JPH07117843B2 - Lighting load control device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting load control device, and more particularly, to a plurality of lighting load groups in a card reading system.
The present invention relates to a lighting load control device that can be controlled from a location.

In the following description, the lighting load may be simply referred to as a load.

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a large number of lighting lamps arranged in a wide area are grouped into room units, factory units, etc.
A load control device is used that can control ON / OFF from one place by a card reading method.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the load control device 51 according to the conventional technique. For example, a maximum of 320 lights L for one room, factory, or one floor
Individual groups G1, G2, G3, ...
Is described, and the plurality of illumination lamps L arranged in the same group G are appropriately connected to the nearest terminal device K. The terminal device K is realized by a relay or a semiconductor switching element.

Group switches S1, corresponding to each group G1, G2, G3, ...
S2, S3, ... (Generally referred to as reference symbol S) are provided. Terminal K and group switch S are control lines
Commonly connected to the main operation panel 52 via l0. A unique address (address) is assigned to each terminal K and group switch S, and the address data and ON / OFF command contained in the control signal r0 derived from the main operation panel 52 are decoded. , When the address data matches its own address, the control data included in the control signal r0 is fetched.

The terminal device K uses this control data to drive an internal relay or a semiconductor switching element to supply or cut off commercial power AC and control the blinking of the lamp L. Further, the group switch S takes in the control data and turns on one of the indicator lights b and c indicating the operating state of the group switch S. The indicator light b is, for example, green and the switch is ON, and the indicator light c is
Displays switch OFF in red.

At the same time, the group switch S derives reply signals q1, q2, ... (Indicated by reference numeral q when collectively referred to) in the direction indicated by the arrow pointing to the left, which indicates the switch state, toward the main operation panel 52. The control signal r0 is provided with a reply period at a fixed timing, and the reply signal q is returned to the main operation panel 52 at the timing of the reply period.

The main operation panel 52 has a built-in central processing unit (CPU) including a microprocessor, a clock generator, a memory, and a timer (not shown).
A display plate 52a for displaying the F state, a keyboard 52b, and a card reader 52c are provided, and N (for example, 320) switches S can be managed. Now, when the mark card 53 with the schedule information such as switch number, ON time, OFF time, etc. is externally inserted into the card reader 52c, the central processing unit reads and stores the schedule information described there. After that, the process according to the stored information is executed.

For example, the built-in timer detects the lighting time or the extinguishing time of a predetermined group switch S, and the control signal r0 is output from the main control panel 52 at that time. Whether or not the control signal r0 has been executed is confirmed by the reply signal q. In this way, ON / OFF control of the illumination lamp L is performed from the main control panel 52.

The mark card 53 has, for example, 10 switches S, that is, 10 switches.
The ON / OFF time of each group G can be individually described by the mark sheet method. Main control panel 52
Can handle a large number of group switches S of 320, for example, and by using the mark card 53 storing the ON / OFF time of each group switch S as described above, It can be turned ON / OFF automatically at the desired time.

With the mark card method, once the information is recorded on the card and placed, the same card can be used repeatedly until it is changed, and the mark card 53 can always be kept by the operator. However, there is an advantage that the recorded contents can be searched as needed without having to go to the main operation panel 52.

However, as the number of groups G increases, the number of mark cards 53 naturally increases. Moreover, the ON / OFF times recorded on these cards are almost always the same time. In other words, ON / OFF time concentrates on a specific time.

For example, assuming a certain business office and a plurality of groups G formed in the business office, if the business office executes a schedule of lighting in the business office, for example, lighting at 8:00 am and turning off at 6:30 pm, On the mark card 53, one group switch S is a mark sheet type, It is described as. 001 indicates a unique number of a certain group switch S. Hereinafter, the group switch S, that is, the number of the group G is sequentially described in the same procedure.
The same information [0800 1830] will be repeated in all of these.

Even if 10 pieces of information are written on one mark card 53, 32 pieces of mark card 53 are required at 320 pieces, and it is up to the parties to put all the same information on these mark cards 53. This is a fairly simple task. For this reason, there are many occasions when a time description error occurs, and it is very likely that the error will occur. In addition, assuming a situation such as overtime work until 9 pm,
It goes without saying that the time and effort required for changes and rewriting imposes a heavy burden on the parties. As described above, recently, due to the dramatic increase in the scale of business establishments and the number of loads, the above-mentioned problems have occurred in the mark card system. Therefore, the solution of these problems is a technical issue.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a technical problem, reduce the number of steps for inputting control information to the main control means, and efficiently control a large number of lighting loads collectively or individually. It is to provide a control device for the lighting load.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention is grouped with first control means provided for each of a plurality of lighting loads divided into a plurality of groups and drivingly controlling each lighting load in the group. A second control means, which is provided for each group of the plurality of first control means and individually controls and drives each first control means in the group, and the second control means are commonly connected, and the first control means Means and the second control means are individually controlled to drive and control the lighting load,
Main control means for inputting control information for each second control means, the first control means, when any one of the lighting loads belonging to the group of the first control means is in the ON state, The second control means to which the control means is connected is turned on, and the main control means reads the card in which each lighting load and the times when the lighting load is turned on and off is read, a card reader, a clock circuit, and a card. When the time that the memory that stores the contents read by the reader and the clock circuit matches the ON time that is stored in the memory, derive the control signal that turns on the lighting load and turn it off. And a time schedule means for deriving a control signal for turning off the lighting load when the two coincide with each other, each control signal is given to the first control means through the second control means to selectively control the lighting load. ON state Alternatively, the lighting load control device is characterized in that it is turned off.

Action According to the present invention, in controlling and driving a plurality of loads,
Control information is input to the main control unit for each second control unit. A plurality of first control means are connected to each second control means, and a plurality of loads are connected to each first control means. The control information of the second control means includes the control information of the first control means and the respective loads, and the main control means controls and drives the second control means to reduce the load according to the first control means. Each can be drive-controlled.

In this way, the second control means is provided between the first control means for directly controlling and driving the load and the main control means, so that control information is input by the number of the first control means, which is extremely complicated. It is possible to prevent such a situation and realize a load control device with excellent operability.

Further, according to the invention, the first control means turns on the second control means to which the first control means is connected when one lighting load belonging to the group of the first control means is turned on. Therefore, the lighting load can be turned on by the time schedule means in the main control means, and thus the second control means is kept in the off state, and the time schedule operation cannot be performed. Can be prevented.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of a load control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a main control panel 2 used for this. 1 and 2, corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals.
Referring to FIG. 1, a group of loads L such as lighting in units of one room, factory or one floor
A1, A2, A3, ..., Am, ..., An (generally referred to as reference symbol A) are formed, and a plurality of blocks B1, ..., Bm ,. (Reference numeral B) is formed. The terminal device K is provided for the plurality of illumination lamps L arranged in the same group A. Terminal K
Includes a circuit switch and a signal circuit realized by a relay or a semiconductor switching element.

One group switch 4 corresponding to one load group A
, 4n (reference numeral 4 is used when collectively referred to) are arranged. Further, for each block B, one block control switch 3a, 3b, ... Is arranged. Further, a main operation panel 2 for controlling all of these is provided, and the main operation panel 2, a plurality of block control switches 3 and a plurality of group switches 4 are provided.
And a control line m that connects the plurality of terminals K in common. In this way, the connection relationship from the main operation panel 2 to the terminal illumination lamp L is formed in a so-called tree structure with the main operation panel 2 as the apex and the block B-group A-terminal device K. Placed under the control of 2. Hereinafter, the block control switch 3 which is the upper switch is called a parent switch, and the group switch 4 which is the lower switch is called a child switch.

A unique address (address) is assigned to each of the parent switch 3, the child switch 4, and the terminal device K, which will be described later, and is included in the control signal R derived from the main operation panel 2 to the control line m. The address is checked, and if they match, the control data contained in the control signal R is fetched. The control signal R will be described later. The terminal device K drives a relay or a semiconductor switching element according to the control data, supplies or cuts off commercial power AC, and turns on or off the illumination lamp L.

The parent switch 3 and the child switch 4 turn on the indicator lights b and c indicating the operating state of the switch according to the control data. The indicator light b is, for example, green to indicate that the switch state is OFF, and the indicator light c is red to indicate that the switch state is ON. At the same time, the parent switch 3 and the child switch 4 send reply signals Q1 to Qn and P1 to Pn indicating the switch state, as will be described later.
(Refer to Q or P for generic name) is returned to the main operation panel 2. The main operation panel 2 side can monitor the states of the loads L in all the groups A and the blocks B under its own control by reading these reply signals Q and P. In the case of the present embodiment, it is possible to immediately find out, for example, that there is even one forgetting to turn off the illumination lamp L.

Referring to FIG. 2, the main operation panel 2 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) realized by a microprocessor or the like.
6, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 7 in which predetermined programs are stored in order to cause the CPU 6 to perform a desired operation, and a plurality of registers for registering a child switch 4 and a parent switch 3 as described later. RAM8a, 8b, clock IC (integrated circuit) 9 for detecting the coincidence of time with the stored schedule, time passage, etc., keyboard 10, mark card 5 is inserted and information written on the mark card 5 Card reader 11 for reading, interface 12 for converting information read by card reader 11 into a signal necessary for control, CRT or liquid crystal for displaying the read information, input / output status, etc. Display board realized by 1
3, a centralized control line m, etc., and a connection terminal board 14 for connecting the main operation panel 2 to the outside, and a CPU 6 and an interface 15 interposed between the connection terminal board 14.

The data of group A or block B shown in FIG. 1 is stored in one RAM 8a in the main operation panel 2. For example, as the data capacity for one parent switch 3, the maximum number of bits of all the child switches 4 arranged in the block B is prepared. Main operation panel 2 according to this embodiment
Assuming that the maximum number of controllable blocks is 320 blocks, as shown in the memory map of FIG. 3, 320 bits are used as one unit storage area and information of 320 bits per location of block B is used. The child switch 4 registered in the parent switch 3 can be expressed. As an expression method, the data "1" of each bit indicates that one child switch 4 is connected to the parent switch 3, and the data "0" indicates that it is not connected.

To express the switch number of the child switch 4 on the RAM 8a, it is represented by a physical address on the RAM 8a. In the example shown in FIG. 3, of the 320 bits corresponding to the parent switch 3a,
Since the tenth bit, the fifteenth bit, and the sixteenth bit are "1", the 1st to 10th and the 15th and 16th child switches 4 are grouped and registered in the parent switch 3a. The above-mentioned registration work is realized by inputting using the keyboard 10 or by writing the circuit state (connection / interruption) of each switch to a registration card (not shown) and causing the card reader 11 to read it. The switch number of the child switch 4 registered in this way matches the address of the child switch 4.

In addition, the child switch 4 which is in a subordinate relationship to the parent switch 3
Data is stored in the same manner. For example, if there are 320 terminals K that can be connected to one child switch 4, the information of 320 bits per child switch 4 indicates that the number of the terminal K belonging to the child switch 4 is the main operation. It will be stored in the board 2. The numbers of these terminals K naturally become the addresses of the terminals K and become the load circuit numbers which the terminals K are in charge of.

Next, the mark card system used in this embodiment will be described. The control data by the mark card is called time schedule data, and is stored in order of schedule number at a predetermined location in the other RAM 8b in the main operation panel 2 shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the contents of the data are stored as a switch number, an ON time, and an OFF time in this order by a 2-byte instruction.
In the example of FIG. 4, group A corresponding to switch number 1
Is turned on at 8 am and turned off at 5 pm (17:00).

FIG. 5 (a) is a diagram showing the description content of the mark card 14 used in this embodiment, and FIG. 5 (b) is a diagram showing a part of it in an enlarged manner. On the mark card 14, for example, information about 10 switches can be written per sheet. A column 14a for designating a switch number, a column 14b for designating an ON time, and a column 14c for designating an OFF time are provided on the surface, and a plurality of units (in this embodiment, these three columns are used as one unit).
The column of 10) is printed.

As shown in FIG. 5 (b), in the field 14a for designating the switch number, mark the upper digit of 1, 2, 3 and the middle digit and the lower digit of 0-9. The switch numbers up to 399 can be entered. Similarly, in the field 14b for designating the ON time, from 00:00 to 23:59 can be described. O
The column 14c for designating the FF time is similar, and desired data can be written on the mark card 14 by a method of filling the mark x of the corresponding numeral, and the mark card 14 thus created can be written. The data is optically read by inserting it into the card reader 10 of the main operation panel 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, CPU 6 in main operation panel 2 reads the data of the current time at a predetermined timing or by an interrupt from timepiece IC 9. If "second" is 0
If it is (0 seconds), the time schedule data is searched, and it is checked in the RAM 8b whether or not there is an ON time that matches the current time. If it exists, the switch number (address of the switch) stored in the same location is read out, and the address data of the child switch 4 or the parent switch 3 corresponding to the switch number and lighting (O
N) A control signal R (on) including control data that is an instruction is derived.

Next, the existence of OFF time that matches the current time is checked. If it exists, the corresponding switch number is read out in the same manner as above, and the control signal R (off) including the light-off (OFF) command is derived. The address data included in the derived control signal R includes the parent switch 3 and the child switch 4 as described above.
And decrypted by the terminal K.

FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing the waveform of the control signal R used in this embodiment. Control signal R derived from the main operation panel 2
Are address data AS and control data in one frame.
Data of BS and reply standby pulse CS are provided, and for example, "0" and "1" are represented at pulse intervals. During the period of the reply standby pulse CS, as described above, the reply signal indicating the switch state of the switch from the parent switch 3 side or the child switch 4 side.
This is the period during which Q and P are returned.

Next, among the operations according to the present embodiment, the operation of operating the parent switch 3 or the child switch 4 to control the blinking of the illumination lamp L will be described. The reply signal Q or P indicating the switch state is received by the main operation panel 2 during the reply waiting pulse CS of the control signal R. CPU6 in main operation panel 2
Checks which parent switch 3 or child switch 4 the reply signal Q or the reply signal P originated from, and confirms the switch number of the switch.

When the switch is the child switch 4, the data in the RAM 8a is checked to see if the terminal K is registered in it and which circuit number is registered.
Next, the operation state of the child switch 4 (ON operation or OFF operation)
Find out. If it is recognized that the switch has been operated for the purpose of ON operation, for example, if the switch that has been in the OFF state until now is pressed, that is, if the switch state is reversed, it is determined that the switch was pressed with the intention of the ON operation. The control signal R (on) including the address data AS and the lighting (ON) command is sequentially derived to the terminal K that controls the registered circuit,
In response to this, the terminal device K turns on the illumination lamp L belonging to itself.

The ON command is derived as the control data BS in the control signal R. On the contrary, when it is recognized that the child switch 4 is pressed with the intention of turning off, the control signal R (off) including the address data AS and the OFF command is sent to the registered circuit as in the case of turning on. The illumination lights L of the circuit are sequentially turned off and the lights are turned off.

When the switch is the parent switch 3, it is checked whether the child switch 4 is registered in the parent switch 3 and, if so, which parent switch 4 is registered. Next, the operating state of the parent switch 4 is checked. When it is recognized that it has been operated for the purpose of ON operation, the control signal R (on) including the address data AS and the ON command is sequentially derived to the registered child switch 4. As a result, the illuminating lamp L of the area A that finally includes the child switch 4 is included.
Lights up. The same applies to the OFF operation.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the plurality of group switches 4 according to the conventional technique are further divided into a plurality of groups to form a new block B, and each of the plurality of grouped child switches 4 is further divided. 1 parent switch 3
When the parent switch 3 is operated, the plurality of child switches 4 registered in the parent switch 3 operate in the same manner as if all of them were operated.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the problems described in the section of the related art are solved. In other words, it is sufficient to describe the time schedule on the mark card for only one parent switch 3, and the result is the same as the time schedule for all the child switches 4 included in the parent switch 3. The amount of information written in is reduced by a simple calculation, for example, to 1/320, the burden on the parties is significantly reduced, and troubles such as entry errors can be reduced. Further, even when it is necessary to change the normal time schedule due to overtime work or the like, it is possible to easily deal with it.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of this embodiment. Description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 together.

The main control panel 2 constantly monitors the switch state of the child switch 4, and steps n1 to n5 represent its operation. At step n1, the content of the reply signal P from the child switch 4 is searched. At step n2, it is judged whether the child switch 4 is turned on. If it is not turned on, the process proceeds to step n3, the switch number is incremented by 1, and the state of the child switch 4 having the next number is searched.

In this way, the search for the ON state of the child switches 4 is sequentially continued, and it is determined in step n4 whether or not all the child switches 4 (for example, 320 in this embodiment) have been searched. If it is the following, the process returns to step n1 and the same procedure is repeated. When the number of child switches 4 that have completed the search reaches the maximum number, the process moves to step n5, the switch number is set to 1, and
That is, the search is performed again from the child switch 4 having the first address.

If the child switch 4 that has been turned on is found during the search for the child switch 4 described above, the operation after step n6 is performed. At steps N6 and n7, the first switch of the parent switch 3 is searched for whether or not the child switch 4 which has been turned ON is registered in the parent switch 3, that is, which block B is the child switch. At step n8, it is judged whether or not the block is included in the block of the parent switch 3. If it is included, the process proceeds to step n9, the parent switch 3 is selected, this is turned on, and the process proceeds to step n10.

If the child switch 3 is not included in the parent switch 3 at step n8, the process similarly proceeds to step 10.

In step n10, the number of the parent switch 3 is incremented by 1, and the next parent switch 3 is searched. After that, the same procedure is repeated, and in step n11, the number of parent switches 3 for which the search is completed is checked. In this embodiment, the maximum number of attachable parent switches 3 is 320, for example. When the maximum number is reached, the search for the parent switch 3 ends, and the process proceeds to step n3 to execute the search for the child switch 4. If the number of searches for parent step 3 is less than the maximum,
Returning to step n7, the same procedure is repeated, and the search for the child switch 3 is continued.

As described above, when any one of the child switches 4 is turned on, the parent switch 3 which is the upper switch of the child switch 4 is immediately turned on, which is a feature of the present embodiment. It does not matter whether the child switch 4 is turned on manually or by a time schedule.

The main operation panel 2 side of this embodiment is operated as described above because the child switch 4 turned on by one parent switch 3 is
When it is turned off for some reason, the parent switch 3
In order to prevent the switch L from being turned off at the same time, for example, when the illuminating light L turned on by the parent switch 3 at 8:00 am is turned off by operating the child switch 4 by a person who stands up at noon, If the parent switch 3 is also turned off at the same time, for example, even if the main control panel 2 issues an OFF command at 5 o'clock in the evening, the target switch is already in the OFF state. This is to prevent a serious trouble that the other lamps L are not turned off without being executed.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, in the load control device according to the present invention, the second control means is provided between the first control means for directly controlling and driving the load and the main control means. It is possible to prevent an extremely complicated situation such as inputting control information as many times as possible, and to realize a load control device with excellent operability. Particularly, according to the present invention, when the first control means turns on even one lighting load belonging to the group,
The second control means to which the first control means is connected is turned on, which prevents the second control means from being kept in the off state, ie belonging to the group of the first control means. If even one lighting load is on,
The second control means can be turned on to control the on / off state of other lighting loads.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to cause the card reader to perform the time schedule operation of the illumination load, that is, the ON / OFF operation at a predetermined time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a load control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of its main operating panel, and FIG. 3 is the main operation of this embodiment. RA in the board
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of data of a switch stored in M, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of data of a time schedule stored in another RAM of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a shape of a mark card of this embodiment. FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing the waveform of the control signal, FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of this embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a load control device according to the prior art. Is. 1 ... Load control device, 2 ... Main operation panel, 3a to 3n ... Block control switch (parent switch), 4a to 4n ... Group switch (child switch), 5 ... Mark card, 6 ...
Central processing unit (CPU), 8a, 8b …… RAM, K …… Terminal device,
L: illumination lamp, m: control line, R: control signal, P,
Q …… Reply signal

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first control means provided for each group of a plurality of lighting loads divided into a plurality of groups and drivingly controlling each lighting load in the group, and a plurality of first control means grouped together. Second control means, which is provided for each group and individually controls and drives each first control means in the group, and the second control means are commonly connected, and the first control means and the second control means are connected. To control the lighting load individually,
Main control means for inputting control information for each second control means, the first control means, when any one of the lighting loads belonging to the group of the first control means is in the ON state, The second control means to which the control means is connected is turned on, and the main control means reads the card in which each lighting load and the times when the lighting load is turned on and off is read, a card reader, a clock circuit, and a card. When the time that the memory that stores the contents read by the reader and the clock circuit matches the ON time that is stored in the memory, derive the control signal that turns on the lighting load and turn it off. And a time schedule means for deriving a control signal for turning off the lighting load when the two coincide with each other, each control signal is given to the first control means through the second control means to selectively control the lighting load. ON state Alternatively, a lighting load control device that is turned off.