WO2016116988A1 - Communications device, load control system, and load control device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are: a communications device that can easily monitor the state of a device that is a communications partner; a load control system using the communications device; and a load control device capable of communicating with the communications device. The communications device (1) stores, in a storage unit, identification information that corresponds one-to-one to a plurality of load control devices (201, 202, 203). The communications device (1): has as the monitoring target therefor at least one load control device 2 among the plurality of load control devices (201, 202, 203), said at least one load control device having corresponding identification information stored in the storage unit; and monitors the state of the monitoring target by using a monitoring unit, on the basis of state information in a wireless signal sent from the monitoring target. The communications device (1) obtains monitoring information indicating the state of the monitoring target on the basis of the state information in the wireless signal, if the identification information in the wireless signal matches the identification information in the storage unit, when a communications interface receives a wireless signal sent by one of the plurality of load control devices (201, 202, 203).

Description

Communication device, load control system, load control device

The present invention relates to a communication device, a load control system using the communication device, and a load control device capable of communicating with the communication device.

Conventionally, a load control device that controls a load, and a load control system including a load control device and a communication device have been proposed (for example, Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-152416). In the load control system described in Document 1, a communication device (operation terminal) generates load control information corresponding to an operation input received by an operation input receiving unit, and a radio signal (wireless signal) including the load control information ) To the load control device (control device). The load control device that has received the load control information drives the switch element inserted in the power supply path to the load (lighting load), thereby controlling the load.

Furthermore, in the load control system described in Document 1, the load control device also has an operation input receiving unit. When the operation input receiving unit receives an operation input, the load control device corresponds to the operation input. Controls the load by driving the switch element. The load control system described in Document 1 further includes a fire detector, and when the fire detector detects a fire, a wireless signal including fire detection information is transmitted from the fire detector to the load control device. The load control device controls the load by driving the switch element even when the wireless signal including the fire detection information is received.

However, in the load control system configured as described above, it is difficult to monitor the state (load control state) of the device (load control device) that is the communication partner of the communication device without omission. That is, the load control state in the load control device changes not only by the radio signal from the communication device but also by, for example, an operation input to the operation input unit of the load control device or a radio signal from the fire detector. Therefore, the state of the device that is the communication partner of the communication device may change where the communication device is not involved, and as a result, the state of the device that is the communication partner of the communication device may be monitored by the communication device. It becomes difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and provides a communication device that can easily monitor the state of a communication partner device, a load control system using the communication device, and a load control device that can communicate with the communication device. Objective.

A communication device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a communication interface that communicates with a plurality of devices using radio signals using radio waves as a medium, and a storage that stores identification information corresponding to the plurality of devices on a one-to-one basis. And at least one device having the corresponding identification information stored in the storage unit among the plurality of devices as a monitoring target, based on the state information in the wireless signal transmitted from the monitoring target, Each of the plurality of devices transmits the radio signal including the corresponding identification information, and the monitoring unit transmits the wireless signal including one of the plurality of devices. When the communication interface receives the wireless signal, if the identification information in the wireless signal matches the identification information stored in the storage unit, the state information in the wireless signal Based characterized in that it is configured to obtain monitoring information indicating the state of the monitoring target.

A load control system according to an aspect of the present invention includes the communication device and a plurality of load control devices used as the plurality of devices, and the plurality of load control devices are configured to control loads, respectively. Each of the plurality of load control devices is configured to transmit the radio signal including the state information indicating the control state after the change when the control state of the load is changed. The apparatus monitors the control state of at least one load control apparatus in which the corresponding identification information among the plurality of load control apparatuses is stored in the storage unit as the monitoring target state by the monitoring unit. It is configured.

A load control device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a wireless communication interface that communicates with the communication device, a switch element that turns on and off power supply from a power source, and a control unit that controls the switch element. When one of the devices is used and when the control state of the switch element in the control unit changes, the radio signal including the state information indicating the control state after the change is transmitted. It is configured.

The drawings illustrate one or more embodiments in accordance with the present teachings, but are not limiting and are merely examples. In the drawings, like numerals refer to the same or similar elements.
It is the schematic which shows the structure of the load control system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the load control apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the operating terminal which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the format of the radio signal used by embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example 1 of the load control system which concerns on embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the operation example 2 of the load control system which concerns on embodiment.

The following embodiments generally relate to a communication device, a load control system, and a load control device, and more specifically, a communication device that monitors the state of each of a plurality of devices through communication, and a load control system and communication using the communication device The present invention relates to a load control device capable of communicating with a device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the load control system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of (here, three) load control devices 201 that are used as a plurality of devices that can communicate with the communication device 1 and the communication device 1. 202, 203. In the following description, each of the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 is referred to as a load control device 2 unless the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 are particularly distinguished.

As shown in FIG. 2, the communication device 1 includes a communication interface 11, a storage unit 12, and a monitoring unit 131. The communication interface 11 communicates with a plurality of devices ( load control devices 201, 202, 203) using radio signals using radio waves as a medium. The storage unit 12 stores identification information corresponding to a plurality of devices ( load control devices 201, 202, and 203) on a one-to-one basis. The monitoring unit 131 monitors the state of the monitoring target based on the state information in the wireless signal transmitted from the monitoring target. Here, the monitoring target is at least one device (load control device 2) in which the corresponding identification information is stored in the storage unit 12 among a plurality of devices ( load control devices 201, 202, and 203). In the drawing, “interface” is described as “I / F”.

Each of the plurality of devices ( load control devices 201, 202, 203) transmits the wireless signal including the corresponding identification information.

When the communication interface 11 receives the wireless signal transmitted from one of a plurality of devices ( load control devices 201, 202, and 203), the monitoring unit 131 stores the identification information in the wireless signal in the storage unit 12. If it matches the identification information, the monitoring information is acquired. At this time, the monitoring unit 131 is configured to acquire monitoring information based on the state information in the wireless signal received by the communication interface 11. Here, the monitoring information is information indicating the state of the monitoring target.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, since the device that is the communication partner of the communication device 1 is the load control device 2, the monitoring information indicating the status of the monitoring target is the state of the load control device 2 (load control device). 2 is a control state of the load 5 at 2).

That is, the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 are configured to control the load 5. When the control state of the load 5 changes, each of the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 is configured to transmit the wireless signal including the state information representing the control state after the change. The communication device 1 monitors the control state of at least one load control device 2 in which the corresponding identification information among the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 is stored in the storage unit 12 as the state to be monitored. The unit 131 is configured to monitor.

In short, when the identification information in the wireless signal received from the device (load control device 2) that is the communication partner matches the identification information stored in the storage unit 12, the communication device 1 of the present embodiment Monitoring information indicating the status of the monitoring target is acquired based on the status information. That is, when the state of the device that is the communication partner of the communication device 1 changes, the communication device 1 actively receives the radio signal transmitted from the device at that time, thereby changing the state of the device that is the communication partner. Monitor without leaks. Therefore, the communication apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has an advantage that it is easy to monitor the state of a device that is a communication partner.

In the present embodiment, a case where the communication device 1 is used in a load control system together with a plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 is illustrated, but the communication device 1 may be used in addition to the load control system. That is, the device with which the communication device 1 communicates only needs to be a device whose “state” changes, and is not limited to the load control device. For example, home appliances such as a refrigerator, sensor devices such as fire detectors, and power storage facilities Such equipment may be used.

Hereinafter, the communication device 1 according to the present embodiment, the load control system using the communication device 1, and the load control device 2 capable of communicating with the communication device 1 will be described in detail. However, the configuration described below is merely an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated from the present embodiment. Various changes can be made in accordance with the design or the like as long as they are not.

In this embodiment, a case where a load control system is used for a house (detached house) will be described as an example. However, not only this example but a load control system may be used for buildings, such as each dwelling unit of an apartment house, an office, a store, a factory, for example.

<Configuration of load control system>
As shown in FIG. 1, the load control system of the present embodiment includes a communication device 1 and a plurality (three in this case) of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 used as a plurality of devices. The load control system further includes an operation terminal 3 and a hand transmitter 4. Further, the communication device 1 is configured to be able to communicate with a communication terminal 7 and a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) controller 8 via a router 6. Here, the router 6 is a router with a wireless local area network (LAN) access point function. The communication device 1 is electrically connected to the router 6 by a wire (LAN cable), and enables communication using a wireless signal between the communication terminal 7 or the HEMS controller 8 and the load control device 2. Used as an adapter device.

The communication terminal 7 only needs to be able to communicate with the communication device 1 and have a function as a user interface. For example, the communication terminal 7 is a general-purpose information terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal (tablet type computer), or a notebook personal computer. is there. Communication between the router 6 and the communication terminal 7 is wireless communication (in FIG. 1, the route of wireless communication is indicated by a dotted arrow). The communication terminal 7 implements a function of outputting a control command to the communication device 1 as described later by executing an application program for load control.

The HEMS controller 8 has a function of communicating with various HEMS compatible devices including the monitor device and controlling these HEMS compatible devices. The monitor device has a function as a user interface. HEMS-compatible devices include not only devices that consume power such as air conditioners, lighting fixtures, and hot water supply devices, but also devices such as power generation devices. In the present embodiment, as an example, the HEMS controller 8 performs wireless communication with a HEMS-compatible device using, for example, a radio wave such as a specific low power radio in the 920 MHz band. However, as a communication method between the HEMS controller 8 and the HEMS compatible device, an appropriate method can be applied regardless of wireless communication or wired communication.

Here, the communication device 1, the load control device 2, and the operation terminal device 3 operate by receiving power supply from a power source (commercial AC power source) 9. Similarly, the router 6 and the HEMS controller 8 operate by receiving power supply from the power source 9. In FIG. 1, illustration of a power feeding path from the power source 9 to the communication device 1, the router 6, and the HEMS controller 8 is omitted.

The load control device 2 is inserted on a power supply path for supplying power from the power source 9 to the load 5, and is configured to control the load 5 by switching power supply from the power source 9 to the load 5. Yes. In the present embodiment, a lighting load (lighting fixture) is illustrated as the load 5 to be controlled by the load control device 2. Therefore, the load control device 2 can perform switching control between lighting and extinguishing of the load 5 and dimming control of the load 5 by turning on and off the power supply from the power source 9 to the load 5. However, the load 5 to be controlled by the load control device 2 is not limited to the lighting load, and may include a load other than the lighting load such as a ventilation fan.

The external appearance of the load control device 2 is similar to a general wall switch, and the load control device 2 is used in a state of being attached to a wall in a house. The basic usage of the load control device 2 is the same as that of a general wall switch. When a person directly operates the load control device 2, power supply from the power source 9 to the load 5 is turned on and off. One to a plurality of load control devices 2 are installed in each room of the house. As will be described in detail later, the load control device 2 has a touch sensor 25 (see FIG. 3) that detects that a human hand touches the operation surface provided on the front surface, and the operation surface exposed from the wall. It is comprised so that the operation input with respect to may be received. The load control device 2 is attached to the wall in a state where the rear surface is embedded in the wall while exposing the operation surface from the wall.

As described above, the load control device 2 is configured to be able to communicate with the communication device 1 using a radio signal using radio waves as a medium. In the load control system of the present embodiment, the load control device 2 is configured to be communicable not only with the communication device 1 but also between the operation terminal device 3 and the hand transmitter 4 using a radio signal.

The appearance of the operation terminal 3 is substantially the same as that of the load control device 2, and the operation terminal 3 is used in a state of being attached to a wall in a house. In the load control system of the present embodiment, only one operation terminal 3 is installed in one house, for example, at the entrance. Similar to the load control device 2, the operation terminal 3 has a touch sensor 34 (see FIG. 4) that detects that a human hand touches the operation surface provided on the front surface, and the operation terminal 3 is exposed from the wall. It is comprised so that the operation input with respect to a surface may be received. However, the operation terminal 3 is not configured to directly control the load 5, but indirectly transmits the load 5 by transmitting a radio signal to the load control device 2 according to the operation input and remotely controlling the load control device 2. To control. In addition, although this embodiment shows the example in which only one operation terminal device 3 is installed in the house, the present invention is not limited to this example, and a plurality of operation terminal devices 3 may be installed in the house.

The hand transmitter 4 transmits the radio signal to the load control device 2 in accordance with the operation input and controls the load 5 indirectly by controlling the load control device 2 in the same manner as the operation terminal 3. However, the hand transmitter 4 is not attached to the wall in the house, but is portable and configured to be operated at hand, like a remote controller of a general home appliance.

As described above, the communication device 1 communicates with the load control device 2 using a radio signal, thereby changing the state of the load control device 2 to be monitored (the control state of the load 5 in the load control device 2). It has a monitoring function. The communication device 1 is configured to be able to output monitoring information indicating a monitoring target state to the communication terminal 7 or the HEMS controller 8 via the router 6. The communication terminal 7 is configured to be able to display monitoring information acquired from the communication device 1. The HEMS controller 8 is configured to be able to display the monitoring information acquired from the communication device 1 on the monitor device. As a result, the monitoring information obtained by the communication device 1 is visualized by the communication terminal 7 or a monitor device controlled by the HEMS controller 8.

Further, the communication device 1 of the present embodiment further has a function of remotely controlling the load control device 2 to be monitored in addition to the function of monitoring the state of the load control device 2 to be monitored. That is, the communication device 1 transmits a radio signal to the load control device 2 in accordance with a control command input from the communication terminal 7 or the HEMS controller 8 via the router 6, and remotely controls the load control device 2. The load 5 is indirectly controlled.

That is, in the load control system according to the present embodiment, not only a direct operation on the load control device 2 but also a wireless signal is transmitted from the communication device 1, the operation terminal 3 or the hand transmitter 4 to the load control device 2. The load 5 can be controlled. In other words, the communication device 1, the operation terminal device 3, and the local transmitter 4 have a function as a transmitter that transmits a radio signal for remotely controlling the load control device 2. For this reason, the state of the load control device 2 to be monitored by the communication device 1 (the control state of the load 5 in the load control device 2) is a direct operation on the load control device 2 as well as a radio signal from the communication device 1. It changes also with the radio signal from the terminal device 3 or the hand transmitter 4.

In the present embodiment, when the communication device 1 and the operation terminal 3 transmit a radio signal to the load control device 2 and remotely control the load control device 2, the load control device 2 has received the radio signal. Is received from the load control device 2. Therefore, bidirectional transmission (transmission / reception) of radio signals is possible between the communication device 1 and the operation terminal 3 and the load control device 2. On the other hand, between the hand transmitter 4 and the load control device 2, radio signals can be transmitted only in one direction from the hand transmitter 4 toward the load control device 2.

In the present embodiment, as an example, the load control device 2 performs wireless communication using a radio wave such as a specific low power radio in the 426 MHz band between the communication device 1, the operation terminal device 3, and the hand transmitter 4. Do. The specific low-power radio mentioned here is a standard for low-power radio that does not require a license or registration.

Here, the load control device 2 to be controlled is registered in advance in each of the communication device 1, the operation terminal device 3, and the hand transmitter 4. In the communication device 1, the control target and the monitoring target are the same.

Specifically, the load control device 2 is assigned with unique identification information in advance, and each of the communication device 1, the operation terminal device 3, and the hand transmitter 4 identifies any load control device 2. Information is stored. In each of the communication device 1, the operation terminal device 3, and the hand transmitter 4, the load control device 2 storing the identification information is registered as a control target (also a monitoring target in the communication device 1). In the present embodiment, a registration number of 1 to m (m is a natural number) is assigned to the load control device 2 registered as a control target (monitoring target). For example, when up to 20 control targets (monitoring targets) can be registered, the identification information of the load control device 2 that is the control target (monitoring target) is associated with one to one registration numbers 1 to 20. become.

Furthermore, in the load control device 2, a communication device 1, an operation terminal device 3, and a hand transmitter 4 that register the load control device 2 itself as a control target are registered. That is, the load control device 2 stores the identification information of the communication device 1, the operation terminal device 3, and the hand transmitter 4 that have registered the load control device 2 itself as a control target and the registration number in a one-to-one correspondence. Is done.

Here, since the control target (monitoring target) of the communication device 1, the control target of the operation terminal device 3, and the control target of the hand transmitter 4 are individually registered, they may be the same, May be different. As the identification information, for example, a MAC (Media Access Control) address is used.

As an example in the present embodiment, in the communication device 1, the first load control device 201 and the third load control device 203 among the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, 203 are controlled objects (monitoring objects). It is assumed that it is registered as. Further, in the operation terminal 3, all of the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 (the first load control device 201, the second load control device 202, and the third load control device 203) are controlled. It is assumed that it is registered as. In the local transmitter 4, only the first load control device 201 among the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 is registered as a control target. In FIG. 1, for each of the communication device 1, the operation terminal device 3, and the hand transmitter 4, a route of wireless communication with the load control device 2 registered as a control target is represented by a dotted arrow. .

<Configuration of communication device>
A specific configuration of the communication device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The communication device 1 includes the communication interface 11, the storage unit 12, and the monitoring unit 131 as described above. In the present embodiment, the monitoring unit 131 is a function of the adapter control unit 13 mainly composed of a microcomputer. The communication device 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a power supply circuit 14 and a wired interface 15 in addition to the communication interface 11, the storage unit 12, and the adapter control unit 13.

The communication interface 11 communicates with a plurality of devices ( load control devices 201, 202, 203) as communication partners using radio signals using radio waves as a medium. The communication interface 11 is preferably composed of an integrated circuit in which, for example, a signal processing circuit, a transmission circuit, a reception circuit, a frequency synthesizer circuit, an antenna changeover switch, and the like are integrated on one chip. The signal processing circuit performs signal processing such as encoding of a transmission frame (baseband signal) and decoding of a reception frame. The transmission circuit modulates the carrier signal with the transmission frame encoded by the signal processing circuit (for example, frequency shift keying <FSK> modulation). The receiving circuit is configured to demodulate the received frame from the signal received via the antenna. The frequency synthesizer circuit generates a carrier wave signal. The antenna changeover switch selectively connects the antenna between a transmission circuit and a reception circuit to be electrically connected.

The storage unit 12 is preferably composed of an electrically rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory. As described above, the storage unit 12 stores the identification information of the load control device 2 registered as a control target (monitoring target). The identification information is stored in the storage unit 12 in a one-to-one correspondence with registration numbers 1 to 20, for example. Furthermore, the monitoring information acquired by the monitoring unit 131 is also stored in the storage unit 12 in a one-to-one correspondence with the registration number. Note that reading and writing of data in the storage unit 12 is performed by the adapter control unit 13.

The power supply circuit 14 is configured to receive power supply from the power supply 9 and generate a power supply voltage for operation of each part of the communication device 1. Note that an AC voltage from the power source 9 may be directly input to the power supply circuit 14, or an AC voltage from the power source 9 may be input in a state converted into a DC voltage via an AC / DC converter. Good.

The wired interface 15 is electrically connected to the router 6. The wired interface 15 is configured to perform communication (data transmission) compliant with the wired LAN standard.

The adapter control unit 13 is electrically connected to each of the communication interface 11, the storage unit 12, the power supply circuit 14, and the wired interface 15. In addition to the monitoring unit 131, the adapter control unit 13 has functions of a control command unit 132, a temporary storage unit 133, a response unit 134, an output unit 135, and a timer 136. The adapter control unit 13 of the present embodiment is configured to realize the functions of the above units by executing a program stored in the memory. The program may be written in the memory in advance, or may be provided by being recorded through a telecommunication line or in a recording medium such as a memory card.

The monitoring unit 131 monitors the status of the monitoring target based on the status information in the radio signal transmitted from the monitoring target as described above. That is, when the communication interface 11 receives the wireless signal transmitted by the load control device 2, the monitoring unit 131 matches the wireless information when the identification information in the wireless signal matches the identification information stored in the storage unit 12. Monitor information is acquired based on state information in the signal.

The control command part 132 implement | achieves the function to remotely control the load control apparatus 2 used as a control object (monitoring object). The control command unit 132 generates control information (control command) in accordance with a control command input from the communication terminal 7 or the HEMS controller 8 to the wired interface 15 via the router 6 and transmits the control information as a radio signal. The data is transmitted from the communication interface 11 to the load control device 2.

The temporary storage unit 133 temporarily stores monitoring information. Here, the temporary storage unit 133 is a cache memory in the microcomputer, and is configured to store (store) at least one piece of monitoring information for all monitoring targets. The monitoring unit 131 is configured to update the monitoring information stored in the temporary storage unit 133 when the monitoring information changes. As a result, the temporary storage unit 133 stores at least the latest monitoring information for all monitoring targets.

The response unit 134 is configured to transmit the monitoring information stored in the temporary storage unit 133 to the host device in response to a request from the host device. The host device here is the HEMS controller 8. That is, when the response unit 134 receives a request from the HEMS controller 8 which is a higher-level device via the wired interface 15, the response unit 134 transmits the monitoring information stored in the temporary storage unit 133 from the wired interface 15 to the HEMS controller 8 using a wireless signal. Send.

The output unit 135 is configured to output monitoring information. In the present embodiment, the output unit 135 outputs monitoring information to the communication terminal 7 through the wired interface 15. Here, the output unit 135 is configured to output the monitoring information after a predetermined time has elapsed since the monitoring information was acquired by the monitoring unit 131. The predetermined time is counted (timed) by the timer 136. The predetermined time is set to 2 seconds, for example.

In addition, the output unit 135 resets the count of the predetermined time when the monitoring information has changed before the predetermined time has elapsed from the acquisition time of the monitoring information, and after the predetermined time has elapsed from the acquisition time of the monitoring information after the change. , Configured to output monitoring information. That is, when the monitoring unit 131 acquires different monitoring information from when the monitoring information is acquired by the monitoring unit 131 before the predetermined time elapses, the output unit 135 stops outputting the monitoring information before the change, and after the change Only the (latest) monitoring information is output. In this case, since the timer 136 resets the count of the predetermined time and counts the predetermined time again, the output unit 135 outputs the monitoring information for a predetermined time from the acquisition time point of the changed (latest) monitoring information. After.

Next, the basic operation of the communication device 1 will be described. The wired interface 15 receives a packet transmitted from the router 6, acquires a control command included in the packet, and outputs it to the adapter control unit 13. When the adapter control unit 13 receives the control command, the adapter control unit 13 generates a transmission frame including control information corresponding to the control command (for example, a control command for instructing the load 5 to be turned off), and outputs the transmission frame to the communication interface 11. . That is, in the communication apparatus 1, the wired interface 15 corresponds to a detection unit that detects the occurrence of an event (reception of a packet including a control command).

The communication interface 11 encodes the transmission frame received from the adapter control unit 13, and transmits a signal obtained by modulating the carrier signal with the encoded transmission frame as a radio signal from the antenna. Note that the radio signal transmitted by the communication interface 11 is received by all the load control devices 2 as described later.

Furthermore, the communication device 1 constantly monitors the state of the load control device 2 registered as a monitoring target (control target). Therefore, when the status of the monitoring target changes, the communication device 1 updates the monitoring information indicating the status of the monitoring target and always stores the latest monitoring information in the storage unit 12. As illustrated in Table 1 below, the storage unit 12 stores a registration number, identification information, and monitoring information in association with each other to be monitored.

In Table 1, the monitoring information represents the control state of the load 5 in the load control device 2, “ON” is ON, “OFF” is OFF, and “dimming 50” is 50% dimming rate. It means lighting at (light control lighting).

<Configuration of load control device>
A specific configuration of the load control device 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The load control device 2 includes a wireless communication interface 21, a switch element 22, and a control unit 23. The load control device 2 according to the present embodiment further includes a power supply circuit 24, a touch sensor 25, and a storage unit 26 in addition to the wireless communication interface 21, the switch element 22, and the control unit 23. The wireless communication interface 21 and the power supply circuit 24 can be configured in the same manner as the communication interface 11 and the power supply circuit 14 of the communication device 1, respectively, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.

The wireless communication interface 21 is configured to communicate with the communication device 1. The wireless communication interface 21 communicates with the communication device 1 using a wireless signal. Moreover, in this embodiment, the radio | wireless communication interface 21 is comprised so that not only the communication apparatus 1 but the operation terminal device 3 and the hand transmitter 4 may communicate using a radio signal.

The switch element 22 is electrically connected between the power source 9 and the load 5. That is, the switch element 22 is inserted on the power supply path from the power source 9 to the load 5, and turns on and off the power supply from the power source 9 to the load 5. Here, the switch element 22 is preferably composed of a semiconductor switch element having no mechanical (mechanical) contact, such as a bidirectional three-terminal thyristor.

The control unit 23 is electrically connected to each of the wireless communication interface 21, the switch element 22, the power supply circuit 24, the touch sensor 25, and the storage unit 26. The control unit 23 has, for example, a microcomputer as a main component, and has a function of controlling the switch element 22 so as to switch at least on and off of the switch element 22. In the present embodiment, the control unit 23 can control the phase angle of the switch element 22 so that not only the switching control of turning on and off of the load 5 including the lighting load but also the dimming control of the load 5 can be performed. It is configured. The control unit 23 has a function of controlling the wireless communication interface 21, a function of controlling the touch sensor 25, and a function of reading and writing data in the storage unit 26.

Here, the control unit 23 controls the switch element 22 according to the control information (control command) included in the operation signal from the touch sensor 25 and the radio signal received by the radio communication interface 21. A communication partner with which the wireless communication interface 21 receives a wireless signal is any one of the communication device 1, the operation terminal device 3, and the hand transmitter 4.

The touch sensor 25 receives an operation input by detecting that a human hand touches the front surface (operation surface) of the load control device 2 as described above. The touch sensor 25 measures the capacitance generated between the plurality of electrodes and the ground, and when the measured value of the capacitance changes beyond a predetermined threshold, a human body (finger or finger) is applied to each electrode. ) Are close to each other, that is, a touch operation is performed. Then, the touch sensor 25 outputs an operation signal indicating that a touch operation has been performed to the control unit 23.

The storage unit 26 stores at least identification information. The storage unit 26 is also configured to store identification information of transmitters (communication device 1, operation terminal device 3, hand transmitter 4) in which the load control device 2 is registered as a control target (monitoring target). ing.

Next, the basic operation of the load control device 2 will be described. When the touch sensor 25 is touched, an operation signal is output from the touch sensor 25 to the control unit 23. When receiving the operation signal from the touch sensor 25, the control unit 23 controls the switch element 22 according to the operation signal to change the control state of the load 5. For example, when an operation signal is received when the load 5 is lit, the control unit 23 turns off the switch element 22 and turns off the load 5. Alternatively, when an operation signal is received when the load 5 is turned off, the control unit 23 turns on the switch element 22 to light the load 5.

When the wireless communication interface 21 receives a wireless signal including control information (control command) from the communication device 1, the operation terminal 3, or the hand transmitter 4, the control information is transmitted from the wireless communication interface 21 to the control unit 23. Is output. When receiving control information from the wireless communication interface 21, the control unit 23 changes the control state of the load 5 by controlling the switch element 22 according to the control information.

Further, when the control state of the switch element 22 in the control unit 23 in the control unit 23 changes (control state of the load 5), the load control device 2 transmits a radio signal including state information indicating the control state after the change. Configured to send. In this case, when the on / off control state of the switch element 22 is changed according to the radio signal from the communication device 1 or the operation terminal device 3, the load control device 2 is the communication device 1 or the operation terminal that is the transmission source of the radio signal. A radio signal including state information is transmitted to the device 3. On the other hand, when the on / off control state of the switch element 22 changes in accordance with a direct operation on the touch sensor 25 or a radio signal from the hand transmitter 4, the load control device 2 sends state information to the communication device 1. Transmit radio signal containing.

Note that the load control device 2 is not limited to the configuration that controls the switch element 22 according to the touch operation of the touch sensor 25 as described above. For example, according to the detection result of the detection unit such as a human sensor or a brightness sensor. The switch element 22 may be controlled.

<Configuration of operation terminal>
A specific configuration of the operation terminal 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

The operation terminal device 3 includes a communication interface 31, a communication control unit 32, a power supply circuit 33, a touch sensor 34, and a storage unit 35. The communication interface 31, the power supply circuit 33, and the storage unit 35 can be configured in the same manner as the communication interface 11, the power supply circuit 14, and the storage unit 12 of the communication device 1, respectively. Further, since the touch sensor 34 can be configured in the same manner as the touch sensor 25 of the load control device 2, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

The communication control unit 32 is electrically connected to each of the communication interface 31, the power supply circuit 33, the touch sensor 34, and the storage unit 35. The communication control unit 32 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, for example, and has a function of controlling the communication interface 31, a function of controlling the touch sensor 34, and a function of reading and writing data in the storage unit 35.

The communication control unit 32 generates control information (control command) according to the operation signal from the touch sensor 34, and transmits the control information from the communication interface 31 to the load control device 2 by a radio signal.

Next, the basic operation of the operation terminal device 3 will be described. When the touch sensor 34 is touched, an operation signal is output from the touch sensor 34 to the communication control unit 32. When receiving an operation signal from the touch sensor 34, the communication control unit 32 generates a transmission frame including control information corresponding to the operation signal (for example, a control command for instructing to turn off the load 5), and transmits the transmission frame to the communication interface. To 31. That is, in the operation terminal device 3, the touch sensor 34 corresponds to a detection unit that detects the occurrence of an event (touch operation).

The communication interface 31 encodes the transmission frame received from the communication control unit 32, and transmits a signal obtained by modulating the carrier wave signal with the encoded transmission frame as a radio signal from the antenna. Note that the radio signal transmitted by the communication interface 31 is received by all the load control devices 2 as described later.

In the present embodiment, as an example, the operation terminal device 3 controls the load control devices (in this case, the three load control devices 201, 202, and 203) 2 registered as control targets to be collectively turned off. Suppose that it is a batch off transmitter. That is, when the touch sensor 34 is touched, the operation terminal device 3 transmits a radio signal including control information that instructs the load control devices 201, 202, and 203 to turn off the switch element 22.

<Wireless signal format>
A format of a radio signal transmitted (transmitted / received) between the communication device 1 and the load control device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The format described below is applied not only to a radio signal transmitted from the communication device 1 to the load control device 2 but also to a radio signal transmitted from the load control device 2 to the communication device 1. Further, the format described below is applied not only to the communication device 1 but also to a radio signal transmitted (transmitted / received) between the operation terminal device 3 and the hand transmitter 4 and the load control device 2.

It is preferable that one frame of the radio signal includes a synchronization unit 91, a header unit 92, a data unit 93, and a check code 94. The synchronization unit 91 includes a preamble for achieving bit synchronization (symbol synchronization) and a unique word for achieving frame synchronization.

The header part preferably includes 92, data length information 921, additional information 922, transmission source information 923, transmission destination information 924, and the like. The data length information 921 is information indicating the data length from the additional information 922 to the check code 94. Additional information 922 includes a sequence number, a countdown frame number, an ACK flag, type information, and the like. The type information is information for discriminating the type of the frame (wireless signal), that is, the frame corresponding to the event occurrence (frame including control information) and the frame corresponding to the reply request (frame including status information). It is. The transmission source information 923 is information for specifying the transmission source of the frame. The transmission destination information 924 is information for specifying the transmission destination (destination) of the frame. As the transmission source information 923 and the transmission destination information 924, for example, the above-described identification information and registration information are used.

The data part includes data such as control information (control command) and status information. The check code is a code (code) for error detection of the frame, for example, a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) code.

<Operation example 1>
The operation of the load control system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, as described above, the load control devices 201 and 203 are registered as the monitoring targets of the communication device 1, the load control devices 201, 202, and 203 are registered as the control targets of the operation terminal device 3, and the control of the hand transmitter 4 is performed. Assume that the load control apparatus 201 is registered as a target. Furthermore, in the communication device 1, the registration number of the load control device 201 is “1” (“No. 1” in FIG. 6), and the registration number of the load control device 203 is “2” (“No. 2)).

First, an operation example of the load control system will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 6, in the initial state, the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 are all in an on state (lighted). Therefore, in the communication device 1, all the monitoring information indicating the state of the load control devices 201 and 203 (“No. 1” and “No. 2”) to be monitored is in the on state. In FIG. 6, the on state is represented as “ON” and the off state is represented as “OFF”.

In this state, when the touch sensor 34 of the operation terminal device 3 is touch-operated, the operation terminal device 3 instructs all of the load control devices 201, 202, and 203 to be controlled to turn off the switch element 22. A radio signal including control information is transmitted (S1). The wireless signal transmitted at this time includes, as additional information 922, type information indicating that the frame corresponds to the occurrence of an event. Further, this radio signal includes information (identification information) for specifying the operation terminal 3 as the transmission source information 923 and information (registration number) for specifying the load control devices 201, 202, and 203 as the transmission destination information 924. It is out.

The plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 that have received the radio signal including the control information turn off the switch element 22, respectively. Further, the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, and 203 each transmit a radio signal including state information indicating the control state after the change (that is, the off state) to the operation terminal device 3. The wireless signal transmitted at this time includes, as additional information 922, type information indicating that the frame corresponds to the reply request. Further, this radio signal includes information (identification information) for specifying any of the load control devices 201, 202, 203 as the transmission source information 923, and information (identification information) for specifying the operation terminal 3 as the transmission destination information 924. ) Is included.

Here, transmission of radio signals from the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, 203 to the operation terminal 3 is performed in time slots assigned to the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, 203, respectively. The time slot is set according to each registration number of the plurality of load control devices 201, 202, 203 in the operation terminal 3. Here, time slots are allocated in the order of the load control device 201, the load control device 202, and the load control device 203.

Therefore, first, a radio signal is transmitted from the load control device 201 to the operation terminal 3 (S2). At this time, the communication device 1 receives a radio signal transmitted from the load control device 201 toward the operation terminal 3 as a reference signal (indicated by a dashed arrow in FIG. 6). Here, the load control apparatus 201 is registered in the communication apparatus 1 as a monitoring target. Therefore, the identification information in the reference signal matches the identification information stored in the storage unit 12 of the communication device 1, and the communication device 1 acquires the monitoring information to be monitored based on the state information in the reference signal. . As a result, the communication device 1 updates the monitoring information of the monitoring target (load control device 201) with the registration number “1” (No. 1) from the on state to the off state (S3).

Next, a radio signal is transmitted from the load control device 202 to the operation terminal 3 (S4). At this time, the communication device 1 receives a radio signal transmitted from the load control device 202 toward the operation terminal device 3 as a reference signal. However, the load control device 202 is not registered as a monitoring target in the communication device 1. For this reason, the communication device 1 receives a radio signal transmitted from the load control device 202 toward the operation terminal 3 as a reference signal, but does not acquire monitoring information based on the state information in the reference signal. . That is, since the identification information in the reference signal does not match the identification information stored in the storage unit 12 of the communication device 1, the communication device 1 acquires monitoring information based on the state information in the reference signal. Absent.

Next, a radio signal is transmitted from the load control device 203 to the operation terminal 3 (S5). At this time, the communication device 1 receives a radio signal transmitted from the load control device 203 toward the operation terminal 3 as a reference signal (indicated by a broken line arrow in FIG. 6). Here, the load control device 203 is also registered in the communication device 1 as a monitoring target. Therefore, the identification information in the reference signal matches the identification information stored in the storage unit 12 of the communication device 1, and the communication device 1 acquires the monitoring information to be monitored based on the state information in the reference signal. . As a result, the communication device 1 updates the monitoring information of the monitoring target (load control device 203) with the registration number “2” (No. 2) from the on state to the off state (S6).

Thus, the communication apparatus 1 intercepts the radio signal transmitted toward the other apparatus (operation terminal 3) as a reference signal (S2, S5), and the monitoring unit 131 transmits the reference signal transmitted from the monitoring target. Monitor information is acquired based on the status information.

Thereafter, when the hand transmitter 4 is operated, the hand transmitter 4 transmits a radio signal including control information instructing to turn on the switch element 22 to the load control device 201 that is a control target (S7). . The wireless signal transmitted at this time includes, as additional information 922, type information indicating that the frame corresponds to the occurrence of an event. Further, this radio signal includes information (identification information) for specifying the hand transmitter 4 as transmission source information 923 and information (identification number) for specifying the load control device 201 as transmission destination information.

The load control device 201 that has received the radio signal including the control information turns on the switch element 22. Furthermore, the load control device 201 transmits a wireless signal including state information indicating the control state after the change (that is, the on state) to the communication device 1 (S8). The wireless signal transmitted at this time includes, as additional information 922, type information indicating that the frame corresponds to the reply request. Further, this wireless signal includes information (identification information) for specifying the load control device 201 as the transmission source information 923, and information (identification information) for specifying the communication device 1 as the transmission destination information 924.

Therefore, the radio signal from the load control device 201 is transmitted to the communication device 1 (S8). At this time, the communication device 1 receives a radio signal transmitted from the load control device 201. Here, the load control device 201 is also registered as a monitoring target in the communication device 1. Therefore, the identification information in the wireless signal received by the communication device 1 matches the identification information stored in the storage unit 12 of the communication device 1, and the communication device 1 is monitored based on the state information in the wireless signal. Get monitoring information for. As a result, the communication device 1 updates the monitoring information of the monitoring target (load control device 201) with the registration number “1” (No. 1) from the off state to the on state (S9).

Thereafter, when the touch sensor 34 of the load control device 202 is touched (S10), the load control device 202 turns on the switch element 22. Furthermore, the load control device 202 transmits a radio signal including state information indicating the control state after the change (that is, the on state) to the communication device 1 (S11). The wireless signal transmitted at this time includes, as additional information 922, type information indicating that the frame corresponds to the reply request. Further, this radio signal includes information (identification information) for specifying the load control device 202 as the transmission source information 923, and information (identification information) for specifying the communication device 1 as the transmission destination information 924.

Therefore, the radio signal from the load control device 202 is transmitted to the communication device 1 (S11). At this time, the communication device 1 receives a radio signal transmitted from the load control device 202. However, the load control device 202 is not registered as a monitoring target in the communication device 1. Therefore, although the communication device 1 receives a radio signal from the load control device 202, the communication device 1 does not acquire monitoring information based on the state information in the radio signal. That is, since the identification information in the wireless signal does not match the identification information stored in the storage unit 12 of the communication device 1, the communication device 1 acquires the monitoring information based on the state information in the wireless signal. Absent.

Thereafter, when the touch sensor 34 of the load control device 203 is touched (S12), the load control device 203 turns on the switch element 22. Furthermore, the load control device 203 transmits a radio signal including state information indicating the control state after the change (that is, the on state) to the communication device 1 (S13). The wireless signal transmitted at this time includes, as additional information 922, type information indicating that the frame corresponds to the reply request. Further, this wireless signal includes information (identification information) that identifies the load control device 203 as the transmission source information 923 and information (identification information) that identifies the communication device 1 as the transmission destination information 924.

Therefore, the radio signal from the load control device 203 is transmitted to the communication device 1 (S13). At this time, the communication device 1 receives a radio signal transmitted from the load control device 203. Here, the load control device 203 is also registered in the communication device 1 as a monitoring target. Therefore, the identification information in the wireless signal received by the communication device 1 matches the identification information stored in the storage unit 12 of the communication device 1, and the communication device 1 is monitored based on the state information in the wireless signal. Get monitoring information for. As a result, the communication device 1 updates the monitoring information of the monitoring target (load control device 203) with the registration number “2” (No. 2) from the off state to the on state (S14).

Thereafter, when the touch sensor 34 of the load control device 201 is touched (S15), the load control device 201 turns on the switch element 22. Further, the load control device 201 transmits a wireless signal including state information indicating the control state after the change (that is, the on state) to the communication device 1. The wireless signal transmitted at this time includes, as additional information 922, type information indicating that the frame corresponds to the reply request. Further, this wireless signal includes information (identification information) for specifying the load control device 201 as the transmission source information 923, and information (identification information) for specifying the communication device 1 as the transmission destination information 924.

Therefore, the radio signal from the load control device 201 is transmitted to the communication device 1 (S16). At this time, the communication device 1 receives a radio signal transmitted from the load control device 201. Here, the load control device 201 is also registered as a monitoring target in the communication device 1. Therefore, the identification information in the wireless signal received by the communication device 1 matches the identification information stored in the storage unit 12 of the communication device 1, and the communication device 1 is monitored based on the state information in the wireless signal. Get monitoring information for. As a result, the communication device 1 updates the monitoring information of the monitoring target (load control device 201) with the registration number “1” (No. 1) from the on state to the off state (S17).

<Operation example 2>
An operation in which the output unit 135 of the communication device 1 outputs monitoring information in the load control system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the change in the state of the load control device 2 that is the monitoring target and the output of the monitoring information from the communication device 1. In FIG. 7, with the horizontal axis as the time axis, the change in the state of the monitoring target (load control device 2) is shown in the upper stage, and the output of the monitoring information from the communication apparatus 1 is shown in the lower stage. In the example of FIG. 7, it is assumed that the time lag from when the state of the load control device 2 changes until the monitoring information indicating the changed state is acquired by the monitoring unit 131 of the communication device 1 is negligible. To do. That is, when the state of the load control device 2 changes, the monitoring unit 131 of the communication device 1 acquires the state of the load control device 2 after the change.

The communication device 1 basically outputs monitoring information at the output unit 135 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the monitoring information was acquired at the monitoring unit 131. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the state of the load control device 2 to be monitored changes from on to off at time t1, the communication device 1 is referred to as off information at time t2 when a predetermined time T1 has elapsed from that point. Output monitoring information. Since the communication apparatus 1 outputs the monitoring information from the output unit 135 to the communication terminal 7, the communication terminal 7 displays the monitoring information that is in the off state at time t2.

In addition, when the state of the load control device 2 to be monitored changes from off to on at time t3 and before the predetermined time T1 elapses, the state of the load control device 2 changes from on to off at time t4. think of. In this case, since the monitoring information has changed before the predetermined time T1 has elapsed from the acquisition time of the monitoring information, the output unit 135 resets the count of the predetermined time T1 and acquires the monitoring information after the change ( The monitoring information is output after a predetermined time T1 has elapsed from time t4). However, in the example of FIG. 7, the state of the load control device 2 changes from OFF to ON at time t5 before the predetermined time T1 has elapsed from time t4. Therefore, the output unit 135 outputs the changed (latest) monitoring information, which is ON information, at time t6 when the predetermined time T1 has elapsed from the acquisition time (time t5) of the changed (latest) monitoring information. Since the communication apparatus 1 outputs the monitoring information from the output unit 135 to the communication terminal 7, the communication terminal 7 displays the monitoring information that is in the ON state at time t6.

<Effect>
According to the communication device 1 of the present embodiment described above, there is an advantage that it is easy to monitor the state of a device that is a communication partner. That is, when the identification information in the radio signal received from the device (load control device 2) that is the communication counterpart matches the identification information stored in the storage unit 12, the communication device 1 of the present embodiment Monitoring information indicating the status of the monitoring target is acquired based on the status information. Therefore, even if the state of the device that is the communication partner of the communication device 1 changes where the communication device 1 is not involved, the communication device 1 actively receives the radio signal transmitted from the device at that time. The state of the device that is the communication partner can be monitored without omission. In addition, in the load control system using the communication device 1 and the load control device 2 capable of communicating with the communication device 1, it is easy to monitor the state of the device (load control device 2) that is the communication partner of the communication device 1. There are advantages.

In the communication device 1, as in the present embodiment, the communication interface 11 is transmitted from each of a plurality of devices ( load control devices 201, 202, 203) toward another device (for example, the operation terminal 3). It is preferable to receive a radio signal as a reference signal. In this case, it is preferable that the monitoring unit 131 is configured to acquire the monitoring information based on the state information in the reference signal transmitted from the monitoring target. The other device here is a device other than the communication device 1 and is a device to which a radio signal is transmitted from each of a plurality of devices ( load control devices 201, 202, 203). That is, the other device has a function of communicating with each of at least a plurality of devices ( load control devices 201, 202, and 203) using a radio signal. According to this configuration, the communication device 1 intercepts, as a reference signal, a radio signal transmitted from a device (load control device 2) that is a communication partner to another device such as the operation terminal 3, and the reference signal Monitoring information can be acquired based on the status information. Therefore, even if the state of the device that is the communication partner of the communication device 1 changes where the communication device 1 is not involved due to the wireless signal from the other device, the communication device 1 does not receive the wireless signal transmitted from the device at that time. From the (reference signal), it is possible to monitor the state of the communication partner device without omission. However, this configuration is not an essential configuration for the communication device 1, and the monitoring unit 131 may acquire monitoring information based on state information in a radio signal transmitted toward the communication device 1.

Further, as in the present embodiment, the communication device 1 includes a temporary storage unit 133 that temporarily stores monitoring information, and the monitoring information stored in the temporary storage unit 133 according to a request from the upper device. It is preferable to further include a response unit 134 that transmits the message. The host device here is, for example, the HEMS controller 8. In this case, the monitoring unit 131 is preferably configured to update the monitoring information stored in the temporary storage unit 133 when the monitoring information changes. According to this configuration, the communication apparatus 1 transmits the monitoring information to the upper apparatus in response to a request from the upper apparatus (HEMS controller 8). Therefore, when the monitoring information changes, the communication apparatus 1 transmits the monitoring information every time the monitoring information changes. In comparison, the frequency of communication with the host device can be suppressed. However, this configuration is not essential for the communication device 1, and the temporary storage unit 133 and the response unit 134 may be omitted.

Moreover, the communication apparatus 1 further includes an output unit 135 that outputs monitoring information as in the present embodiment, and the output unit 135 outputs the monitoring information after a predetermined time has elapsed since the monitoring information was acquired. It is preferable to be configured. Here, the output unit 135 outputs monitoring information to the communication terminal 7, for example. According to this configuration, the communication device 1 spontaneously outputs the monitoring information when a predetermined time has elapsed from the acquisition time of the monitoring information, so that the monitoring information can be pushed to the communication terminal 7 or the like. However, this configuration is not essential for the communication apparatus 1 and the output unit 135 may be omitted.

Further, as in the present embodiment, the output unit 135 resets the count of the predetermined time and acquires the monitoring information after the change when the monitoring information changes before the predetermined time elapses from the acquisition time of the monitoring information. It is preferable to output the monitoring information after the change after a lapse of a predetermined time from the time. According to this configuration, for example, when the dimming rate is changed continuously, the monitoring information is not output every time the monitoring information is changed, but only the final (latest) monitoring information is displayed. Since it is output, there is an advantage that output of unnecessary monitoring information is reduced.

<Modification>
As a modification of the above embodiment, the load control device 2 performs the buffering process from when the change in the state of the load control device 2 to be monitored until the communication device 1 outputs the monitoring information. It may be configured to do.

In other words, in the above embodiment, the communication apparatus 1 performs buffering so that the output unit 135 outputs the monitoring information after a predetermined time has elapsed since the monitoring unit 131 acquired the monitoring information. In the example, the load control device 2 performs this buffering process. Specifically, in the present modification, the load control device 2 displays the state information after a predetermined time has elapsed since the change of the state (the control state of the switch element 22 on or off in the control unit 23) has occurred. Configured to transmit a wireless signal including. Further, the load control device 2 resets the count of the predetermined time when the second state change occurs before the predetermined time elapses from the time when the first state change occurs, and the second state It is preferable to transmit a radio signal including state information after the second change after a predetermined time has elapsed since the occurrence of the change.

According to the configuration of the present modification, even if the function of the output unit 135 that outputs the monitoring information after the elapse of a predetermined time from the monitoring information acquisition time point in the communication device 1 is omitted, the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained. become.

Claims (7)

1. A communication interface that communicates with a plurality of devices using radio signals using radio waves as a medium;
   A storage unit for storing identification information corresponding to the plurality of devices on a one-to-one basis;
   Based on the status information in the radio signal transmitted from the monitoring target, the monitoring target is at least one device in which the corresponding identification information among the plurality of devices is stored in the storage unit. A monitoring unit for monitoring the state,
   Each of the plurality of devices transmits the wireless signal including the corresponding identification information,
   When the communication interface receives the wireless signal transmitted by one of the plurality of devices, the monitoring unit matches the identification information in the wireless signal with the identification information stored in the storage unit. The communication apparatus is configured to acquire monitoring information indicating the state of the monitoring target based on the state information in the wireless signal.
2. The communication interface receives the wireless signal transmitted from each of the plurality of devices toward another device as a reference signal,
   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit is configured to acquire the monitoring information based on the state information in the reference signal transmitted from the monitoring target.
3. A temporary storage unit for temporarily storing the monitoring information;
   A response unit that transmits the monitoring information stored in the temporary storage unit to the host device in response to a request from the host device;
   The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit is configured to update the monitoring information stored in the temporary storage unit when the monitoring information changes.
4. An output unit that outputs the monitoring information;
   The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the output unit is configured to output the monitoring information after a predetermined time has elapsed since the monitoring information was acquired. .
5. The output unit resets the count of the predetermined time when the monitoring information has changed before the predetermined time has elapsed since the acquisition time of the monitoring information, and the predetermined time from the acquisition time of the monitoring information after the change. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the monitoring information after the change is output after a lapse of time.
6. A communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
   A plurality of load control devices used as the plurality of devices,
   The plurality of load control devices are each configured to control a load,
   The plurality of load control devices are configured to transmit the radio signals including the state information indicating the control state after the change when the control state of the load changes, respectively.
   The communication device monitors the control state of at least one load control device in which the corresponding identification information among the plurality of load control devices is stored in the storage unit as the state to be monitored by the monitoring unit. A load control system characterized by being configured as follows.
7. A wireless communication interface for communicating with the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
   A switch element that turns on and off the power supply from the power source to the load;
   A control unit for controlling the switch element,
   Used as one of the plurality of devices,
   When the control state of the switch element in the control unit is changed, the wireless signal including the state information indicating the control state after the change is transmitted. Load control device.

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