JPH0117337B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides carrier wave communication using an indoor power supply line as a transmission path for various household appliances, such as microwave ovens, dryers, and room air conditioners (hereinafter referred to as air conditioners). This invention relates to a switching control device suitable for control using.

Currently, the current capacity contract for domestic households is
15A and 20A are the mainstream, but on the other hand, when all household appliances used in a general household, such as an oven range, dryer, and air conditioner, are used, the total current capacity exceeds the above current capacity contract value. It has become common to have one. Under such circumstances, users naturally use household appliances on a time-sharing basis. In other words, in the summer, we use the air conditioner almost all day long, but when we use the microwave oven for cooking, we turn off the air conditioner and use the microwave oven.
After using the microwave oven, the air conditioner is turned on again. In this case, the microwave oven and air conditioner are usually installed in separate rooms (such as the living room and the living room), and it is very inconvenient to use them alternately.

One of the ways to solve such problems is to
It is considered that multiple devices can be connected to the same outlet via a switch, but as mentioned above, when using the microwave oven and air conditioner in different rooms on a time-sharing basis, the power cord can be connected from room to room. The power cord has to be routed around, making it inconvenient to use, and it is extremely dangerous as the power cord can get caught on your feet.

Therefore, in order to eliminate such inconvenience,
A new control device is being considered, which is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 52-1433. This conventional device (system) monitors the power (or current) at the entrance of the indoor power supply line or the branch of the wiring system, and monitors the power (or current) consumed by various devices connected to the outlet of the indoor power supply line. A pre-selected device from among a plurality of devices is controlled so that the total amount of current (current) falls within a preset power value (or current value). And the control in this case is
This is done by carrier wave communication using indoor power supply lines as the signal transmission path.

However, with this conventional method, in order to measure the total current (power) flowing to multiple devices connected to the indoor power supply line, a current (or power) measuring means must be connected in series with the indoor power supply line and installed. Must be. Therefore, electrical work is required to install the measurement means, and in existing houses and small housing complexes (apartments), the installation space and the hassle of installation work are obstacles. However, implementation is not progressing.

Naturally, some devices connected to the indoor power supply line generate electrical noise over a wide band, such as electromagnetic induction cookers and mixers.
Furthermore, even if there is no electrical noise, the indoor power supply line has a resonance point, and the location of this resonance point is affected by the connected equipment, so the carrier signal using the indoor power supply line as a signal transmission path is Communication was problematic in terms of reliability. To explain in more detail, this indoor power supply line is low voltage (AC100V) and usually has multiple relatively low impedance loads connected to it, so it can be used as a relatively low impedance transmission line as a signal transmission line. It's summery. Further, the equivalent circuit of the indoor power supply line has inductance (distributed in the transmission line) in its length direction. on the other hand,
In order to prevent electrical noise generated by the load from leaking into the indoor power supply line, a capacitor with relatively large capacitance is generally installed at the power supply connection of the load connected to the indoor power supply line. It is set in. As a result, a series resonance point occurs on the indoor power supply line due to the inductance of the indoor power supply line and the capacitance of the load. This resonance point occurs at a location far away from the location of the indoor feeder line to which the load is normally connected, and significantly attenuates the signal level of the carrier signal. Note that even if a capacitor is provided at the power supply connection part of the load, electrical noise of a level equivalent to that of the carrier signal usually leaks from the load to the indoor power supply line. Therefore, a phenomenon occurs in which a carrier wave signal of a single frequency is buried in noise and cannot be received, or the signal level becomes so low due to the resonance point of the carrier wave frequency that it cannot be received. In the conventional method, no consideration is given to this point.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, improve the reliability of indoor power feeder carrier wave communication,
The object of the present invention is to provide a switching control device that can control a plurality of household appliances using this highly reliable communication method.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an outlet plug connected to an indoor power supply line, a connecting wire electrically connected to the outlet plug, and an indoor power outlet connected to the connecting wire. A transmitting section and a receiving section that perform feed line carrier wave communication, a switching control device outlet that is indirectly connected to the outlet insertion section by a connecting line and supplying current to the load, and a connection line between the switching control device outlet and the connecting line. A switch part that turns on and off the current flowing from the outlet plug part to the switching control device outlet, which is connected to the outlet, receives at least a signal from the receiver part, makes a logical judgment, and supplies the signal to the switch part to turn on or off. A controller that controls the off state and also sends a coded signal to the transmitter to perform communication. a transmitting means for transmitting the carrier wave signal spread over a plurality of frequencies to the connecting line, and an extracting means for extracting the carrier wave signal spread over a plurality of frequencies from the connecting line,
Further, a correction means is provided for emphasizing and outputting signal components of the same signal pattern from the received signal extracted by the extraction means.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings. Note that the information on device drive input to the switching control device is called an on-state setting input, and the information on device stop is called an off-state setting input.

Now, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the switching control device system of the present invention, in which 1 indicates an indoor power supply line;
2 is a room, 3 is a living room, 4 and 5 are electrical outlets, 6 is a microwave oven, 7 is an air conditioner, 8 is a switching control device A, and 9 is a switching control device B.

Suppose now that in the living room 2, the microwave oven 6 is connected to the switching control device 8, and then the switching control device 8 is connected to the outlet 4.
Assume that the air conditioner 7 is connected to the switching control device 9, and then the switching control device 9 is connected to the outlet 5. At this point, the switching control devices 8, 9
Both of them are set to the off state (a setting that electrically separates the indoor power supply line and the household appliances), and the switching control devices 8 and 9 sequentially switch to the three frequencies of 80KHz, 120KHz, and 160KHz encoded in the indoor power supply line 1. They send two carrier wave signals and check each other's status. In other words,
In order to transmit the encoded information (signal) created and sent out within the switching control devices 8 and 9, a frequency band (multiple frequencies) wider than the minimum necessary carrier frequency (single frequency) is used. The spread carrier wave signal is sent to the indoor power supply line 1. In addition, the above 3
The two frequencies can be easily obtained by multiplying the 120KHz reference sine wave by the 40KHz (or BPS) signal.

Eventually, when the first user inputs an ON state setting input to the switching control device 8 in order to drive the microwave oven 6, the switching control device 8 sends a carrier wave signal for setting the OFF state to the switching control device 9, and the switching control is performed. It is confirmed and memorized that the device 9 is set to the OFF state, and then a carrier wave signal is sent to the switching control device 9 indicating that the switching control device 8 is set to the ON state. The switching control device 9 receives this carrier wave signal and memorizes that the switching control device 8 is set to the on state,
The confirmation is sent back to the switching control device 8. The switching control device 8 receives this carrier wave signal, electrically connects the microwave oven 6 and the outlet 4, and also displays to the first user that the ON state has been set. The first user confirms this display and drives the microwave oven 6.

Meanwhile, at this point in the living room 3, the second user uses the switching control device 9 to drive the air conditioner 7.
When the ON state setting input is made to the switching control device 9,
is sent to the switching control device 8, and based on the reply from the switching control device 8, it is confirmed that the switching control device 8 is set to the on state setting, and the on state setting input by the second user is invalidated. do.

Next, the driving of the microwave oven 6 is stopped and the first
When the user inputs the OFF state setting to the switching control device 8, the switching control device 8 stops displaying the ON state setting, electrically disconnects the microwave oven 6 and the outlet 4, and sends the switching control device 9 to the switching control device 9. Sends notification that the setting is set to off state. The switching control device 9 receives this carrier wave signal, memorizes that the switching control device 8 has been set to the OFF state, and sends back confirmation to the switching control device 8. Return from this state to the initial state.

Next, when the second user inputs an ON state setting input to the switching control device 9 in order to drive the air conditioner 7 in the living room 3, the switching control device 9 sends a carrier wave signal to the switching control device 8. The switching control device 8 receives the signal from the switching control device 9, and replies that the switching control device 8 is set to the off state. The switching control device 9 receives this signal, stores that the switching control device 8 is set to the OFF state, confirms it, and transmits to the switching control device 8 that the switching control device 8 is set to the ON state. The switching control device 8 receives this signal, memorizes that the switching control device 8 is set to the on state, and returns confirmation to the switching control device 9. Upon receiving this signal, the switching control device 9 electrically connects the air conditioner 7 and the outlet 5, and also connects the second
Indicates to the user that the device is now set to the on state. The second user confirms this display and drives the air conditioner 7.

After this, the switching control device 9 continues to set the ON state unless the second user inputs the OFF state setting as described above.

On the other hand, at this point in time, when the first user inputs the on-state setting input to the switching control device 8 in order to drive the microwave oven 6, the switching control device 8 changes as in the case described above. A signal is sent to the switching control device 9 to set the off state. Switching control device 9
Upon receiving this signal, it stops displaying the on-state setting, electrically disconnects the air conditioner 7 and the outlet 5, and transmits to the switching control device 8 that the off-state setting has been made. The switching control device 8 confirms and stores that the switching control device 9 is set to the OFF state, and then transmits to the switching control device 9 that the switching control device 8 is set to the ON state. The switching control device 9 receives this carrier wave signal and memorizes that the switching control device 8 is set to the on state,
The confirmation is sent back to the switching control device 8. Upon receiving this carrier wave signal, the switching control device 8 electrically connects the microwave oven 6 and the outlet 4, and also displays to the first user that the ON state has been set. The first user confirms this display and drives the microwave oven 6.

FIG. 2 shows the external shape of the switching control devices 8 and 9 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the switching control device 8,
Reference numeral 9 indicates the switching control device 8 or 9 of FIG.
10 is an outlet plug, 11 is an outlet of the switching control device, and 12 is mode A of the switching control device.
or B selection switch (priority designation means), 13,
13' is a state setting input switch, and 14 is an LED for displaying ON state setting. When explaining FIG. 2 in correspondence with FIG. 1 and its explanation, the outlet insertion part 10 is connected to the outlet 4 or 5.
The switching control device outlet 11 is a part to which the oven range 6 or the air conditioner 7 is connected. Further, the selection switch 12 is a switch for selecting a switching control device 8 with a high priority and a switching control device 9 with a low priority, and a state setting input switch 13 is used by the user to input ON state settings to the switching control devices 8 and 9. The state setting input switch 13' is a switch for the user to similarly input the off state setting.

The on state setting display LED 14 is connected to the outlet plug part 10 and the switching control device outlet 11.
It lights up when there is an electrical connection between the two, that is, when the on state is set.

In addition, in the external shape (structure) of the switching control devices 8 and 9 shown in FIG. Since the hole for the switching control device outlet 11 (the part without hatching) is provided in the direction perpendicular to the main surface (the hatched part) of the section 10, the switching control device outlet 11
When the plug (not shown) of a household appliance is inserted into the indoor power supply line 1, the weight of the power cord (not shown) causes the switching control devices 8, 9 to connect to the outlet 4, 9 of the indoor power supply line 1.
It never falls out of 5. This is because the weight of the power cord generates a moment whose axial direction is the direction in which the outlet insertion portion 10 is inserted. Next, the switching control device 8 in FIG.
A block diagram of 9 is shown in FIG. 15 is a 4-bit microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer); 16 is a reset section consisting of a resistor, a Zener diode, a comparator, etc.; 17 is a 50/60Hz clock signal section consisting of a resistor, a comparator, etc.;
8 is Colpitts oscillation circuit, NAND gate, transistor, tank circuit, 80KHz, 120KHz, 160KHz
19 is a transmitting section consisting of a coupling transformer, etc. for transmitting a carrier wave signal of a frequency of 80KHz,
A receiving section includes a tuner (BPF) for extracting carrier wave frequencies of 120 KHz and 160 KHz, an amplifier, a comparator, etc., a relay section 20 includes a driver and a latching relay, and 21 is a contact point of the relay section 20. In addition, 22 is selected according to the frequency of the commercial power supply sent to the indoor power supply line.
This is a 50/60Hz selection section.

An example of the operation will be described below. Now, the selection switch 12 is set to mode A and operates as the switching control device 8 with a high priority level, and the selection switch 12 is set to mode A.
Assume that 50Hz is selected in the 60Hz selection section. When the user connects the microwave oven 6 to the switching control device outlet 11 and inserts the outlet socket 10 into the outlet 4 of the indoor power supply line 1, commercial power (AC100V, 50Hz) is supplied to the outlet socket 10, and the A desired DC voltage is then applied to each block. The reset section 16 sends a reset signal to the microcomputer 15 when this DC voltage rises to a predetermined value. The microcomputer 15 receives this reset signal and performs initialization processing such as clearing the RAM.

Next, the microcomputer 15 checks the setting mode A of the selection switch 12 and the inputs of the state setting input switches 13 and 13'. When the setting mode is mode A, transmission data for calling the state setting of the switching control device 9 whose priority level is low at this point is created. When the 50/60Hz clock signal section 17 sends a clock signal to the microcomputer 15 at the zero cross of the commercial power supply AC100V and 50Hz, the microcomputer 15 generates an interrupt and sends transmission data to the transmission section 18, and the transmission section 18 receives this transmission data. The encoded carrier wave signal (frequency
80KHz, 120KHz, 160KHz).

Furthermore, when the next interrupt occurs, the microcomputer 15 becomes ready for reception (transmission has ended), and the reception section 19
The incoming carrier wave signal is received and the received data is analyzed. Similarly, as explained with reference to FIG. 1, communication with the switching control device 9 is performed, and it is assumed here that the state setting input switch 13 is pressed and an on state setting input is performed. The microcomputer 15 receives the signal from the status setting input switch 13, and while synchronizing with the clock signal from the 50/60Hz clock signal section 17, sends transmission data for setting the switching control device 9 to the off state to the transmitting section 18. , the transmitter 18 transmits in the same manner as described above (after determining the priority order).

Then, upon receiving a reply indicating that the switching control device 9 has been set to the OFF state, after analyzing this data, the controller 9 sends a message to the switching control device 9 that the switching control device 8 has been set to the ON state, in the same manner as described above. and confirm the reply from the switching control device 9. After this, the microcomputer 15 sends a signal to the relay section 20, and the relay section 20
turns on relay contact 21. Therefore, the microwave oven 6 and the outlet 4 are electrically connected. In addition, the microcomputer 15 displays the on state setting.
Send a signal to LED14 and turn it on. The above is an outline of the operation of the block diagram shown in FIG.

Note that, depending on the signal from the 50/60Hz selection unit 22, delay processing in the processing of the microcomputer 15 is performed as appropriate. Further, the carrier wave signal is a pulse AM modulated signal having three frequencies of 80 KHz, 120 KHz, and 160 KHz, and is transmitted or received simultaneously. Analysis of received data includes a process of taking a majority vote on these three signals. The reason for taking a majority vote in this way is to check that the composite signal of carrier wave signals of a plurality of frequencies transmitted simultaneously is at a predetermined level or higher and that the majority has been received normally. Here, the process of taking majority vote will be specifically explained. Now, the code (1010) from the other device has three frequencies 80KHz,
Assume that it is transmitted by carrier wave signals of 120KHz and 160KHz. At this time, due to the resonance point and electrical noise on the indoor power supply line, the received signal with a frequency of 80 KHz shows the sign (0000) in the receiving section of the switching control device, and the received signal with a frequency of 120 KHz shows the sign (0000). Indicates code (1011), frequency 160K
Assume that the received signal of the Hz component shows the sign (1010). In this case, the most significant bits are 0'',
〓1'', 〓1'', and 〓1'' is selected by the majority vote.Similarly, the result of the majority vote is (1010), and the transmitted code is reproduced.In other words, the majority vote This process emphasizes the same signal pattern of the signal components included in the received signal.The physical location of the resonance point of the indoor power feeder mentioned above differs depending on the frequency, and there are multiple It is unlikely that most of the carrier signals at the frequencies are lost due to this cause.It is also unlikely that most of the carrier signals at multiple frequencies will be lost to electrical noise.

Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows a general flowchart of the microcomputer 15 shown in FIG. 3. The left side of the figure is the main routine, where DC voltage is applied (power on)
Then, initialization processing is performed, switch input processing such as status setting input switches 13 and 13' is performed, and then transmission data (code) is created or received data (code) is analyzed to determine the priority order (judgment). Process. Then relay processing,
Performs LED display processing and returns to switch input processing. On the other hand, the right side of the figure is an interrupt processing routine, which is executed every time a clock signal is input to the microcomputer 15 from the 50/60 Hz clock signal section 17 after the initialization processing of the main routine. The contents of the interrupt processing are processing related to transmission and reception of encoded carrier signals.

In addition, in the above embodiment, each household appliance is connected to the indoor power supply line through a switching control device, communication is performed between the switching control devices without using dedicated wiring, and when the household appliances are driven, Due to the ampacity contract, the system has been configured so that when one switching controller is set to the on state, at least one other switching controller is set to the off state, according to a predetermined priority order. When using household equipment on a time-sharing basis, etc.
Since devices installed in different rooms can be switched and controlled from a distance, usability is significantly improved, and since no construction work is required, installation is easy and inexpensive.

In the above embodiment, the basic priority is given to the switching control device 8 which has a higher priority, but the switching control device 8 is of an alternating switching control type in which priority is given to the state setting input, that is, if the switching control device 8 is in the on (off) state. When a setting input is input, the switching control device 9 turns off (on).
At the same time as the state is set, the switching control device 8 is set to the on (off) state, and the switching control device 9 is set to the on (off) state.
When the off state setting input is input, the switching control device 8 may be set to the off (on) state, and the switching control device 9 may be set to the on (off) state.

Further, in the embodiment, when the switching control device 9 is set to the on state, if an on state setting input is input to the switching control device 8, the switching control device 9 is set to the off state, and the switching control device 8 is set to the on state. As mentioned above, under these conditions, if an OFF state setting input is further input to the switching control device 8, the switching control device 8 will be set to the OFF state, and the switching control device 9 will return to the ON state setting. Similarly, by inputting an on-state setting input to the switching control device 9 when the switching control device 8 is set to the on-state, when the switching control device 8 is subsequently set to the off-state, , the switching control device 9 may be automatically set to the on state.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, two switching control devices are used in one
As mentioned above, when configuring a system, if there are three or more switch control devices, and one switch is set to the on (off) state, even if the other switching control devices are set to the off (on) state, many One system may be configured with the switching control device, and this may be divided into two or more groups so that when one group is set to the on (off) state, the other group is set to the off (on) state; When configuring one system with a large number of switching control devices, a monitoring device may be provided to monitor the operating status of these devices.

In the example, the status setting input was generated by the user pressing a switch, but the current flowing through the power cord of household equipment is detected by a sensor, and the status setting input is automatically generated depending on whether the current value exceeds a predetermined level. may generate state setting inputs.

Furthermore, in the example, indoor power feeder carrier wave communication
Although PAM modulation is used, FM modulation or phase modulation may also be used.

In the embodiment, it is displayed that the switching control device is set to the ON state, but the state setting of the other switching control device may also be displayed.
The display may also use a discharge tube instead of an LED.

Further, in the embodiment, a microwave oven and an air conditioner are used as household appliances, but other appliances such as lighting equipment may be used.

Note that whether the switching control device is normally set to the OFF state or to the ON state is determined as appropriate, and does not impair the effects of the present invention.

Furthermore, although a relay is used in the embodiment, a semiconductor element such as a triac may also be used.

In addition, in the example, the carrier wave signal has three frequencies.
80KHz, 120KHz, 160KHz, but other frequencies,
For example, it may be spread to 50KHz or 450KHz,
Further, although the case where three frequencies are output simultaneously has been described, the apparatus of the present invention operates in the same way even if the three frequencies are output with shifted phases. In addition, in the embodiment, the case where another device transmits the code (1010) with respect to the process of taking a majority vote has been described, but it is not a design consideration to include an error correction code, pseudo noise code, etc. in the transmitted code. That's a problem.

Further, in the embodiment, a switching control device was described for keeping the total current capacity of household equipment used at home within a predetermined amount, but the device is not limited to this, and simply The present invention is applicable to a switching control device that performs communication to switch the connection between an indoor power supply line and a load.

As described above, according to the present invention, a carrier wave signal spread over a plurality of frequencies is sent to a transmitting unit that performs indoor power feed line carrier wave communication for transmitting an encoded signal sent from a control unit. A transmitting means for transmitting the signal to the indoor power supply line is provided, and an extracting means for extracting the above-mentioned carrier wave signal is provided in the receiving section, and signal components having the same signal pattern are emphasized from the received signal extracted by the extracting means. Since the output correction means is provided, it is possible to provide a switching control device that can communicate and control in a highly reliable state without using dedicated wiring.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the switching control device system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external shape of the switching control device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. The block diagram in FIG. 4 is a general flowchart of the microcomputer shown in FIG. 1: Indoor power supply line, 6: Microwave oven, 7: Air conditioner, 8, 9: Switching control device, 13, 13':
Status setting input switch, 15: Microcomputer, 18:
Transmitting section, 19: Receiving section, 20: Relay section, 21:
relay contact.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An outlet insertion part connected to an indoor power supply line, a connection line electrically connected to this outlet insertion part, and an indoor power supply line carrier wave communication connected to this connection line. a transmitter and a receiver that perform the above-mentioned switching control device receptacle; a switching control device outlet that is indirectly connected to the outlet plugging portion through the connection line and supplying power to the load; and a connection between the connection line and the switching control device outlet; a first switch section that is connected to the outlet plug section and turns on and off the power supplied from the outlet plug section to the switching control device outlet; A control section for supplying a signal to a switch section to control the first switch section to an on state or an off state, and a control section for transmitting an encoded signal to the transmitting section to perform communication. In the switching control device, a first
and a second and third frequency separated from the first frequency by the same frequency difference. Extraction means for extracting a carrier signal spread over a plurality of frequencies having at least a third frequency from the connection line; and correction for emphasizing and outputting signal components of the same signal pattern from the received signal extracted by the extraction means. 1. A switching control device for household equipment, characterized in that it has means. 2. The control section has a priority designation means for designating a high or low priority level, and an input section for designating the operation of the first switch section, and when the priority designation means is at a high level, the above-mentioned When an on-operation signal is input to the input section, the transmitting section and the receiving section communicate with each other in order to turn off the second switch section of the first other station designated as a low-level priority. , and then controls the first switch section to turn on, and when the priority designation means is at a low level, when an on operation signal is input to the input section, the first switch section is designated at a high level of priority. The transmission section and the reception section communicate with each other in order to know the state of the third switch section of the second other station, and when the state of the third switch section is not on, the first
2. The switching control device for household appliances according to claim 1, wherein the switch section of the switch section is controlled to be in an on state.