JP7502155B2 - Switching device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a switch device with a timer function.

Switch devices for turning lights on and off (see, for example, Patent Document 1) that have timer and wireless communication functions are becoming popular. Using a switch device with a timer function allows the light to be turned off after a specified time (for example, 30 minutes or 60 minutes) or to be turned on/off at a specific time. In addition, using a switch device with wireless communication functions allows the switch device to be controlled from a device other than the switch device. For example, a switch device has been developed that can be operated directly from a smartphone via Bluetooth (registered trademark) without going through a wireless router device and wireless adapter device.

Patent No. 4976859

Switch devices do not generally have batteries, so the internal time is reset when a power outage occurs. Also, in the case of low-power, low-cost switch devices, it is difficult to maintain the current time with high accuracy. Therefore, it is possible to periodically obtain the current time from an external device. When power is restored after a power outage, it is desirable to obtain the current time from the external device as quickly as possible and adjust the internal time of the switch device to the current time.

If the external device is a smartphone, if the smartphone is not turned on, the internal time of the switch device cannot be immediately adjusted to the current time even after power is restored from a power outage. In that case, the internal time of the switch device will remain out of sync with the current time for a long period of time.

This disclosure has been made in light of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide technology that shortens the period during which the internal time of a switch device does not match the current time.

In order to solve the above problems, a switch device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a switch device for controlling the flow of electricity from an external power source to a load, and includes an operation unit that accepts user operations, a notification unit that notifies the state of the switch device, a wireless communication unit capable of wireless communication with an external device, and a control unit that has a clock unit that keeps time, is capable of control based on an internal time kept by the clock unit, and is powered by the external power source. The wireless communication unit is capable of obtaining the current time from the external device, and when an abnormality occurs in the internal time, the control unit notifies the abnormality in the internal time from the notification unit.

In addition, any combination of the above components and conversions of the expressions of this disclosure between methods, devices, systems, etc. are also valid aspects of this disclosure.

This disclosure makes it possible to reduce the period during which the internal time of the switch device does not match the current time.

1 is a diagram for explaining a connection configuration of a switch device according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the configuration of a switch device. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a first operation example of a time adjustment process performed by the switch device according to the embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a second operation example of the time adjustment process by the switch device according to the embodiment.

Figure 1 is a diagram for explaining the connection configuration of a switch device 10 according to an embodiment. A plurality of lighting fixtures 2a-2c are installed in a building such as a detached house, a dwelling unit in an apartment building, or an office floor. The lighting fixtures 2 may be LED lighting, incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, or the like. The plurality of switch devices 10a-10c are switch devices for respectively controlling the flow of electricity to the plurality of lighting fixtures 2a-2c.

The switch device 10 has a wireless communication function and can be connected to an external device. FIG. 1 shows an example of connection to a mobile communication terminal 5. The mobile communication terminal 5 is an information terminal with a wireless communication function that is owned by the user, such as a smartphone or tablet. The user downloads an application program for controlling the lighting device 2 to the mobile communication terminal 5 in advance, and performs a pairing procedure between the mobile communication terminal 5 and each of the multiple switch devices 10a-10c, allowing the user to operate the multiple switch devices 10a-10c from the mobile communication terminal 5.

The user can turn the lighting fixture 2 on/off and dim the light by operating the mobile communication terminal 5 from anywhere within the range where the radio waves from the mobile communication terminal 5 reach the switch device 10. In addition, the user can use a timer setting function to automatically turn the lighting fixture 2 on/off at a desired date and time by inputting the desired date and time into the mobile communication terminal 5. The timer setting function can be used to turn the lighting fixture 2 on to match the wake-up time, for example. It can also be used to randomly turn on the lighting fixture 2 while the user is away, providing a crime prevention effect. In this way, by introducing a mechanism for operating the lighting fixture 2 from the mobile communication terminal 5, a dedicated remote controller for operating the lighting fixture 2 is no longer necessary.

If a wireless router device and a wireless adapter device connected to an external network (e.g., the Internet) are installed in the building, the lighting fixture 2 can be operated from outside the building using the mobile communication terminal 5. In the following, in this embodiment, we will assume an example in which the mobile communication terminal 5 and multiple switch devices 10a-10c are wirelessly connected directly without going through the wireless router device and the wireless adapter device.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, multiple lighting fixtures 2a-2c and multiple switch devices 10a-10c are wired using a two-wire system. Many old-style switch devices already installed in buildings are wired using a two-wire system. When replacing these existing switch devices with the switch device 10 according to this embodiment, construction is easier and the hurdle for replacement is lower if the new switch device 10 is also wired using a two-wire system.

Each of the multiple switch devices 10a-10c is connected to the voltage line and neutral line (earth line) W of the commercial power system 3, and receives power supply from the commercial power system 3. Each of the multiple lighting fixtures 2a-2c is connected between the voltage line and neutral line W of the commercial power system 3. More specifically, one end of each of the lighting fixtures 2a-2c is connected to the voltage line via each of the switch devices 10a-10c, and the other end of each of the lighting fixtures 2a-2c is connected to the neutral line W.

For example, if the commercial power system 3 is brought into the house via a single-phase three-wire system of 200V, the switch device 10 and the lighting fixture 2 are connected to one of the voltage lines and the neutral line W of the single-phase three-wire system and receive a voltage of 100V. If the commercial power system 3 is brought into the house via a single-phase two-wire system of 100V, the switch device 10 and the lighting fixture 2 are connected to the two lines and receive a voltage of 100V.

The switch device 10 is typically installed on the wall of a building. A user can control the lighting fixture 2 by operating a touch panel 14p installed on the front surface of the switch device 10 that is exposed from the wall. For example, the user can control dimming by sliding a finger up and down on the touch panel 14p.

A lamp 151 is provided in the center of the touch panel 14p. The lamp 151 is a lamp (e.g., a white LED) that is lit even when the lighting fixture 2 is turned off. The lamp 151 helps the user to recognize the position of the switch device 10 in the dark.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the switch device 10. The switch device 10 includes a wireless communication unit 11, a control unit 12, a storage unit 13, an operation unit 14, a notification unit 15, a power supply circuit 16, and a switch element 17.

The power supply circuit 16 is a circuit that generates operating power for the control unit 12 based on power supplied from the commercial power system 3. The power supply circuit 16 includes, for example, a rectifier circuit and a DC/DC converter. The power supply circuit 16 converts an AC voltage of 100 V to a DC voltage of 5 V or less and supplies it to the control unit 12.

The switch element 17 is a switch element that is inserted between the voltage line of the commercial power system 3 and the lighting fixture 2. A semiconductor switch can be used for this switch element. For example, a bidirectional switch in which an N-channel MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) and a P-channel MOSFET are connected in series, a thyristor, a triac, or the like can be used as the semiconductor switch.

The wireless communication unit 11 includes a first wireless communication unit 111 and a second wireless communication unit 112. The first wireless communication unit 111 is a communication unit for wireless communication using a first communication method. The second wireless communication unit 112 is a communication unit for wireless communication using a second communication method.

As the first communication method, for example, short-range wireless communication using the 2.4 GHz band can be used. BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) can be used as the short-range wireless communication. Wi-Fi (registered trademark) may also be used. In this embodiment, the switch device 10 wirelessly connects to the mobile communication terminal 5 using the first communication method.

As the second communication method, for example, a low-power radio (specified low-power radio) using radio waves in the 920 MHz band conforming to ARIB STD-T108 can be used. Note that a low-power radio using radio waves in the 420 MHz band may also be used. In this embodiment, the switch device 10 wirelessly connects to other switch devices 10 using the second communication method.

The second wireless communication unit 112 may be omitted, and the switch device 10 may be configured to wirelessly connect to both the mobile communication terminal 5 and other switch devices 10 using the first communication method. Also, the second wireless communication unit 112 may be omitted if the switch devices 10 are not configured to wirelessly connect to each other.

The control unit 12 performs overall control of the entire switch device 10. The control unit 12 includes, for example, a microcomputer. The memory unit 13 stores programs and data. The memory unit 13 includes, for example, a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) or a flash memory). In this embodiment, the memory unit 13 holds identification information of the mobile communication terminal 5 and other switch devices 10 that are linked with each other.

The control unit 12 controls the switch element 17 in response to an operation signal input from the operation unit 14. When the operation signal input from the operation unit 14 is an on/off signal, the control unit 12 controls the switch element 17 to be on/off. When the operation signal input from the operation unit 14 is a dimming signal, the control unit 12 executes phase control or inverse phase control according to the dimming level. When the control unit 12 receives a control command from the mobile communication terminal 5 via the first wireless communication unit 111, it controls the switch element 17 in response to the control command.

The control unit 12 includes a clock unit 121 that keeps time. The clock unit 121 includes a crystal oscillator, an oscillator, a frequency divider, and a counter. A one-second clock is generated by dividing a reference clock generated by the crystal oscillator and the oscillator with the frequency divider. The control unit 12 turns the timer on/off based on the internal time kept by the clock unit 121.

The switch device 10 according to this embodiment is not equipped with a battery in order to reduce size and cost. Therefore, when a power outage occurs, power is no longer supplied from the commercial power system 3 to the power supply circuit 16, and the power supply from the power supply circuit 16 to the control unit 12 is cut off. This cuts off the power supply to the oscillator, frequency divider, and counter, and the internal time measurement in the control unit 12 stops.

The switch device 10 according to this embodiment is a two-wire switch device 10. The two-wire type has a smaller load capacity than the three-wire type/four-wire type. Here, the load also includes the power supply circuit 16 and the control unit 12. Therefore, it is difficult to use a high-precision oscillator and divider that consume a large amount of current, and it is difficult to generate a high-precision one-second clock. Therefore, the specifications are such that the internal time is basically prone to deviation.

Therefore, the control unit 12 periodically wirelessly accesses an external device (in this embodiment, the mobile communication terminal 5) from the wireless communication unit 11, obtains the current time from the external device, and synchronizes the internal time to the current time.

If a power outage occurs, power to the control unit 12 is cut off and the internal time is reset. Therefore, after power is restored, it is necessary to obtain the current time from the external device as soon as possible and adjust the internal time. Therefore, when the control unit 12 restarts after recovery from the power outage, it immediately attempts to obtain the current time by wirelessly accessing the external device from the wireless communication unit 11.

However, when the external device is a mobile communication terminal 5, there are many cases where the current time cannot be obtained. For example, the current time cannot be obtained from the mobile communication terminal 5 if the mobile communication terminal 5 is in a location where radio waves from the switch device 10 cannot reach, the mobile communication terminal 5 is not turned on, the Bluetooth function of the mobile communication terminal 5 is turned off, background operation of an application related to setting the time is not permitted, etc.

When the control unit 12 is unable to obtain the current time from the mobile communication terminal 5, it uses the notification unit 15 to notify the user of the abnormality in the internal time. If the user recognizes the notification and makes the mobile communication terminal 5 ready to transmit the current time to the switch device 10, the control unit 12 can obtain the current time from the mobile communication terminal 5.

An example of an internal time abnormality is the resetting of the internal time due to a power outage. For example, the internal time is reset if the switch device 10 is temporarily stopped due to high temperature or overcurrent. In this case, when the control unit 12 is restarted, the wireless communication unit 11 immediately wirelessly accesses the external device and attempts to obtain the current time.

The notification unit 15 includes a lamp 151 and a speaker 152. The control unit 12 keeps the lamp 151 on regardless of the on state of the lighting device 2. That is, the lamp 151 is on even when the lighting device 2 is off. When the touch panel 14p is operated, the control unit 12 turns off the lamp 151. When the touch panel 14p is operated, the control unit 12 outputs an operation sound from the speaker 152. It is also possible to set the operation sound not to be emitted.

When notifying the user of an abnormality in the internal time, the control unit 12 causes the lamp 151 to flash. If the lamp 151 includes LEDs of multiple colors, instead of flashing the lamp 151, the control unit 12 may cause the lamp 151 to light in a conspicuous color (e.g., red). The control unit 12 may also cause the lamp 151 to light in alternating red and blue colors. When notifying the user of an abnormality in the internal time, the control unit 12 may cause the speaker 152 to output an alarm sound.

Figure 3 is a flowchart for explaining a first operation example of the time adjustment process by the switch device 10 according to the embodiment. In the operation example shown below, it is assumed that the switch device 10 transmits a time acquisition request to the mobile communication terminal 5 every 8 hours. Note that the interval for transmitting the time acquisition request is not limited to 8 hours, and may be 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, etc.

When eight hours have passed since the previous time acquisition request was sent to the mobile communication terminal 5 (Y in S10), the control unit 12 of the switch device 10 sends a time acquisition request to the mobile communication terminal 5 (S11). If the current time is received from the mobile communication terminal 5 (Y in S12), the control unit 12 corrects the internal time with the received current time (S13). If the current time is not received from the mobile communication terminal 5 (N in S12), step S13 is skipped. In other words, the current time adjustment is skipped. If no power outage is occurring (N in S14), the process transitions to step S10.

When a power outage occurs (Y in S14), power to the control unit 12 is stopped and the control unit 12 is shut down (S15). When the power is restored (Y in S16), the control unit 12 is restarted (S17). The control unit 12 sends a time acquisition request to the mobile communication terminal 5 (S18). If the current time is received from the mobile communication terminal 5 (Y in S19), the control unit 12 corrects the internal time with the received current time (S21). The process proceeds to step S10.

If the current time cannot be received from the mobile communication terminal 5 (N in S19), the control unit 12 notifies the notification unit 15 of an abnormality in the internal time (S20). If the user recognizes the notification and makes the mobile communication terminal 5 capable of sending the current time to the switch device 10, the control unit 12 will be able to obtain the current time from the mobile communication terminal 5 (Y in S19).

Figure 4 is a flowchart for explaining a second operation example of the time adjustment process by the switch device 10 according to the embodiment. The second operation example shown in Figure 4 is an example in which the process of step S22 is added to the first operation example shown in Figure 3.

The control unit 12 corrects the internal time with the received current time (S21). The control unit 12 then notifies the other switch devices 10 of the corrected internal time via the second wireless communication unit 112 (S22). The process transitions to step S10. As a result, after recovery from a power outage, if one switch device 10 can obtain the current time from the mobile communication terminal 5, even switch devices 10 installed in locations where radio waves from the mobile communication terminal 5 cannot reach can obtain the current time from the switch device 10 that was able to obtain the current time.

As described above, according to this embodiment, if the current time cannot be obtained from an external device after recovery from a power outage, the user is notified of an abnormality in the internal time, thereby shortening the period during which the internal time of the switch device 10 does not match the current time. This is particularly effective when the external device requesting the current time is a mobile device, such as a mobile communication terminal 5.

The external device that requests the current time is not limited to the mobile communication terminal 5. Even if the external device that requests the current time is a wireless adapter device, there are cases where the wireless adapter device is not properly restarted when it recovers from a power outage. In such cases, the user is required to perform an operation to properly restart the device. By notifying the user of an abnormality in the internal time using the notification unit 15, the user can be prompted to restart the wireless adapter device. The same applies when the external device that requests the current time is a smart speaker.

The present disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments. The embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component and each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which multiple lighting fixtures 2a-2c and multiple switch devices 10a-10c are wired using a two-wire system. This does not exclude three-wire or four-wire systems. Even in the case of a three-wire or four-wire system, if low-spec components are used for the clock unit 121 to reduce costs, the accuracy of the internal time will be low. Also, the system will be reset in the event of a power outage, just like in the case of a two-wire system.

In the above-described embodiment, the switch device 10 that controls the flow of electricity to the lighting fixture 2 has been described. In this regard, the switch device 10 can also be used to control the flow of electricity to another load. For example, it can also be used as a switch device that controls the flow of electricity to a ventilation fan.

The embodiment may be specified by the following:

[Item 1]
A switch device (10) for controlling the flow of current from an external power source (3) to a load (2), comprising:
An operation unit (14) that accepts user operations;
a notification unit (15) for notifying a state of the switch device (10);
A wireless communication unit (11) capable of wirelessly communicating with an external device (5);
a control unit (12) that has a clock unit (121) that measures time, is capable of control based on the internal time measured by the clock unit (121), and is supplied with power from the external power source (3);
The wireless communication unit (11) is capable of acquiring a current time from the external device (5);
When an abnormality occurs in the internal time, the control unit (12) notifies the abnormality in the internal time from the notification unit (15).
A switch device (10).
This makes it possible to notify the user of an abnormality in the internal time and to encourage the user to adjust the time early.
[Item 2]
When the control unit (12) is unable to acquire the internal time from the external device (5) after recovery from a power outage, the notification unit (15) notifies a user of an abnormality in the internal time.
2. A switch device (10) according to item 1.
This makes it possible to prompt the user to set the time early after recovery from a power outage.
[Item 3]
The control unit (12) corrects the internal time based on the current time acquired from the external device (5) via the wireless communication unit (11).
3. A switch device (10) according to item 1 or 2.
This makes it possible to ensure the accuracy of the internal time.
[Item 4]
After correcting the internal time, the control unit (12) transmits the corrected internal time to another switch device (10) via the wireless communication unit (11).
Item 4. A switch device (10) according to item 3.
This allows the switch device (10) located in a position where radio waves cannot reach from the external device (5) to set the time early.
[Item 5]
The control unit (12) receives the internal time corrected by the other switch device (10) from the other switch device (10) via the wireless communication unit (11).
Item 4. A switch device (10) according to item 3.
This allows the switch device (10) located in a position where radio waves cannot reach from the external device (5) to set the time early.
[Item 6]
The wireless communication unit (11) communicates with the other switch device (10) by a specific low-power wireless communication.
6. A switch device (10) according to item 4 or 5.
This enables wireless communication over a wider range than short-range wireless communication using the 2.4 GHz band, and ensures wireless communication between multiple switch devices (10) installed in a building.
[Item 7]
The external device (5) is a mobile communication terminal (5) carried by a user,
The wireless communication unit (11) communicates with the mobile communication terminal (5) via short-range wireless communication using the 2.4 GHz band.
7. A switch device (10) according to any one of items 1 to 6.
This allows commercially available smartphones and tablets to be used as remote controllers.
[Item 8]
The notification unit (15) includes a lamp (151),
When notifying the abnormality of the internal time, the control unit (12) causes the lamp (151) to blink.
8. A switch device (10) according to any one of items 1 to 7.
This can attract the user's attention.
[Item 9]
The load (2) is a lighting fixture (2),
The notification unit (15) includes a lamp (151) that is turned on when the lighting device (2) is turned off,
When notifying the abnormality of the internal time, the control unit (12) causes the lamp (151) to blink.
8. A switch device (10) according to any one of items 1 to 7.
This can attract the attention of the user of the lighting device (2).
[Item 10]
The switch device (10) is of a two-wire type.
10. A switch device (10) according to any one of items 1 to 9.
This makes it easy to install and replace old switch devices.

2 Lighting equipment, 3 Commercial power system, 5 Mobile communication terminal, 10 Switching device, 11 Wireless communication unit, 111 First wireless communication unit, 112 Second wireless communication unit, 12 Control unit, 121 Timer unit, 13 Memory unit, 14 Operation unit, 15 Notification unit, 151 Lamp, 152 Speaker, 16 Power supply circuit, 17 Switching element.

Claims (10)

A switch device for controlling power supply from a commercial power system to a lighting fixture ,
an operation unit that accepts user operations;
a notification unit for notifying a state of the switch device;
a wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with an external device;
a control unit that has a clock unit that measures time and is capable of control based on an internal time measured by the clock unit and is supplied with power from the commercial power system ;
the wireless communication unit is capable of acquiring a current time from the external device;
When an abnormality occurs in the internal time, the control unit notifies the internal time abnormality through the notification unit.
Switch device. A switch device for controlling current flow from an external power source to a load, comprising:
an operation unit that accepts user operations;
a notification unit for notifying a state of the switch device;
a wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with an external device;
a control unit that has a clock unit that measures time, is capable of control based on an internal time measured by the clock unit, and is powered by the external power source;
the wireless communication unit is capable of acquiring a current time from the external device;
when an abnormality occurs in the internal time, the control unit notifies the abnormality in the internal time from the notification unit;
When the control unit is unable to acquire the current time from the external device after recovery from a power outage, the control unit notifies the user of an abnormality in the internal time from the notification unit.
Switch device. the control unit corrects the internal time based on the current time acquired from the external device via the wireless communication unit.
The switch device according to claim 1 . After correcting the internal time, the control unit transmits the corrected internal time to another switch device via the wireless communication unit.
The switch device according to claim 3. the control unit receives the internal time corrected by the other switch device from the other switch device via the wireless communication unit.
The switch device according to claim 3. The wireless communication unit communicates with the other switch device by a specific low-power wireless communication.
6. The switch device according to claim 4 or 5. the external device is a mobile communication terminal carried by a user,
The wireless communication unit communicates with the mobile communication terminal by short-range wireless communication using the 2.4 GHz band.
The switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The notification unit includes a lamp,
the control unit blinks the lamp when notifying the user of an abnormality in the internal time.
A switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. the notification unit includes a lamp that is turned on when the lighting device is turned off,
the control unit blinks the lamp when notifying the user of an abnormality in the internal time.
The switch device according to claim 1 . The switch device is of a two-wire type.
A switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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