JPH0461499A - Controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for a switch and to reduce the cost by allowing a 2nd group control device to inquire of a 1st group control device about the control state of a 1st group control device with respect to the controlled device, storing the inquired control state corresponding to the controlled device and controlling the controlled device in response to the stored control state. CONSTITUTION:A demand controller 3 being one of a 1st group control device and a home automation controller (HA controller) 5 being one of a 2nd group control device are directly connected to a communication line 1 and also air- conditioners 7, 9 being controlled devices are connected to the line 1 via each adaptor 11. Then the control device of the 2nd group inquires of the 1st group control device about the control state of the 1st group controller with respect to the controlled devices and stores the inquired control state corresponding to the controlled devices and controls the controlled devices in response to the stored control state, then the 2nd group control device always grasp the control state of the 1st group control device. Thus, the controlled devices are properly controlled without provision of a special switch.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a control device that controls a controlled device from a plurality of control devices via a communication line, and more specifically, for example, an air conditioner, etc. The present invention relates to a control device that controls controlled devices of a first group of control devices such as a demand controller that monitors electric power amount and a second group of control devices such as a home automation controller via a communication line.

(Prior Art) For example, electrical appliances such as air conditioners used in homes are controlled on/off via communication lines by demand controllers that monitor the amount of electricity, and home automation controllers (hereinafter referred to as It is also controlled on/off as appropriate via a communication line by the HA controller (referred to as HA controller). For this reason, when the demand controller tries to turn off the air conditioner and the HA controller tries to turn on the air conditioner, the on and off states of both conflict.
This is prevented by providing double switches to mask the ON signal of the A controller.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The above-described conventional method requires two switches for each controlled device such as an air conditioner, so there is a problem in that the price of the device increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control device in which a switch is eliminated and the cost is reduced.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the control device of the present invention connects at least one controlled device from a first group of control devices and a second group of control devices via a communication line. The control device performs on/off control, and the second group of control devices inquires of the first group of control devices about the control state of the first group of control devices for the controlled device, and transmits the inquired control state to the controlled device. The second group of control devices has a control device that controls the controlled device according to the control state stored in the storage device.

(Function) In the control device of the present invention, the second group of control devices inquires of the first group of control devices about the control status of the first group of control devices for the controlled devices, and transmits the inquired control status to the controlled devices. Correspondingly, the control state is memorized, and the controlled equipment is controlled according to this memorized control state.

(Implementation N) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a demand controller 3, which is one of the control devices of the first group, and an HA controller 5, which is one of the control devices of the second group, are directly connected to the communication port All. Air conditioners 7 and 9 are connected via an adapter 11.

The demand controller 3 monitors the electric power amount, and accordingly performs peak cut control on the air conditioners 7 and 9 or cancels the peak cut control as appropriate. Further, the HA controller 5 is adapted to appropriately turn on/off the air conditioner 7.9 in response to various requests or signals from sensors or the like. The demand controller 3 and the HA controller 5 each independently control on/off of the air conditioner 7.9.

Figure 2 (a) shows multiple air conditioners A and B as controlled devices.
. On the other hand, the data when the peak is cut is shown as the state.

The demand controller 3 performs peak cut control on each air conditioner or cancels peak cut control as appropriate depending on the state of the amount of power being monitored, but the HA controller 5
When controlling each air conditioner on/off, it is necessary to prevent the demand controller 3 from turning on the air conditioner that is under peak cut control. The inquired control state is stored for each air conditioner.

That is, if the air conditioner 7 is under peak cut control,
The air conditioner 7 is memorized and registered as being under peak cut control.

Then, when controlling each air conditioner on/off, the HA controller 5 checks this registered control state, and if the air conditioner to be turned on is under peak cut control, it will not turn on the air conditioner. I have to. However, if the demand controller 3 cancels the peak cut control signal for the air conditioner, or if the peak cut control for the air conditioner is canceled even during peak cut control and the air conditioner is automatically turned on, the demand Deeming that the control of the controller 3 has ended, canceling the registration for the air conditioner,
From then on, the air conditioner can be turned on.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, if a factor occurs that turns on the controlled device A, for example, the air conditioner 7 (Step 9, step 110), the HA controller 5 determines that the air conditioner 7 of the device A is in the process of peak cutting. (Step 1)
20). If peak cut control is in progress, recovery is performed without any control (step 130). In other cases where peak cut control is not in progress, a command to turn on the air conditioner 7 of device A is transmitted (step 140).

Then, the air conditioner 7 of device A is turned on, and the air conditioner 7 is registered as the device that has been turned on (step 150).

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when a timer interrupt occurs (step 210), the HA controller 5 checks whether to turn on the air conditioner 7 of device A (
Step 220). When attempting to turn on the air conditioner 7, the HA controller 5 checks whether the air conditioner 7 is under peak cut control from the data stored in the internal memory (step 230). If it is determined from the internal data that the air conditioner 7 is under peak cut control, the status of the air conditioner 7, which is equipment A, is checked (step 240). When air conditioner 7 is on,
The data regarding the state of the air conditioner 7 stored in the internal memory of the air conditioner 7 is changed from the peak cut state to another state, and the processing for the air conditioner 7 is ended (step 260).Also, the air conditioner 7 is turned off by the check in step 240. In this case, check the status of the demand controller 3 (step 250), or if peak cutting is in progress, terminate the process, or in other cases,
That is, when peak cutting is not in progress, the air conditioner 7, which is device A, is controlled to be turned on, and the state of the internal memory is changed from the state in which peak cutting is in progress to another state,
End the process for the air conditioner 7 (step 300)
.

On the other hand, in step 230, if the state of the air conditioner 7 stored in the internal memory of the HA controller 5 is not in peak cut mode, and in any other case, the state of the air conditioner 7, which is equipment A, is checked in step 270) and turned off. In this case, the state of the demand controller 3 is checked (step 280). If the demand controller 3 is in peak cut mode, the state of the air conditioner 7, which is device A, is registered in peak cut mode, and the process ends (
Step 290).

After completing the processing for the air conditioner 7, which is device A, the processing for the air conditioner 9, which is device B, is then performed.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the case where one each of the demand controller 3 and the HA controller 5 is provided is explained, but the demand controller 3
There may be a plurality of HA controllers 5, and in this case, the control equipment belonging to the demand controller 3 is
The control devices belonging to the HA controller 5 may be classified and controlled as a second group of control devices.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the second group of control devices inquires of the first group of control devices about the control state of the first group of control devices for the controlled device, and the inquired control state is returned to the controlled device. Since the control state is stored in correspondence with the device and the controlled device is controlled according to the stored control state, the second group of control devices always knows the control state of the first group of control devices. Even without providing a special switch or the like, it is possible to accurately control the controlled devices without affecting the control state by the first group of control devices.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the states of controlled devices in the control device of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are the same as those shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of FIG. 1. Communication line, 3. Demand controller, 5. HA controller, 7.9. Air conditioner.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A control device that controls on/off of at least one controlled device from a first group of control devices and a second group of control devices via a communication line, wherein the second group of control devices controls the first group of control devices. storage means for inquiring the control state of the controlled equipment of the equipment from the first group of control equipment and storing the inquired control state in correspondence with the controlled equipment; and the second group of control equipment is stored in the storage means. 1. A control device comprising: control means for controlling a controlled device according to a control state.