JP2000164365A - Load control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a load control device capable of transmitting the signal over a long distance at a low baud rate, and capable of controlling the load at the same speed as that for high-speed transmission at a low cost. SOLUTION: This load control device is provided with a drive section 4 receiving inputted data and transmitting the signal, a terminal unit 5 connected to the drive section 4 via a signal line, receiving said signal and controlling a load output, a load 6 connected to the output end of the terminal unit 5, and a memory section 9 storing the data such as the load control information per unit time arranged on the apparatus 8 side. The baud rate of the transmission signal from the drive section 4 to the apparatus 8 is set to a low speed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A first conventional example according to the present invention is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-79999 filed by the present applicant, and its block diagram is shown in FIG.

[0003] This configuration comprises a signal input section 3 and a signal input section 3.
And a drive unit 4 that transmits a serial signal based on an input signal input from the drive unit 4 and a drive unit 4 that is connected to the drive unit 4 through a bus line.
And a plurality of terminals 5 for controlling the output of the load based on the serial signal from the terminal.

Here, a plurality of electrodeless discharge lamp lighting devices having a terminal and the like are used for a guide light system or an illumination system for displaying a linear road such as a curve or for alerting an oncoming vehicle. By controlling the load as a non-electrode discharge lamp by flashing and dimming, the viewing angle with respect to the load is widened, high brightness output is obtained, visibility in daytime outdoors is improved, and long life is obtained. Occurs. Although the signal shown in FIG. 7 is input from a personal computer or the like, the signal may be input from an external sensor such as a vehicle speed sensor or an EE-SW as shown in FIG.

The data content of the input signal from the signal input unit 3 to the drive unit 4 includes output control of a load connected to each terminal unit 5 (blinking and dimming control when the load is a lamp), logical address and the like. This includes returning a physical address and an output level of a load (a dimming level when the load is a lamp), setting a logical address, and the like.

Hereinafter, the operation in the case of a lighting load will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

When the contact input 1 is input from the signal input unit 3 to the terminal 5 via the drive unit 4, the data of the blinking pattern 1 is read from the blinking pattern storage unit. In the case of contact input 2, 3,... R (r is a positive integer), blinking pattern 2,
3. Data of r is read. The data of the read blinking pattern is transmitted to m terminals (here, m = 64) in a long frame format as shown in FIG. Each terminal device 5 has C in the header portion of the long frame.
When the MDs 1, 2, and 3 are fetched and determined, the corresponding data (for example, light control data) is fetched from the long frame and stored. For example, a terminal n having a logical address n sequentially takes in data 0, 1, 2,... N (here, n = 63), stores the data n, and stores the other data (≠
Data n) is ignored and not read. Then, the signal input unit 3 ends the data transmission to each terminal device 5 by transmitting the FCC in the footer part of the long frame. When a long frame is transmitted, each terminal device 5 only fetches and stores the data on the long frame, and the load output does not change. After the transmission of the long frame, transmission is performed to the m terminals 5 (here, m = 64) in the format of the short frame as shown in FIG. 11 and the FCC in the footer portion of the short frame is transmitted. Then, the data transmission to 5 ends. At the same time when the data transmission to each terminal device 5 is completed, the load output is simultaneously performed based on the dimming data stored at the time of transmitting the immediately preceding long frame.

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

[0009]

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

In the above conventional example, if the baud rate is set to, for example, 38.4 kbps and the combined data of the long frame and the short frame is composed of 11 bits × 78 = 858 bits, the load is controlled, that is, the load state is controlled. The time required for the change is 858/38400 + α = 22 msec + about 10 msec = about 32 msec in consideration of an error check such as a reception processing time, an error such as parity, and a control delay time. This means that synchronization can be achieved with this period. On the other hand, several tens ms
To synchronize at the cycle of ec, several tens kbps
This means that a baud rate of

That is, it is preferable to increase the baud rate in order to improve the synchronization speed between a plurality of loads connected by the bus wiring and the control speed of each load. Due to the voltage drop due to the impedance of the device, the transmission signal waveform is deformed, such as being rounded or crushed. In order to prevent such signal waveform deformation, means to shorten the signal transmission distance can be considered. However, depending on the application, there are cases where a long transmission distance is required (long bridges, large buildings, etc.). It cannot be applied to the purpose. If the baud rate of the transmission signal is reduced, the transmission distance can be increased while preventing the signal waveform from being deformed. However, the speed of the load control is also reduced, and the load control means is limited.

On the other hand, there is an optical fiber cable as a means for transmitting a long transmission distance at high speed, but the cost is high.
There are problems such as poor workability and poor workability.

The present invention has been made in view of all of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the baud rate of a transmission signal to enable transmission over long distances.
An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost load control device capable of performing load control at a speed similar to that of high-speed transmission.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driving unit for transmitting a transmission signal in response to input data or the like, and a signal line. At least one terminal connected to the driving unit and controlling a load output by receiving a transmission signal, and a load connected to an output terminal of the terminal, wherein a connection between the driving unit and the terminal is provided. The baud rate of a flowing transmission signal is set to a low speed, and a storage unit for storing load control information for controlling a load is provided on the terminal device side.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a driver for transmitting a transmission signal in response to input data or the like, and connected to the driver via a signal line to transmit the transmission signal to the load side. A relay for relaying, at least one terminal for controlling a load output by receiving a transmission signal from the relay, and a load connected to an output end of the terminal; A storage unit that stores the load control information for controlling the load by setting the baud rate of the transmission signal flowing between the low speeds to low,
It is provided on at least one of the repeater and the terminal.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a signal input section for inputting data, a driving section for receiving a transmission signal having data or the like input from the signal input section via a signal line,
A transmission signal comprising at least one terminal for controlling a load output by receiving a transmission signal from the driving unit, and a load connected to an output terminal of the terminal, and flowing between the signal input unit and the driving unit. And a storage unit for storing load control information for controlling the load is provided in at least one of the drive unit and the terminal device.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a signal input unit for inputting data, a driving unit for receiving a transmission signal having data or the like input from the signal input unit via a signal line,
A relay connected to the drive unit via a signal line and relaying a transmission signal to a load side, and at least one relay controlling a load output by receiving a transmission signal from the drive unit via the relay; A terminal unit, comprising a load connected to the output terminal of the terminal unit, a storage unit that stores a load control information for controlling the load, setting a low baud rate of a transmission signal flowing between the signal input unit and the driving unit, and controlling the load. , At least one of the drive unit, the terminal device side, and the repeater.

According to the invention described in claim 5, the baud rate X (bit / sec) of the low-speed transmission signal is such that the control interval of each load is A (sec) and the number of bits per unit frame is B (bit). ) And the processing loss time is α (se
c), X <B / (A−α).

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

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inrush current reducing means for reducing an inrush current when the power is turned on.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the load is a lighting load. According to the ninth aspect, the load is an electrodeless discharge lamp.

[0022]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

The difference from the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 is that a storage unit 9 for storing data such as lighting pattern information per unit time (for example, shown in FIG. 2) is provided on the appliance 8 side, and a driving unit 4 is provided.
This is because the baud rate of the transmission signal from the communication device to the device 8 is reduced, and the same components as those of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Here, the terminal 5 and the load 6
It is assumed that one appliance 8 is configured by the storage unit 9 and the driving unit 4 and the appliance 8 are supplied with power from a commercial power supply or the like.

The operation will be briefly described below. The baud rate of the transmission signal from the drive unit 4 is 1200 bps, the distance of the transmission line is about 2000 m, 64 terminals, and the transmission signal is shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the transmission signal forms one frame by combining the long frame and the short frame shown in FIG. 11, and transmits about 1000 bits of information per frame. And the baud rate of the transmission signal is 1200 bps,
When transmitting information of about 1000 bits per frame, 1000/1200 = about 0.83 sec.
It is assumed that the load 6 receives a command from the driving unit 4 in about 1 second. On the other hand, the storage unit 9 stores load control information (hereinafter, referred to as lighting pattern information) for controlling the load 6 every 10 msec for 12-bit data for 1 sec (= lighting pattern information).
(10 msec × 100 steps).
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the load of the load 6 is faded in / fade out, turned on / off, and the color is smoothly changed as shown in FIG.
Patterns of movement of load output such as dimming 1, 2,
3 bits are assigned to 8 bits, and 4 bits are assigned to load output target values such as fade speed, color change speed, and dimming level. Then, in the above state, the load control is performed based on the transmission signal from the drive unit 4 and the lighting pattern information stored in the storage unit 9 and the like.

As described above, since data such as lighting pattern information is stored in the appliance 8 and the data to be given to the transmission signal is limited, the baud rate of the transmission signal is reduced to extend the distance (bridge, building system, wide area). Transmission on the premises, guide lights, illuminations, etc.), load control can be performed at the same speed as in the case of high-speed transmission, and the transmission distance can be increased by slowing the baud rate of the transmission signal. As a result, it is possible to reduce deterioration in quality such as delay in load control due to a longer instruction interval, and has the same quality as high-speed transmission such as a transmission signal having a baud rate of several tens kbps. Control becomes possible.

In addition, when the device is used when the surroundings are basically dark (such as at night) such as a lighting load, the data can be rewritten using a long transmission distance when the surroundings are bright (such as during the day). The maintainability can be improved.

Note that the storage unit 9 may be provided inside the terminal device 5, and any other load (such as a motor) instead of the illumination load may be used as long as it is suitable for the intended use. Also,
When an illumination load is used, any light emitting element such as an LED or EL, an electrodeless discharge lamp, or the like may be used as long as it is suitable for the intended use.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

The difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that a storage unit 9 for storing data such as lighting pattern information per unit time (for example, shown in FIG. 2) is provided on the repeater 7 side, This is because the baud rate of the transmission signal from the unit 4 to the repeater 7 is set to a low speed (here, 1 kbps), and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, since data such as lighting pattern information is stored in the repeater 7 side, the baud rate of the transmission signal between the repeater 7 and the terminal 5 can be increased. , 40 kbps). Further, on the repeater 7 side, data such as lighting pattern information only for the appliances 8 connected to the repeater 7 may be stored. On the appliance 8 side, there is no particular need to store data. And cost reduction.

In the first and second embodiments, the storage unit 9 may be a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, or the like. When using RAM or EEPROM,
The data stored in the RAM or the EEPROM may be rewritten by using a low-speed transmission signal and utilizing an idle time zone in which it is not necessary to control the appliance 8. With this configuration, data such as lighting pattern information can be arbitrarily set (rewritten). A signal input unit 3 as shown in FIG. 7 may be provided. In this case, the baud rate between the signal input unit 3 and the drive unit 4 is reduced, and the baud rate of the transmission signal from the drive unit 4 is increased or reduced. The storage unit 9 may be provided in at least one of the driving unit 4, the repeater 7, and the terminal 5.

(Embodiment 3) A third embodiment according to the present invention will be described below.

This embodiment specifies the operation when a plurality of loads are operated simultaneously, and the block configuration diagram is the same as that shown in the first and second embodiments. Therefore, the description is omitted by assigning the same reference numerals to the same components as those of the first and second embodiments.

Hereinafter, the operation will be briefly described with reference to the operation flowchart of the terminal device 5 shown in FIG.

It is assumed that each terminal 5 has a logical address which is a serial number. The drive unit 4 transmits a control command to each load to be operated at specific intervals. The terminal device 5 receives the transmission signal from the drive unit 4 and, when the signal content is “an instruction to sequentially light-control a plurality of loads”, t = 0, where t is the address of the terminal device 5 itself. Count up to. When t = 0 and the counting is completed, the terminal device 5 dims and lights the load. Since the counting of each terminal device 5 is completed in order, each load can be sequentially lit and lit.

The logical address of each terminal 5 may be random, and t may be a random number or arbitrary. Further, the specific interval may be set randomly between terminals or may be constant. Further, the dimming level may be set arbitrarily, and 100% lighting may be performed.

With the above configuration, a plurality of loads can be operated simultaneously. In addition, since the lighting can be performed sequentially or randomly, it is possible to reduce power supply voltage fluctuations and fluctuations in the input current to the appliance 8 due to simultaneous lighting of a large number of lighting loads.
Light output fluctuation can be reduced, and a stable lighting state can be provided.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

The first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 are different from the first and second embodiments in that a main relay 10 for opening and closing a power supply line to the drive unit 4, the repeater 7 and the equipment 8 is provided. 8
A sub-relay 11 for opening and closing the feed line between them is provided. The same components as those of the other first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The operation will be briefly described below. First, the main relay 10 is turned on to turn on the power, and the fact that the power is turned on is notified to each terminal 5 by a transmission signal via the drive unit 4. Each terminal 5 is connected to the sub relay 1
1 is turned off, and each sub relay 11
Turn on.

With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent an inrush current flowing to the capacitance component existing in each device 8 from flowing to many devices 8 at the same time. Since the inrush current can be reduced as compared to the connected state, fluctuations in power supply voltage and fluctuations in the input current to the appliance 8 that occur when the inrush current flows can be reduced. Fluctuation can be reduced, and a stable lighting state can be provided. Also, instrument 8
The stress on the side can also be reduced.

The order of turning on the sub relay 11 is as follows.
It is desirable to be from the side as close to the main relay 10 as possible. Further, instead of opening and closing the sub-relay 11 with the terminal device 5, a detecting means for detecting that the main relay 10 is turned on and the power is turned on is provided, and the sub-relay 11 is opened and closed by the detecting means. You may. As the detecting means, as shown in FIG. 6, a voltage across a resistor R for reducing an inrush current, a voltage across a smoothing capacitor, an input current to a rectifier, and the like may be detected.

In all of the above embodiments, the bus wiring is used. However, a sending wiring may be used, and a plurality of driving units 4 may be provided.

[0044]

According to the first to ninth aspects of the present invention, the transmission signal can be transmitted over a long distance by reducing the baud rate of the transmission signal, and the load control is performed at the same speed as in the case of high-speed transmission. And a load control device capable of providing the load control device at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of load control information according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a signal format diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a third embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a conventional example according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows another block diagram of a conventional example according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of a conventional example according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows another flowchart of the conventional example according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a signal format diagram of a conventional example according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 signal input unit 4 drive unit 5 terminal unit 7 repeater 9 storage unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuya Hamana 1048 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A driving unit for transmitting a transmission signal in response to input data or the like, and at least controlling a load output by being connected to the driving unit via a signal line and receiving the transmission signal. A load control device comprising one terminal and a load connected to an output terminal of the terminal, wherein the load is controlled by lowering a baud rate of the transmission signal flowing between the driver and the terminal. A load control device, wherein a storage unit for storing load control information to be performed is provided on the side. 2. A drive unit for transmitting a transmission signal in response to input data or the like, a relay connected to the drive unit via a signal line, and relaying the transmission signal to a load side; A load control device comprising: at least one terminal device that controls a load output by receiving a transmission signal from the repeater; and a load connected to an output terminal of the terminal device, wherein the driving unit and the repeater A storage unit for storing a load control information for controlling the load, wherein the baud rate of the transmission signal flowing between the terminal and the terminal is provided in at least one of the repeater and the terminal. Control device. 3. A signal input unit for inputting data, a driving unit for receiving a transmission signal having data or the like input from the signal input unit via a signal line, and receiving a transmission signal from the driving unit. And a load connected to an output terminal of the terminal, wherein the baud rate of the transmission signal flowing between the signal input unit and the driving unit is controlled. A load control device for controlling the load, and a storage unit for storing load control information for controlling the load is provided in at least one of the drive unit and the terminal device. 4. A signal input unit for inputting data, a driving unit for receiving a transmission signal having data and the like input from the signal input unit via a signal line, and a driving unit for receiving the transmission signal via the signal line. A relay connected to the relay for relaying the transmission signal to a load side, at least one terminal for controlling a load output by receiving a transmission signal from the driving unit via the relay, and the terminal; A load connected to an output end of the load control device, wherein a baud rate of the transmission signal flowing between the signal input unit and the drive unit is reduced, and load control information for controlling the load is stored. A load control device, wherein a unit is provided on at least one of the drive unit, the terminal device side, or the repeater. 5. The baud rate X (b) of the low-speed transmission signal
it / sec) is the control interval of each of the loads A (s
ec) and the number of bits per unit frame are represented by B (bi
The load control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein X <B / (A-α), where t) and a processing loss time are α (sec). 6. The load control device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission signal includes a signal format for synchronizing the plurality of terminals. 7. The load control device according to claim 1, further comprising an inrush current reducing means for reducing an inrush current when the power is turned on. 8. The load control device according to claim 1, wherein the load is a lighting load. 9. The load control device according to claim 1, wherein the load is an electrodeless discharge lamp.