrementing, ASCII code order, numerical order expressed in n-ary, etc. Various expressions can be adopted as long as the magnitude relationship between the numerical values can be specified. When the registration order is incremented by an integer, if the value of the registration order is "2", the light is emitted at the timing next to the guide light of the registration order "1". In addition to the above values, the registration order value may be a cyclic type such as "1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, ..." depending on the lighting mode.

The "registration order holding unit" (0202) has a function of holding the above-mentioned registration order and the like. The held registration order is output to the registration order output unit (0203) and the control unit (0210). When outputting to the registration order output unit, a process of incrementing or decrementing the value of the registration order held in the registration order holding unit (0202) may be included. When the guide light is functioning as a slave unit, the incremented or decremented value is discarded after being output to the registration order output unit, and the registration order held in the registration order holding unit is the value before incrementing or decrementing. is there. When the guide light is functioning as a master unit, the incremented or decremented value is not discarded even after being output to the registration order output unit, and the registration order held in the registration order holding unit is the value after incrementing or decrementing. Will be overwritten with. Since there are multiple types of registration processing for the registration order, details will be described later for each case. The above processing is realized by the RAM built in the guide light and the ranking storage routine of the ranking registration program.

The "registration order output unit" (0203) has a function of outputting the held registration order. Specifically, the value of the registration order held by the registration order holding unit (0202) is output to the short-range radio unit. The function is realized by a CPU, a RAM or ROM, a ranking output routine of a ranking registration program stored in these, and a wireless communication module. In this department, the process of incrementing or decrementing the value of the registration order performed by the registration order holding unit (0202) may be performed instead.

Variations on the ranking registration operation will be described below. The ranking registration operation is performed by bringing the master unit and the slave unit close to each other. This is because the output of the short-range radio unit is weak and the signal transmission distance is small (for example, several centimeters to several tens of centimeters), and to prevent crosstalk with the guide lights that have already been registered or are waiting to be registered in the vicinity. Is. For example, a mode that can be recommended as a work is a mode in which the guide light that should be the slave unit and the guide light that is functioning as the master unit are lightly contacted and the slave unit order registration button is pressed.

The first aspect is a relay type guide light having a registration order holding unit (0203) capable of incrementing or decrementing the registration order as a master unit. Specifically, as in the above example, the registration order held in the registration order holding unit (0203) on the master unit side is transferred to the slave unit via the short-range radio unit (0208). On the slave unit side, the transferred registration order is acquired by the registration order acquisition unit (0201) and stored in the registration order holding unit (0202). At this time, in order to notify the user that the registration has been completed, it is preferable that the value of the registration order held in the registration order holding unit (0202) of the slave unit can be confirmed on the display or the like of the slave unit. On the master unit side, the registration order holding unit (0203) increments the output registration order and overwrites the value before the increment, and the registration order output unit (0203) overwrites and updates the registration order to the next registration order. Move on to the process of outputting to the slave unit. When all the registration of the slave unit is completed, the process of storing the registration order of the master unit is performed. For example, when the operation for outputting the registration order as the master unit (for example, based on pressing the push button for registering the slave unit) is not performed for a certain period of time, or when the registration completion button is pressed, the slave unit to be registered It is configured to recognize that it does not exist, that is, to recognize that the registration of the slave unit is completely completed, and to use the incremented registration order held in the registration order holding unit (0202) as the registration order of the master unit. ..

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the order registration operation of the relay type guide light in the first aspect. This ranking registration operation is executed when a human possesses the master unit and performs a registration operation near the slave unit. According to this figure, the master unit (0301) sequentially passes in the vicinity of the slave units (0301 to 0305) from left to right (from the upstream side to the downstream side of the traveling vehicle), and the registration order is output by radio waves. The slave unit receives this radio wave and stores the value of the registration order in the memory of the slave unit. The handset (0302) shown on the leftmost side of the figure has already been registered in order, and its value is 0x09. The slave unit (0303) adjacent to this receives the registration order value (0x0A) from the master unit, and the Null of the predetermined area in the memory is updated to 0x0A. That is, in this mode of setting the registration order, the registration order output unit (0203) functions on the master unit, and it is not essential that the registration order output unit (0203) functions on the slave unit.

The second aspect is an aspect in which an acknowledgment can be received from the slave unit in addition to the first aspect. It is a relay type guide light having a registration order holding unit (0203) capable of acquiring the registration order included in the confirmation response from the slave unit and incrementing or decrementing the registration order as the master unit. Specifically, the master unit outputs the registration order of the registration order holding unit (0203), which is received by the slave unit, acquired by the registration order acquisition unit (0201), and sent to the registration order holding unit (0203). Store. At this time, in order to notify the user that the registration has been completed, it is preferable that the value of the registration order held in the registration order holding unit (0202) of the slave unit can be confirmed on the display or the like of the slave unit. The stored registration order is output by the registration order output unit (0203) and transferred to the master unit as an acknowledgment. Then, this registration order is acquired by the registration order acquisition unit on the master unit side, and then the registration order already held by the registration order holding unit is overwritten and stored in the registration order holding unit. At this time, in order to notify the user that the registration is completed, it is preferable that the value of the registration order held in the registration order holding unit (0202) of the master unit can be confirmed on the display or the like of the master unit. In the registration order holding unit (0202), the registration order that has been overwritten and updated (generally, the registration order is not changed by the update) is incremented, and the registration order is further overwritten and updated, and the next registration is performed from the registration order output unit. Move on to the process of outputting the registration order for the handset that becomes the order. In this aspect, the registration order output unit (0203) functions for both the master unit and the slave unit. When the registration work is completed in the master unit, the registration order incremented by the master unit is used by the registration order holding unit (0202) as the registration order of the master unit. Completion of the registration work is detected in the master unit when the output from the registration rank output unit of the master unit (for example, by pressing the rank registration button of the slave unit) is within a predetermined time, or when the registration completion button is pressed.

The third aspect is a relay type guide light having a registration order holding unit (0202) capable of incrementing or decrementing the registration order as a slave unit and outputting the registration order from the registration order output unit to the master unit side. When the registration order is output on the master unit side, the slave unit acquires this and stores it in the registration order holding unit (0202) of the slave unit. At this time, in order to notify the user that the registration has been completed, it is preferable that the value of the registration order held in the registration order holding unit (0202) of the slave unit can be confirmed on the display or the like of the slave unit. The registered order holding unit (0202) or the registered order output unit (0203) of the slave unit increments the stored registration order, and the value is output to the master unit as a confirmation response, and the master unit receives this. The registration order acquired by the registration order acquisition unit is stored in the registration order holding unit (0202). The registration order incremented or decremented by the registration order holding unit of the slave unit is discarded, and the registration order before the update is still maintained in the registration order holding unit of the slave unit. The stored registration order is output to the slave unit having the next order. In this embodiment as well, the registration order output unit (0203) functions for both the master unit and the slave unit. The registration order of the master unit is stored by storing the registration order that is finally incremented and output by the slave unit in the registration order holding unit (0202) as the registration order of the master unit. This storage is as the end of the order registration work when the push button for ending the order registration work is pressed, or when the registration order output unit does not output the registration order from the master unit to the slave unit within a predetermined time. Detected and done.

A fourth aspect is a relay type guide light having a registration order holding unit (0203) that holds the registration order for the number of slave units in advance. The registration order holding unit (0202) on the master unit side holds the ranking for the number of slave units in advance, and this is sequentially output to the slave unit and stored in the registration order holding unit (0202) of the slave unit. It is an operation such as. At this time, in order to notify the user that the registration has been completed, it is preferable that the value of the registration order held in the registration order holding unit (0202) of the slave unit can be confirmed on the display or the like of the slave unit. In this embodiment, the registration order output unit of the master unit functions, and the registration order output unit of the slave unit does not necessarily have to function. Regarding the registration order of the master unit, since the registration order for the number of slave units is known in this embodiment, the registration order of the master unit may be stored in the registration order holding unit (0202) from the beginning, or at the end. The value obtained by incrementing the registration order of the slave unit may be recognized as the registration order of the master unit and stored in the registration order holding unit (0202).

Like the slave unit, the master unit acquires the registration order and is installed so that it can emit light. In that case, the registration order may be the order of emitting light at the beginning, the order of emitting light in the middle, or the order of emitting light at the end, but it is inappropriate for the relay type guide light to run backwards on a highway etc. for safety assurance. Considering that it is installed in a suitable place, it is desirable that the value is installed at the end and the registration order is at the end. That is, a relay type guide light having a registration order holding unit that holds the lowest registration order as a master unit and holds other registration orders as a slave unit is desirable.

The master unit and the slave unit of the relay type guide light of the present invention have basically the same configuration. Then, as described in the above four aspects, what kind of function each component exerts is designed so that the operator can select whether to use it as a master unit or a slave unit. ing.

The "circling timer" (0204) has a function of measuring time and outputting the time to the control unit (0210). The "circular type" means that the output value (time) of the timer does not have to be output in the format of year / month / day / hour / minute / second, and the passage of time can be output at a constant frequency. The idea is that it should be there. For example, an output such as generating an interrupt once (1 Hz) at 1-second intervals can be considered. It is desirable to use RTC (Real Time Clock) as the timer, considering that there are cases where it is installed in a tunnel where GPS (Global Positioning System) radio waves or standard radio waves do not reach, and in terms of cost. The timing frequency output by the timer can take various values such as 1 Hz, 32 Hz, 1.024 kHz, 32.768 kHz and the like.

The "reset signal acquisition unit" (0207) has a function of acquiring a reset signal. Specifically, the reset signal received by the short-range radio unit (0208) is acquired and output to the reset unit (0206) and the reset signal output unit (0207). This function is realized by a wireless communication module, a reset signal acquisition routine of a reset program stored in a CPU, a system bus, and a memory. The "reset signal" is a signal for resetting the timing of the timer. As a specific example of "acquisition", it means that the reset signal output unit (0207) and the reset unit (0208) make the reset signal available when the reset signal is received and the reception is detected. Here, "reset" is to initialize the timekeeping in the timer based on the arrival of the reset signal. For example, when there is a timer that has passed 3600 counts at 1 Hz from the start, the reset signal is sent to the timer by the reset program immediately after receiving the reset signal, and the count is started again at 1 Hz from the count 0. .. The purpose of the "reset" process is to realize blinking that flows in the traveling direction of the vehicle as described in FIG. 1 (C) by performing time counting in which the master unit and all slave units are substantially synchronized. To do.

The "reset unit" (0206) has a function of resetting the cyclic timer with the reset signal acquired by the reset acquisition unit. This function is realized by a CPU, a system bus, a reset routine of a reset program held in RAM or ROM, a timer module, and the like. A call by the reset program reset signal acquisition routine corresponding to the reset signal acquisition unit (0205) executes the reset routine of the reset program, executes the reset operation of the timer, and so on. The concept of "reset" is as described above. The purpose of resetting is to synchronize the lap timers of all guide lights, but the synchronization period can be divided into two types. One is the stage of preparing to make the relay blinking flow before the start of the blinking operation by the light emitting part of the guide light. The other is a stage in which the lap timers are resynchronized when the synchronization of each lap timer becomes longer as the time elapsed since the lap timer starts blinking at night becomes longer.

The "reset signal output unit" (0207) has a function of outputting a reset signal in response to acquisition of the reset signal. Specifically, the reset signal output routine is executed by a call by the reset signal acquisition routine of the reset program corresponding to the reset signal acquisition unit (0205), and has a function of outputting a reset signal to the short-range radio unit. This function is realized by a reset signal output routine of a reset program stored in a CPU, a system bus, ROM or RAM. The reset signal to be output may be a received and acquired reset signal, or may be a reset signal previously held by the reset signal output unit.

In the reset process, the reset signal output unit (0207) may output a reset signal based on the registration order. That is, when the reset signal is output, the registration order is used to limit the whereabouts of the signal. For example, the slave unit of "registration order 10" is given a tag of "registration order 9 and 8" together with the reset signal and output, and the propagation of the reset signal is limited to the slave units of registration order 9 and 8. is there. By this processing, it is possible to prevent the congestion of the reset signal generated by the transfer of the reset signal whose destination is not limited by each slave unit. In this case, the handset with registration rank 9 includes the ones with a lower rank than its own registration rank in the sent registration rank (registration rank 8), so the reset signal output unit does not function and the reset signal is output. It is also possible to configure it so that it does not. Since the handset having the registration rank 8 has the lowest registration rank among the sent registration ranks, it is configured to output a reset signal with a tag of "registration ranks 7 and 6". That is, when the effective radio wave reachable distance of the reset signal is about twice the distance between adjacent slave units, the transmission efficiency of the reset signal can be improved by configuring in this way. Therefore, if there is an effective radio wave reach of the reset signal up to n times the adjacent distance, a tag for the registration order of n upstream side of the slave unit is attached (however, when the number of registration order number k ≦ n on the upstream side). Is configured to output the reset signal from the reset signal output unit. Also, in these cases, since the radio wave has no directivity, the reset signal also flows to the downstream side of the slave unit that outputs the reset signal, but on the downstream side, if the tag of its own registration order is not attached to the reset signal, The reset signal acquisition process or the reset signal output process by the reset unit and the reset signal output process by the reset signal output unit following the acquisition process are not performed.

In the above case, the reset signal is output from the master unit and can propagate retroactively (when the registration order is incremented in the vehicle traveling direction). Then, when the signal reaches the first slave unit (the highest registration order), the slave unit can perform a process in which the reset signal is not output.

The "near field radio unit" (0208) has a function of transmitting and receiving signals of the acquisition unit and each output unit to and from other relay type guide lights. Specifically, the reset signal output by the reset signal output unit (0207) is transmitted to another relay type guide light by the wireless communication module. The "short distance" depends on the performance of the wireless communication module, but a range of about 5 m or less is desirable. Further, the output of the short-range radio unit may be changed according to the processing. For example, in the case of the output processing of the registration order output unit, low output, for example, the effective radio wave reach range is several centimeters (for example, 5 to 15 centimeters), and in the case of the processing of the reset signal output unit, relatively high output. For example, the effective radio wave range may be set to several meters (for example, 3 to 10 meters). For example, in order to reach a radio wave in a range beyond that range, there is a possibility that a problem in the Radio Law may occur as the output increases. For example, a wireless communication module using a short-range wireless IC that uses a frequency of 310 MHz to 350 MHz is suitable for use because it has low power consumption and is easy to miniaturize. As described above, the reset signal is transferred and propagated from the master unit to the slave unit. As a result, the master unit and all the slave units have a lap timer that emits the same timing.

The "light emitting unit" (0209) has a function of turning on or off the light emitting device built in the relay type guide light according to the control of the control unit (0210). If a light emitting diode (LED) is used for the light emitting device, it is possible to suppress power consumption.

The "control unit" (0210) has a function of controlling the light emitting unit according to the time counting of the orbiting timer and the registered order held. Specifically, it receives the value of the registration order held in the registration order holding unit (0202), receives the time input from the orbiting timer (0204), and issues a lighting or extinguishing command to the light emitting unit (0209). Output. The functions of this department are realized by the CPU, the system bus, and the control programs stored in the RAM and ROM.

Explaining an example of "controlling the light emitting unit according to the registration order" in FIG. 1 (C), when the count is 0 for the guide lights of the first and second registration orders, a lighting command is output from the control unit to the light emitting unit to emit light. The unit starts emitting light (0101). At the 100th count, the control unit outputs a turn-off command to the light emitting unit at the 1st place guide light, the light emitting unit ends the light emission, that is, the light is turned off, the 2nd place remains emitting light, and the 3rd place is newly. A lighting command is output from the control unit of the guide light to the light emitting unit, and the light emitting unit starts to emit light (0102). At the 200th count, a turn-off command is output from the control unit at the 2nd place to the light emitting unit, the light emitting unit ends the light emission, that is, the light is turned off, the 3rd place remains emitting light, and the control unit at the 4th place newly emits light. A lighting command is output to the unit, and light emission is started at the light emitting unit (0103). At the 300th count, the process of starting the light emission again at the 1st place is performed in the same manner, and the 3rd place is turned off in the same manner (0104). The example of the above operation is only an example, and the control operation of the relay type guide light of the present invention is not limited to this.

<Processing flow>
≪Processing flow: Overview≫
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of the processing flow when the relay type guide light according to this embodiment is used. In the process of the relay type guide light of the present invention, first, the order registration (step S0401) is performed, and the first timer is reset (step S0402). When the reset is performed, the control / light emission process is executed (step S0403). Next, it is determined whether or not the reset signal has arrived (step S0404). When the reset signal arrives, the timer is reset (step S0405). If it is determined that the reset signal has not arrived, the reset process is skipped. Then, these processes (step S0403 to step S405) are repeated until the end.

≪Processing flow: Ranking registration≫
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for showing an example of the flow of the order registration process when the relay type guide light according to this embodiment is used. When the master unit (rank granting side) outputs the registration rank (step S0501), the slave unit (rank acquisition side) acquires the registration rank (step S0502) and stores it (step S0503).

≪Processing flow: Reset≫
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for showing an example of the flow of the reset process when the relay type guide light according to this embodiment is used. The reset signal originates from the master unit. The reset signal output by the guide light N + 1 of the registration order N + 1 (step S0601) is acquired by the guide light N of the registration order N (step S0602), and the circuit timer is reset by the received reset signal (step S0603). .. Further, in response to the acquisition of the reset signal, the reset signal is output to the guide light N-1 of the registration order N-1 (step S0604). The guide light N-1 acquires a reset signal (step S0605), resets the timer (step S0606), and proceeds to the next process. The above processing is an example, and the reset processing (step S0603) and the reset signal output (step S0604) may be performed before or after the processing, or may be performed by simultaneous parallel processing.

Further, by outputting the reset signal by assigning the registration order of the output destination together with the reset signal, it is possible to limit the guide lights of the acquisition destination. As described above, this can prevent congestion of the reset signal. When the reset signal reaches the highest guide light, the guide light acquires the reset signal and resets the timer, but the other guide lights no longer output the reset signal.

As described above, the relay type guide light of this embodiment can not only reset the timer owned by itself in response to the acquisition of the reset signal, but also can perform the transfer process of outputting the reset signal to the other relay type guide light. Is. Therefore, even if the radio wave has a small output, the signal can be reached far away by sequentially transferring the signal.

≪Processing flow: Control / emission≫
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for showing an example of the flow of processing between control and light emission when the relay type guide light according to this embodiment is used. As shown in this figure, first, the registration order is acquired (step S0701). Next, the timer count is acquired (step S0702). Next, it is determined whether or not it is the lighting timing (step S0703), and if it is the determination result that it is the lighting timing, the lighting is executed (step S0704). Next, it is determined whether or not it is the turn-off timing (step S0705), and if it is the determination result that it is the turn-off timing, the light is turned off (step S0706).

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a relay type guide light according to this embodiment. Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to this figure.

As shown in this figure, the relay type guide lights according to this embodiment include a "CPU (Central Processing Unit)" (0801), a "ROM" (0802), and a "RAM" (0803) that perform various arithmetic processes. It has. The ROM (0802) contains 1. Ranking setting program and 2. Reset program and 3. The control program and is stored. In addition, a "communication module" (0804) for communicating with other relay-type guide lights, buttons and switches for switching the light emission mode, master unit and slave unit, and "UI (user interface)" such as an on / off device. (0805), a "timer module" (0806) for measuring time, and a "light emitter" (0807) to which LEDs and the like are connected via an "interface (I / F)" (0809). There is. Further, as the output device, a "display device" (0811) may be provided via the "video card (V / C)" (0810). Then, they are connected to each other by a data communication path such as a "system bus" (0808) to transmit / receive and process information.

Here, the U / I (0805) that accepts a button input operation or the like is not necessarily limited to a device such as a button provided on the master unit itself. For example, a remote controller that sends an operation signal to a master unit, an application program that operates on a communication device such as a smartphone, and the like are also included in the U / I (0805) (the same applies throughout the present specification).

Further, the RAM (0803) provides a work area which is also a work area of the program at the same time as reading the program for executing various processes to the CPU (0801). In addition, a plurality of addresses are assigned to each of the RAMs (0803), and the program executed by the CPU (0801) exchanges data with each other and performs processing by specifying and accessing the addresses. It is possible (as well as throughout the specification).

Here, the timer module (0806) may be a timer mounted by software, but it is desirable to use an RTC module having a crystal oscillator or the like on the substrate because more accurate time measurement is possible.

≪Ranking registration process≫
1. Stored in ROM (0802) on the master unit. The ranking registration program is called to the RAM (0803) and executed by the CPU (0801). 1. 1. The rank registration program consists of a rank output routine, a rank acquisition routine, and a rank storage routine. 1. 1. The rank registration program calls the rank output routine and outputs the rank of the slave unit represented by the value of the variable R on the RAM to the communication module (0804). After this, the value of the variable on the RAM (0803) is incremented as R → R + 1. The communication module (0804) outputs the value of R by radio waves. 1. Stored in ROM (0802) on the slave unit. The ranking registration program is called into the RAM and executed by the CPU. 1. 1. The rank registration program calls the rank acquisition routine, and the communication module (0804) waits for the arrival of radio waves carrying the R value. As soon as the radio wave is received, the value is passed to the ranking storage routine. The routine stores the value of R as the registration order in the RAM (0803).

≪Reset process≫
In the relay type guide light having the registration order of N-1, it is stored in the ROM (0802). The reset program is running. This program has a reset signal output routine, a reset routine, and a reset signal acquisition routine, which are executed. Then, the reset signal is transmitted by radio waves via the communication module (0804), and is received by the relay type guide light having the registration order of N. The received reset signal is expanded on the RAM (0803). 2. Detected in the reset signal acquisition routine of the reset program. When the reset routine of the reset program is called, a reset message is sent to the timer module (0806). As a result, the counter of the timer module (0806) is reset and the time output is started again. 2. 2. The reset routine of the reset program sends a reset signal to its own timer module, calls the reset signal output routine, and sends a signal to the communication module (0804) in order to output the reset signal to other relay type guide lights. send. The transmitted signal is transmitted by radio waves to the guide lights of the registration order N + 1.

Although it is the communication of the reset signal here, it is not always necessary to send the registration order N-1, N, N + 1 in order. For example, if the guide lights up to the registration ranks N, N + 1, and N + 2 are included in the communication range of the guide lights of rank N-1, three guide lights may receive them at once and perform the reset process. ..

≪Control / light emission processing≫
Next, the hardware operation of the control and light emission of the guide light will be described. 3. It was stored in the ROM (0802). The control program is expanded in the RAM (0803) and executed by the CPU (0801). Then, 3. The control program controls the light emitter (0807) to light the LED or the like based on the time measurement of the timer module (0806) and R which is a value indicating the registration order stored in the RAM (0803). Specifically, the timer module (0806) generates an interrupt or the like at a predetermined timing, and causes this to occur. The control program detects it. 3. 3. The control program refers to the value of R and outputs a light emission control signal. For example, in the guide light whose R value is "3", a process of sending a control signal to the light emitter is performed so that the time of the timer module emits light at the 200th count.

≪Summary≫
By the above processing, the relay type guide light can register the registration order. It is possible to control the LED or the like to emit light based on the registration order and the time measurement of the timer. It is also possible to receive a reset signal from another guide light to reset the timer. Furthermore, by transferring the reset signal to another guide light, the reset signal can be reached to a distant guide light where the radio wave from the master unit does not reach.

<Outline of this embodiment>
The relay-type guide light according to the present embodiment is a relay-type guide light having a function of further outputting a control start command in addition to the features of the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, the functional configuration, the processing flow, and the hardware configuration will be described in order.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the relay type guide light according to this embodiment. The relay type guide light (0900) according to the present embodiment has a "registration order acquisition unit", a "registration order holding unit", and a "registration order output unit" as in the first embodiment. Illustration of these constituent requirements is omitted. Further, as in the first embodiment, the "circular timer" (0904), the "reset signal acquisition unit" (0905), the "reset unit" (0906), the "reset signal output unit" (0907), and the "near field" It has a "range radio unit" (0908), a "light emitting unit" (0909), and a "control unit" (0910). Since these functional configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, the functions of the "control start command holding unit" (0911), the "control start command output unit" (0912), and the "control start command acquisition unit" (0913) added in this embodiment will be described.

The "control start command holding unit" (0911) has a function of holding a control start command of the light emitting unit by the control unit. Specifically, it has a function of inputting a control start command from the control unit (0910) and storing it in the memory area. This function is realized by the CPU, ROM, RAM, the control start instruction storage routine of the control start instruction program stored in these, and the like. The "control start command" is a command to start control, and is issued at the timing when the count of the orbiting timer (0904) is started. The control start command may be issued at the same time as the reset signal. Further, not only "starting" but also "ending" the control is included in this concept, but it has a control end command holding unit, a control end command output unit, and a control end command acquisition unit separately, and has a control end command. Therefore, processing such as stopping the light emission or stopping the lap timer may be performed. “Control” refers to lighting control for a series of light emitting units (0909) by the control unit (0910). Therefore, the "control start command" selects, for example, the lighting mode, that is, the light emitting pattern of the light emitting unit (0909) (for example, one of FIGS. 1 (A), 1 (B), and 1 (C) is selected). It is a concept that also includes instructions.

Various examples can be considered for the control start command. For example, an exit light installed on the roadside may be equipped with an illuminance sensor. The illuminance sensor discriminates day and night, determines that it is nighttime when the illuminance falls below a certain level, and sends the control start command held in the control start command holding unit (0911) to the control start command output unit (0912) described later. The operation is started by outputting to the slave unit via the device. This "starting operation" process is based on the control start command.

The "control start command output unit" (0912) has a function of outputting the held control start command. Specifically, it has a function of detecting the control start command held in the control start command holding unit (0911) and outputting the control start command to the short-range radio unit. This function is realized by the CPU, RAM, ROM, the control start instruction output routine of the control start instruction program stored in these, and the like. “Output” is a process of transferring a variable describing a control start command message (timer timing start, lighting mode, etc.) to a communication module as transmission data.

The "control start command acquisition unit" (0913) has a function of acquiring a control start command. “Acquisition” is a function of detecting a control start command signal received by the short-range radio unit (0908), receiving it as an input, and storing it as a control start command message in the control start command holding unit (0911). Point to. This function is realized by the CPU, the RAM, the ROM, the control start instruction acquisition routine of the control start instruction program stored in these, and the like.

Similar to the order registration process, the control start process differs between the master unit and the slave unit. In the case of the master unit, only the control start command holding unit (0911) and the control start command output unit (0912) function, whereas in the slave unit, the control start command holding unit (0911) and the control start command output unit (0912) function. ), And the control start command acquisition unit (0913) functions.

The control start instruction may include the registration order of the whereabouts of the instruction. By specifying the registration order of the whereabouts in this way, the whereabouts of the instruction can be limited. As a result, it is possible to avoid congestion of control start instructions caused by the slave units transferring a plurality of control start instructions output from the plurality of slave units. Further, since it is no longer necessary to transfer the control start command to the slave unit at the top of the registration order, it is conceivable that the control start command output unit (0912) performs a process of stopping the control start command.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of control start command processing when the relay type guide light according to this embodiment is used. As shown in this figure, a control start command is acquired in the guide light M (registration order M) (step S1001). Next, this is stored (step S1002). Next, output is output to the guide light of the guide light M-1 (registration order M-1) (step S1003). This is acquired in the guide light M-1 (step S1004). Hereinafter, the same processing is performed for the guide lights of the registration order M-2 or higher.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a relay type guide light according to this embodiment. Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to this figure.

As shown in this figure, the relay type guide lights according to the present embodiment include a "CPU (Central Processing Unit)" (1101) and a "ROM" (1102) that perform various arithmetic processes as in the first embodiment. , "RAM" (1103). The ROM (1102) contains 1. Ranking setting program (not shown) and 2. With a reset program (not shown), 3. Control program (not shown), 4. The control start instruction program is stored. In addition, a "communication module" (1104) for communicating with other relay-type guide lights, and a "UI (user interface)" (1105) such as buttons and switches for switching the light emission mode and the master unit and slave unit. , "Timer module" (1106) that performs time measurement, "Light emitter" (1107), "Illumination sensor" (1112), etc. to which LEDs and the like are connected via "interface (I / F)" (1109). It has. Further, as an output device, a display device (1111) may be provided via a video card (V / C) (1110). Then, they are connected to each other by a data communication path such as a "system bus" (1108) to transmit / receive and process information.

4. Stored in ROM (1102). The control start instruction program is loaded into the RAM (1103) and executed by the CPU (1101). 4. The control start instruction program includes a control start instruction storage routine, a control start instruction output routine, and a control start instruction acquisition routine. In the communication module (1104), a control start command acquisition routine is called and waits for a control start command signal output from another guide light. When the radio wave of the signal reaches the communication module (1104), an interrupt occurs. The control start command storage routine of the control start command program stores the control start command signal as the variable S in the RAM (1103). The stored variables may have necessary information (lighting mode, etc.) as a structure, and members of this structure are attached to the use of other hardware. At the same time, the control start command output routine is called, and the information of the variable is output to the communication module (1104) in order to output the control start command signal to the other guide lights.

<Outline of this embodiment>
The relay-type guide light according to the present embodiment is a relay-type guide light that can distinguish between the master unit and the slave unit in addition to the features of the second embodiment and further has a lighting start control function.

Hereinafter, the functional configuration, the processing flow, and the hardware configuration will be described in order.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the relay type guide light in this embodiment. The relay type guide light (1200) according to the functional configuration of this embodiment has a "registration order acquisition unit", a "registration order holding unit", and a "registration order output unit" as in the second embodiment. doing. Illustration of these constituent requirements is omitted. Further, as in the second embodiment, the "circular timer" (1204), the "reset signal acquisition unit" (1205), the "reset unit" (1206), the "reset signal output unit" (1207), and the "near". "Distance radio unit" (1208), "light emitting unit" (1209), "control unit" (1210), "control start command holding unit" (1211), "control start command output unit" (1212) , "Control start command acquisition unit" (1213). Since these functional configurations are the same as those in Examples 1 and 2, the description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, the functions of the "master unit / slave unit discrimination unit" (1214), the "lighting start command input unit" (1215), and the "lighting start control unit" (1216) added in this embodiment will be described.

The "master unit / slave unit discrimination unit" (1214) has a function of discriminating between the master unit and the slave unit. Specifically, it has a function of passing a signal input from the lighting start command input unit (1215), which will be described later, when the guide light itself is a "master unit" and blocking it when it is a "slave unit". This function is realized in the CPU, RAM, ROM, master unit slave unit determination routine of the lighting start control program, and the like.

The “lighting start command input unit” (1215) has a function of inputting a lighting start command. Specifically, it is a function that accepts a user's lighting start operation and outputs this as a lighting start input signal to the master unit / slave unit discrimination unit (1214). This function is realized by U / I such as buttons and switches, and a CPU. The input of the lighting start command can be considered in various modes such as pressing the lighting start button, operating the lighting start switch, or completing the selection of the lighting mode by the lighting mode switch.

The "lighting start control unit" (1216) controls the control start command output unit so as to output the held control start command in accordance with the input of the lighting start command when it is determined that the unit is the master unit. Has the function of Specifically, it is a function that receives the signal of the lighting start command as an input from the master unit / slave unit discrimination unit (1214) and triggers the control start command output unit (1212) to output the control start command. .. This function is realized by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a lighting start control routine of a lighting start control program stored in these. Here, "control" means that the lighting start control routine of the lighting start control program calls the control start instruction output routine of the control start instruction program and outputs the control start instruction to the short-range radio unit. is there.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of lighting start command processing when the relay type guide light according to this embodiment is used. As shown in this figure, it is first determined whether or not the lighting start command has been input (step S1301). Next, it is determined whether the operating guide light is a master unit or a slave unit (step S1302). As a result of the determination, if it is the master unit, a process of controlling to output a control start command is performed (step S1303).

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a relay type guide light according to this embodiment. Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to this figure.

As shown in this figure, the relay type guide lights according to the present embodiment include a "CPU (Central Processing Unit)" (1401) and a "ROM" (1402) that perform various arithmetic processes as in the first embodiment. , "RAM" (1403). The ROM (1402) contains 1. Ranking setting program (not shown) and 2. With a reset program (not shown), 3. Control program (not shown), 4. Control start command program and 5. The lighting start control program is stored. In addition, a "communication module" (1404) for communicating with other relay-type guide lights, buttons and switches for switching the light emission mode, master unit and slave unit, and "UI (user interface)" such as an on / off device. (1405), the "timer module" (1406) that performs time measurement, the "light emitter" (1407), and the "illumination sensor" to which LEDs and the like are connected via the "interface (I / F)" (1409). "(1412) and the like. Further, as the output device, a display device (1411) may be provided via a video card (V / C) (1410). Then, they are connected to each other by a data communication path such as a "system bus" (1408) to transmit / receive and process information.

4. Stored in ROM (1402). The lighting start control program is expanded on the RAM (1403) and executed on the CPU (1401). 5. The lighting start control program consists of a master unit slave unit discrimination routine and a lighting start control routine. Initially, the master unit / slave unit determination routine of the program waits for the generation of an interrupt from the U / I (1405) such as a button input operation. When an interrupt occurs, the master unit slave unit discrimination variable P stored in the RAM is referred to. If the value of P is true (the master unit), 5. According to the lighting start control routine of the lighting start control program, 4. Control start command Calls the program and executes the process to output the control start command to the communication module.

<Outline of this embodiment>
The relay-type guide light according to the present embodiment is a relay-type guide light that can be controlled to output a reset signal according to the discrimination between the master unit and the slave unit, in addition to the features of the third embodiment.

Hereinafter, the functional configuration, the processing flow, and the hardware configuration will be described in order.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a relay type guide light in this embodiment. The relay type guide light (1500) according to the functional configuration of this embodiment has the same as in the third embodiment, that is, the "registration order acquisition unit", the "registration order holding unit", the "registration order output unit", and the "registration order output unit". It has a "light emitting unit" and a "control unit". Illustration of these constituent requirements is omitted. Further, as in the third embodiment, the "circular timer" (1504), the "reset signal acquisition unit" (1505), the "reset unit" (1506), the "reset signal output unit" (1507), and the "near". Range radio unit "(1508)," control start command holding unit "(1511)," control start command output unit "(1512)," control start command acquisition unit "(1513)," master unit slave unit " It has a "discriminating unit" (1514). Since these functional configurations are the same as those in Examples 1 and 2, the description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, the functions of the "control time length measurement unit" (1515), the "first time length determination unit" (1516), and the "reset timing control unit" (1517) added in this embodiment will be described.

The "control time length measuring unit" (1515) has a function of measuring the control time length, which is the time after the control start command is acquired by the control start command acquisition unit. Specifically, a signal is received from the control start command acquisition unit (1513), and the measurement of the control time length is executed by the circular timer. The measured time is output to the first time length determination unit. This function is realized by a CPU, a circuit timer, a ROM or RAM, a control time length measurement routine of a reset timing control program stored in these, and the like. The "control time length" is the time from the time when the control start command is acquired and the time counting is started by the orbiting timer to the current time. "Measurement" is to acquire the time from a circular timer. The time is acquired by the department, for example, by periodically interrupting the orbiting timer (1504).

The "first time length determination unit" (1516) has a function of determining whether the control time length exceeds or reaches a predetermined value. Specifically, the control time length information is received as an input from the control time length measurement unit (1515), and the magnitude comparison with a predetermined value is executed. When the control time length is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, a signal is output to the master unit / slave unit discrimination unit (1514). This function is realized by the first time length determination routine of the reset timing control program stored in the CPU and the ROM or RAM.

Here, the "predetermined value" may be any number of counts, seconds, minutes, or hours as long as the time can be measured by the orbiting timer, but depending on the accuracy of the orbiting timer, the guide light may be turned on. It is desirable to adopt a value optimized for the time until it starts to look distorted. The purpose is to prevent battery consumption due to increased power consumption due to radio wave communication caused by the output of the reset signal.

The "reset timing control unit" (1517) is a case where the judgment by the master unit slave unit determination unit is determined to be the master unit, and the judgment result by the first time length determination unit exceeds or reaches the above. In some cases, it has a function of controlling the reset signal output unit so as to output the reset signal. Specifically, the master unit slave unit discrimination unit (1514) receives the output signal based on the determination result of the master unit, and the reset signal output unit (1507) outputs the reset signal. This function is realized by the reset timing control routine of the CPU, ROM, RAM, and the reset timing control program stored in these. The “reset signal output” means, for example, that the reset signal output unit (1507) is executed by calling the reset routine of the reset program responsible for the output of the reset signal.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of lighting start command processing when the relay type guide light according to this embodiment is used. As shown in this figure, the control time length is first measured (step S1601). Next, it is determined whether or not the predetermined value is exceeded or reached (step S1602). If it exceeds or reaches, it is determined whether or not the operating guide light is the master unit (step S1603). If it is a master unit, it is controlled to output a reset signal (step S1604).

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a relay type guide light according to this embodiment. Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to this figure.

As shown in this figure, the relay type guide lights according to the present embodiment include a "CPU (Central Processing Unit)" (1701) and a "ROM" (1702) that perform various arithmetic processes as in the first embodiment. , "RAM" (1703). The ROM (1702) contains 1. Ranking setting program (not shown) and 2. Reset program and 3. Control program (not shown), 4. Control start command program and 5. Lighting start control program (not required) and 6. The reset timing control program is stored. In addition, a "communication module" (1704) for communicating with other relay-type guide lights, buttons and switches for switching the light emission mode, master unit and slave unit, and "UI (user interface)" such as an on / off device. (1705), a "timer module" (1706) that performs time measurement, a "light emitter" (1707), and an "illumination sensor" to which LEDs and the like are connected via an "interface (I / F)" (1709). "(1712) and the like. Further, as an output device, a display device (1711) may be provided via a video card (V / C) (1710). Then, they are connected to each other by a data communication path such as a "system bus" (1708) to transmit / receive and process information.

6. Stored in ROM (1702). The reset timing control program is expanded in the RAM (1703) and executed by the CPU (1701). 6. The reset timing control program consists of a control time length measurement routine, a first time length determination routine, and a reset timing control routine. The control time length measurement routine of the program starts inputting the time from the timer module (1706). The timing to start input is 5. The lighting start control program is 4. The timing of executing the process for calling the control start instruction program can be considered. Let this time be t1. Then, each time the first time length measurement routine outputs the time from the timer module (1706), the magnitude comparison is performed between the time of t−t1 and the predetermined value T1 with the current time as t. 2. If t-t1 is greater than or equal to T1, the reset timing control routine outputs a reset signal. Call the reset signal output routine of the reset program.

<Outline of this embodiment>
The relay type guide light according to this embodiment outputs a reset signal to another guide light after a certain period of time has passed after the start of control when the reset signal has not been acquired, regardless of whether the master unit or the slave unit is used. It is a relay type guide light that can be controlled.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an outline of processing of the relay type guide light according to the present embodiment. Here, the shaded area (for example, 1801) is the reach of the radio wave of the relay type guide light. In FIG. 18 (1), the guide light (1802) at the right end is demonstrating the function of the master unit. And other guide lights are functioning as slave units. The reset signal, control start command, etc. are output from the guide light (1802), which is the rightmost master unit, and are sequentially propagated to the left slave unit by radio wave communication. However, as shown in FIG. 18 (2), when the slave unit (1803) in the middle does not operate due to a failure, theft, etc., the signal output by the master unit (1804) does not reach the slave unit (1805). In the relay type guide light of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18 (3), the guide light (1806) to which the communication is interrupted is the parent, provided that the reset signal does not arrive at the predetermined time in such a case. The function of the machine will be demonstrated. Specifically, it is possible to output a reset signal to another slave unit.

Hereinafter, the functional configuration, the processing flow, and the hardware configuration will be described in order.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a relay type guide light in this embodiment. The relay type guide light (1900) according to the functional configuration of this embodiment has the same as in the third embodiment, that is, the "registration order acquisition unit", the "registration order holding unit", the "registration order output unit", and the "registration order output unit". It has a "light emitting unit" and a "control unit". Illustration of these constituent requirements is omitted. Further, as in the third embodiment, the "circular timer" (1904), the "reset signal acquisition unit" (1905), the "reset unit" (1906), the "reset signal output unit" (1907), and the "near". Range radio unit "(1908)," control start command holding unit "(1911)," control start command output unit "(1912)," control start command acquisition unit "(1913)," master unit slave unit " It has a "discriminating unit" (1914) and a "control time length measuring unit" (1915). Since these functional configurations are the same as those in the fourth embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, the functions of the "second time length determination unit" (1918), the "reset signal acquisition determination unit" (1919), and the "reset signal output control unit" (1920) added in this embodiment will be described.

The "second time length determination unit" (1918) has a function of determining whether the control time length exceeds or reaches a predetermined value. Specifically, the control time length information is received as an input from the control time length measurement unit (1918), and the magnitude is compared with a predetermined value. As a result, when the control time length is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, a signal is output to the reset signal acquisition determination unit (1919). This function is realized by the second time length determination routine of the reset signal output control program stored in the CPU and the ROM or RAM. The second time length measurement is reset to zero each time a predetermined value is reached.

Here, the input processing of the control time length to the second time length determination unit is performed by the second time length determination unit (1918) polling the control time length measurement unit (1915) at regular time intervals. It may be a process of acquiring the time, or it may be a process of acquiring the time by putting the second time length determination unit (1918) in the standby state and the control time length measurement unit (1915) generating an interrupt at regular time intervals. The above "fixed time" is not bound by the above predetermined value.

The "predetermined value", that is, the "second time length" can be any value, but if it is a multiple of the first time length, the output control process of the reset signal can be performed in a timely manner. For example, when the first time length is 3600 seconds and the predetermined value is doubled to 7200 seconds, the event that the reset signal has not been reached twice can be detected immediately.

The "reset signal acquisition determination unit" (1919) has a function of determining whether the reset signal acquisition unit has acquired the reset signal when the determination result of the second time length determination unit exceeds or reaches. Specifically, the judgment result is input from the second time length judgment unit (1918). The reset signal acquisition unit (1905) receives an input as to whether or not a reset signal has been acquired. If there is an input from the second time length determination unit (1918) and there is already an input that the reset signal has been acquired after the previous input, the determination result will be false and the reset signal will be acquired. If not, the determination result is true and a signal is output to the reset signal output control unit (1920). This function is realized by the reset signal acquisition determination routine of the reset signal output control program stored in the CPU and the ROM or RAM.

The "reset signal output control unit" (1920) resets to output the reset signal even if the reset signal is not acquired when the determination result in the reset signal acquisition determination unit is the determination result that the reset signal has not been acquired. It has a function to control the signal output unit. Specifically, it receives a signal input from the reset signal acquisition determination unit (1919) and outputs a signal for outputting the reset signal to the reset signal output unit (1907). This function is realized by the reset signal output control routine of the reset signal output control program stored in the CPU and the ROM or RAM.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow in this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the control time length is first measured (step S2001). Next, the magnitude of the control time length is compared with the predetermined value (second time length), and if the control time length is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to the next process (step S2002). In other cases, the process returns to the process of measuring the control time length (step S2001) again. Next, it is determined whether or not the reset signal is acquired (step S2003). If there is no acquisition, control is performed so that a reset signal is output (step S2004). If there is an acquisition, the process returns to the control time length measurement process (step S2001) again.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a relay type guide light according to this embodiment. Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to this figure.

As shown in this figure, the relay type guide lights according to the present embodiment include a "CPU (Central Processing Unit)" (2101) and a "ROM" (2102) that perform various arithmetic processes as in the first embodiment. , "RAM" (2103). The ROM (2102) contains 1. Ranking setting program (not shown) and 2. Reset program and 3. Control program (not shown) and 4. Control start command program (not shown) and 5. Lighting start control program (not shown, not required) and 6. Reset timing control program (not shown) and 7. The reset signal output control program is stored. In addition, a "communication module" (2104) for communicating with other relay-type guide lights, buttons and switches for switching the light emission mode, master unit and slave unit, and "UI (user interface)" such as an on / off device. (2105), a "timer module" (2106) that performs time measurement, a "light emitter" (2107), and an "illumination sensor" to which LEDs and the like are connected via an "interface (I / F)" (2109). "(2112) and the like. Further, as an output device, a display device (2111) may be provided via a video card (V / C) (2110). Then, they are connected to each other by a data communication path such as a "system bus" (2108) to transmit / receive and process information.

7. Stored in ROM (2102). The reset signal output control program is expanded in the RAM (1703) and executed by the CPU (2101). 7. The reset signal output control program includes a second time length determination routine, a reset signal acquisition determination routine, and a reset signal output control routine. The program starts inputting the time from the timer module (2106). Let this time be t2. Then, every time there is a time output from the timer module (2106), the second time length determination routine is called, and the magnitude comparison is performed between the time of t−t2 and the predetermined value T2 with the current time as t. When t−t2 is larger than or equal to T2, the reset signal acquisition determination routine is called, and the process proceeds to the process of determining whether or not the reset signal is acquired. 2. 2. When the reset signal acquisition routine is called by the reset program, the reset signal acquisition determination routine detects this and sets the flag r. If this flag is set, 7. The reset signal output control program does not execute anything. If the flag is not set, the reset signal output control routine is 2. Calls and executes the reset signal output routine of the reset program.

0201: Registration order acquisition unit 0202: Registration order holding unit 0203: Registration order output unit 0204: Circular timer 0205: Reset signal acquisition unit 0206: Reset unit 0207: Reset signal output unit 0208: Short-range wireless unit 0209: Light emitting unit 0210 : Control unit

Claims (9)

A registration order acquisition unit that acquires a registration order, which is a value indicating the order of the first master unit and one or more slave units arranged with the master unit at the beginning.
The registration order holding unit that holds the registration order, which is the value obtained by incrementing or decrementing the acquired registration order value,
A registration order output unit that outputs the held registration order and
Orbital timer and
A reset signal acquisition unit that acquires a reset signal,
A reset unit that resets the orbiting timer with the acquired reset signal,
A reset signal output unit that outputs a reset signal according to the acquisition of the reset signal,
In order for the registration order acquisition unit to acquire the registration order from another relay type guide light, and for the reset signal acquisition unit to acquire the reset signal from another relay type guide light, the registration order is obtained from the registration order output unit. In order to output to the relay type guide light of, it is another relay type guide light to output the reset signal from the reset signal output unit to another relay type guide light , and if it is the master unit, it is a slave unit. (At least the "registration order acquisition unit", the "registration order holding unit", the "registration order output unit", the "circular timer", the "reset signal acquisition unit", the "reset signal output unit", and , This "short-range wireless communication unit", the later "light emitting unit", and the later "control unit" are provided as a configuration), and if it is a slave unit, the master unit (at least the above-mentioned "registration order acquisition unit"). , The "registration order holding unit", the "registration order output unit", the "circular timer", the "reset signal acquisition unit", the "reset signal output unit", and the "short-range wireless communication unit". , A short-range wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving with the "light emitting unit" described later and the "control unit" described later.
Light emitting part and
A control unit that controls the light emitting unit according to the timekeeping of the orbiting timer and the held registration order.
Relay type guide light with. A control start command holding unit that holds a control start command for the light emitting unit by the control unit,
A control start command output unit that outputs the held control start command,
A control start command acquisition unit that acquires a control start command,
The relay type guide light according to claim 1, further comprising. A master unit slave unit discriminating unit that discriminates between a master unit and a slave unit,
Lighting start command input section and
When it is determined that it is the master unit, the lighting start control unit that controls the control start command output unit to output the held control start command according to the input of the lighting start command,
The relay type guide light according to claim 2. A registration order acquisition step for acquiring a registration order, which is a value indicating the order of the first master unit and one or more slave units arranged with the master unit at the beginning.
A registration order storage step that stores the registration order, which is the value obtained by incrementing or decrementing the acquired registration order value, and
A registration order output step that outputs the stored registration order, and
Orbital timer and
The reset signal acquisition step to acquire the reset signal and
A reset step that resets the orbiting timer with the acquired reset signal, and
A reset signal output step that outputs a reset signal according to the acquisition of the reset signal, and
In order to acquire the registration order from another relay type guide light in the registration order acquisition step, and to acquire the reset signal from another relay type guide light in the reset signal acquisition step, the registration order is obtained from the registration order output step. In order to output to the relay type guide light of, it is another relay type guide light to output the reset signal from the reset signal output step to another relay type guide light , and if it is the master unit, it is a slave unit. (At least the "registration order acquisition step", the "registration order storage step", the "registration order output step", the "circular timer", the "reset signal acquisition step", the "reset signal output step", and , This "short-range wireless communication step", the later "light emitting step", and the later "control step" are provided as a configuration), and if it is a slave unit, the master unit (at least the above-mentioned "registration order acquisition step"). , The "registration order storage step", the "registration order output step", the "circular timer", the "reset signal acquisition step", the "reset signal output step", and the "short-range wireless communication step". , The short-range wireless communication step for transmitting and receiving with the "light emitting step" described later and the "control step" described later as a configuration.
Luminous step and
A control step that controls the light emission step according to the timekeeping of the circular timer and the stored registration order, and
How to operate a relay type guide light with. A control start command storage step for storing a control start command for a light emitting step by a control step,
A control start command output step that outputs the stored control start command, and
A control start command acquisition step for acquiring a control start instruction, and
The method of operating the relay type guide light according to claim 4 , further comprising. A master unit slave unit determination step for determining whether it is a master unit or a slave unit,
Lighting start command input step and
When it is determined that it is the master unit, the lighting start control step that controls the control start command output step so as to output the stored control start command according to the input of the lighting start command,
The method of operating the relay type guide light according to claim 5 . A registration order acquisition step for acquiring a registration order, which is a value indicating the order of the first master unit and one or more slave units arranged with the master unit at the beginning.
A registration order storage step that stores the registration order, which is the value obtained by incrementing or decrementing the acquired registration order value, and
A registration order output step that outputs the stored registration order, and
Orbital timer and
The reset signal acquisition step to acquire the reset signal and
A reset step that resets the orbiting timer with the acquired reset signal, and
A reset signal output step that outputs a reset signal according to the acquisition of the reset signal, and
In order to acquire the registration order from another relay type guide light in the registration order acquisition step, and to acquire the reset signal from another relay type guide light in the reset signal acquisition step, the registration order is obtained from the registration order output step. In order to output to the relay type guide light of, it is another relay type guide light to output the reset signal from the reset signal output step to another relay type guide light , and if it is the master unit, it is a slave unit. (At least the "registration order acquisition step", the "registration order storage step", the "registration order output step", the "circular timer", the "reset signal acquisition step", the "reset signal output step", and , This "short-range wireless communication step", the later "light emitting step", and the later "control step" are provided as a configuration), and if it is a slave unit, the master unit (at least the above-mentioned "registration order acquisition step"). , The "registration order storage step", the "registration order output step", the "circular timer", the "reset signal acquisition step", the "reset signal output step", and the "short-range wireless communication step". , The short-range wireless communication step for transmitting and receiving with the "light emitting step" described later and the "control step" described later as a configuration.
Luminous step and
A control step that controls the light emission step according to the timekeeping of the circular timer and the stored registration order, and
Operation program of relay type guide lights with. A control start command storage step for storing a control start command for a light emitting step by a control step,
A control start command output step that outputs the stored control start command, and
A control start command acquisition step for acquiring a control start instruction, and
7. The operation program of the relay type guide light according to claim 7 . A master unit slave unit determination step for determining whether it is a master unit or a slave unit,
Lighting start command input step and
When it is determined that it is the master unit, the lighting start control step that controls the control start command output step so as to output the stored control start command according to the input of the lighting start command,
The operation program of the relay type guide light according to claim 8 .

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