JPH0732500B2 - Remote control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a remote control device used in a home automation system.

2. Description of the Related Art As a home automation system, there are a coaxial line system, a metal line system, a power line system, etc., depending on the medium for transmitting the control signal. The remote control devices in these systems can individually control a plurality of devices in the home individually. The remote control device has a structure as shown in FIG. In the figure,
1, 2 are control target devices that are controlled by using a power line system, 4 are control means for individually controlling these devices, and 5 is a control means 4 and an interface section 8 for receiving a signal from a remote control input means 6. Control signal generating means for receiving a control command such as ON / OFF and a device identification code for distinguishing which device of the plurality of devices 1 and 2 is controlled, 6 is a user's Remote control input means for instructing the control signal generating means 5 to output the control signals such as on / off of the devices 1 and 2 by operation, 7 is a device identification code setting means for assigning the device identification code, and 8 is a power line An interface unit for exchanging control signals with a remote control device of a system different from the system, for example, a coaxial line system including the control target devices 13 and 14, and controlling the target device of the other party, 10 is an interface. The communication unit in the source unit 8 and the control signal conversion unit 9 in the interface unit 8 perform control commands of different control signals of the coaxial line system and the power line system and conversion of communication signal systems such as device identification codes. . Reference numeral 11 is a remote control device for a power line system including the above-mentioned means, and 12 is a remote control device for a coaxial line system, which has the same configuration means as the remote control device 11. 13,14
Is a device controlled by the remote control device 12. 16 is a communication line connecting the two.

The device identification code is a device number or address (address) assigned and set for each device to be controlled, and is defined by each system.

In each system, assuming that the maximum number of controllable devices is four, four device identification codes 0 to 3 can be assigned to these. As an example of the setting method of the device identification code setting means 7, there is a method of using two 2-bit switches. If the contact of this switch is closed or turned on, and the contact is opened or turned off is 0, then there are a total of 4 combinations of 0 and 1, so these are the four device identification codes 0 to 3 above. Is used as.

Hereinafter, in the conventional remote control device, as described above, in one home, remote control devices of different systems such as a power line system and a coaxial line system are mixed, and the remote system is connected to the other system via the interface section. The operation will be described for the case where the belonging device can be controlled.

To the remote control device 11, two devices, a device 1 and a device 2, are connected to a maximum of 4 controllable devices, and device identification codes 2 and 3 are assigned. The remote control device 12 includes a device 13 and a device 14 for a maximum of four controllable devices.
2 are connected, and device identification codes 0 and 1 are assigned.

When there is a control request from the remote control device 11 to the device 14 of the device identification code 1 by the operation of the user, an instruction from the remote control input means 6 is sent from the control signal generating means 5 to the control means 4 and the interface section 8. Although sent as a control signal, this control command is not executed in the control means 4 because there is no device corresponding to the device identification code 1. On the other hand, the interface section 8 converts the control signal for the coaxial line system to the remote control apparatus 12 and sends it out. Since the device 14 to which the device identification code 1 is assigned is connected to the remote control device 12, the device 14 is controlled according to the control signal. In the same procedure, when there is a control request for the device 2 having the device identification code 3, the device 2 connected to the remote control device 11 is controlled, and the remote control device is controlled.
Since there is no device corresponding to the identification code 3 in 12, the control command is not executed.

As described above, by connecting both systems with the interface unit, even devices belonging to different systems can be controlled.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional configuration as described above, when the same device identification code is assigned to both systems in a duplicated manner, for example, it is connected to the remote control device 11 of the power line system. If the identification code of the device 1 is 0 and the identification code of the device 13 connected to the remote control device 12 of the coaxial line system is also 0, there is a control request from the remote control device 11 to the device having the device identification code 0. In this case, both devices having the device identification code 0 connected to the two systems are controlled. That is, the control signal from the control signal generation means 5 according to the control request generated in the remote control input means 6 is sent to the device 1 by the control means 4 and the remote control device is operated by the interface section 8.
Send to 12. As a result, two different devices, that is, the device 1 of the remote control device 11 and the device 13 of the remote control device 12 are simultaneously controlled by one device identification code by one operation from the remote control device 11.

When performing remote control, it is a rule to control each device individually. Since the on / off control is performed without directly looking at the device itself, one remote control device of one system can control the other system. The equipment also operates, and a plurality of equipments operate at the same time, which may cause a danger when an unintended device is turned on. Therefore, in the conventional remote control device,
In order to avoid such a problem, even if the systems to which the devices belong are different, it is prohibited to assign a duplicate device identification code to each device, and one device identification code prevents a plurality of controlled devices from operating at the same time. I was out.

In this way, to avoid duplicate use of device identification codes,
When the device identification codes 0 and 1 are assigned in the remote control device 12, the remote control device 11 defines the numbers 0 and 1 even if the device identification codes 0 to 3 are defined by using a 2-bit switch. Must be avoided and only device identification codes 2 and 3 can be used. Originally, the maximum number of controllable devices for the remote control device 11 was four, but since the remote control device 11 was connected to the remote control device 12 of the coaxial line system, the remote control device 12
Depending on the number of devices belonging to the remote control device 11, only two devices can be connected to the remote control device 11. Therefore,
In reality, only four devices can be connected to the total maximum controllable devices of the two remote control devices.

The present invention has solved the above problems and an object thereof is to increase the number of remotely controllable machines as a whole without reducing the number of controllable machines in the device itself.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the remote control device of the present invention outputs a control signal in its own device to another device via an interface unit or in its own device. Output control range setting means for deciding whether to output to the control means according to the device identification code in the control signal, and control in the own device with respect to a control signal input from another device via the interface section. Input control range setting means for determining whether to output to the means according to the device identification code in the control signal,
The output control range setting means and the control signal selection means for selecting the output destination of the control signal according to the setting of the input control range setting means.

Operation With this configuration, even if the same device identification code is assigned to each device of the remote control devices of different systems in duplicate, the device control code of the device that can be controlled by the remote control device of the own system and the remote control of other system Since the device identification code of the device controlled by the control device can be set, it is possible to prevent devices to which the device identification code that is duplicated between different systems is assigned from being controlled by other systems. is there.

Example Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the same parts as those in the conventional example of FIG.

Reference numeral 17 is a remote control device of the present invention, and in this embodiment, the maximum number of controllable devices is four. 18 outputs the control signal generated by the control signal generating means 5 to another device via the interface section 8 based on the control request generated by the remote control input means 6 in the own device, or outputs to the control means 4 in the own device. It is an output control range setting means for determining whether to output, according to the device identification code in the control signal. Reference numeral 19 denotes an input control range for deciding whether or not to output to the control means 4 in the own device in response to a control signal from another device input via the interface unit 8 according to the device identification code in the control signal. It is a setting means. Reference numeral 20 is an output of the control signal generated by the control signal generation means 5 based on the control request generated by the remote control input means 6 in the own device according to the settings of the output control range setting means 18 and the input control range setting means 19. The remote control input means 6 in the device itself is a control signal selection means for selecting whether the output destination of the control signal input via the interface unit 8 is the control unit 4 or the interface unit 8. With respect to the control request generated in the above, the control signal having the device identification code set by the output control range setting means 18 is output to the control means 4,
Others are output to the interface unit 8. Regarding the control signal input via the interface section 8, only the control signal having the device identification code set by the input control range setting means 19 is output to the control means 4.
21,22,23,24 are devices to be controlled which belong to the remote control device 17, and are set to 0, 0, respectively by the device identification code setting means 7.
1,2,3 device identification codes are assigned. In the output control range setting means 18, the output control range is set so as not to output to the interface section 8 but to the control means 4 in response to the control signals relating to the device identification codes 0 to 3, and the input control range setting is performed. It is assumed that the input control range is set in the means 19 so that only the control signals relating to the device identification codes 2 and 3 are output to the control means 4.

With the above configuration, when the remote control input means 6 of the remote control device 11 outputs a control signal relating to the equipment having the equipment identification codes 0 to 3, the output control range setting means 18 outputs the equipment identification code 0 as described above. Since ~ 3 are set, the control signal selection means 20 does not output the control signal to the interface section 8 but outputs it to the control means 4. Therefore, the remote control device
Device 2 that is connected to 11 and corresponds to device identification code 0 to 3
1,22,23,24 are controlled, and the device 13 or 14 corresponding to the device identification code 0 or 1 of the remote control device 12 is not controlled. On the other hand, when the remote control device 12 outputs a control signal relating to a device having the device identification codes 2 and 3 having the device identification codes 2 or 3, the remote control device 12 shows the device corresponding to the device identification code 2 or 3. There is no control. The device identification code 2 or 3 from the remote control device 12 does not control the device connected to the remote control device 12. Since the same control signal is input to the remote control device 17 via the interface section 8, the device identification code is 2, 3
The input control range setting means 19 set to 1 determines as a control signal to the self device, and is output to the control means 4 by the control signal selecting means 20 to control the device 23 or 24 corresponding to the device identification code 2 or 3. To be done. That is, since the device identification codes 2 and 3 do not overlap between the remote control devices 12 and 17, only the device 23 or 24 is controlled. Therefore, the remote control device 12 can also control the device 23 or 24 belonging to the remote control device 17.

This is a one-to-one correspondence between the controlled device and both remote control devices having device identification codes 12 and 17, and since there is only one device operating, there is no danger from the remote device.

Further, when the remote control device 12 outputs a control signal relating to the device having the device identification code 0 or 1,
The device 13 or 14 belonging to the remote control device 12 is controlled, and the same control signal is input to the remote control device 17 via the interface section 8. At this time, the remote control device 17
Since the input control range setting means 19 is set for the device identification codes 2 and 3 as described above, the control signal selecting means 2
By 0, no control signal is output to the control means 4,
Therefore, the device 21 corresponding to the device identification code 0 or 1
Or 22 is not controlled.

As described above, the device having the duplicate device identification code 0 or 1 is controlled only by the control command from the remote control device to which the device belongs, and the device having the non-overlapping device identification code 2 or 3 is the remote device. That is, it can be controlled by a control command from the control device. Therefore, the number of devices that can be connected to the remote control device of the present invention does not depend on the number of devices that belong to the remote control devices of other systems to be connected, and it is possible to connect up to the maximum controllable device number. .

In this embodiment, the devices 13 and 1 are the devices belonging to the remote control device 12.
4 units were assumed, but 2 units were added, the number of connected units was set to 4, and when the identification code of each unit was assigned to 0 to 3, the input control range setting means 19 of the remote control unit 17 was set. If the setting is not made, that is, if the control signals relating to the device identification codes 0 to 3 are set not to be output to the control means 4, the remote control device 17 and the remote control device 12 belong to each other. However, the devices belonging to each own device can control up to four devices (maximum controllable devices) corresponding to the device identification codes 0 to 3.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to use the device identification code redundantly between different remote control devices, and it is possible to prevent the number of controllable devices in the remote control device from decreasing. The effect is to increase the number of devices that can be remotely controlled as a whole.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional remote control device. 4 ... control means, 5 ... control signal generation means, 6 ... remote control input means, 7 ... device identification code setting means, 8 ...
Interface, 18 ... Output control range setting means, 19 ...
Input control range setting means, 20 Control signal selecting means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Control means for individually controlling a plurality of devices,
Control signal generating means for outputting to the control means a control signal comprising a control command and a device identification code for distinguishing which of the plurality of devices is to be controlled, and the control signal generating means for outputting the control signal to the control signal generating means. Remote control input means for instructing output, equipment identification code setting means for assigning the equipment identification code, and communication means for exchanging control signals with remote control devices of different systems, control of control signals mutually different An interface unit including a command and a control signal conversion unit that converts a device identification code, and outputs the control signal in the own device to another device via the interface unit or to the control unit in the own device. Output control range setting means for deciding whether or not to perform according to the device identification code in the control signal, and from another device input via the interface section. An input control range setting means for determining whether to output the control signal to the control means in the own device according to the device identification code in the control signal, the output control range setting means and the input control range A remote control device comprising: a control signal selecting unit that selects an output destination of a control signal according to the setting of the setting unit.