TWI415482B - Load control system - Google Patents

Abstract

A load control system comprises a control device controlling a plurality of loads and an operating device operating a switch. The operating device is configured to an operation output control signal in response to the operating switch. The control device is configured to be individually controlled or commonly controlled according to the operation when receiving the control signal. In the individual control, the control device controls one of loads in response to the operating switch. In the common control, the control device controls a plurality of loads in a group correlated to the operating switch. The load control system comprises a storage device storing the control record in response to each load. The control record comprises a current state indicating the state of load after controlled by the control device and a previous state indicating the state of load before controlled by the control device. The operating device has a restoring switch and is configured to an operating output restoring signal in response to the restoring switch. The control device is configured to perform restoring control when receiving the restoring signal and varies the load state to the previous state stored in the storage device.

Description

Load control system

This invention relates to load control systems and, more particularly, to a load control system that responds to a manually operated switch to control a load.

Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Publication No. JP-A-2003-37879 A) discloses a load control system using time division multiplexing processing.

The load control system disclosed in Patent Document 1 allows a user to collectively control a plurality of loads. That is, the load control system provides a co-ordinated load control. However, when a user mistakenly controls a plurality of loads, the user controls each of the loads to change the current condition of the load to the previous condition of the load. In addition, users need to keep in mind the previous situation. Therefore, it is difficult to change the current situation to the previous situation.

In view of the above insufficiency, the present invention provides a load control system capable of changing the current state of a load to a previous condition of a load.

The load control system of the present invention is adapted for controlling a plurality of loads. The load control system includes a control device configured to control a plurality of loads, and an operating device having an operational switch. The operating device is configured to respond to operation of the operating switch to output a control signal. The control device is configured to perform individual control according to the control signal when receiving the control signal, wherein the control device controls one of the loads corresponding to the operation switch, or performs a common set control, wherein The control device controls a plurality of loads belonging to a group associated with the operational switches.

The load control system includes a storage device.

The storage device is configured to store a control record corresponding to each of the loads. The control record contains a representation of the current condition of the load after being controlled by the control device and a previous condition indicating that the load is under control by the control device. The operating device has a reset switch and is configured to output a reset signal in response to operation of the reset switch. The control device is configured to perform a recovery control upon receipt of the reset signal, wherein the control device changes the condition of the load to a previous condition stored within the storage device.

When the current condition of the load belonging to the group satisfies a predetermined condition, the operating device responds to the operation of the operation switch to output the restoration signal.

The control device is configured to control the load by supplying or cutting power to the load. The condition of the load includes a first condition in which the control device supplies power to the load, and a second condition in which the control device cuts off power supplied to the load. The predetermined condition is a condition in which the current status of all loads belonging to the group is the first condition or the second condition.

The operating device comprises a storage device, a first communication unit and a first control unit. The storage device is configured to store a correspondence relationship between its operation switch and the load. The first communication unit is configured to communicate with the control device via a signal line. In response to the operation of the operation switch, the first control unit is configured to generate a control command for controlling the load corresponding to the operation switch with reference to the correspondence information stored in the storage device, and then control the first communication. The unit transmits a control signal to the control command to the control device. The control device includes a second communication unit and a second control unit. The second communication unit is configured to communicate with the operating device via the signal line. The second control unit is configured to control the load according to a control command within the control signal when the second communication unit receives the control signal, and then control the second communication unit to transmit a latest version containing the controlled load The response signal of the situation. The first control unit is configured to control the storage device to store the current condition stored in the storage device as a previous condition when the first communication unit receives the response signal, and to control the storage device to be within the response signal Load the latest status storage as current status. In response to operation of the reset switch, the first control unit is configured to generate a restore command indicative of a previous condition with reference to the control record stored in the storage device, and then control the first communication unit to include the generated restore command The recovery signal is transmitted to the control device. When the second communication unit receives the resume signal, the second control unit is configured to control the load to change its condition to the previous condition represented by the restore command within the resume signal.

In this case, the operating device preferably has a display device. The display device is configured to display a first load condition or a second load condition with reference to current conditions stored in the storage device. The first load condition indicates that all loads are operating under the control of the operating equipment. The second load condition indicates that at least one of the loads is not operating under the control of the operating device.

(First Specific Embodiment)

The first figure shows the system configuration of a load control system of a specific embodiment. The load control system of this embodiment includes a plurality of (four) operation-control terminals 10 (10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D), and a plurality of (two) operation terminals 20 (20A and 20B). The operational-control terminals 10 are connected to one or more loads L. Each of the operation terminals 20 is connected to a plurality of operation-control terminals 10 via a two-wire signal line 30. The load L can be a lighting load. The load L (L10, L21, L22, L30, and L40) is connected to a commercial AC power source 50 via a power line 40. The load L is not limited to the lighting load. The load L can be an electrical device such as an air conditioning device, a ventilator and an electric curtain.

The operation-control terminal 10A includes an operation switch S (S11). The operation-control terminal 10A has a function (hereinafter referred to as "individual on/off function") in which the operation-control terminal 10A turns on or off a load L10 in response to manual operation of the switch S11. The operation-control terminal 10B includes a plurality of (two) operation switches S (S21 and S22). The loads L21 and L22 corresponding to the switches S21 and S22 are respectively connected to the operation-control terminal 10B. The operation-control terminal 10B has an individual on/off function in which the operation-control terminal 10B can respond to the manual operations of the switches S21 and S22, respectively, to turn the loads L21 and L22 on or off. The operation-control terminal 10C includes a plurality of (three) operation switches S (S31 to S33). The operation-control terminal 10D includes a plurality of (three) operation switches S (S41 to S43). The operation-control terminals 10C and 10D have a function (hereinafter referred to as "dimming and on/off function") in which the operation-control terminals 10B and 10C can be turned on or off in response to manual operations of the switches S31 and S41, respectively. Loads L30 and L40, and may be responsive to manual operations of switches S32 and S42, respectively, to increase the light output (illumination power) of loads L30 and L40, while being responsive to manual operations of switches S33 and S43, respectively, to reduce load L30 and Light output from the L40.

The operation terminal 20 is not directly connected to the load L. The operation terminal 20A includes three switches S (S51, S52, and S53). The operation terminal 20B includes two switches S (S61 and S62). The operation terminal 20 has a function (hereinafter referred to as "remote control function") in which the operation terminal 20 can respond to the manual operation of any of the switches S (S51, S52, S53, S61, and S62) to transmit through the signal line 30. The packet 60 containing the control command, which will be described later in detail, is transmitted to any of the operation-control terminals 10, whereby the operation-control terminal 10 controls the load L attributed to its target object.

Each of the operation-control terminals 10 can be implanted in a wall of a building such as a house by using a switch plate and a fixed frame of an implantable wiring device.

The second figure shows a circuit block diagram of the operation-control terminal 10. The operation-control terminal 10 has a control unit 11, an operation unit (operation-input acceptance unit) 12, a communication unit 13, a storage unit 14, a drive unit (load drive unit) 15, and a display unit (operation display unit). 16 and a power unit 17. For the operation-control terminal 10, the suffix letters of "A", "B", "C", and "D" are selectively attached to each of the operation-control terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D, respectively. The reference number of each component.

The communication unit 13 is configured to encode a packet 60 having a format as shown in FIG. 4A, and to modulate a carrier signal by encoding the packet 60 while outputting the modulated carrier signal. To signal line 30. The communication unit 13 is configured to receive the encoded packet 60 by decoding the encoded packet 60. The encoded packet is obtained by demodulating the modulated carrier signal received from the signal line 30. . The communication unit 13 is configured to identify the destination of the packet 60 and the source (sender) of the packet 60 by a specific identification code (identification code) assigned to the operation-control terminal 10 and the operation terminal 20. In addition, the specific identification code may be a physical address (such as a MAC address) that the hardware manufacturer specifically assigns to each hardware, or an address that is arbitrarily assigned to each device by the user. It is necessary that the different specific identification codes are assigned to different terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 20A and 20B within the same system (network). That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the packet 60 has a destination address 63, a source address 64, and a material 65 such as a control material. The packet 60 can optionally have a preamble 61 for transmitting timing synchronization, a control bit 62 representing a type of material 65, and a check sum 66 for error detection. The communication unit 13 establishes a communication job by CSMA/CD multiple access.

The operating unit 12 has a manually operated type of switch S and is configured to monitor the switch S. When the switch S is manually operated, the operating unit 12 is configured to output an operation signal corresponding to the manually operated switch S. The operating unit 12 can be configured to output an operational signal when the switch S is held low for a short period of time, and to output a different operational signal when the switch S is held low for a long period of time.

The control unit 11 contains a CPU as a main component. The control unit 11 receives an operation signal from the operation unit 12. When receiving the operation signal, the control unit 11 outputs a control signal (load control signal) corresponding to the received operation signal to the drive unit 15.

The drive units 15A and 15B have a function (on-off function) in which the drive unit 15 can supply or interrupt the power from the AC power source 50 to the load L in accordance with the load control signal. The driving units 15C and 15D have an on-off function and a function (dimming function), wherein the driving unit 15 can increase or decrease the lighting power of the load L by adjusting the power supplied from the AC power source 50 to the load L according to the load control signal. (light intensity). The on-off function can be implemented by conventional techniques using relays. The dimming function can be implemented by conventional phase control techniques using bidirectional (AC Triggering) Triode (TRIAC).

The storage unit 14 is a rewritable, non-volatile semiconductor memory (such as an EEPROM and a flash memory). The storage unit 14 is configured to store information, such as a load identification code (load identification code) for identifying the load L, and a multi-point transmission address (the first multi-point transmission address) as described in detail later. ). When the identification code specific to the operation-control terminal 10 is assigned by the user, the storage unit 14 is configured to store the identification code.

The display unit 16 is configured to display a condition (operational condition) of the load L classified as the target object of the operation-control terminal 10. The condition of the load L is like illumination (illumination condition) and extinction (extinguished condition). The display unit 16 has one or more light-emitting devices LD such as LEDs, and a drive circuit (not shown) for driving the light-emitting devices LD. The driving circuit is configured to turn on or off the light emitting device LD corresponding to a control signal (display control signal) output from the control unit 11. The light emitting device LD is disposed in the vicinity of the switch S corresponding thereto. The display units 16A, 16C, and 16D have light-emitting devices LD (LD11), LDs (LD31), and LDs (LD41), respectively. The display unit 16B has the light-emitting devices LD (LD21 and LD22).

The power unit 17 is configured to convert AC power supplied from the AC power source 50 via the power line 40 into DC power, thereby operating a battery for operating-controlling the terminal 10.

Next, an operation mode in which the operation-control terminal 10 controls the load L which is the target object will be explained. When the switch S11 is manually operated, the operation unit 12A outputs an operation signal to the control unit 11A. When receiving the operation signal, the control unit 11A outputs the load control signal to the load driving unit 15A for switching the operating condition of the load L10. The drive unit 15 switches the operating condition of the load L10 by switching a relay corresponding to the load control signal received from the control unit 11A. When the load L10 is kept on, the drive unit 15A turns off the load L10. When the load L10 is kept off, the drive unit 15A turns on the load L10. After outputting the load control signal to the drive unit 15A, the control unit 11A outputs the first display control signal to the display unit 16A for switching the operational condition of the light-emitting device LD10. The driving circuit of the display unit 16A turns on or off the light-emitting device LD10 corresponding to the display control signal received from the control unit 11A. Further, the operation-control terminal 10B responds to the manual operation of the switch S21 to switch the state of the load L21 and the condition of the light-emitting device LD21 corresponding thereto. Further, the operation-control terminal 10B responds to the manual operation of the switch S22 to switch the condition of the load L22 and the condition of the light-emitting device LD22 corresponding thereto.

The operation-control terminals 10C and 10D respectively respond to the manual operations of the switches S30 and S40 to switch the conditions of the loads L30 and L40 and the conditions of the light-emitting devices LD30 and LD40 corresponding thereto. Here, it is assumed that the switches S32 and S42 are manually operated while the loads L30 and L40 are respectively kept turned on. In this example, the operation units 12C and 12D output operation signals to the control units 11C and 11D, respectively. When receiving the operation signal, the control units 11C and 11D output the load control signals to the drive units 15C and 15D to increase the light output (dimming level) of the loads L30 and L40, respectively. The drive units 15C and 15D respectively increase the power supplied to the loads L30 and L40 corresponding to the load control signals received from the control units 11C and 11D. It is assumed that the switches S33 and S43 are manually operated while the loads L30 and L40 are kept open, respectively. In this example, the operation units 12C and 12D output operation signals to the control units 11C and 11D, respectively. When receiving the operation signal, the control units 11C and 11D output the load control signals to the drive units 15C and 15D to lower the light output (dimming level) of the loads L30 and L40, respectively. The drive units 15C and 15D respectively reduce the power supplied to the loads L30 and L40 corresponding to the load control signals received from the control units 11C and 11D. Further, it is assumed that the switches S32 and S42 are manually operated while the loads L30 and L40 are kept off, respectively. In this example, terminals 10C and 10D can turn on loads L30 and L40 and subsequently increase the light output of loads L30 and L40, respectively. Similarly, it is assumed that the switches S33 and S43 are manually operated while the loads L30 and L40 are kept off, respectively. In this example, terminals 10C and 10D can turn on loads L30 and L40 and subsequently reduce the light output of loads L30 and L40, respectively. Further, when the loads L30 and L40 are turned off in response to manual operations of the switches S31 and S41, respectively, the control units 11C and 11D can cause the storage units 14C and 14D to maintain the dimming levels (dimming ratios) of the loads L30 and L40, respectively. In this example, the next time the switches S31 and S41 are manually operated, the control units 11C and 11D read out the previous dimming levels (light output) from the storage units 14C and 14D, respectively. The control units 11C and 11D output the load control signals of the dimming level powers read out from the storage units 14C and 14D, respectively, to the drive units 15C and 15D. Thereby, the operation-control terminals 10C and 10D can immediately illuminate the loads L30 and L40 at the previous dimming levels, respectively. In other words, the operation-control terminals 10C and 10D can restore the previous conditions of the loads L30 and L40, respectively.

The third figure shows a circuit block diagram of the operation terminal 20. The operation terminal 20 has a control unit 21, an operation unit (operation-input acceptance unit) 22, a communication unit 23, a storage unit 24, a display unit (operation display unit) 25, and a power unit 26. For the control terminal 20, the suffix letters of "A", "B", "C", and "D" are selectively attached to the respective components belonging to each of the control terminals 20A, 20B, 10C, and 10D, respectively. Numbering place.

The communication unit 23 is configured to encode a packet 60 having a format as shown in FIG. 4A, and to modulate the carrier signal by the encoded packet 60 while outputting the modulated carrier. To signal line 30. The communication unit 23 is configured to receive the encoded packet 60 by decoding the encoded packet 60. The encoded packet is obtained by demodulating the modulated carrier received from the signal line 30. The communication unit 23 is configured to identify the destination of the packet 60 and the source (sender) of the packet 60 by utilizing a particular identification code.

The operating unit 22 has a manually operated type of switch S and is configured to monitor the switch S. When the switch S is manually operated, the operating unit 22 is configured to output an operation signal corresponding to the manually operated switch S.

The control unit 21 contains a CPU as a main component. The control unit 21 receives an operation signal from the operation unit 22. When an operation signal is received, the control unit 21 generates a control command corresponding to the received operation signal.

The storage unit 24 is a rewritable, non-volatile semiconductor memory (such as an EEPROM and a flash memory). The storage unit 24 is configured to store information, such as a specific identification code belonging to the operation-control terminal 10 corresponding to the group or pattern group of the switch S as described in detail later, and the first multi-point transmission is The address, the specific identification code of the other operation terminal 20, and the condition of the load L of one of the operation terminals 20 collectively controlling the target.

The display unit 25 is configured to display a condition (operational condition) corresponding to the load L of the switch S. The display unit 25 has one or more light-emitting devices LD such as LEDs, and a driving circuit (not shown). The display unit 25A has light-emitting devices LD (LD51, LD52, and LD53), and the display unit 25B has light-emitting devices LD (LD61 and LD62). The driving circuit is configured to turn on or off the light emitting device LD corresponding to a control signal (display control signal) output from the control unit 21. For example, when the load L of all the object control or style control target objects is kept on, the light emitting device LD is turned off. For example, when the load L of all target control or style control target objects is kept off, the light-emitting device LD is turned on. The light emitting device LD is disposed in the vicinity of the switch S corresponding thereto.

The power unit 26 is configured to convert AC power supplied from the commercial AC power source 50 via the power line 40 into DC power, thereby operating a battery for operating the terminal 20.

The co-set control includes group control and style control. When the load L is a lighting load, the style control may be referred to as "scene control." Group control means a control mechanism in which all loads L belonging to the same group are collectively switched to the same operating condition. Style control means a control mechanism in which all loads L belonging to the same style group are switched to predetermined operating conditions corresponding to respective loads L. In the load control system of the present embodiment, the switches S51 to S53 of the operation terminal 20A correspond to the group control, and the switches S61 and S62 of the operation terminal 20B correspond to the style control.

For example, for the group control (first group control) corresponding to the switch S51, all the operation-control terminals 10A to 10D connected to the signal line 60 are included in the group controlled by the first group (the first group) )in. In the first group control, the operation terminal 20A simultaneously turns on or off the load L connected to each of the operation-control terminals 10 belonging to the first group. The storage unit 24A is configured to store group correspondence information, which is a correspondence between a specific identification code (a specific identification code belonging to each operation-control terminal 10 of the first group) and the switch S51. relationship.

For the style control (first style control) corresponding to the switch S61, all of the operation-control terminals 10A to 10D are within the pattern group (first pattern group) of the first style control. In the first style control, the operation terminal 20B turns on the loads L10, L20, and L22, and adjusts the illumination power of the load L30 at a dimming level (dimming ratio) of 50% while adjusting the illumination power of the load L40 at 70% dimming level. The storage unit 24B is configured to store the first style correspondence information, which is a specific identification code (a specific identification code belonging to each operation-control terminal 10 belonging to the first pattern group), and one corresponding to The correspondence between the control commands (such as illumination, extinction, and dimming level) of each of the loads L10, L21, L22, L30, and L40, and the switch S61.

For the style control (second style control) corresponding to the switch S62, the two operation-control terminals 10C and 10D are within the pattern group (second pattern group) of the second style control. In the second style control, the operation terminal 20B adjusts the illumination power of the load L30 at a dimming level of 70%, and adjusts the illumination power of the load L40 at a dimming level of 30%. The storage unit 24B is configured to store the second style correspondence information, which is a specific identification code (a specific identification code belonging to each operation-control terminal 10 belonging to the second pattern group), and one corresponding to each load Correspondence between the control commands (dimming level) of L30 and L40 and switch S62.

Note that the operation-control terminal 10 can belong to any group or any style group of the co-set control. That is, as will be described later, the storage unit 24 is configured to store the load L condition notified by the operation-control terminal 10.

Next, the operation mode in which the operation terminal 20 performs the co-set control (group control and style control) of the plurality of loads L will be explained.

Referring now to the sequence diagram shown in the fifth figure, the group control operation performed by the operation terminal 20A will be explained. When the switch S51 is manually operated, the operation unit 22A outputs an operation signal to the control unit 21A. When receiving the operation signal, the control unit 21A refers to the group correspondence relationship information stored in the storage unit 24A to acquire the operation-control terminals 10A, 10B, 10C associated with the operation signal (corresponding to the operation signal of the switch S51) and 10D specific identification code. Further, the control unit 21A reads out the condition (the latest condition) of the load L connected to the operation-control terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D from the storage unit 24A. In other words, the control unit 21A reads out the latest condition of each of the loads L10, L21, L22, L30, and L40. When all of the load L conditions read out from the storage unit 24A are the same, the control unit 21A generates a control command to switch the status of each load L to the opposite condition. For example, when the conditions of all the loads L are lighting conditions, the control unit 21A generates a control command to switch the operating conditions of the respective loads L to the extinguishing conditions. Alternatively, when all of the conditions of the load L are extinguished, the control unit 21A generates a control command to switch the operating conditions of the respective loads L to the lighting conditions. When not all the conditions of the load L are the same (for example, one of the loads L is illumination and the other load L conditions are off), the control unit 21A generates a control command to switch the conditions of all the loads L to the same condition (like It is the lighting condition and the extinguishing condition). Alternatively, the control unit 21A may generate a control command to switch the status of all the loads L to the lighting condition or the extinguishing condition without referring to the most recent condition of the load L.

Further, the control unit 21A creates a packet 60 (control packet 60A). The data 65 of the control packet 60A represents the generated control command. The destination address 63 of the control packet 60A represents the first multicast transmission address. The source address 64 of the control packet 60A indicates its own specific identification code (a specific identification code of the operation terminal 20A). The control unit 21A controls the communication unit 23A to output the control packet 60A to the signal line 30. That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, the control command includes command information 651, target object information 652, and control information 653. The command information 651 indicates a command type (load-control in this example), and the target object information 652 indicates the specific identification code of the operation-control terminal 10, and the control information 653 indicates the control command of the load L (in this example, Lighting or extinguishing). It is noted that each of the communication units 13 and 23 is configured to receive a packet 60 in which the destination address 63 is the first multicast address. In other words, the packet 60 containing the destination address 63 representing the first multicast transmission address is received by all terminals (i.e., the operation-control terminal 10 and the operation terminal 20) that construct the load control system of the present embodiment. .

In the operation-control terminal 10, the communication unit 13 receives the control packet 60A and outputs the received control packet 60A to the control unit 11. When the material 65 of the control packet 60A received from the communication unit 13 contains a specific identification code equivalent to its own identification code (the specific identification code of the operation-control terminal 10), the control unit 11 acquires itself from the material 65. Control instruction information 653 associated with the particular identification code. Corresponding to the obtained control command information, the control unit 11 outputs a load control signal for turning the load L on or off to the drive unit 15. The load driving unit 15 switches the relay to turn the load L on or off in accordance with the load control signal received from the control unit 11. After a predetermined waiting time (each operation-control terminal 10 has a different waiting time), the control unit 11 generates a packet 60 (response packet 60B) to notify the condition of the load L. The destination address 63 of the response packet 60B is the specific identification code set as the source address 64 of the received control packet 60A. The data 65 in response to packet 60B represents the most recent condition of the load L (like illumination or extinction). When the load L is controlled, the most recent condition of the load L is the condition after the load L is controlled. The control unit 11 controls the communication unit 13 to output the control packet 60B to the signal line 30. Further, the control unit 11 changes the display of its own display unit 16 in accordance with the latest condition of the load L.

In the operation terminal 20A, upon receiving the response packet 60B, the communication unit 23A supplies the received response packet 60B to the control unit 21A. The control unit 21A controls the storage unit 24A to store the load L condition acquired from the reclaimed packet 60B. When the response packet 60B is received from all the terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D corresponding to the group of the switch S51, the control unit 21A changes the display of the display unit 25A. For example, when all the loads L are kept on, the control unit 21A turns off the light-emitting device LD51, and when all the loads L are kept off, the control unit 21A turns on the light-emitting device LD51. In other words, the control unit 21A turns off the light-emitting device LD51, thereby indicating that none of the loads L under the control of the operation terminal 20A are kept turned on (that is, the state of each of the loads L is turned off). The control unit 21A turns on the light-emitting device LD51, thereby indicating a state in which all the loads L are kept turned on under the control of the operation terminal 20A (that is, the condition of each load L is illumination). In this example, even when a display unit (light-emitting device) indicating the condition of each load L is not provided, the display of the light-emitting device LD51 is still available to determine whether or not the load L of all the target objects is kept on (in other words, The condition of each load L is illumination). Therefore, it is easier to judge whether it is necessary to perform the co-set control.

When the operation terminal 20A cannot receive the response packet 60B from at least one of the operation-control terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D, the control unit 21A generates a packet 60 (request packet 60C) to request a condition for transmitting the load L. The destination address 63 of the request packet 60C is a specific identification code from which the operation terminal 20A cannot receive the operation-control terminal 10 (e.g., the terminal 10D) of the response packet 60B. The data 65 of the request packet 60C is a control command for requesting the transmission of the load L. The control unit 21A controls the communication unit 23A to output the request packet 60C to the signal line 30.

The communication units 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D receive the packets 60 in which the destination addresses 63 respectively represent the specific identification codes of the operation-control terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D. When the communication unit 13 receives the request packet 60C, the control unit 11 controls the communication unit 13 to transmit the response packet 60B to the operation terminal 10, and the request packet 60C transmitted by it is received by the communication unit 13.

When the communication unit 23A receives the response packet 60B transmitted by the operation-control terminal 10D receiving the request packet 60C, the control unit 21A controls the storage unit 24A to store the load L status of the recovered packet 60B. In contrast, when the communication unit 23A cannot receive the response packet 60B from the operation-control terminal 10D within a predetermined time from the transmission request packet 60C, the control unit 21A controls the display unit by the blinking of the illumination device LD51 of the display unit 25A. 25A to show the fault.

After the communication unit 23A receives the response packet 60B, the control unit 21A creates a control command (transfer command) for transmitting the latest status of the load L obtained from the response packet 60B to the other operation terminal 20B. This transfer command indicates the most recent condition of the load L. The control unit 21A creates a packet 60 (transport packet 60D) for transmitting the load L. The data 65 of the transport packet 60D indicates the transfer command. The destination address 63 of the transport packet 60D represents a second multi-point transmission address that is different from the first multi-point transmission address. The second multi-point transmission address is a multi-point transmission address that is not used to transmit the packet 60 to the operation-control terminal 10 but to the operation terminal 20. The source address 64 of the transport packet 60D represents its own identification code (a specific identification code of the operation terminal 20A). The control unit 21A controls the communication unit 23A to output the transmission packet 60D to the signal line 30.

In the operation terminal 20B receiving the transmission packet 60D, the control unit 21B controls the storage unit 24B to store, in addition to the previous condition of the load L (i.e., the condition of the load L before the operation-control terminal 10 controls the load), The latest status of the load L acquired by the transmission packet 60D is received. And, the control unit 21B controls the communication unit 23B to output the packet 60 (confirmation packet 60E) for confirming reception to the signal line 30. The destination address 63 of the acknowledgement packet 60E indicates the source address 64 of the received transport packet 60D. In other words, the acknowledgment packet 60E is transmitted to the operation terminal 20A that delivers the transmission packet 60D by utilizing the unicast transmission communication. When the operation terminal 20A cannot receive the confirmation packet 60E, the operation terminal 20A that cannot receive the confirmation packet 60E can transmit the transmission packet 60D to the operation terminal 20B by using the single-point transmission communication.

Reference is now made to the sequence diagram shown in the sixth diagram to explain the operation of the style control (second style control) performed by the operation terminal 20B. When the switch S62 is manually operated, the operation unit 22B outputs an operation signal to the control unit 21B. Upon receiving the operation signal, the control unit 21B refers to the second style correspondence relationship information stored in the storage unit 24B to acquire the specificity of the operation-control terminals 10C and 10D associated with the operation signal (corresponding to the operation signal of the switch S62). The identification code and the control command (in this example, the dimming level) connected to the load L of each of the terminals 10C and 10D. Corresponding to the control command associated with the second style control, the control unit 21B generates control for adjusting the lighting power of the load L30 at a dimming level of 70% and the lighting power of the load L40 at a dimming level of 30%. command. Further, the control unit 21B creates a packet 60 (control packet 60F). The data 65 of the control packet 60F represents the generated control command. The destination address 63 of the control packet 60F represents the first multicast transmission address. The source address 64 of the control packet 60F indicates its own specific identification code (a specific identification code of the operation terminal 20B). The control unit 21B controls the communication unit 23B to output the control packet 60F to the signal line 30. The operation-control terminals 10A and 10B do not belong to the second style group. Therefore, the control command of the control packet 60F does not include the specific identification code of each of the operation-control terminals 10A and 10B and the control command of each of the operation-control terminals 10A and 10B.

In each of the operation-control terminals 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D, the communication unit 13 receives the control packet 60F and supplies the person to the control unit 11.

The control unit 11A does not control the load L10 because the control command of the received control packet 60F does not contain its own specific identification code (the specific identification code of the operation-control terminal 10A). In this example, the control unit 11A generates a packet (response packet 60G) indicating the data 65 of the current condition (such as illumination and extinction) of the load L10, and controls the communication unit 13A to output the response packet 60G to the signal line 30.

The control unit 11B does not control the loads L21 and L22 because the control command of the received control packet 60F does not contain its own specific identification code (the operation-control terminal 10B's specific identification code). In this example, the control unit 11B generates a packet (response packet 60G) indicating the current status 65 (such as illumination and extinction) of each of the loads L21 and L22, and controls the communication unit 13B to output the response packet 60G to the signal. Line 30.

The control command of the received control packet 60F contains the specific identification code of the operation-control terminal 10C. Therefore, the control unit 11C outputs a load control signal for adjusting the lamp power of the load L30 to the drive in accordance with a control command (dimming level) corresponding to its own specific identification code (the specific identification code of the operation-control terminal 10C). Unit 15C. The drive unit 15C adjusts the power supplied to the load L30 in accordance with the load control signal received from the control unit 11C. The control unit 11C generates a response packet 60G after a predetermined waiting time elapses. The destination address 63 of the response packet 60G indicates the source address 63 of the received control packet 60F. The source address 64 of the response packet 60G indicates its own specific address (the operation-control terminal 10C specific address). The response 65 of the response packet 60G indicates the latest status of the load L30 (dimming level). The control unit 11C controls the communication unit 13C to output the response packet 60G to the signal line 30. Further, the control unit 11C changes the display of the display unit 16C in accordance with the latest condition of the load L30.

The control command of the received control packet 60F contains the specific identification code of the operation-control terminal 10D. Therefore, the control unit 11D outputs a load control signal for adjusting the lamp power of the load L40 to the drive in accordance with a control command (dimming level) corresponding to its own specific identification code (the specific identification code of the operation-control terminal 10D). Unit 15D. The drive unit 15D adjusts the power supplied to the load L40 in accordance with the load control signal received from the control unit 11D. The control unit 11D generates a response packet 60G after a predetermined waiting time elapses. The destination address 63 of the response packet 60G indicates the source address 63 of the received control packet 60F. The source address 64 of the response packet 60G indicates its own specific address (the operation-control terminal 10D's specific address). The response 65 of the response packet 60G indicates the latest status of the load L40 (dimming level). The control unit 11D controls the communication unit 13D to output the response packet 60G to the signal line 30. Further, the control unit 11D changes the display of the display unit 16D in accordance with the latest condition of the load L40.

In the operation terminal 20B, upon receiving the response packet 60G, the communication unit 23B supplies the reclaimed packet 60G to the control unit 21B. The control unit 21B controls the storage unit 24B to store the load L condition acquired from the recovered packet 60G. When the response packet 60G is received from all the operation-control terminals 10 (in this example, the operation-control terminals 10C and 10D) belonging to the second pattern group corresponding to the switch S62, the control unit 21B controls the display unit 25B to turn on. The illumination device LD62 thereby displays a second pattern to control the ongoing condition. Further, after the communication unit 23B receives the response packet 60G, the control unit 21B creates a control command (transfer command) for transmitting the latest status of the load L obtained from the response packet 60G to the other operation terminal 20A. The transfer command indicates the most recent condition of the load L. The control unit 21B creates a packet 60 (transport packet 60H) for transmitting the load L. The data 65 of the transport packet 60H indicates the transfer command generated by the control unit 21B. The destination address 63 of the transport packet 60H represents the second multicast transmission address. The source address 64 of the transport packet 60H indicates its own identification code (a specific identification code of the operation terminal 20B). The control unit 21B controls the communication unit 23B to output the transmission packet 60H to the signal line 30. In the operation terminal 20A receiving the transmission packet 60H, the control unit 21A controls the storage unit 24A to store, in addition to the previous condition of the load L (the condition before the load L is controlled by the operation-control terminal 10), and also stores the transmission received. The latest situation of the load L obtained by the packet 60H. The operation of the load control system under the first style control is similar to that under the second style control. Thus, the operational description of the load control system under the first style control is omitted here.

That is, as described above, the load control system of the present embodiment can directly control the load L connected to the operation-control terminal 10 by manually operating the switch S of the operation-control terminal 10. The load control system is available to remotely connect to the signal line 30 by manually operating the switch S of the operation terminal 20 to connect the load L of the operation-control terminal 10 of the operation terminal 20. The operation terminal 20 can directly transmit the packet 60 containing the control command to the operation-control terminal 10 via the signal line 30. Thus, the load control system can operate even when one of the terminals 10 and 20 fails or the signal line 30 is interrupted. Moreover, the operation terminal 20 can simultaneously control all the loads L under the control of the operation terminal 20, because the operation terminal 20 does not utilize the single point transmission communication, but utilizes the multipoint transmission communication to block the packet containing the control command. 60 is transmitted to a plurality of operation-control terminals 10. Therefore, the load control system can improve the stability and response performance of load control.

In the load control system of the present embodiment, the storage unit 24A stores a control record relating to the load L corresponding to the switches S51, S52 and S53. The control record contains a current status and a previous status. The current status is the latest status of the load L. In other words, the current situation is a state after the load L is controlled by the operation-control terminal 10 (the state of the load L after the operation-control terminal 10 controls the load L for the previous time). The previous condition (final condition) refers to the condition before the load L is previously controlled by the operation-control terminal 10 (the condition of the load L before the operation-control terminal 10 controls the load 10 for the previous time). It is noted that the control record may contain past conditions of the load L, such as the penultimate condition of the load L, the third last condition of the load L, and the penultimate condition of the load L.

Similarly, the storage unit 24B stores control records regarding the load L corresponding to each of the switches S61 and S62.

When the operation unit 22 receives an operation-input for a restoration control, and at the same time the condition of the load L satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, all the loads L are kept off under the control of the operation terminal 20), the control unit 21 The control record stored in the storage unit 24 is referred to to obtain the condition (previous condition) of the load L before the predetermined condition. The control unit 21 generates a control command (reset command) to change the condition of the load L to the previous condition acquired from the storage unit 24. Next, the control unit 21A creates a packet 60 (recovery packet 60I). The data 65 of the recovery packet 60I represents the generated restoration command. The destination address 63 of the recovered packet 60I represents the first multicast transmission address. The source address 64 of the restored packet 60I indicates its own specific identification code (a specific identification code of the operation terminal 20). The control unit 21 controls the communication unit 23 to output the restored packet 60I to the signal line 30.

It is noted that the load control system of the present embodiment can utilize the switches S51, S52, S53, S61, and S62 for the collective control to operate-input (i.e., manual operation) as the operation-input for the restoration control. In this example, when the operation-input of the switches S51, S52, S53, S61, and S62 is received, and at the same time the condition of the load L satisfies the predetermined condition, the load control system performs the restoration control. In contrast, when the operation-input of the switches S51, S52, S53, S61, and S62 is received, and at the same time the condition of the load L does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the load control system performs the co-set control (such as group control and Style control). Further, the operation terminal 20 may include a dedicated switch for restoration control. Alternatively, the operating unit 22 may be configured to output an operation signal indicating the collective control when the switches S51, S52, S53, S61, and S62 are held low for a short period of time, and when the switch is held When the time is low, the operation signal indicating the restoration control is output. Further, the operation unit 22 may output an operation signal indicating the restoration control to indicate whether or not the current condition of the load L satisfies a predetermined condition.

When the communication unit 13 receives the restoration packet 60I, the control unit 11 outputs a load control signal for controlling the load L in accordance with the restoration command in the received restoration packet 60I. Therefore, the status of all loads L is changed to the previous status. Therefore, even when a user does not remember the previous condition of the load L, it is possible to change the condition of the load L to the previous condition by operating a switch S of the operation terminal 20.

Note that the predetermined condition described above may be a condition of the load L in accordance with the first pattern control corresponding to the switch S61, in this example, when the first style control has been performed by erroneously controlling the switch S61, again The ground control switch S61 can change the condition of the load L to the condition before the first style control is performed.

In the load control system of the present embodiment, the storage unit 24 stores the control record of the load L. However, the storage unit 14 of the operation-control terminal 10 can store a control record of the load L as a target object of the operation-control terminal 10. In this example, when the reset command is received from the operation terminal 20, the control unit 11 performs the restoration control with reference to the control record stored in the storage unit 14. The control record of each load L can be stored in a storage device (storage means) through which all of the operating terminals 20 can read and write information through the signal line 30.

In the load control system of the present embodiment, the control unit 11, the communication unit 13, and the drive unit 15 constitute a control device that is configured to control a plurality of loads L. In other words, a plurality of operation-control terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D constitute the aforementioned control device. The control unit 21, the operating units 12 and 22, the communication unit 23, and the storage units 14 and 24 constitute an operating device having an operating switch (the switch S). In other words, a plurality of operation-control terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D and together with a plurality of operation terminals 20A and 20B constitute the aforementioned operation device. In particular, storage units 14 and 24 form a storage device configured to store control records corresponding to each of load L. The control record represents the current condition of the load after being controlled by the control device and the previous condition indicating the condition of the load before being controlled by the control device.

That is, as described above, in the load control system of the present embodiment, the operating device is configured to output control signals (such as the load control signal and control packs 60A, 60F) in response to the operation of the operating switch. When receiving the control signal, the control device is configured to perform individual control according to the control signal, wherein the control device controls one of the loads L corresponding to one of the operation switches, or performs a common set control, wherein the control device controls the plural The load L belonging to a group associated with the operation switch. The operating device has a reset switch S (switches S51, S52, S53, S61 and S62). The operating device is configured to respond to the operation of the reset switch to output a reset signal (recovery packet 60I). Upon receipt of the reset signal, the control device is configured to perform a recovery control in which the control device changes the condition of the load L to a previous condition stored within the storage device.

Thus, the load control system of the present embodiment can easily change the current status of the load L to the previous condition.

Further, in the load control system of the present embodiment, the operation device (operation terminal 20) is configured to respond to the operation of the operation switch S (switches S51, S52, S53, S61, and S62) to output a restoration signal, At the same time, the current status of the load belonging to the group satisfies the predetermined condition.

Therefore, a switch can be utilized as an operation switch (a switch for a common control) and a recovery switch (a switch for a recovery control).

Further, in the load control system of the present embodiment, the control device (operation-control terminal 10) is configured to control the load L by utilizing power supplied or interrupted to the load L. The condition of the load L includes a condition (illumination condition) that controls the power supplied from the device to the load L, and a second condition (extinguished condition) in which the control device interrupts the power supplied to the load L. The predetermined condition is that all current conditions of the load L belonging to the group are the first status or the status of the second status.

In this example, the predetermined condition is a simple condition. This makes it easy for the user to judge whether or not to perform the restoration control.

Moreover, in the load control system of the specific embodiment, the operating device (operation terminal 20) includes a storage device (storage unit 24), a first communication unit (communication unit 23), and a first control unit (control unit 21). . The storage device is configured to store correspondence information (group correspondence information, first style correspondence information, and second style correspondence information) indicating a correspondence between an operation switch and a load. The first communication unit is configured to communicate with the control device (operation-control terminal 10) via a signal line 30. In response to the operation of the operation switch, the first control unit is configured to generate a control command for controlling the load L corresponding to the operation switch with reference to the correspondence information stored in the storage device, and then control the first The communication unit transmits control signals (control packets 60F, 60F) containing the generated control commands to the control device. The control device (operation-control terminal 10) comprises a second communication unit (communication unit 13) and a second control unit (control unit 11). The second communication unit is configured to communicate with the operating device (operating terminal 20) via the signal line. When the second communication unit receives the control signal, the second control unit is configured to control the load L according to the control command in the control signal, and then control the second communication unit to transmit a latest condition including the controlled load L. Response signal (response packets 60B, 60G). When the first communication unit receives the response signal, the first control unit is configured to control the storage device to store the current condition stored in the storage device as a previous condition, and control the storage device to be within the response signal The previous status is stored as current status. In response to operation of the reset switch, the first control unit is configured to generate a restore command indicative of a previous condition with reference to the control record stored in the storage device, and then control the first communication unit to include the generated restore command The recovery signal (recovery packet 60I) is transmitted to the control device. When the second communication unit receives the restoration signal, the second control unit is configured to control the load L to change its condition to the previous condition indicated by the restoration command within the restoration signal.

In this manner, the operating device (operating terminal 20) can directly transmit the packet 60 containing the control command to the control device (operation-control terminal 10) via the signal line 30. Thus, the load control system can operate even when one of the operation-control terminal 10 and the operation terminal 20 fails or the signal line 30 is interrupted.

Meanwhile, in the load control system of the present embodiment, the operation device (operation terminal 20) has a display device (display unit 25). The display device is configured to display a first load condition or a second load condition with reference to current conditions stored in the storage device (storage unit 24). The first load condition indicates that all loads L are operating under the control of the operating equipment. The second one indicates that at least one of the loads L does not operate under the control of the operating device.

Thus, even when the display unit (light-emitting device) does not provide a condition indicating the respective loads L, the display of the display unit 25 is still available to determine whether or not all the loads L which are the target objects are kept on (in other words, each load) The condition of L is illumination). Therefore, it is easier to judge whether it is necessary to perform the co-set control.

The seventh diagram shows a system configuration diagram of a modification result of the load control system according to the present embodiment. In the result of the load control system modification, the operation terminal 20 is connected to the load L, and is configured to directly control the load L connected thereto. In other words, the load control system modification result is an operation-control terminal (hereinafter referred to as "second terminal" as needed) 10B, 10C, and 10D, and an operation-control terminal having a remote control function (after In the text, it is called "first terminal" as needed. 10A, constructed.

In the result of the modification, the first terminal 10A is configured to operate as the operation terminal 20.

In the present modification result, the first terminal 10A includes a switch S51 corresponding to the group control, a switch S61 corresponding to the first style control, and a switch S62 corresponding to the second style control. The storage unit 24 is configured to store group correspondence information, first style correspondence information, and second style correspondence information.

The sequence diagram shown in the eighth diagram will now be referred to to explain the group control operation performed by the operation terminal 10A. When the switch S51 is manually operated, the operation unit 12A outputs an operation signal to the control unit 11A. When receiving the operation signal, the control unit 11A refers to the group correspondence relationship information stored in the storage unit 14A to acquire the second terminals 10B, 10C, and 10D associated with the operation signal (corresponding to the operation-input of the switch S51). Specific identification code. Further, the control unit 11A reads out the condition (the latest condition) of the load L connected to each of the second terminals 10B, 10C, and 10D from the storage unit 14A. In other words, the control unit 11A reads out the latest condition of each of the loads L21, L22, L30, and L40. When all of the load L conditions read out from the storage unit 14A are the same, the control unit 11A generates a control command to switch the state of each load L to the opposite condition. For example, when the conditions of all the loads L are lighting conditions, the control unit 11A generates a control command to switch the operating conditions of the respective loads L to the extinguishing conditions. Alternatively, when all the conditions of the load L are extinguished, the control unit 11A generates a control command to switch the operating conditions of the respective loads L to the lighting conditions. When not all the conditions of the load L are the same (for example, one of the loads L is illumination and the other load L conditions are off), the control unit 11A generates a control command to switch the conditions of all the loads L to the same condition (like It is the lighting condition and the extinguishing condition). Alternatively, the control unit 11A may always generate a control command to switch the conditions of all the loads L to the lighting condition or the extinguishing condition without referring to the most recent condition of the load L.

Further, the control unit 11A creates a packet 60 (control packet 60J). The data 65 of the control packet 60J represents the generated control command. The destination address 63 of the control packet 60J represents the first multicast transmission address. The source address 64 of the control packet 60J indicates its own specific identification code (a specific identification code of the first terminal 10A). The control unit 11A controls the communication unit 13A to output the control packet 60J to the signal line 30.

In each of the second terminals 10B, 10C and 10D, the communication unit 13 receives the control packet 60J and supplies the person to the control unit 11. When the material 65 of the control packet 60J received from the communication unit 13 contains a specific identification code equivalent to its own identification code (a specific identification code of the second terminal 10), the control unit 11 acquires the specificity of itself from the material 65. The control code associated with the identification code information 653. Corresponding to the obtained control command information, the control unit 11 outputs a load control signal for turning the load L on or off to the drive unit 15. The load driving unit 15 switches the relay to turn the load L on or off in accordance with the load control signal received from the control unit 11. After a predetermined waiting time (each of the second terminals 10B, 10C, and 10D has a different waiting time), the control unit 11 generates a packet 60 (response packet 60K) to notify the condition of the load L. The destination address 63 of the response packet 60K is the specific identification code set as the source address 64 of the received control packet 60J. The response 65 of the response packet 60K indicates the most recent condition of the load L (like illumination or extinction). When the load L is controlled, the most recent condition of the load L is the condition after the load L is controlled. The control unit 11 controls the communication unit 13 to output the control packet 60K to the signal line 30. Further, the control unit 11 changes the display of its own display unit 16 in accordance with the latest condition of the load L.

In the first terminal 10A, upon receiving the response packet 60K, the communication unit 13A supplies the recovered packet 60K to the control unit 11A. The control unit 11A controls the storage unit 14A to store the load L condition acquired from the reclaimed packet 60K. When the response packet 60K is received from all of the second terminals 10B, 10C, and 10D belonging to the group corresponding to the switch S51, the control unit 11A changes the display of the display unit 16A. For example, when all the loads L are kept on, the control unit 11A turns off the light emitting device LD51, and when all the loads L are kept off, the control unit 21A turns on the light emitting device LD51.

When the first terminal 10A cannot successfully receive the response packet 60K from at least one of the second terminals 10B, 10C, and 10D, the control unit 11A generates a packet 60 (request packet 60L) to request a status of transmitting the load L. The destination address 63 of the request packet 60L is a specific identification code of the second terminal 10 (for example, the second terminal 10D), and the response packet 60K transmitted by the second terminal 10 cannot be successfully received by the first terminal 10A. The data 65 of the request packet 60L is a control command for requesting the transmission of the load L. The control unit 11A controls the communication unit 13A to output the request packet 60L to the signal line 30.

When the communication unit 13A receives the response packet 60K transmitted by the second terminal 10D receiving the request packet 60L, the control unit 11A controls the storage unit 14A to store the load L status of the reclaimed packet 60K. In contrast, when the communication unit 13A cannot receive the response packet 60K from the second terminal 10D within a predetermined time from the transmission request packet 60L, the control unit 11A controls the display unit by the blinking of the illumination device LD51 of the display unit 16A. 16A to display the fault.

Reference is now made to the sequence diagram shown in the ninth figure to explain the operation of the style control (second style control). When the switch S62 is manually operated, the operation unit 12A outputs an operation signal to the control unit 11A. Upon receiving the operation signal, the control unit 11A refers to the second style correspondence relationship information stored in the storage unit 14A to acquire the specificity of the second terminals 10C and 10D associated with the operation signal (corresponding to the operation-input of the switch S62). The identification code and the control command (in this example, the dimming level) regarding the load L connected to each of the second terminals 10C and 10D. Corresponding to the control command associated with the second style control, the control unit 11A generates a dimming level for adjusting the lighting power of the load L30 at 70% and a dimming level for adjusting the lighting power of the load L40 at 30%. command. Further, the control unit 11A creates a packet 60 (control packet 60M). The data 65 of the control packet 60M represents the generated control command. The destination address 63 of the control packet 60M represents the first multicast transmission address. The source address 64 of the control packet 60M indicates its own specific identification code (a specific identification code of the first terminal 10A). The control unit 11A controls the communication unit 13A to output the control packet 60M to the signal line 30. The second terminal 10B does not belong to the second style group. Therefore, the control command of the control packet 60M does not include the specific identification code of the second terminal 10B and the control command of the second terminal 10B.

In each of the second terminals 10B, 10C and 10D, the communication unit 13 receives the control packet 60M and supplies the person to the control unit 11.

The control unit 11B does not control the loads L21 and L22 because the control command of the received control packet 60M does not contain its own specific identification code (a specific identification code of the second terminal 10B). In this example, the control unit 11B generates a packet (response packet 60N) indicating the current status 65 (such as illumination and extinction) of each of the loads L21 and L22, and controls the communication unit 13B to output the response packet 60N to the signal line. 30.

The control command of the received control packet 60M contains the specific identification code of the second terminal 10C. Therefore, the control unit 11C outputs a load control signal for adjusting the lamp power of the load L30 to the drive according to a control command (dimming level) corresponding to its own specific identification code (the specific identification code of the second terminal 10C). Unit 15C. The drive unit 15C adjusts the power supplied to the load L30 in accordance with the load control signal received from the control unit 11C. After a predetermined waiting time, the control unit 11C generates a response packet 60N. The destination address 63 of the response packet 60N indicates the source address 63 of the received control packet 60M. The source address 64 of the response packet 60N indicates its own specific address (a specific address of the second terminal 10C). The response 65 of the response packet 60N indicates the latest status of the load L30 (dimming level). The control unit 11C controls the communication unit 13C to output the response packet 60N to the signal line 30. Further, the control unit 11C changes the display of the display unit 16C in accordance with the latest condition of the load L30.

The control command of the received control packet 60M contains the specific identification code of the second terminal 10D. Therefore, the control unit 11D outputs a load control signal for adjusting the lamp power of the load L40 to the drive unit according to a control command (dimming level) corresponding to its own specific identification code (a specific identification code of the second terminal 10D). 15D. The drive unit 15D adjusts the power supplied to the load L40 in accordance with the load control signal received from the control unit 11D. After a predetermined waiting time, the control unit 11D generates a response packet 60N. The destination address 63 of the response packet 60N indicates the source address 63 of the received control packet 60M. The source address 64 of the response packet 60N indicates its own specific address (a specific address of the second terminal 10D). The response 65 of the response packet 60N indicates the latest status of the load L40 (dimming level). The control unit 11D controls the communication unit 13D to output the response packet 60N to the signal line 30. Further, the control unit 11D changes the display of the display unit 16D in accordance with the latest condition of the load L40.

In the first terminal 10A, upon receiving the response packet 60N, the communication unit 13A supplies the recovered packet 60N to the control unit 11A. The control unit 11A controls the storage unit 14A to store the load L condition acquired from the received response packet 60N. When the response packet 60N is received from all the second terminals 10 (in this example, the second terminals 10C and 10D) corresponding to the second pattern group of the switch S62, the control unit 11A controls the display unit 16A to turn on the light-emitting device LD62. Thereby showing a second style control in progress. The operation of the load control system under the first style control is similar to that under the second style control. Thus, the operational description of the load control system under the first style control is omitted here.

In the result of the modification, the storage unit 14A stores a control record relating to the load L corresponding to each of the switches S51, S61 and S62.

When the operation unit 12A receives an operation-input for a restoration control, and at the same time the condition of the load L satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, all the loads L are kept off under the control of the first terminal 10A), the control unit 11A refers to the control record stored in the storage unit 14A to acquire the condition of the load L (previous condition). The control unit 11A generates a control command (reset command) to change the state of the load L to the previous condition acquired from the storage unit 14A. Next, the control unit 11A creates a packet 60 (recovery packet 600). The data 65 of the recovery packet 600 represents the generated restoration command. The destination address 63 of the recovery packet 600 represents the first multicast transmission address. The source address 64 of the control packet 600 represents its own specific identification code (a specific identification code of the first terminal 10A). The control unit 11A controls the communication unit 13A to output the control packet 600 to the signal line 30. It is noted that the first terminal 10A may contain a dedicated switch for restoration control. Alternatively, the first terminal 10A may be configured to utilize any of the switches S51, S61, and S62 for the collective control as the switch for the restoration control.

In each of the second terminals 10B, 10C and 10D, when the communication unit 13 receives the restoration packet 600, the control unit 11 outputs a load control signal for controlling the load L in accordance with the restoration command in the received recovery packet 600. . Therefore, the status of all loads L is changed to the previous status.

It should be noted that the first terminal 10A or the operation terminal 20 may have a switch S and a plurality of light-emitting devices LD, each of which corresponds to each load L of the group of the collective control of the switch S. In this example, the load control system can display the status of each load L.

(Second embodiment)

That is, as shown in the tenth figure, the load control system of the present embodiment includes a transmission control device 100, a plurality of operation terminals 102, and a plurality of control terminals 103. Each of the operation terminals 102 and each of the control terminals 103 is connected to the transmission control device 100 via a two-wire signal line 105. Each of the operation terminals 102 has switches S1, S2, and S3. Each of the control terminals 103 is connected to a lighting load (hereinafter referred to as "load") 104, and controls the load 104 connected thereto.

Each of the operating terminals 102 and each of the control terminals 103 has a specific address. The transmission control device 100 can access the operation terminal 102 and the control terminal 103 by utilizing a specific address.

The transmission control device 100 outputs a transmission signal Vs having a format as shown in FIG. 11A to the signal line 105. That is, the transmission signal Vs includes a synchronization signal SY, a mode data MD, an address data AD, a control data CD, a check sum data CS, and a signal reply period WT. The synchronization signal SY represents the starting point of a signal transmission. The mode data MD indicates a mode in which the signal Vs is transmitted. The address information AD is used to individually call the operation terminal 102 or the control terminal 103. The control data CD is used to control the load 104. Check the sum CS system for transmission error detection. The signal reply period WT is a time slot for receiving a reply signal (monitoring data) from the operation terminal 102 or the control terminal 103. That is, as shown in FIG. 11B, the transmission signal Vs is a bipolar (±24V) time-division multiplex signal. The transmission control device transmits the transmission signal Vs by utilizing the modulation pulse width. The operation terminal 102 and the control terminal 103 acquire the control data CD from the transmission signal Vs when the address data AD of the transmission signal Vs is equivalent to its own specific address. Next, the operation terminal 102 and the control terminal 103 transmit the monitoring data as a current signal in the signal reply period WT, which is a signal transmitted by short-circuiting the signal line 105 by using an appropriate low-impedance element.

When the transmission control device 100 transmits a material to the terminal 102 to be operated or the control terminal 103, the transmission control device 100 transmits the transmission signal Vs to the signal line 105, wherein the mode data MD indicates a control mode and the address data MD indicates A specific address of the terminal 102 or the control terminal 103 is to be operated. The operation terminal 102 and the control terminal 103 acquire the control data CD from the transmission signal Vs when the address data AD of the transmission signal Vs is equivalent to its own specific address. Next, the operation terminal 102 and the control terminal 103 transmit the monitoring data (status data) in the signal reply period WT. The transmission control device 100 checks whether the control terminal 102 or the control terminal 103 has received the control data by referring to the relationship between the control data CD transmitted to the signal line 105 and the monitoring data received in the signal reply period WT. CD. The control terminal 103 outputs a load control signal for controlling the load 104 based on the received control data CD. The operation terminal 102 outputs a display signal for displaying an operation check of the load 104 based on the received control data CD.

Under normal circumstances, the transmission control device 100 transmits a transmission signal Vs in which the mode material MD is virtual at regular intervals. That is, the transmission control device 100 performs polling control. In this example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the transmission control device 100 picks up any control terminal 103 and requests the person to transmit monitoring data indicating the status (operational condition) of the load 104. When accessed by the transmission control device 100, the control terminal 103 transmits monitoring data of the status of the load 104 connected thereto to the transmission control device 100. Upon receiving the monitoring data, the transmission control device 100 accesses the operation terminal 102 associated with the control terminal 103, wherein the transmission control device 100 has accessed and transmitted to display the load 104 corresponding to the accessed control terminal 103. Status Control Data CD.

In the polling control, the transmission control device 100 cyclically repeats the access control terminal 103 and the operation terminal 102 associated therewith.

In the polling control process, when the operation terminal 102 attempts to transmit some information to the transmission control device, the operation terminal 102 generates a synchronization signal SY of the synchronized interrupt signal and the transmission signal Vs as shown in FIG. 11C. . The operation terminal 102 then sets an interrupt flag and is ready to communicate with the transmission control device 100. Upon receiving the interrupt signal, the transmission control device 100 transmits the mode data MD indicating a transmission signal Vs interrupting the polling mode. Each time the transmission control device 100 transmits the transmission signal Vs, the transmission control device 100 increments the upper half of the bit sequence of the address data AD (the first 4 bits when the address data AD is 8 bits). When the upper half of the bit sequence of the address data AD of the transmission signal Vs indicating the mode data MD of the interrupt polling mode is equal to the upper half of the bit sequence of its own specific address, the operation terminal 102 that sets the interrupt flag will The lower half of the bit sequence of its own address is transmitted to the transmission control device 100 in the signal reply period WT. The transmission control device 100 searches for the operation terminal 102 that has transmitted the interrupt signal every sixteen operation terminals 102. The transmission control device 100 can find the target operating terminal 102 in a shorter time.

The transmission control device 100 acquires a specific address of the target operation terminal 102 (that is, the operation terminal 102 that has transmitted the interrupt signal), and then outputs the transmission signal Vs to the signal line 105, wherein the mode data MD is a monitoring mode and the address data AD is the specific address obtained. In response to this transmission signal Vs, in the signal reply period WT, the target operation terminal 102 transmits the information that the target operation terminal attempts to transmit to the transmission control device 100. Next, the transmission control device 100 transmits a signal for canceling the interrupt flag to the operation terminal 102. When receiving the signal, the operation terminal 102 cancels the interrupt flag. That is, as described above, the transmission control device 100 transmits four signals (virtual mode, interrupt polling mode, monitoring mode, and interrupt mode), thereby completing the information transmission operation from the operation terminal 102 to the transmission control device 100. When the transmission control device 100 attempts to acquire the condition of the desired control terminal 103, the transmission control device 100 only has to transmit the transmission signal Vs in which the mode material MD is the monitoring material.

When an operation data is generated in response to the operation of any of the switches S1, S2, and S3, the operation terminal 102 transmits the operation data to the transmission control device 100 as the monitoring material. The transmission control device 100 transmits the transmission signal Vs containing the control data CD generated by the transmission control device 100 in accordance with the received operation data to the control terminal 103. When the transmission signal Vs is received, the control terminal 103 controls the load 104. For example, the control terminal 103 turns the load 104 on or off. The control terminal 103 transmits the monitoring data to the transmission control device 100. Upon receiving the monitoring data, the transmission control device 100 transmits a transmission signal Vs containing the control data CD for displaying the status of the load 104 to the operation terminal 102 in accordance with the received monitoring data. When the transmission signal Vs is received, the operation terminal 102 turns on or off an indicator light (such as an LED) indicating the condition of the load 104.

The transmission control device 100 stores a correspondence between a switch S1, S2, and 3S and a specific address. The correspondence between the plurality of loads 104 and one of the switches S1, S2, and S3 can be used to collectively control the plurality of loads 104 by utilizing a single switch. The co-set control includes group control and style control. In group control, the load control system controls all loads L belonging to the same group to change each condition to the same control condition. In the style control, the load control system controls all the loads L belonging to the same style group to change the respective conditions to predetermined control conditions corresponding to the respective loads L. The load control system of this embodiment includes a co-location operation terminal (not shown) for co-collection control (such as group control and style control), and the co-set control has one and is used for co-set control. A common set switch associated with a common address (such as a group address and a style address).

When the co-set switch is operated, the transmission control device 100 acquires a co-set address (e.g., a group address) assigned to the operated co-set switch. Then, the transmission control device 100 generates control data for controlling each of the loads 104 associated with the group address, and sequentially transmits the generated control data to the control terminal 103. It is thus possible to collectively control the loads 104 belonging to the same group.

In the load control system of the present embodiment, the transmission control device 100 controls the status of all the loads (lighting loads 104) controlled by the control terminal 103. The transmission control device 100 stores control records of the respective lighting loads 104. It is assumed that the recovery switch (not shown) provided to the operation terminal 102 is operated while all the loads 104 are kept off. In this example, the transmission control device 100 refers to the control record to transmit a control command to each of the control terminals 103 such that the status of all the loads L is changed to the previous condition (previous situation) to restore the condition of the lighting load 104.

LDn. . . Illuminating device

Ln. . . load

Pn. . . Packet

Sn. . . switch

Vs. . . Transmission signal

AD. . . Address data

CD. . . Control data

CS. . . Check the sum data

MD. . . Model data

SY. . . Synchronized signal

WT. . . Signal reply period

10. . . Operation-control terminal

11, 21. . . control unit

12, 22. . . Operating unit

13,23. . . Communication unit

14, 24. . . Storage unit

15. . . Load drive unit

16, 25. . . Display unit

17, 26. . . Power unit

20. . . Operation terminal

30. . . Two-wire signal line

40. . . Power line

50‧‧‧AC power supply

60‧‧‧Package

61‧‧‧ Preface

62‧‧‧Control bits

63‧‧‧ destination address

64‧‧‧Source address

65‧‧‧Information

66‧‧‧Check the sum

100‧‧‧Transmission control equipment

102‧‧‧Operation terminal

103‧‧‧Control terminal

104‧‧‧Lighting load

651‧‧‧Command Type

652‧‧‧ Target object

653‧‧‧Control instructions

The first figure is a configuration diagram illustrating a load control system of a first embodiment of the present invention;

The second figure illustrates a block diagram of an operation-control terminal;

The third figure illustrates a block diagram of an operation terminal;

The fourth A diagram illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame configuration of a package;

Figure 4B is a schematic diagram showing the contents of the information included in the package;

The fifth figure is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the load control system;

Figure 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the load control system;

7 is a configuration diagram of a load control system illustrating a modification result of the first embodiment;

Figure 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the load control system;

The ninth diagram is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the load control system;

10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a load control system of a second embodiment of the present invention;

The eleventh figure illustrates a pattern of transmission signals.

20A. . . Operation terminal

10A. . . Operation-control terminal

10B. . . Operation-control terminal

10C. . . Operation-control terminal

10D. . . Operation-control terminal

20B. . . Operation terminal

Claims (4)

A load control system adapted to control a plurality of loads, the load control system comprising: a control device configured to control a plurality of loads; and an operating device having an operational switch, wherein The operating device is configured to respond to operation of the operating switch to output a control signal, wherein the control device is configured to perform individual control based on the control signal when the control signal is received, Wherein the control device controls one of the loads corresponding to the operation switch or performs a co-set control, wherein the control device controls a plurality of loads belonging to a group associated with the operation switch, wherein the control device The load control system includes a storage device, wherein the storage device is configured to store a control record corresponding to each of the loads, the control record including a current status indicating that the load is controlled by the control device, and Representing the previous condition of the load before being controlled by the control device, wherein the operating device has a reopening And configured to output a reset signal in response to operation of the reset switch, wherein upon receiving the reset signal, the control device is configured to perform a restore control, wherein the control device loads the load The condition is changed to a previous condition stored within the storage device, wherein when the current condition of the load belonging to the group satisfies a predetermined condition, the operating device is configured to respond to operation of the operating switch Outputting the restoration signal, wherein the control device is configured to be supplied or cut off to the Loaded power to control the load, wherein the condition of the load includes a first condition in which the control device supplies power to the load, and wherein the predetermined condition is when the current condition of all of the loads belonging to the group is The condition of the first condition. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the condition of the load includes a second condition that the control device cuts power to the load, and wherein the predetermined condition is when all belong to the group The current status of the loads is the condition of the second condition. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the operating device comprises the storage device, a first communication unit and a first control unit, wherein the storage device is configured to store correspondence information, The correspondence information indicates a correspondence between the operation switch and the load, wherein the first communication unit is configured to communicate with the control device through a signal line, wherein the operation of the operation switch is responded to The first control unit is configured to generate a control command for controlling the load corresponding to the operation switch by referring to the correspondence information stored in the storage device, and then controlling the first communication unit to a control signal containing the generated control command is transmitted to the control device, wherein the control device includes a second communication unit and a second control unit, wherein the second communication unit is configured to transmit the signal line And communicating with the control device, wherein when the second communication unit receives the control signal, the second control unit is configured to control the load according to a control command within the control signal, and then control the The second communication unit transmits a response signal containing the latest status of the controlled load, wherein when the first communication unit receives the response signal, the first control unit is configured to control the storage device to Storing the current condition stored in the storage device as the previous condition, and controlling the storage device to store the latest status of the load in the response signal as the current condition, wherein in response to the operation of the reset switch, the a control unit configured to generate a restore command indicative of the previous condition with reference to a control record stored in the storage device, and then control the first communication unit to transmit a resume signal of the generated restore command to the a control device, and wherein when the second communication unit receives the restoration signal, the second control unit is configured to be controlled The load to its status changed to a previous state of recovery within the recovery command signal it represents. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the operating device has a display device configured to display a first load condition or a reference to a current condition stored in the storage device. a second load condition, the first load condition indicating that all loads are operating under the control of the operating device, and the second load condition indicating that at least one of the loads is not under the control of the operating device Operation.