JP3296835B2 - Function setting method for multiplex transmission equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a function setting method for a multiplex transmission apparatus using a time division method, and is used, for example, in a system for controlling a lighting load, an air conditioning load, an electric lock and the like by multiplex transmission. Is what is done.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional general time division multiplex transmission apparatus. In this device, one master unit A and a plurality of terminals B1, B2,... Are connected via two transmission lines L such as coaxial cables and twisted pair lines. 8 (a) and 8 (b) show time-division multiplexed transmission signals transmitted from master unit A to transmission line L and terminals B1, B2,... Returned to master unit A via transmission line L. The waveform of the reply signal is shown. The time division multiplex transmission signal is
In the frame FR, a start pulse ST indicating the start of signal transmission, an address pulse AD for specifying a terminal Bi to be communicated (i = 1, 2,...), And an operation for controlling the operation of the terminal Bi. It includes at least a control pulse DT and a reply standby time zone RT for receiving a reply signal (monitoring pulse) from the terminal device Bi. The address pulse AD and the control pulse DT are composed of, for example, a serial signal of a plurality of bits meaning that a long voltage pulse is 1 and a short voltage pulse is 0. In the reply waiting time zone RT, for example, a voltage is applied between the transmission lines L on the master unit A side, and the transmission lines L are short-circuited on the terminal device Bi side via a resistor. ,
A serial signal of a plurality of bits meaning that the long current pulse is 1 and the short current pulse is 0 is returned to the master unit A. The address pulse AD and the control pulse DT are transmitted from the master unit A as low-impedance voltage signals, and each terminal Bi connects a rectifier and a smoothing capacitor between the transmission lines L to obtain operating power. The address pulse AD included in the time division multiplex transmission signal transmitted from the master unit A changes so as to poll each terminal Bi, for example, cyclically, and only one terminal Bi whose address matches is controlled. The control operation and the reply operation according to the pulse are performed. When receiving the start pulse ST from the transmission line L, the terminal Bi receives the subsequent address pulse AD and checks it against its own address. If the addresses match, a control pulse DT following the address pulse AD is received, and a control operation is performed according to the control pulse DT. Further, a reply signal as shown in FIG. 8B is transmitted in a reply waiting time zone RT following the control pulse DT. In FIG. 6, 2 is connected to the transmission line L.
Although the configuration in which the two terminals B1 and B2 are connected is illustrated, the number of terminals is not limited to this. For example, if an 8-bit address is assigned, a maximum of 256
Stands can be connected.

FIG. 7 shows the internal structure of the terminal Bi. The multiplex transmission signal processing unit 1 has a function of receiving a multiplex transmission signal transmitted from the master unit A and returning a return signal, and is usually configured using a microcomputer. The terminal device Bi can communicate with the setting device C. The setting device C is used to set the function of the terminal device Bi using the technology of the infrared remote control. The functions of the terminal device Bi include, for example, a terminal device for monitoring operation of a wall switch and an operation of a sensor, a terminal device for controlling loads such as a lighting load and an air conditioning load, and the like. , Terminal Bi, and the like. When the terminal device Bi is a monitoring terminal device, the input / output processing unit 3 inputs the state of the wall switch and the sensor and inputs the state to the multiplex transmission signal processing unit 1 as monitoring information. When the terminal device Bi is a terminal device for load control, the input / output processing unit 3 outputs control information from the multiplex transmission signal processing unit 1 to a lighting load, an air conditioning load, and the like. Since the power of the terminal Bi is supplied from the multiplex transmission line L as described above, when the multiplex transmission signal from the master unit A stops due to a power failure or the like, the power of the terminal Bi is cut off. Even in such a case, the terminal Bi is controlled so that the information of the terminal Bi is not lost.
Has a built-in nonvolatile memory F. The non-volatile memory F is made of, for example, an EEPROM and has an advantage that stored contents are not erased even when the power is cut off, but has a drawback that the access speed is slow. Therefore, a method has been proposed in which when the power of the terminal device Bi is turned on, information is read from the nonvolatile memory F to the volatile memory K, and the multiplex transmission signal processing unit 1 accesses the volatile memory K. The volatile memory K is, for example,
It has the disadvantage that it is made of RAM and loses its stored contents when the power is turned off, but has the advantage of a faster access speed instead. As described above, by using two types of memories in combination, it is possible to achieve both retention of stored contents at the time of power-off and high-speed access speed. In the setting unit C, the nonvolatile memory F
In addition to writing the function in the nonvolatile memory F, the function written in the nonvolatile memory F can be read and displayed for confirmation. The writing and reading of the nonvolatile memory F by the setting device C are performed by the setting signal transmission / reception processing unit 2.

FIG. 4 shows a format of a signal transmitted / received between the setting device and the terminal device. FIG. 4A shows a signal transmitted from the setting device to the terminal device, and FIG. 4B shows a signal transmitted from the terminal device to the setting device. First, when a call signal is transmitted from the setting device to the terminal device, a response signal is transmitted from the terminal device to the setting device. Accordingly, it is determined that the setting device and the terminal device can transmit and receive signals, and the setting signal is transmitted from the setting device to the terminal device. When the transmission of the setting signal is completed, a confirmation signal having the same content as the setting signal is transmitted from the terminal device to the setting device. Thus, it is confirmed that the signal has been normally transmitted between the setting device and the terminal device. FIG. 4C shows the format of the setting signal and the confirmation signal. Each signal consists of a reader, a data code, a blank, an inverted data code, and a trailer.
The inverted data code is obtained by inverting data “1” and data “0” of the data code.

FIG. 5 shows a signal structure.
First, the calling signal is a High period of 35 ms and an L signal of 4 ms.
ow period. The response signal is 400 μs Hi.
gh period and 4 ms Low period. Next, the reader has a High period of 3.2 ms and a Low period of 1.6 ms. Also, the data “0” constituting the data code
Is composed of a 400 μs High period and a 400 μs Low period, and data “1” is composed of a 400 μs High period and a 1200 μs Low period. Further, the blank has a High period of 400 μs and a Low period of 4 ms. Finally, the trailer has a High period of 400 μs and a Low period of 25 ms or more. In general, actual signal transmission is performed by modulating a carrier signal (for example, 35 kHz) with the above signal structure and using an infrared pulse signal.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned conventional technique, for example, an address which is one of the function data of the terminal device is set by a setting device and it is necessary to confirm whether or not the address has been set correctly. It is necessary to transmit the signal format shown in FIG. 4 twice, and the time required for this is about 570 ms. If there are many function items to be set, the number of items ×
Since the time of 570 ms is required, it takes a very long time to set the function of the terminal device, and there is a problem that a comfortable operation feeling cannot be given to the user. Therefore, it is desirable to increase the signal transmission speed between the setting device and the terminal as much as possible, but in that case, the old terminal or the old setting that the user has introduced in the past. There was a problem that it was not possible to construct a system by mixing a device with a new terminal device or a new setting device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multiplex transmission apparatus in which functions of a terminal device are stored in a memory by transmitting a signal from a setting device. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the time required for setting the functions of a terminal and maintain consistency with an old terminal or a setting device.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows a signal format used in a function setting system of a multiplex transmission apparatus according to the present invention.
In the present invention, the speeding-up request signal is included in the call signal from the setting device to the terminal device. The terminal sets the length of the response signal shorter when detecting the speed-up request signal from the calling signal than when not detecting the speed-up request signal. By detecting this response signal,
The setting device determines that high-speed transmission is possible, and increases the transmission speed of the reader and data to the terminal device. The terminal also increases the transmission speed of the reader and data to the setting device. This allows high-speed signal transmission between the new terminal and the new setting device.

Next, between the new-type setting device and the old-type terminal device, even if the speed-up request signal is included in the call signal from the setting device to the terminal device, this signal is sent to the old-type terminal device. Since it cannot be detected, the response signal has a conventional length. For this reason, the setting device determines that high-speed signal transmission is not possible, and assumes that the transmission speed of the reader and data to the terminal device is the same as before. In addition, since high-speed signal transmission is originally impossible with an old-type terminal device, the transmission speed of a reader or data to the setting device is the same as before.

Next, between the old type setting device and the new type terminal device, since the speeding-up request signal is not included in the call signal from the setting device to the terminal device, on the new type terminal device side,
A response signal of a conventional length is returned. In this case, high-speed signal transmission is originally impossible with the old setting device,
The transmission speed of the reader and data to the terminal is the same as before. In addition, it is determined that high-speed signal transmission is not possible with the new terminal device, and the reader and data transmission speed to the setting device are assumed to be the same as before.

It goes without saying that the transmission speed between the old setting device and the old terminal is the same as the conventional one.

[0012]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the user of the multiplex transmission apparatus does not need to distinguish between a new type terminal and an old type terminal, and a new type setting device and an old type setting device. It is not necessary to distinguish between the new type or the old type terminal, and the function of the new type or the old type terminal can be set using the new type or the old type setting device. The signal transmission can be performed at a high speed, and the function setting of the terminal can be quickly performed.

[0013]

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, high-speed transmission is realized between the new-type setting device and the new-type terminal device by increasing the speed of the carrier signal for the transmission signal after the response signal. FIG. 2A shows a response signal from an old terminal, which uses a low-speed carrier signal, and thus has a carrier period of 400 μs and a carrier-free period of 4 ms, that is, 4.4 ms.
Response signal. On the other hand, FIG. 2 (b) shows a response signal from the new terminal, which uses a carrier signal whose operation clock cycle is shortened by half as compared with the old terminal and uses a carrier signal of 200 μs. The response signal is a 2.2 ms response signal including a carrier period and a 2 ms non-carrier period. As described above, if the cycle of the operation clock is shortened, high-speed signal transmission can be performed while using the same number of carriers. The same applies to the reader and data code after the response signal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, between the new-type setting device and the new-type terminal device, for the transmission signal after the response signal, the structure time of the signal shown in FIG.
High-speed transmission is realized. FIG. 3A shows a response signal from the old terminal, which has a carrier period of 400 μs and 4
The response signal is a 4.4 ms response signal having a non-carrier period of ms. On the other hand, FIG. 3B shows a response signal from the new terminal, which uses a carrier signal having the same speed as that of the old terminal, but reduces the signal structuring time by half. Therefore, the response signal is a 2.2 ms response signal including a carrier period of 200 μs and a non-carrier period of 2 ms. This is because the number of carriers in the carrier period is half that of the response signal shown in FIG. Thus, by shortening the signal structure, high-speed signal transmission can be performed using carrier signals of the same speed. The same applies to the reader and data code after the response signal.

For example, if the terminal has two or more setting items,
In the case where the time required for the function setting of the terminal is about 1.2 seconds in the past, if the period of the carrier signal or the signal structure is reduced to, for example, 1/8, the function setting can be performed in a short time of 0.3 seconds. It can be performed. In this way, the terminal function can be set in a short time, so even if the direction of the setting device shifts due to the movement of the user's hand during the setting operation, normal setting cannot be performed due to interruption of infrared transmission, and the setting will be repeated. The inconvenience of trying hardly occurs. Therefore, the usability of the user is greatly improved. Also,
Communication with existing terminals and setting devices is possible at the same transmission rate. It is not necessary to carry around, and it is possible to set the functions of all the terminals with only the new-type setting device, thereby reducing the burden on the user.

[0016]

According to the function setting method of the multiplex transmission apparatus according to the present invention, high-speed signal transmission can be performed when the function of the terminal is set by the setting device, and the time required for the function setting of the terminal is reduced. It has the effect of shortening, and even if old terminals and old setting devices are mixed, there is no problem in setting terminal functions, and consistency with existing systems is maintained. There is an effect that can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a waveform diagram showing a signal format used in a multiplex transmission apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform chart for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a waveform chart for explaining the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a signal format of a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showing a signal structure of a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional multiplex transmission device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a terminal of a conventional multiplex transmission device.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram showing a transmission signal and a return signal of a conventional multiplex transmission device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 multiplex transmission signal processing unit 2 setting signal transmission / reception processing unit 3 input / output processing unit A master unit B1 terminal B2 terminal Bi terminal C setting unit L transmission line

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Mitsunobu Kuroda 1048 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of terminals to which a unique address is assigned are connected to a base unit via a common transmission line, and a control pulse is transmitted to each terminal unit by addressing from the base unit and the terminal is addressed. In a multiplex transmission apparatus in which a monitoring pulse is returned from a terminal to a master unit, each terminal sets a multiplex transmission signal processing unit for executing multiplex transmission processing with the master unit and a function of the terminal unit. A setting signal transmission and reception processing unit for transmitting and receiving a setting signal to and from a setting device for performing
A memory for storing a function of the terminal, wherein the setting unit generates a calling signal for calling the terminal, a unit for receiving a response signal from the terminal to the calling signal, and a setting signal. Means for including, in the call signal, a speed-up request signal for performing high-speed transmission and reception of the call, means for determining whether or not the terminal can transmit and receive the setting signal at high speed based on the length of the response signal; and Means for speeding up the transmission / reception of the setting signal when it is determined that the transmission / reception of the setting signal is possible, wherein the setting signal transmission / reception processing unit in at least one terminal detects a speed-up request signal included in the call signal Means for setting the length of the response signal shorter when the speed-up request signal is detected than when the speed-up request signal is not detected, and for speeding up the transmission and reception of the setting signal. Function setting method of multiplex transmission apparatus according to.