JPH11273880A - Load control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily change logical addresses from the side of a drive part. SOLUTION: In this device equipped with a signal input part 3 for inputting data, etc., a drive part 4 for receiving the data, etc., inputted from the signal input part 3 and transmitting control signals, a plurality of terminals 5 connected in a bus mode to the drive part 4 via signal lines and each controlling a load output by receiving the control signal, and loads connected to output ends of the terminals 5, physical addresses have been given previously to the terminals 5 and thereafter logical addresses are given by the drive part 4 to the terminals 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a load control device, and more particularly, to a load control device for controlling a lighting load.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of a conventional example according to the present invention.

In this conventional example, a base unit 1 and a plurality of terminals 2 are connected by bus wiring, and a load (not shown) connected from the base unit 1 to each terminal 2 via each terminal 2. Is to control the output.

A master unit 1 specifies a logical address of a terminal 2 in association with signal information such as a time schedule and a switch operation, and transmits a transmission signal (for example,
In the case of a lighting load, flashing dimming control data) is sent. Each terminal 2 has a logical address and a physical address, and
In addition to controlling the load output according to the transmission signal from the base unit 1, when receiving the transmission signal from the base unit 1, the base station 1 notifies the base unit 1 of the reception of the transmission signal by returning a reply signal to the base unit 1.

[0005] Bus wiring and sending wiring are well known as means for connecting a master unit and a plurality of terminals. However, if sending wiring is used, signal transmission to other terminals may occur due to failure of one terminal. Is not transmitted, or a signal is transmitted to the next terminal via each terminal, so there is a difference in the reaction time between the transmission of the command from the master unit and the start of operation of the terminal between each terminal. Occurs. However, when the bus wiring is used as in this configuration, even if a failure of one terminal occurs, a signal is transmitted to another terminal, and the difference in the reaction time between the terminals is reduced.

[0006] Further, an apparatus using a lighting load in this configuration is often used in a closed space such as an office. In this case, the logical address is set in consideration of the convenience of the work of the logical address setter. In many cases, this is performed by a dip switch provided in each terminal device 2.

[0007]

However, in the above conventional example, the following problems occur.

In the present configuration, if it becomes necessary to correct the address due to an error or to change the layout, the logical address is changed by a dip switch provided in each terminal device 2. When used in large spaces and large devices such as illuminations, it is physically difficult or dangerous to set the logical address using a dip switch depending on the installation location of the terminal (for example, a bridge or wall). Also, when the number of logical addresses set by the DIP switches increases, the setting takes a long time and becomes very troublesome.

Further, in the case where an illumination load is used in this configuration in a closed space such as an office or the like, these are particularly used for display control such as sequential blinking or for staging control such as stage lighting. In many cases, it is not necessary to synchronize between terminals or between systems, so it is difficult to use this configuration for display control with sequential blinking, staging control with dimming, etc. turn into.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of all the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a load control device capable of easily changing a logical address from a drive unit.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal input unit for inputting data and the like, and a data input unit for receiving data and the like input from the signal input unit. A drive unit for transmitting a control signal, a plurality of terminals connected to the drive unit via a signal line in a bus system, and controlling the load output by receiving the control signal, and connected to an output terminal of the terminal unit A physical address is assigned to the terminal in advance, and then a logical address is assigned to the terminal from the driving unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an external sensor for detecting an external situation is provided, and the data includes a detection output of the external sensor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit for storing at least a part of data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switching means for switching and selecting one of data including a detection output of an external sensor and data stored in a storage unit. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the control signal includes a signal format for synchronizing a plurality of terminals.

According to the invention described in claim 6, a plurality of driving units are provided, and one driving unit outputs a synchronization signal for synchronizing the plurality of driving units to another driving unit. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the driving unit requests the return signal from the terminal device to the driving unit.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the driving section includes:
The control signal is stopped or restored by detecting an abnormality of at least one of the signal line and the power supply voltage.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a mode switch for specifying an operation mode to be used is provided.

According to the tenth aspect, the load is an electrodeless discharge lamp.

[0020]

(Embodiment 1) A block diagram of a first embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and a flowchart is shown in FIG.

This configuration comprises a signal input unit 3 and a signal input unit 3
And a drive unit 4 that transmits a serial signal based on an input signal input from the drive unit 4 and a drive unit 4 that is connected to the drive unit 4 through a bus line.
And a plurality of terminals 5 for controlling the output of a load (not shown) based on the serial signal from the terminal 5.

The data content of an input signal from the signal input unit 3 to the drive unit 4 includes output control of a load connected to each terminal 5 (blinking dimming control when the load is a lamp), a logical address and a physical address. And the output level of the load (a dimming level when the load is a lamp), setting of a logical address, and the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 5 includes an EEPROM 10 that stores a logical address and a physical address, a receiving unit 7 that receives a serial signal from the driving unit 4, and an instruction based on a signal transmitted from the receiving unit 7. CPU 8 that sends out signals
And a reply unit 6 for sending a reply signal to the drive unit 4 in response to an instruction signal from the CPU 8, and a load control unit 9 for receiving the instruction signal from the CPU 8 and controlling the load output. Terminal 5
Have two types of addresses, a physical address and a logical address, and have physical addresses (addresses A, B, and C).
..) Are uniquely set for the drive unit 4 at the time of shipment or the like. The logical address is set in the CPU 8 according to a flowchart as shown in FIG. First, a signal for setting a logical address is transmitted from the driving unit 4 to the C
Sent to PU8. The logical address and the physical address to be set are added to the signal, and it is checked whether the physical address assigned to the signal matches the physical address assigned to the terminal 5. If they match, a logical address is set to the terminal, and the set logical address is set to the EEPR
It is stored in the OM 10.

With this configuration, a logical address can be easily set on the signal input unit 3 side or the drive unit 4 side, and the setting of the logical address becomes easy.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a guide light system and an illumination system for displaying a linear road such as a curve and alerting an oncoming vehicle using a plurality of electrodeless discharge lamp lighting devices as loads and terminals. In this way, by controlling the load as an electrodeless discharge lamp by flashing and dimming, the viewing angle with respect to the load is widened, a high-luminance output is obtained, and the visibility in daytime outdoors is improved. The effect is that a long life can be obtained. 4 is for inputting a signal from a personal computer or the like, and the one shown in FIG. 5 is for inputting a signal from an external sensor such as an EE-SW or a vehicle speed sensor. Further, a switching means for switching between the one shown in FIG. 4 and the one shown in FIG. 5 may be provided, and by providing the switching means, an apparatus corresponding to a change in the size of the construction location or the number of terminals is provided. it can.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 6 and 7 show flowcharts of the second embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 8 shows an operation waveform diagram, and FIG. 9 shows a signal format diagram.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that an operation pattern storage unit for storing operation patterns produced by a plurality of terminals 5 (a blinking pattern storage unit for a lighting load). ) To select an operation pattern in accordance with a contact input from the signal input unit 3 while synchronizing between the terminals 5. The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The description is omitted by appending a symbol.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG.
The operation will be briefly described in the case of a lighting load.

When the contact input 1 is input from the signal input unit 3 to the terminal 5 via the drive unit 4, the data of the blinking pattern 1 is read from the blinking pattern storage unit. In the case of contact input 2, 3,... R (r is a positive integer), blinking pattern 2,
3. Data of r is read. The data of the read blinking pattern is transmitted to m terminals (here, m = 64) in a long frame format as shown in FIG. Each terminal device 5 has a CM in the header portion of the long frame.
When D1, 2, and 3 are fetched and determined, the corresponding data (for example, dimming data) is fetched from the long frame and stored. For example, a terminal n having a logical address n sequentially takes in data 0, 1, 2,... Not read. Then, the signal input unit 3 ends the data transmission to each terminal device 5 by transmitting the FCC in the footer part of the long frame. When a long frame is transmitted, each terminal device 5 only fetches and stores the data on the long frame, and the load output does not change. After the transmission of the long frame is completed, m terminals 5 (here, m
= 64) and the FC in the footer of the short frame
By transmitting C, data transmission to each terminal 5 is terminated. At the same time when the data transmission to each terminal device 5 is completed, the load output is simultaneously performed based on the dimming data stored at the time of transmitting the immediately preceding long frame.

As described above, by transmitting a long frame, each terminal 5 stores data, and by transmitting a short frame, each terminal 5 broadcasts based on the dimming data stored at the time of transmitting the immediately preceding long frame. Since the configuration is such that the load output is performed, the synchronization between the terminals 5 can be easily achieved regardless of the number of the terminals 5. In addition, since synchronization can be easily achieved, a scene effect (for example, blinking sequentially in the case of a lighting load) by the load connected to each terminal device 5 can be easily performed.

The format of the long frame or the short frame may be set arbitrarily irrespective of the format described above.
Further, although dummy data is described in the short frames shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the dummy data may be omitted.

Further, the drive unit 4 may have a configuration as shown in FIG. 10, and the operation of the drive unit 4 when the configuration shown in FIG. 10 is used will be described with reference to FIG. First, the logical address of the terminal 5 is latched from the signal input unit 3 via the data bus at the timing of CS2. The latched data is compared with the value set by the address setting DipSW by the data latch comparator. If they match, an enable signal (Lo) is output from the ENB terminal, and the enable signal (Lo) and C
S1 is ORed, and reading / writing to / from the dual port RAM is executed at the timing when CS1 is input. Also,
The enable signal (Lo) is ORed with the reset, and the microcomputer is reset at the timing when the reset is input. With this configuration, the signal input unit 3
Can read / write data to / from the drive unit 4 and reset the microcomputer. Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 10, by setting a flag indicating that data is being read from or written to the dual port RAM, the signal input unit 3 checks the flag and then reads or writes data from or to the dual port RAM. It can be carried out. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a collision in which the signal input unit 3 and the CPU simultaneously read and write data from and to the dual port RAM.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is shown.

In this embodiment, a plurality of driving units 4 are connected to the signal input unit 3 in the first embodiment or the second embodiment shown in FIG. The operation pattern is selected in accordance with the contact input from the signal input unit 3 while synchronizing between them, and the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations as those of the other first embodiment or the second embodiment. The description will be omitted by attaching.

The operation will be briefly described below with reference to FIG. The drive unit 4b serving as another slave (child) receives the synchronization signal output from the drive unit 4a serving as the master (parent). Each of the driving units 4a and 4b transmits a signal of a long frame and a signal of a short frame to each terminal 5 at the timing when the synchronization signal is input. Then, the next synchronization signal is output after a time T from the output of the previous synchronization signal. Therefore, the time T
Even if there is a data input from the signal input unit 3 within this, it can be ignored. Here, the time T is the sum of the processing time in the driving unit 4 and the time required to finish sending signals from the driving unit 4 to all the terminals 5.

With the above-described configuration, it is possible to easily synchronize the respective driving units, easily synchronize between the terminals having different driving units, and, for example, in the case of a lighting load, for example, the driving unit may be used. The sequential blinking between different units can be performed without discomfort.

In FIG. 12, a computer is used as the signal input unit 3 and a flashing pattern data storage unit (for example, a hard disk) for storing flashing pattern data is connected to the computer. However, other configurations may be used.
The signal formats of the long frame and the short frame may be those shown in the second embodiment or other configurations. Further, the drive unit may transmit the short frame to each terminal simultaneously with the output of the synchronization signal, or may transmit the FCC of the short frame to each terminal simultaneously with the output of the synchronization signal. Furthermore, by inputting a synchronization signal from the drive unit 4a to the signal input unit 3, the signal input unit 3 may be configured to write data in the dual port RAM using the input synchronization signal as a trigger, With this configuration, it is not necessary to write data many times within the time T, and it is possible to prevent omission of data writing.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG.
It is shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, each terminal device 5 sends a signal to the drive unit 4.
The configuration is such that a reply signal request is sent to the third embodiment, and the same components as those in the above-described first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

When a response signal request is made in a short frame from the drive unit 4, after a time t from the completion of the transmission of the short frame, the output state of the logical address, the physical address and the load set in the terminal device 5 (the load of the lighting load). In this case, a state such as a blinking state or a dimming state) is returned to the drive unit 4 in 8 bits.
FIG. 14 shows a flowchart in the case of replying a logical address.

With this configuration, it is possible to easily confirm the state of the terminal device after construction.

A means for displaying the status of the terminal 5 may be provided on the signal input unit 3, and the display means may be, for example, a monitor of a personal computer.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, a signal line short-circuit detecting unit for detecting a short-circuit state of a signal line and a voltage abnormality detecting unit for detecting a power supply voltage or more are provided in the driving unit 4. The same components as those of the above-described first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

An abnormality is confirmed at regular time intervals, and when a signal line short circuit or power supply voltage abnormality is detected, the signal path from the drive unit 4 to the terminal 5 is cut off. After a certain period of time, the abnormality is checked again, and if a signal line short circuit or power supply voltage abnormality is still detected, the drive unit 4 continues to transmit the terminal 5
, But automatically returns to normal operation if no abnormality is detected. An example of the signal line short-circuit detection unit and the voltage abnormality detection unit is shown in FIG.

With this configuration, it is possible to easily detect a signal line short circuit or power supply voltage abnormality, and to automatically return to a normal operation after the abnormal state ends, thereby improving the reliability of the device.

(Embodiment 6) A sixth embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a mode switch is provided in the drive unit 4 so that a contact input is erroneously input to the drive unit 4 due to disturbance such as power-on or noise. The first embodiment is configured to solve a malfunction such as erroneous writing of data in the first embodiment, and the same components as those in the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted. I do.

When the microcomputer is started by turning on the power,
The operation mode is confirmed, and the mode switch is controlled so as not to operate in any operation mode other than the operation mode. That is, in the case of the operation mode in which there is a contact input, the dual port RA
In the operation mode of writing data to the dual port RAM without looking at M, the mode switch is turned on / off so as not to look at the contact input.

With this configuration, malfunction due to external factors can be prevented, and the reliability of the device can be improved. Note that the mode switch may have any configuration as long as the embodiment can be implemented.

[0050]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a load control device capable of easily changing a logical address from the drive unit side.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a load control device capable of controlling a load output according to an external situation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a load control device capable of controlling a load output according to stored data.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, either one of the control of the load output according to the external situation and the control of the load output according to the stored data is provided. Can be selectively switched, and it is possible to provide a load control device corresponding to a change in the size of the construction site, the number of terminals, and the like.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, it is possible to synchronize the terminals regardless of the number of the terminals. It is possible to provide a load control device capable of easily performing a scene effect by a connected load.

According to the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to provide a load control device capable of achieving synchronization between the respective drives.

According to the invention of claim 7, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, it is possible to provide a load control device capable of confirming the state of the terminal device after construction.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect, an abnormality in the signal line or the power supply voltage can be easily detected, and the normal state is automatically restored after the abnormal state ends. It is possible to provide a load control device capable of improving the reliability of the device.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a load control device capable of preventing malfunction due to external factors and improving the reliability of the device. .

According to the tenth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the effects of the invention described above, it is possible to provide a load control device that has a wide viewing angle with respect to a load, provides a high-luminance output, improves visibility in outdoors in the daytime, and has a long life.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration diagram of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a block configuration diagram of a terminal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a first example of a block configuration diagram in which a plurality of electrodeless discharge lamp lighting devices are used as loads and terminals in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a second example of a block configuration diagram in which a plurality of electrodeless discharge lamp lighting devices are used as loads and terminals in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows another flowchart of the second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows an operation waveform diagram of the second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a signal format diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a block configuration diagram of a drive unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an operation waveform diagram of the driving unit.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of a third embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows an operation waveform diagram of the third embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows an operation waveform diagram of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of the fifth embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of a conventional example according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 signal input section 4 drive section 5 terminal

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A signal input unit for inputting data and the like, a driving unit for transmitting a control signal in response to the data and the like input from the signal input unit, and a bus system for the driving unit via a signal line And a load control device including a plurality of terminals connected to the terminal and controlling a load output by receiving the control signal, and a load connected to an output terminal of the terminal. And a logical address is assigned from the drive unit to the terminal device after the assignment. 2. An external sensor for detecting an external situation,
The load control device according to claim 1, wherein the data includes a detection output of an external sensor. 3. The load control device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores at least a part of the data. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit configured to switch and select one of the data including the detection output of the external sensor and the data stored in the storage unit. Load control device. 5. The load control device according to claim 1, wherein the control signal includes a signal format for synchronizing the plurality of terminals. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of driving units, wherein one of the driving units outputs a synchronization signal for synchronizing the plurality of driving units to another of the driving units. Item 3. The load control device according to Item 1. 7. The load control device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit requests a return signal from the terminal device to the drive unit. 8. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit stops or returns the control signal by detecting an abnormality of at least one of the signal line and the power supply voltage. Item 3. The load control device according to Item 1. 9. The load control device according to claim 1, further comprising a mode switch for specifying an operation mode to be used. 10. The load control device according to claim 1, wherein the load is an electrodeless discharge lamp.