WO2023120718A1

WO2023120718A1 - Blind device and control method

Info

Publication number: WO2023120718A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/047705
Authority: WO
Inventors: 紳之介牛尾; 太佑西村; 哲也竹中; 雅博馬場; 雅也高橋
Original assignee: 京セラ株式会社
Priority date: 2021-12-24
Filing date: 2022-12-23
Publication date: 2023-06-29

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a blind device and a control method with which it is possible to appropriately control slats having the functionality of photovoltaic cells. [Solution] This blind device comprises two or more slats having the functionality of photovoltaic cells, and a control unit that controls the two or more slats. The control unit executes a specific control that restricts the operation of changing the angle of the two or more slats to an angle outside a predetermined range when a specific condition is satisfied.

Description

Blind device and control method

The present disclosure relates to blind devices and control methods.

In recent years, in a blind device having slats, a technique has been proposed in which solar cells (hereinafter referred to as PV (Photovoltaic) cells) are arranged on the surface of the slats. In addition, in blind devices in which PV cells are not arranged on slats, there has also been proposed a technology for remotely controlling the slats of the blind device (for example, Patent Document 1).

WO 2020/241131 pamphlet

One aspect of the disclosure includes two or more slats having a function of a photovoltaic cell, and a controller that controls the two or more slats, and the controller controls the two or more slats when a specific condition is satisfied. This is a blind device that executes a specific control that restricts an operation to change the angle of the slats of the slat to an angle outside a predetermined range.

One aspect of the disclosure includes a step A of controlling two or more slats having a function of a solar cell, and the step A controls the angles of the two or more slats outside a predetermined range when a specific condition is met. A control method including the step of executing a specific control that limits an operation to change the angle.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a power management system 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a facility 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a blind device 140 according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the EMS 160 according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the slat group according to the embodiment.

The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the following description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals are given to the same or similar parts. However, the drawings are schematic.

[Embodiment]
(power management system)
A power management system according to an embodiment will be described below. A power management system may simply be referred to as a power system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power management system 1 has a facility 100. The power management system 1 may include a power management server 200. FIG.

Here, the facility 100 and the power management server 200 are configured to be able to communicate via the network 11. The network 11 may include the Internet, may include a dedicated line such as a VPN (Virtual Private Network), or may include a mobile communication network.

The facility 100 is interconnected with the power system 12 and may be supplied with power from the power system 12 or may be supplied with power to the power system 12 . Power from power system 12 to facility 100 may be referred to as tidal power, purchased power, or demand power. Power from facility 100 to power system 12 may be referred to as reverse flow power or sold power. In FIG. 1, as the facility 100, facilities 100A to 100C are illustrated.

Although not particularly limited, the facility 100 may be a facility such as a residence, a facility such as a store, or an office. Facility 100 may be an apartment complex containing two or more residences. The facility 100 may be a complex facility including at least two or more facilities of residences, shops, and offices. Details of facility 100 will be described later (see FIG. 2).

The power management server 200 may be managed by a business operator such as a local power company. A local power company may be a power company operated by a municipality or the like. The power management server 200 is a server managed by businesses such as a power generation business, a power transmission and distribution business, a retail business, and a resource aggregator. The resource aggregator may be a power company that adjusts the power supply and demand balance of the power grid 12 in a VPP (Virtual Power Plant). The adjustment of the power supply and demand balance may include trading (hereinafter referred to as negawatt trading) in which the reduced power of the facility 100 (tidal power) is exchanged for value. Adjusting the power supply and demand balance may include trading increased power of reverse flow power for value. The resource aggregator may be an electric power company that provides reverse flow power to power generation companies, power transmission/distribution companies, retailers, and the like in the VPP.

(institution)
A facility according to the embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 2 , the facility 100 has a solar cell device 110 , a power storage device 120 , a fuel cell device 130 , a blind device 140 , a load device 150 and an EMS (Energy Management System) 160 . Facility 100 may have measurement device 190 . In addition, facility 100 may have controller 170 .

The solar cell device 110 is a distributed power source that generates power according to light such as sunlight. For example, the solar cell device 110 is composed of a PCS (Power Conditioning System) and a solar panel. In embodiments, the solar cell device 110 may be an example of a power generation device installed at the facility 100 .

The power storage device 120 is a distributed power source that charges and discharges power. For example, the power storage device 120 is composed of PCS and power storage cells. In the embodiment, power storage device 120 may be an example of a power storage device installed in facility 100 .

The fuel cell device 130 is a distributed power source that uses fuel to generate power. For example, the fuel cell device 130 is composed of PCS and fuel cells.

For example, the fuel cell device 130 may be a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC; Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) or a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC; Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell). It may be a type fuel cell (PAFC; Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell) or a molten carbonate type fuel cell (MCFC; Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell).

The blind device 140 is a device that is attached to a window in a predetermined space and has a solar battery cell (hereinafter referred to as a PV (Photovoltaic) cell). The predetermined space may be a room in the facility 100 or the floor of the facility 100 . It is a device that can block the sunlight to a predetermined space where the blind device 140 is installed. The blind device 140 may be attached inside the predetermined space relative to the window, or may be attached outside the predetermined space relative to the window. Specifically, the blind device 140 is a device that has a plurality of slats and operates the plurality of slats with a motor or the like.

The slat has a rectangular front surface and a rectangular back surface. The rectangular front surface may be a slightly curved convex surface (hereinafter referred to as convex surface). The rectangular back surface may be a concave surface (hereinafter referred to as a concave surface) that is slightly curved. Controlling the slats may include controlling at least one of hoisting of the slats, payout of the slats, and angle adjustment of the slats. Also, controlling the slats may include controlling some of the slats. That is, the control of the slats may include control of a predetermined number of slats among the plurality of slats.

The blind device 140 may be of a horizontal type in which slats extending horizontally with respect to the ground or floor are arranged vertically with respect to the ground or floor. The slats extending along the direction may be of the vertical type arranged horizontally with respect to the ground or floor surface. The blind device 140 may be referred to as an electric blind. The blind device 140 may be referred to as a PV-powered blind.

In the embodiment, the blind device 140 has slats on which PV cells are arranged. PV cells are placed on the surface of the slats. Specifically, the PV cells are placed on the convex side of the slats. It may also be arranged on the concave surface of the slat, or on both the convex and concave surfaces of the slat. Therefore, the blind device 140 may be considered to be an example of a distributed power source that generates power according to light such as sunlight. The blind device 140 may or may not include a PCS. The PCS of the solar cell device 110 may be used as the PCS of the PV cells arranged on the slats. Details of the blind device 140 will be described later (see FIG. 3).

The load device 150 is a device that consumes power. For example, the load device 150 may include an air conditioner that adjusts the temperature of the predetermined space, or a lighting device that adjusts the illuminance of the predetermined space. Air conditioners and lighting devices are examples of predetermined devices that adjust the environment of a predetermined space. Air conditioners and lighting devices may be considered devices affected by the operation of the blind device 140 . The load device 150 may include video equipment, audio equipment, refrigerators, washing machines, personal computers, and the like.

The EMS 160 manages power related to the facility 100. EMS 160 may control solar cell device 110 , power storage device 120 , fuel cell device 130 , blind device 140 and load device 150 . In the embodiment, the EMS 160 is exemplified as a device that receives control commands from the power management server 200, but such a device may be called a Gateway or simply a control unit. Details of the EMS 160 will be described later (see FIG. 4).

The controller 170 is a controller for controlling the blind device 140. The controller 170 may be a controller that directly communicates with the blind device 140 by infrared communication or short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). It may be a controller that communicates indirectly with 140 . The controller 170 may be a controller dedicated to the blind device 140, or may be a communication device such as a smart phone or a tablet terminal.

The measuring device 190 measures tidal power from the power system 12 to the facility 100 . Measurement device 190 may measure reverse power flow from facility 100 to power system 12 . For example, the metering device 190 may be a Smart Meter belonging to a power company. The measuring device 190 may transmit to the EMS 160 every first interval an information element indicating the measurement result (integrated value of the power flow or reverse flow power) at the first interval (for example, 30 minutes). The measurement device 190 may send an information element to the EMS 160 indicating the measurement result at a second interval (eg, 1 minute) that is shorter than the first interval.

(blind device)
A blind device according to an embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 3, the blind device 140 has a communication section 141, a slat 142, and a control section 143. As shown in FIG.

The communication unit 141 is configured by a communication module. The communication module can be a wireless communication module that conforms to standards such as IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, ZigBee, Wi-SUN, LTE, 5G, 6G, and standards such as IEEE802.3 may be a wired communication module conforming to

For example, the communication unit 141 controls communication between the blind device 140 and the EMS 160. In other words, communication unit 141 communicates with EMS 160 . Such communication is performed using a protocol conforming to the second protocol. In the following, ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) is mainly exemplified as the second protocol.

First, the information element included in the message used for communication may include an information element for specifying the operation mode of the blind device 140.

Such messages may include messages (eg, SET commands) instructing to control the blind device 140 in an operating mode, and messages requesting the operating mode being applied to the blind device 140 (eg, GET commands). ) may be included. Such messages may include messages (eg, GET response commands, INF commands) that inform the operating mode being applied to the blind device 140 . A GET response command is a command transmitted in response to a GET command, and an INF command is a message autonomously transmitted by the blind device 140. FIG.

It should be noted that the SET command includes an information element for the blind device 140 to specify the operation mode of the blind device 140. The GET response command and the INF command contain information elements for EMS 160 to identify the operating mode of blind device 140 .

The slat 142 is a member that adjusts the sunlight in the space where the blind device 140 is installed. PV cells may be placed on the surface of the slats 142 .

The control unit 143 may include at least one processor. At least one processor may be composed of a single integrated circuit (IC), or may be composed of a plurality of communicatively coupled circuits (such as integrated circuits and/or discrete circuit(s)). good too.

Specifically, the control unit 143 controls the blind device 140. For example, the control unit 143 may control at least one of winding up the slats 142 , extending the slats 142 , and adjusting the angle of the slats 142 . Also, the control unit 143 may control some of the slats 142 . That is, the control unit 143 may control a predetermined number of slats among the plurality of slats.

The operation modes of the blind device 140 may include at least one of the following operation modes (first to fifth operation modes).

The first operation mode is an operation mode that adjusts the angle of the slats 142 so as to maximize the power generated by the PV cells. That is, in the first operation mode, the power generated by the PV cells is prioritized over the sunlight in the predetermined space. The first operating mode may be referred to as a power generation priority mode.

The second operation mode is an operation mode for searching for the angle of the slats 142 that maximizes the power generated by the PV cells. Specifically, in the second operation mode, the angle of the slats 142 that maximizes the power generated by the PV cells is searched for by measuring the power generated by the PV cells while gradually changing the angle of the slats 142 . The slats 142 whose angles are changed in the second operating mode may be part of a plurality of slats 142 provided in the blind device 140 .

The third operation mode is an operation mode that adjusts the angle of the slats 142 based on at least one of the illuminance and temperature of the predetermined space. Specifically, in the third operation mode, the angles of the slats 142 may be adjusted so that the illuminance of the predetermined space becomes the target illuminance. A sensor that detects illuminance may be provided in the blind device 140 and may be configured to communicate with the blind device 140 . The target illuminance may be set by the user. In the third operation mode, the angle of the slats 142 may be adjusted so that the temperature of the predetermined space reaches the target temperature. A sensor that detects temperature may be provided in the blind device 140 and may be configured to communicate with the blind device 140 . A target temperature may be set by the user. A third operating mode with respect to the temperature of the predetermined space may be referred to as room temperature priority mode.

The fourth operation mode is an operation mode that adjusts the angle of the slats 142 so as to maximize the illuminance of the predetermined space. That is, in the fourth operation mode, the sunlight in the predetermined space is prioritized over the power generated by the PV cells. A fourth operation mode may be referred to as a lighting priority mode.

A fifth operation mode is an operation mode in which the angle of the slats 142 is adjusted based on the power consumption of the predetermined device and the power generated by the PV cells. In other words, the fifth operation mode is an operation mode for minimizing the power consumption of a given device minus the power generated by the PV cells. The fifth operation mode may be considered as an operation mode for maximizing the power generated by the PV cells minus the power consumed by the predetermined device. The fifth operation mode may be called a power consumption priority mode.

(EMS)
The EMS according to the embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 4, the EMS 160 has a first communication section 161, a second communication section 162, and a control section 163.

The first communication unit 161 is composed of communication modules. The communication module can be a wireless communication module that conforms to standards such as IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, ZigBee, Wi-SUN, LTE, 5G, 6G, and standards such as IEEE802.3 may be a wired communication module conforming to

For example, the first communication unit 161 communicates with the power management server 200 via the network 11. The first communication unit 161 performs communication according to the first protocol, as described above. For example, the first communication unit 161 receives the first message from the power management server 200 according to the first protocol. The first communication unit 161 transmits the first message response to the power management server 200 according to the first protocol.

The second communication unit 162 is composed of communication modules. The communication module can be a wireless communication module that conforms to standards such as IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, ZigBee, Wi-SUN, LTE, 5G, 6G, and standards such as IEEE802.3 may be a wired communication module conforming to

For example, the second communication unit 162 communicates with devices included in the facility 100 (the solar cell device 110, the power storage device 120, the fuel cell device 130, or the blind device 140). The second communication unit 162 communicates according to the second protocol, as described above. For example, the second communication unit 162 transmits the second message to the distributed power sources according to the second protocol. The second communication unit 162 receives the second message response from the distributed power sources according to the second protocol. As mentioned above, the second message may be a message containing an information element for specifying the operating mode of the blind device 140. FIG.

The control unit 163 may include at least one processor. At least one processor may be composed of a single integrated circuit (IC), or may be composed of a plurality of communicatively coupled circuits (such as integrated circuits and/or discrete circuit(s)). good too.

Specifically, the control unit 163 controls each configuration installed in the EMS 160 . For example, the control unit 163 instructs the blind device 140 to set the operation mode by transmitting the second message.

(Slat group)
A slat group according to the embodiment will be described below. In FIG. 5, two or more slats 142 of the blind device 140 are schematically represented.

As shown in FIG. 5, two or more slats are classified into one of two or more first slat groups 142A and classified into one of two or more second slat groups 142B.

Each of the two or more first slat groups 142A is a group of slats having PV cells electrically connected in series. Specifically, the PV cells of slats 142 forming first slat group 142A are electrically connected in series by power line 145 . The PV cells of the slats 142 forming one end of the first slat group 142A are connected to extraction electrodes 146. As shown in FIG. The PV cells of the slats 142 forming the other end of the first slat group 142A are also connected to the extraction electrodes, but such a configuration is omitted in FIG. 5 for simplicity of explanation.

FIG. 5 illustrates a case where one first slat group 142A includes five slats 142, but the number of slats 142 included in one first slat group 142A should be two or more. Therefore, the number of slats 142 included in one first slat group 142A may be four or less, or six or more. The number of slats 142 included in first slat group 142A may differ for each first slat group 142A.

5 illustrates a case where the blind device 140 has three first slat groups 142A (that is, first slat group 142A-1 to first slat group 142A-3). The number of one slat group 142A should be two or more. Therefore, the number of first slat groups 142A may be two, or four or more.

Each of the two or more second slat groups 142B is a group of slats that can be controlled by the EMS160. Each of the two or more second slat groups 142B may be considered as a group of slats that can be driven by one motor 148. Specifically, slats 142 forming second slat group 142B are connected to motor 148 by power line 147 .

In FIG. 5, the second slat group 142B-1 and the second slat group 142B-2 are illustrated as the second slat group 142B. A case where the second slat group 142B-1 includes five slats 142 and the second slat group 142B-2 includes ten slats 142 is illustrated. The slats 142 forming the second slat group 142B-1 are connected to the motor 148X, and the slats 142 forming the second slat group 142B-2 are connected to the motor 148Y.

FIG. 5 illustrates a case where one second slat group 142B includes five or ten slats 142, but the number of slats 142 included in one second slat group 142B is two or more. good. Therefore, the number of slats 142 included in one second slat group 142B may be 4 or less, 6 or more, 9 or less, or 11 or more. The number of slats 142 included in second slat group 142B may differ for each second slat group 142B.

5 illustrates a case where the blind device 140 has two second slat groups 142B (that is, the second slat group 142B-1 to the second slat group 142B-2). The number of two-slat groups 142B should be two or more. Therefore, the number of second slat groups 142B may be three or more.

As described above, the first slat group 142A and the second slat group 142B are a group of slats summarized from different points of view. Therefore, all of the two or more slats 142 of the blind device 140 are classified into one of the two or more first slat groups 142A. Similarly, all of the two or more slats 142 of the blind device 140 are classified into one of the two or more second slat groups 142B.

Under this premise, each of the two or more first slat groups 142A is included in any one of the two or more second slat groups 142B without straddling the boundaries of the two or more second slat groups 142B. be At least one of the two or more second slat groups 142B may include multiple first slat groups 142A.

For example, in the case shown in FIG. 5, the first slat group 142A-1 is included in the second slat group 142B-1 without straddling the boundary between the second slat group 142B-1 and the second slat group 142B-2. be The first slat group 142A-2 is included in the second slat group 142B-2 without straddling the boundary between the second slat group 142B-1 and the second slat group 142B-2. The first slat group 142A-3 is included in the second slat group 142B-2 without straddling the boundary between the second slat group 142B-1 and the second slat group 142B-2. The second slat group 142B-2 includes two first slat groups 142A (first slat group 142A-2 and first slat group 142A-3).

Since the second slat group 142B is a group of slats that can be controlled by the EMS 160, similar control may be applied to two or more second slat groups 142B at the same time. Controllable groups of slats 142 may be managed by EMS 160 as EMS 160 settings (eg, motion limits). A group of controllable slats may thus be driven by more than one motor 148 . For example, a different motor 148 may be connected to each of all the slats 142 of the blind device 140 .

(Operation example)
An operation example according to the embodiment will be described below. In the embodiment, when a specific condition is satisfied, the control unit 143 executes specific control to limit the operation of changing the angles of the two or more slats 142 to angles outside the predetermined range. Specific control may be considered to be control that restricts operations using the controller 170 (hereinafter referred to as manual operations). The control unit 143 may execute specific control for each of the two or more second slat groups. In other words, the specific condition may be considered to be a condition that should be satisfied prior to control in which the angles of two or more slats 142 are changed to angles outside the predetermined range.

Specifically, when a specific condition is satisfied, the control unit 143 receives an operation to change the angles of the two or more slats 142 from a first angle within a predetermined range to a second angle within a predetermined range. In this case, if an operation to change the third angle within the predetermined range to the fourth angle outside the predetermined range is received without executing the specific control, the specific control is executed. In other words, when a specific condition is satisfied and the angles of the two or more slats 142 fluctuate within a predetermined range, the control unit 143 executes control to allow an operation to change the angles of the two or more slats 142. , when the angles of the two or more slats 142 are changed from angles within the predetermined range to angles outside the predetermined range, specific control is executed to limit the operation of changing the angles of the two or more slats 142 . Also, when the first angle and the second angle are the same angle, the control unit 143 does not need to accept an operation to change the angles of two or more slats 142 .

First, the specific condition may include a condition (hereinafter referred to as the first condition) under which a specific operation mode set by a control device (for example, EMS 160) capable of communicating with the blind device 140 is applied. Operation based on a particular mode of operation may be referred to as automatic operation to distinguish it from manual operation.

The specific operation mode may include a first operation mode (power generation priority mode) that adjusts the angle of the slats 142 so as to maximize the power generated by the PV cells. The specific operation mode may include a fifth operation mode (power consumption priority mode) that adjusts the angle of the slats 142 based on the power consumption of the predetermined device and the power generated by the PV cells. Although not particularly limited, the specific operation mode may include at least one of the second to fourth operation modes described above.

Second, the specific condition may include a condition under which the power generated by the PV cell is extracted (hereinafter referred to as the second condition). Specifically, the second condition may be a condition in which the PV cell is generating power and power line 145 is not cut off from extraction electrode 146 . In other words, it can be considered that the second condition is not satisfied when the PV cell is not generating power, and the second condition is not satisfied when the power line 145 is cut off from the extraction electrode 146. may In such a case, the blind device 140 may have a switch that can switch whether or not to cut off the power line 145 from the extraction electrode 146 .

Third, the specific condition may include a condition that the generated power of the PV cell is equal to or less than the threshold (hereinafter referred to as the third condition). The threshold may include 0.

Fourth, the specific condition may include a condition that the temperature of the PV cell is below the threshold (hereinafter referred to as the fourth condition). The temperature of the PV cell may be measured by a temperature sensor provided on the surface of the PV cell. A temperature sensor may be installed in a PV cell located on at least one slat 142 included in the second slat group.

Fifth, the specific conditions may include two or more conditions selected from the first to fourth conditions described above.

Here, the specific control is control that restricts the operation of changing the angles of the two or more slats 142 to angles outside the predetermined range. The predetermined range may be defined based on the current slat 142 angle. The predetermined range may be an angle range within which the angle of the slat 142 is allowed to change. Although not particularly limited, the predetermined range may be a range of angles within which fluctuations in power generated by the PV cells are equal to or less than a threshold. The predetermined range may be a range in which the speed of changing the angle of the slats 142 is equal to or less than a threshold. The predetermined range may be set in the blind device 140 in advance. Although not particularly limited, the predetermined range may be 0. In such a case, the operation itself to change the angle of the slat 142 from the current angle is restricted. For example, the predetermined range may be the range of angles of the slats 142 that must be met to achieve maximization of PV cell power generation by the first mode of operation.

Furthermore, the specific control may include control for notifying the user that such an operation is restricted when an operation to change the angle of the two or more slats 142 to an angle outside a predetermined range is received. It may include control for notifying a predetermined terminal managed by the user that such an operation is restricted. For example, when the first condition is satisfied, the user may be notified that the specific operation mode is applied, and the predetermined terminal managed by the user is notified that the specific operation mode is applied. may According to such a configuration, for example, in a situation where power generated by the PV cells should be given priority over sunlight in a predetermined space, the user applies a specific operation mode such as the first operation mode (power generation priority mode). However, it can be grasped that the angle of two or more slats 142 should not be changed to an angle outside the predetermined range.

(Action and effect)
In the embodiment, the blind device 140 executes specific control to limit the operation of changing the angles of the two or more slats 142 to angles outside a predetermined range when a specific condition is satisfied. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress unexpected failure of the PV cells due to arbitrarily changing the angle of the slats 142 by manual operation or the like.

In an embodiment, the specific conditions may include a first condition under which a specific operation mode set by a control device (for example, EMS 160) capable of communicating with blind device 140 is applied. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress unexpected fluctuations in the power generated by the PV cells expected in the specific operation mode.

In an embodiment, the blind device 140 may perform specific control for each of the two or more second slat groups 142B. According to such a configuration, unexpected failure of PV cells can be suppressed for each second slat group 142B.

In the embodiment, each of the two or more first slat groups 142A may be included in any one of the two or more second slat groups 142B without straddling the boundaries of the two or more second slat groups 142B. good. According to such a configuration, even if different controls are applied to each of the two or more second slat groups 142B, the behavior of the slats 142 constituting the first slat group 142A is unified. Damage to the power line 145 that connects the PV cells in series can be suppressed. That is, it is possible to individually control the first slat group 142A including two or more slats 142 while improving the extraction efficiency of the power generated by the PV cells.

[Other embodiments]
Although the present invention has been described by the above-described embodiments, the statements and drawings forming part of this disclosure should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Various alternative embodiments, implementations and operational techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

The above disclosure exemplifies the slats 142 on which the PV cells are arranged. However, the above disclosure is not so limited. The blind device 140 only needs to have slats 142 that function as PV solar cells. For example, the slats 142 themselves may be composed of PV cells.

Although not specifically mentioned in the disclosure above, the specific control may include control to limit the hoisting of the slats 142 and control to limit the extension of the slats 142 .

In the above disclosure, the case where the specific control is executed when the angles of the two or more slats 142 are changed from the angle within the predetermined range to the angle outside the predetermined range is exemplified. However, the disclosure described above is not limited to this, and the inside of the predetermined range may be read as outside the predetermined range, and the outside of the predetermined range may be read as within the predetermined range.

In the above disclosure, the case where the controller 170 is separate from the blind device 140 has been exemplified. However, the above disclosure is not so limited. The controller 170 may be integrated with the blind device 140 or may be connected to the blind device 140 by wire.

In the above disclosure, the case where each of the two or more second slat groups 142B is a group of slats that can be driven by one motor 148 has been exemplified. However, the above disclosure is not so limited.

For example, each of the two or more second slat groups 142B may be considered to be a group of slats whose angles can be controlled by the EMS160. In such cases, a group of slats whose angles can be controlled may be managed in EMS 160 as EMS 160 settings (eg, motion limits). Thus, a group of slats whose angle can be controlled may be driven by two or more motors 148 . For example, a different motor 148 may be connected to each of all the slats 142 of the blind device 140 . Since the second slat group 142B is a group of slats whose angles can be controlled, the angles of two or more slats 142 constituting the second slat group 142B may be simultaneously controlled to a predetermined angle.

For example, each of the two or more second slat groups 142B may be considered as a group of slats to which the EMS 160 can apply operation modes (eg, first to fifth operation modes). In such cases, the group of slats to which the operational modes may apply may be managed in EMS 160 as EMS 160 settings (eg, operational limits). A group of slats to which an operating mode can be applied may thus be driven by two or more motors 148 . For example, a different motor 148 may be connected to each of all the slats 142 of the blind device 140 . Since the second slat group 142B is a group of slats to which an operation mode can be applied, one operation mode may be applied simultaneously to two or more second slat groups 142B. In addition, in the second slat group 142B to which one operation mode is applied, control of different angles of the mutually adjacent slats 142 is allowed as long as the angle difference between the mutually adjacent slats 142 does not exceed the threshold value. good too.

In the above disclosure, the second slat group 142B may be considered as a group of slats forming the smallest unit controllable by the EMS160. For example, in a case where the blind device 140 has a total of eight slats 142, the smallest controllable unit may be two slats 142 (a group of slats). In such cases, 4 slats 142 (2 granules) may be controlled simultaneously, and 8 slats 142 (4 granules) may be controlled simultaneously. That is, the EMS 160 does not necessarily apply different control to each minimum unit, and may apply the same control to two or more minimum units.

In the above disclosure, the case where the first slat group 142A is a group of slats having PV cells electrically connected in series has been illustrated. However, the above disclosure is not so limited. The first slat group 142A may be a group of slats having PV cells electrically connected in parallel.

Although not particularly limited, the operation mode may be read as an operation state.

In the above disclosure, ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) was mainly explained. However, the above disclosure is not so limited. The above disclosure is also applicable to other protocols such as SEP2.0, KNX.

Although not specifically mentioned in the above disclosure, at least some of the functions of the EMS 160 may be executed by a server arranged on the network 11. In other words, EMS 160 may be provided by a cloud service.

The above disclosure may have the following problems and effects.

Specifically, by the way, in a blind device in which PV cells are arranged on slats, there are cases where it is not desirable to arbitrarily change the angle of the slats because the PV cells generate power. For example, arbitrarily changing the angle of the slats while the PV cells are generating electricity may cause unexpected failure of the PV cells.

According to the above disclosure, it is possible to provide a blind device and a control method that enable appropriate control of slats having the function of solar cells.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Power management system, 11... Network, 12... Power system, 100... Facility, 110... Solar cell device, 120... Power storage device, 130... Fuel cell device, 140... Blind device, 141... Communication part, 142... Slat, 142A... First slat group, 142B... Second slat group, 143... Control unit, 145... Power line, 146... Extraction electrode, 147... Power line, 148... Motor, 150... Load device, 160... EMS, 161... First communication Unit, 162...Second communication unit, 163...Control unit, 170...Controller, 190...Measurement device, 200...Power management server

Claims

two or more slats having the function of a solar cell;
a control unit that controls the two or more slats,
The blind device, wherein the control unit executes specific control to restrict an operation of changing the angles of the two or more slats to an angle outside a predetermined range when a specific condition is satisfied.
The blind device according to claim 1, wherein said specific conditions include conditions under which a specific operation mode set by a control device capable of communicating with said blind device is applied.
The blind device according to claim 2, wherein said specific operation mode includes an operation mode in which angles of two or more slats are adjusted so as to maximize power generated by said photovoltaic cell.
The specific operation mode adjusts the angles of the two or more slats based on the power consumption of a predetermined device that adjusts the environment of a predetermined space having windows in which the two or more slats are arranged and the power generated by the solar cell. 4. A blind device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, comprising a mode of operation to.
The two or more slats are
classified into one of two or more first slat groups, which are a group of slats having the solar cells electrically connected in series or in parallel, and
Classified into one of two or more second slat groups, which are a group of slats to which the specific operation mode can be applied,
Each of the two or more first slat groups is included in any one of the two or more second slat groups without straddling the boundaries of the two or more second slat groups. Item 5. The blind device according to any one of Item 4.
The blind device according to claim 5, wherein said control unit executes said specific control for each of said two or more second slat groups.
Equipped with a step A for controlling two or more slats having the function of a solar cell,
The control method, wherein the step A includes, when a specific condition is satisfied, executing a specific control that restricts an operation of changing the angles of the two or more slats to an angle outside a predetermined range.