JP2010056614A - Load control system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a load control system, a load can be opened and closed easily and reliably even in an environment with external noise.
A lighting control system includes a remote controller capable of transmitting a lighting signal as a radio wave on a channel selected from three wireless channels having different frequencies, and a switch capable of receiving the lighting signal on the three channels. is doing. In the remote controller, when the human body is detected by the human sensor, the wireless transmission circuit unit transmits a lighting signal using the antenna based on the control of the control unit. When a change in illuminance is not detected by the illuminance sensor within a predetermined time in the signal transmission process, the control unit sets the channel for signal transmission as the first channel at the first signal transmission, and at the second and third signal transmissions. They are changed to the second channel and the third channel, respectively. Since the channel is automatically changed, communication can be surely performed even in an environment with external noise.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a load control system in which a receiver receives a signal transmitted by radio waves from a transmitter and controls a load according to the signal.

  In recent years, a wireless signal transmitted from a transmitter is received by a switch disposed on a construction surface such as a wall surface, and the switch is configured to open and close a load such as a lighting device according to the signal received by the switch. A load control system is used. In this type of system, for example, a high-performance switch can be easily replaced with an existing switch or newly by using wireless communication without performing wiring work with other parts of the system. It can be arranged.

  In such a load control system using wireless communication, depending on the application, it is preferable to transmit and receive signals using infrared light when transmitting and receiving signals between the transmitter and the switch using wireless communication using radio waves. It may be more desirable than you do. This is because there is a merit that the area of the transmitter that can transmit a signal in the wireless communication is wider than that in the infrared light due to the radio wave transmission or diffraction of the wireless communication. However, even when wireless communication using radio waves is used as described above, communication may not be performed properly between the transmitter and the switch. In this case, for example, the user operates the transmitter. However, the load is not opened and closed as intended by the user.

  Such a problem may occur, for example, when external noise exists. That is, when an electronic device or the like that emits radio waves that become noise in the same frequency band as the wireless channel that performs wireless communication between the transmitter and the switch is near the switch, the switch is separated from the transmitter by the influence of the noise. It becomes difficult to receive the transmitted signal. In that case, in order to enable communication, it is necessary for the user to take measures such as changing the setting of a receiver such as a transmitter or a switch and changing a wireless channel for communication to another channel. Therefore, there arises a problem that the burden on the user increases.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 includes a remote control device that includes a detection unit that detects an environmental change, transmits a wireless signal, and an illumination device that is controlled based on the wireless signal transmitted by the device. A lighting system is disclosed. According to this system, after transmitting a radio signal, the remote control device can automatically retransmit the radio signal or increase the output of the radio signal when an environmental change cannot be detected.

However, according to the above system, when there is no change in the environment after transmitting the wireless signal, the wireless signal is automatically retransmitted. However, the retransmission is performed without changing the communication wireless channel. Therefore, it is not possible to reduce an operation burden such as a change of a wireless channel by the user. In addition, in this system, when there is external noise, the wireless channel is not changed, so that communication may not be performed properly even if the wireless signal is retransmitted. Even if radio signals are always transmitted through a plurality of channels, there is a new problem that the power consumption of the slave unit becomes relatively large.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-261767

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a load control system that can easily and surely open and close a load even in an environment with external noise and that has low power consumption of a transmitter. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 has a transmitter that transmits a signal by radio waves, and a control mechanism that has a function of receiving radio waves and is connected to a load to control at least on / off of the load. In the load control system including the receiver, the transmitter includes an antenna, a radio transmission circuit unit that transmits a signal from the antenna, and trigger detection means that outputs a trigger signal when a predetermined state is detected. A load state detection means for detecting a change in environment due to the load, and a control unit for controlling the wireless transmission circuit unit based on the trigger signal and transmitting a predetermined signal, wherein the receiver includes an antenna, Received by the radio reception circuit unit that receives radio waves using the antenna and extracts signals, a load control circuit unit that opens and closes a power supply path from a power source to the load, and the radio reception circuit unit A control unit that controls the operation of the load control circuit according to the signal, and is configured such that the load operates according to a trigger signal output from the trigger detection unit. Is configured to be able to transmit a signal by selecting one channel from a plurality of different radio channels, and when a trigger signal is output from the trigger detection means, a predetermined radio channel is selected from the plurality of radio channels. When a predetermined signal is transmitted and then no change in the environment due to the load is detected by the load state detection means within a predetermined time, a wireless channel different from at least the wireless channel transmitted immediately before among the plurality of wireless channels The predetermined signal is transmitted through a channel, and an environmental change due to the load is detected by the load state detection means. Repeating these operations until the said radio receiving circuit section are those that are configured to receive the plurality of radio channels.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the wireless transmission circuit unit transmits the predetermined signal two or more times after the predetermined time has elapsed, and then the load state within a predetermined time. When a change in environment due to the load is not detected by the detecting means, a radio channel different from the radio channel transmitted immediately before and a radio channel different from the radio channel among the plurality of radio channels and transmitting the signal The predetermined signal is transmitted continuously through at least one wireless channel among the wireless channels that have already transmitted signals in the processing.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the wireless transmission circuit unit transmits the predetermined signal two or more times after the predetermined time has elapsed, and then further performs the load state within a predetermined time. When a change in environment due to the load is not detected by the detection means, the predetermined signal is transmitted a plurality of times for each wireless channel while sequentially switching the plurality of wireless channels.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the trigger signal is output from the trigger detection means, the wireless transmission circuit unit outputs the predetermined signal last time. The predetermined signal is transmitted using the transmitted radio channel.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a trigger signal is output, a predetermined signal is transmitted. After that, when a change in environment due to a load is not detected within a predetermined time, for example, communication has failed due to the influence of external noise. In this case, a predetermined signal is transmitted through a radio channel different from at least the radio channel transmitted immediately before. Therefore, the possibility of communication failure can be reduced without requiring the user to change the radio channel, and the load can be opened and closed easily and reliably. In addition, since signal transmission is not always performed on a plurality of radio channels, the power consumption of the transmitter can be reduced compared to a transmitter that always performs signal transmission on a plurality of radio channels.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, at the time of transmitting the predetermined signal after the third time, the signal transmission is performed again even on the radio channel that has already transmitted the predetermined signal. Therefore, at the time of the signal transmission, when it becomes possible to communicate satisfactorily with the radio channel that has already transmitted the signal, it is possible to communicate with the radio channel more quickly.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined signal is transmitted after the third time, the signal is transmitted a plurality of times for each wireless channel while sequentially switching the wireless channel, so that the external noise has been generated in the surrounding environment until then. When there is a change, it is possible to communicate reliably and promptly.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when a trigger signal is output, signal transmission is performed on a wireless channel that is considered to have succeeded in communication at the end. Therefore, for example, compared to a case where transmission is always performed on the same channel at the time of transmission of a predetermined signal for the first time, the possibility of communication failure can be reduced, and communication can be performed more reliably and promptly.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a lighting control system as an example of a load control system according to the present embodiment. The lighting control system 1 includes a lighting device 150 as a load, a remote controller (transmitter; hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 151 that transmits a radio signal by radio waves, a power source (see FIG. 2) 50 that is, for example, a commercial AC power source, and a lighting device. A switch (receiver) 152 and the like are connected in series to 150 via an electric wire.

  The remote controller 151 is provided with a human sensor (trigger detection means) 151a for detecting the presence or absence of a human body H in a predetermined area, an illuminance sensor (load state detection means) 151b for measuring ambient illuminance, and the like. The switch 152 turns on or off the illumination device 150 in accordance with a radio signal transmitted from the remote controller 151 as will be described later. That is, the lighting control system 1 employs a unidirectional communication method from the remote controller 151 to the switch 152. Here, in the present embodiment, the illumination device 150 made of an incandescent lamp is exemplified as the load. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other illumination devices such as a fluorescent lamp and a fluorescent lamp electronic ballast, as well as illumination. It may be a load other than the device. The switch 152 has an operation handle that can be operated by the user from the outside, for example, and is configured so that the lighting device 150 can be turned on or off by directly operating the operation handle. May be.

  FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of the remote controller 151 and the switch 152. In addition to the human sensor 151a and the illuminance sensor 151b, the remote controller 151 controls, for example, the antenna 11 that is a loop antenna that is small and has a large gain, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 that transmits a signal from the antenna 11, and the operation of the remote controller 151. And a battery 14 for supplying electric power to these electric circuits. The remote controller 151 is configured in a box shape in which each unit is housed in a housing, for example.

  The human sensor 151a detects, for example, the presence or absence of the human body H in a predetermined area by detecting thermal radiation radiated from the human body H. When the human body H is detected, a human body detection signal (trigger signal) is detected. Is sent to the control unit 13. The illuminance sensor 151b is composed of, for example, a photodiode, and detects a change in illuminance due to the lighting operation or extinguishing operation of the illumination device 150, and sends the detected change in illuminance to the control unit 13 as an environment change signal.

  The control unit 13 is configured by a microcomputer or the like, and controls the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 and the like. When a human body detection signal is input, or after that, an environment change signal is input within a predetermined period as described later. When not, a lighting signal for lighting the lighting device 150 is generated. When a lighting signal or the like is input from the control unit 13, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 modulates and amplifies the lighting signal or the like, and transmits the signal as a radio wave of a wireless channel (hereinafter referred to as a channel) having a predetermined frequency from the antenna 11. To do. Thus, the remote controller 151 transmits the lighting signal superimposed on the carrier wave based on the human body detection signal output from the human sensor 151a.

  The switch 152 is connected to the lighting device 150 connected to the lighting device 150, for example, the antenna 21 such as a loop antenna, the wireless reception circuit unit 22 that receives radio waves by the antenna 21, the control unit 23 that controls the operation of the switch 152. A load control circuit unit 24 that opens and closes the power supply path and a power supply circuit 25 that supplies power to the lighting device 150 from a power supply 50 of 100 V, for example, are provided. The switch 152 is formed in a two-module size, for example, a wide handle type continuous switch (see JIS C 8304) having a rectangular box-shaped body made of synthetic resin, and is attached to a mounting frame or the like conforming to the standard. And placed in a switch box embedded in the wall surface. Note that the switch 152 is not limited to the one embedded in the wall surface as described above, and may be attached to, for example, a wall surface or a ceiling.

  Based on the control of the control unit 23, the radio reception circuit unit 22 receives radio waves of a channel having a predetermined frequency. The load control circuit unit 24 includes a switching element (for example, a triac) that opens and closes a power supply path from the power supply circuit 25 to the lighting device 150. The control unit 23 is configured by a microcomputer or the like, and performs switching control of the switching element of the load control circuit unit 24 in accordance with the signal received by the wireless reception circuit unit 22. For example, when the lighting signal is received by the wireless reception circuit unit 22, the control unit 23 performs switching control for switching between a state where power is supplied to the lighting device 150 and a state where power is not supplied. The power supply circuit 25 supplies operating power to the control unit 23 and the like. In the switch 152, when the load control circuit unit 24 opens a power supply path to the lighting device 150, the power supply circuit 25 charges the capacitor to generate an operating power supply for the switch 152. On the other hand, when the load control circuit unit 24 closes the power supply path from the power supply circuit 25 to the lighting device 150, the power supply path is periodically set for a predetermined time within a range that does not affect the lighting state of the lighting device 150. The capacitor is opened and charged to the capacitor, and when closed outside a predetermined time, the capacitor is discharged to generate an operating power supply. Thereby, the switch 152 can connect the power supply circuit 25 and the illumination device 150 in series by two lines. Since this type of power supply circuit 25 is conventionally known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-357443, etc.), illustration and description of a detailed configuration and operation are omitted. The configuration of the power supply circuit 25 is not limited to this, and power may be constantly supplied from the power supply 50 to the switch 152.

  In the lighting control system 1, when the human sensor 151a of the remote controller 151 detects the human body H, the control unit 23 of the switch 152 turns on the power supply to the lighting device 150, and then a certain time has elapsed (for example, 1 minute has elapsed). After) power supply to the lighting device 150 is turned off. That is, when the human body H is detected by the human sensor 151a and a lighting signal is transmitted from the remote controller 151, the switching element of the load control circuit unit 24 is switched by the control of the control unit 23 of the switch 152, and the lighting device 150 Lights up. Thereby, the user can switch the illuminating device 150 to a lighting state by being located in a predetermined area.

  Here, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 of the remote controller 151 has, for example, a PLL synthesizer. The wireless transmission circuit unit 12 can select one channel from three channels having different frequencies, for example, a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel, and transmit a lighting signal as a radio wave on the channel. . The selection of a channel when transmitting a signal from the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 is performed based on the control of the control unit 13, for example.

  The wireless reception circuit unit 22 of the switch 152 includes, for example, a PLL synthesizer, and can receive radio waves of three channels that can be transmitted from the remote controller 151 as described above. For example, the radio reception circuit unit 22 is configured to receive radio waves while switching three channels in a predetermined time unit, so that any signal is transmitted from the remote controller 151 by any signal. Can be received. Note that the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 and the wireless reception circuit unit 22 may include, for example, a crystal multiplier transmitter instead of the PLL synthesizer, and may be configured to be able to transmit signals using a plurality of frequency channels.

  Based on the control of the control unit 13, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 selects one of the three wireless channels and transmits a signal after the human body detection signal is transmitted from the human sensor 151 a (hereinafter referred to as the “human body detection signal”). , Referred to as signal transmission processing). In this signal transmission process, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 includes a control unit when the illuminance sensor 151b does not detect a change in illuminance within a predetermined time (for example, within 1 second) after the human sensor 151a detects the human body H. Based on the control of No. 13, the channel for transmitting the signal is changed.

  The controller 13 can detect the presence / absence of the operation of the lighting device 150 based on whether or not an environment change signal is input from the illuminance sensor 151b. That is, when the environmental change signal is not input from the illuminance sensor 151b, the control unit 13 determines that the lighting device 150 is not turned on. Note that the signal transmission processing is performed depending on, for example, when the incandescent lamp of the lighting device 150 is burned out after a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed since the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 transmitted the first signal. The process ends when no change in illuminance is detected by the sensor 151b. The signal transmission process is also terminated when a change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time after the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 transmits the signal.

  Hereinafter, an operation mode of the channel change operation in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 shows an example of the operation mode of the channel change operation. The operation example shown in the figure is a case where a change in illuminance is not detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time after the human body H is detected in the predetermined area by the human sensor 151a. Shows the case of three times. Here, the transmission timing of the signal transmitted from the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 by transmission of the human body detection signal by the human sensor 151a is indicated as “# 1”, and the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 is transmitted after each predetermined time thereafter. The transmission timings of the signals transmitted from are indicated as “# 2” to “# 4”, respectively.

  When a change in illuminance is not detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time, the control unit 13 causes the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 to sequentially switch the three channels and transmit a signal. That is, first, when a human body detection signal is transmitted by the human sensor 151a (# 1), as shown in the figure, the control unit 13 generates a lighting signal and transmits a channel for transmitting a signal, for example, the first channel ( CH1), the radio transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission on the first channel and starts signal transmission processing. In the signal transmission process, when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time (# 2), the control unit 13 uses a second channel (CH2) different from the first channel that transmitted the signal immediately before. ), And the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission on the second channel.

  Thereafter, in the signal transmission process, when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time (# 3), similarly, the signal is transmitted on the third channel (CH3) different from the second channel transmitted immediately before. Transmission is performed. In addition, after that, in the signal transmission process, when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time (# 4), the control unit 13 performs the first channel every time a predetermined time elapses from # 4. , The second channel, the third channel,...

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a human body detection signal is output from the human sensor 151a in the signal transmission process, the remote controller 151 transmits a predetermined signal, and then the illuminance sensor 151b within the predetermined time passes the illuminance. Detect changes in At this time, when a change in illuminance is not detected within a predetermined time, signal transmission is sequentially performed on a channel different from the channel on which the three signals are switched and the previous signal is transmitted. Therefore, even if communication fails due to the influence of external noise or the like on the channel at the previous transmission, the influence of the external noise can be avoided at the time of the current transmission. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility of communication failure without requiring the user to change the wireless channel, and the lighting device 150 can be turned on easily and reliably. Further, since signal transmission is not always performed on a plurality of wireless channels, the power consumption of the remote controller can be reduced compared to a remote controller that always performs signal transmission on a plurality of wireless channels.

  In the present embodiment, the number of channels that can be transmitted by the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 and can be received by the wireless reception circuit unit 22 is not limited to three, but may be two or four or more. May be. FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation mode of the channel change operation when signals can be transmitted and received by n or more channels. At this time, a change in illuminance is not detected by the illuminance sensor 151b from when the human body detection signal is transmitted by the human sensor 151a (# 1) until the predetermined time n-1 times thereafter (#n). Then, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 first performs signal transmission on the first channel in # 1.

  Thereafter, every time a predetermined time elapses, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission on the channels changed in order of the second channel, the third channel, and the nth channel under the control of the control unit 13. After that, the signal transmission process is terminated due to a change in illuminance, and when the signal transmission process is newly started at # n + 1, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 controls the control unit 13. Based on this, signal transmission on the first channel is performed. Even when the number of channels is large in this way, the channels can be automatically changed and communication can be performed reliably. In the above-described embodiment, the channel change mode is not limited to the signal transmission process that is always changed in the same order.

  Next, an illumination control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiment described below, each component of the illumination device 150, the remote controller 151, and the switch 152 is the same as that in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the control unit 13 and the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 have two channels, for example, a first channel and a second channel, that the remote controller 151 can transmit and the switch 152 can receive. The operation of changing the channel of the remote controller 151 is different from that of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the operation mode of the channel changing operation of the remote controller 151 in the second embodiment. When a human body detection signal is transmitted from the human sensor 151a in the signal transmission process (# 1), the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 controls the first channel (CH1) as in the first embodiment under the control of the control unit 13. Signal transmission is performed, and signal transmission processing is started. In the signal transmission process, when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time (# 2), the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission on the second channel (CH2).

  Thereafter, in the signal transmission process, when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time (# 3), the control unit 13 generates a lighting signal and transmits the signal immediately before the second channel. Change the channel to the first channel different from. In addition, the control unit 13 subsequently changes the channel to a second channel that is a channel that has already transmitted a signal and is different from the first channel that performs the current signal transmission, and generates a lighting signal. As a result, the radio transmission circuit unit 12 transmits a signal on the first channel and then transmits a signal on the second channel. Although only the third signal transmission is shown in the figure, the signal transmission process may continue because the illuminance sensor 151b does not detect a change in illuminance within a predetermined time thereafter. In this case, every time the signal is transmitted, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 transmits a signal in a channel different from the channel that transmitted the signal immediately before, and has already transmitted the signal in the signal transmission process. Signal transmission is performed on the channel that has transmitted the signal.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, in the signal transmission process, the signal transmission is performed again even in the wireless channel that has already transmitted the signal at the third and subsequent signal transmissions. Therefore, if the surrounding radio wave environment has changed since the previous signal was transmitted on that channel, and the communication is good on that channel at the time of the signal transmission, it is more reliable Communication can be performed.

  In the second embodiment, the number of channels that can be transmitted and received is not two but may be larger. In this case, for example, channel change and signal transmission may be performed as follows. That is, first, in the same signal transmission process, signal transmission is performed by changing the first and second signal transmission channels to the first channel and the second channel, respectively. Next, the third signal transmission channel is transmitted through two channels, for example, a third channel different from the previously transmitted second channel and a first channel selected from the two channels already transmitted. Further, the fourth signal transmission channel is transmitted by a fourth channel different from the previously transmitted third channel and, for example, the second channel selected from the three previously transmitted channels. As described above, by performing channel change and signal transmission, reliable communication can be performed promptly as described above. In addition, the above-mentioned channel change aspect is an illustration, and the channel change order may not be this. In addition, when performing the third and subsequent signal transmissions in the same signal transmission process, not only a total of two channels including one channel that has already transmitted signals, but also two or more channels that have already transmitted signals are included. You may make it transmit on a total of three or more channels. That is, in the second embodiment, the third and subsequent signal transmission channels and the number of channels may be appropriately selected and set.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation mode of the channel changing operation of the remote control 151 in the illumination control system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the lighting control system 1 can transmit and receive signals using, for example, two channels. In the signal transmission process, after the human body detection signal is transmitted by the human sensor 151a (# 1), within a predetermined time. The operation until the change in illuminance is not detected by the illuminance sensor 151b (# 2) is the same as in the second embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, after that, in the same signal transmission process, when no change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b within a predetermined time, the third and subsequent signal transmissions are performed (# 3). At this time, in the third signal transmission, signals are transmitted on the first channel and the second channel as in the second embodiment, but a total of 4 while switching the channel alternately twice for each channel. Signal transmission. That is, when performing the third signal transmission, the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission on the first channel based on the control of the control unit 13, and subsequently sets the channel to the second channel and the second channel. Signal transmission is performed while alternately switching between the first channel and the second channel.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, signal transmission is performed while changing the channel alternately every other time, twice for each channel, so even if there is a change in external noise in the surrounding radio wave environment until then. It is possible to reliably and promptly communicate. Note that the order of switching channels is not limited to the above. For example, at the time of the third signal transmission, the signal transmission may be performed twice on the first channel and then the signal transmission may be performed twice on the second channel. . Further, the signal may be transmitted three times or more for each channel. Further, in the third embodiment, it may be configured such that signals can be transmitted and received through three or more channels. At this time, for example, the channel transmitted at the third and subsequent signal transmissions, the number of times transmission is repeated in each channel, and transmission The order may be selected and set as appropriate.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the operation mode of the channel changing operation of the remote control 151 in the illumination control system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the radio transmission circuit unit 12 performs the human body detection signal by the human sensor 151a in the signal transmission process based on the control of the control unit 13 in addition to the channel change operation similar to that in the first embodiment. When is transmitted, signal transmission is performed on the wireless channel with which communication was successful last time.

  That is, for example, in the previous signal transmission process, after signal transmission is performed on the first channel, a change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b, and the signal transmission process ends. Then, as shown in the figure, when the first signal transmission of a new signal transmission process is performed (# 1), the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission using the first channel.

  Thereafter, in the signal transmission process, when the illuminance sensor 151b does not detect a change in illuminance within a predetermined time, a second signal transmission is performed (# 2). At this time, the channel is changed in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above, and the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission on the second channel, and a change in illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 151b, and the signal transmission process ends. Shall be. Thereafter, when the first signal transmission of another new signal transmission process is performed (# 3), the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 performs signal transmission at the end of the previous signal transmission process under the control of the control unit 13. The signal is transmitted on the second channel.

  Thus, in the fourth embodiment, when signal transmission processing is performed, signal transmission is performed on a wireless channel that is considered to have succeeded in communication last. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where transmission is always performed on the same channel in the first signal transmission, the possibility of communication failure can be reduced, and communication can be performed more reliably and promptly.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of each of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, when the human sensor 151 a of the remote controller 151 detects the human body H, the control unit 23 of the switch 152 may turn off the power supply to the lighting device 150. For example, instead of the human sensor 151a, an illuminance sensor for the purpose of detecting the darkness may be provided. In this case, for example, when the indoor illuminance falls below a predetermined illuminance, the illuminance sensor sends a trigger signal corresponding to the human body detection signal to the control unit 13 to start the signal transmission process. May be.

  Further, the mode of signal transmission by the wireless transmission circuit unit 12 is not limited to the above, and is configured to perform signal transmission in such a manner that a plurality of characteristic parts of the first to fourth embodiments are provided. It may be. For example, as in the second embodiment, in the same signal transmission process, the third signal transmission involving signal transmission on the first channel by channel change and signal transmission on the second channel, which has already been transmitted, is performed. And the signal transmission process is completed. At this time, when a human body detection signal is subsequently sent out by the human sensor 151a, as shown in the fourth embodiment, for example, signal transmission may be performed on the first channel that last transmitted the signal. Then, signal transmission may be performed on the second channel that has performed signal transmission last. As described above, even when the configuration is combined with the above embodiments, communication failure due to external noise can be prevented by automatically changing the channel and performing signal transmission in the same signal transmission processing. it can.

  In addition to the illumination control system that controls on / off of the illumination device as described above, the present invention provides an air conditioning system, a hot water supply system, or a transmitter that turns on / off the operation according to a signal transmitted from the transmitter. It can also be used in a load control system used for other purposes, such as a security system that receives a predetermined signal transmitted from the terminal and performs a notification operation. That is, in a transmitter used for remote control by transmitting a signal instructing the operation of the load control system by radio waves, the channel is automatically changed in the manner as described above and the signal is transmitted. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent communication failure and easily and reliably control the load even in an environment with external noise.

The figure which shows an example of the illumination control system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the remote control and switch of the said illumination control system. The figure which shows an example of the signal transmission aspect of the said remote control. The figure which shows the modification of the signal transmission aspect of the said remote control. The figure which shows an example of the signal transmission aspect of the remote control of the illumination control system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the signal transmission aspect of the remote control of the illumination control system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the signal transmission aspect of the remote control of the illumination control system which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

1 Lighting control system (load control system)
11 (transmitter) antenna 12 wireless transmission circuit unit 13 (transmitter) control unit 21 (receiver) antenna 22 radio reception circuit unit 23 (receiver) control unit 24 load control circuit unit 25 power supply circuit 150 illumination Equipment (load)
151 Remote controller (transmitter)
151a Human sensor (trigger detection means)
151b Illuminance sensor (load state detection means)
152 switch (receiver)

Claims (4)

In a load control system having a transmitter that transmits a signal by radio waves, and a receiver that has a function of receiving radio waves and includes a control mechanism that is connected to a load and controls at least on / off of the load,
The transmitter includes an antenna, a wireless transmission circuit unit that transmits a signal from the antenna, trigger detection means that outputs a trigger signal when a predetermined state is detected, and a load state that detects a change in environment due to the load A detection unit; and a control unit that controls the wireless transmission circuit unit based on the trigger signal and transmits a predetermined signal.
The receiver includes an antenna, a radio reception circuit unit that receives a radio wave using the antenna and extracts a signal, a load control circuit unit that opens and closes a power feeding path from a power source to the load, and the radio reception circuit unit. A control unit for controlling the operation of the load control circuit according to the received signal,
The load is configured to operate according to a trigger signal output from the trigger detection means,
The wireless transmission circuit unit includes:
It is configured so that a signal can be transmitted by selecting one channel from a plurality of radio channels having different frequencies.
When a trigger signal is output from the trigger detection unit, a predetermined signal is transmitted on a predetermined radio channel among the plurality of radio channels, and then the load state detection unit changes the environment due to the load within a predetermined time. Is not detected, the predetermined signal is transmitted through a radio channel different from at least the radio channel transmitted immediately before the plurality of radio channels, and an environmental change due to the load is detected by the load state detection means. Repeat these actions until detected
The load control system, wherein the radio reception circuit unit is configured to receive the plurality of radio channels.   The wireless transmission circuit unit performs the transmission of the predetermined signal two or more times after the lapse of the predetermined time, and then when the load state detection means does not detect an environmental change due to the load within the predetermined time. Among the plurality of radio channels, at least one of the radio channels different from the radio channel transmitted immediately before and a radio channel different from the radio channel that has already transmitted signals in the signal transmission process. The load control system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined signal is transmitted continuously through two radio channels.   The wireless transmission circuit unit performs the transmission of the predetermined signal two or more times after the lapse of the predetermined time, and then when the load state detection means does not detect an environmental change due to the load within the predetermined time. The load control system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined signal is transmitted a plurality of times for each radio channel while sequentially switching the plurality of radio channels.   The wireless transmission circuit unit transmits the predetermined signal using a wireless channel that has transmitted the predetermined signal last time when a trigger signal is output from the trigger detection unit. The load control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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