Power supply system, switching unit, and power supply method

Abstract

To provide a technology for maintaining high operation efficiency of an electrical apparatus without using a server.SOLUTION: Each switching unit 3 includes a processor 31, a storage unit 32, a communication unit 33, a current measurement circuit 34 that measures an output current being supplied from the switching unit 3 to an electrical apparatus 9, and a switch circuit 35 that performs power supply switching for the electrical apparatus 9. The storage unit 32 stores a first output current measured by the current measurement unit 34 of a first switching unit 3 and a second output current measured by the current measurement unit 34 of a second switching unit 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a power supply system, a switching unit and a power supply method. [Background technology]

[0002] In homes, businesses, etc., when power is supplied to electrical equipment from an outlet or switchboard, if the amount of power supplied to the electrical equipment exceeds the power capacity of the breaker, the breaker will cut off the power supply. From the perspective of avoiding a power cut, it is desirable for the total power consumption of the electrical equipment connected to the breaker not to exceed the capacity of the breaker.

[0003] For example, if all electrical appliances are not used at the same time, if each appliance is only operated temporarily, or if the appliances are used while sharing power between users, even if the total power consumption of all appliances exceeds the breaker capacity, the actual power consumption is less than that, so there is no problem. However, even in such cases, there is a possibility that the breaker will cut off the power supply due to an excess over capacity caused by carelessness, etc.

[0004] As a foolproof measure to deal with such problems, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes managing the power usage status of each outlet by a server. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-028545 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the conventional technology required an external resource, a server, and if the server went down, the power to all outlets would be cut off to prevent a current exceeding the allowable current, which could significantly reduce the operating rate of electrical equipment.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for maintaining high operating efficiency of electrical equipment without using a server. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, a first aspect is a power supply system that supplies power to an electric device via a plurality of switching units including at least a first and a second switching unit, each of the switching units having a processor, a storage unit, a communication unit, a current measuring unit that measures an output current supplied from the switching unit to the electric device, and a switch unit that switches power supply to the electric device, the storage unit stores a first output current measured by the current measuring unit of the first switching unit and a second output current measured by the current measuring unit of the second switching unit, and the processor of the first switching unit: The control circuit executes a first update process for updating the first output current stored in the memory unit to a new first output current measured by the current measuring unit of the first switching unit, a transmission process for transmitting the new first output current to the second switching unit via the communication unit, a second update process for updating the second output current stored in the memory unit to the new second output current transmitted from the second switching unit, a threshold determination process for determining whether a total value of the first output current and the second output current stored in the memory unit exceeds a current threshold, and a switch control process for controlling the switch unit based on a determination result of the threshold determination process.

[0009] A second aspect is a power supply system of the first aspect, further comprising a breaker electrically connected to the first and second switching units, and the current threshold is an upper limit value of the current flowing through the breaker or a value smaller than the upper limit value.

[0010] A third aspect is a power supply system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the memory unit stores a priority indicating an order in which power supply is preferentially cut off for each switching unit, and the switch control process includes a process of controlling the switch unit based on the priority.

[0011] A fourth aspect is a power supply system of the third aspect, wherein the switch control process includes a priority determination process for determining whether or not a priority of the first switching unit is higher than a priority of the second switching unit when the threshold determination process determines that the sum exceeds the current threshold, and a shutoff process for shutting off the first switching unit when the priority determination process determines that the priority of the first switching unit is higher than the priority of the second switching unit.

[0012] A fifth aspect is the power supply system of the fourth aspect, wherein the switch control process further includes a conduction process for making the switch section that has been cut off by the cut-off process conductive when the threshold determination process determines that the sum has fallen below the current threshold.

[0013] A sixth aspect is a power supply system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the memory unit of the first switching unit stores a first final communication time when the first switching unit last communicated with the second switching unit, and the processor of the first switching unit executes a communication determination process to determine whether a first elapsed time from the first final communication time to a current time exceeds a communication lower limit time.

[0014] A seventh aspect is a power supply system of the sixth aspect, wherein when the communication determination process determines that the first elapsed time has exceeded the communication lower limit time, the processor of the first switching unit executes a process of updating or deleting the second output current of the second switching unit stored in the memory unit to zero.

[0015] An eighth aspect is a power supply system of the sixth or seventh aspect, wherein the multiple switching units further include a third switching unit, the memory unit of the first switching unit stores a second final communication time of the last communication with the third switching unit, the communication determination process includes a process of determining whether the first elapsed time and a second elapsed time from the second final communication time to a current time exceed the communication lower limit time, and the processor of the first switching unit executes a process of shutting off the switch unit of the first switching unit when it is determined by the communication determination process that the first elapsed time and the second elapsed time exceed the communication lower limit time.

[0016] A ninth aspect is a switching unit that supplies power to an electrical device, comprising a processor, a memory unit, a communication unit, a current measuring unit that measures a current supplied to the electrical device, a switch unit that switches the power supply to the electrical device, and a memory unit, wherein the memory unit stores a first output current measured by the current measuring unit of the switching unit and a second output current received via the communication unit, and the processor executes an update process to update the first output current stored in the memory unit to a new first output current measured by the current measuring unit, a transmission process to transmit the new first output current to the outside via the communication unit, a second update process to update the second output current stored in the memory unit to the new second output current received via the communication unit, and a switch control process to control the switch unit based on a sum value of the first output current and the second output current stored in the memory unit.

[0017] A tenth aspect is a power supplying method for supplying power to an electric device from a plurality of switching units including a first and a second switching unit, each of the switching units having a memory unit, a current measuring unit that measures a current supplied to the electric device, and a switch unit that switches the power supply to the electric device, and the memory unit stores a first output current measured by the current measuring unit of the first switching unit and a second output current measured by the current measuring unit of the second switching unit, and the power supplying method includes a first updating step of updating the first output current stored in the memory unit to a new first output current measured by the current measuring unit of the first switching unit, a transmitting step of transmitting the new first output current to a second switching unit, a second updating step of updating the second output current stored in the memory unit to the new second output current transmitted from the second switching unit, and a switch control step of controlling the switch unit based on a sum value of the first output current and the second output current stored in the memory unit. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the power supply system of the first to eighth aspects, the first and second output currents supplied from the first and second switching units to the electric devices are shared between the first and second switching units. Then, the power supply in each switching unit is switched based on the sum of the first and second output powers. This makes it possible to maintain high operating efficiency of the electric devices without using a server.

[0019] According to the power supply system of the second aspect, it is possible to prevent the current flowing through the entire power supply system from exceeding the upper limit of the current of the breaker.

[0020] According to the power supply system of the seventh aspect, it is possible to determine whether or not the first switching unit is able to communicate with the second switching unit by the communication determination process.

[0021] According to the power supply system of the eighth aspect, when a communication failure occurs in the switching unit itself, the power supply to the switching unit itself is cut off, so that the occurrence of excess current can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a power supply system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a switching unit. [Diagram 3] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an output table and a priority table stored in a storage unit. [Figure 4] 13 is a diagram showing how node information of a new switching unit is added to an existing output table. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flow for updating an output table and a priority table. [Figure 6] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of updating an output table and a priority table. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation flow for dealing with an excess current. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a priority table that is updated in response to an excess current. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flow executed by each node to deal with a communication failure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the components described in the embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the dimensions and numbers of each part may be exaggerated or simplified as necessary for ease of understanding.

[0024] <1. Embodiment> 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a power supply system 1 according to an embodiment. The power supply system 1 is a system that controls power supplied from a power source 8 to a plurality of electrical devices 9. The power supply system 1 includes a breaker 2, a plurality of (three in this embodiment) switching units 3, and a network setting terminal 4. Note that in this embodiment, the number of switching units 3 is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more.

[0025] The power source 8 is, for example, a commercial power source, a solar cell, or a storage battery. The electric device 9 is a household device (such as an air conditioner, a refrigerator, or a personal computer) or an industrial device (such as a machine tool) used in a factory or the like.

[0026] The breaker 2 is electrically connected to a power source 8. The breaker 2 is electrically connected to a plurality of switching units 3. The breaker 2 has a cutoff circuit that automatically cuts off the current when the total value of the current flowing from the power source 8 to each switching unit 3 exceeds a preset upper limit value.

[0027] The switching unit 3 is electrically connected to, for example, one electric device 9. The switching unit 3 is a device that switches on / off the power supply to the electric device 9 connected to itself depending on the usage status of the multiple electric devices 9 connected to the power supply system 1. The switching unit 3 is, for example, a power strip having at least one outlet. The switching unit 3 and the electric device 9 are electrically connected to each other by inserting the outlet plug of the electric device 9 into the outlet. Note that the switching unit 3 may be a device incorporated in each electric device 9.

[0028] The switching unit 3 can communicate with other switching units 3 via wireless connections. In this example, each switching unit 3 forms a so-called mesh network in which data is forwarded from node to node until it reaches the intended destination. That is, each switching unit 3 is connected to the mesh network as a node. In the example shown in FIG. 1, three switching units 3 are connected as nodes A, B, and C, respectively.

[0029] In the following description, the switching units 3 participating in the mesh network may be simply referred to as "nodes." Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the processes executed by each node are processes executed by the processor 31 of each node.

[0030] A priority is set for each node in advance. The priority indicates the order in which power supply to the electric device 9 is preferentially cut off. The higher the priority (i.e., the smaller the number indicating the priority), the higher the priority for power cut off. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the priorities (order of priority) of nodes A, B, and C are set to "1," "2," and "3," respectively. In this case, node A has a higher priority than the other nodes B and C, and therefore the power supply to node A is preferentially cut off.

[0031] The network setting terminal 4 performs various settings for adding the switching unit 3 to the mesh network of the power supply system 1. The network setting terminal 4 is configured with a personal computer, a smartphone, or the like. When adding a new switching unit 3, a user performs an operation input to the network setting terminal 4 for adding the switching unit 3. Based on the operation input, the network setting terminal 4 sets a node ID and a priority level corresponding to the switching unit 3 to be added. The node ID is identification information for identifying multiple switching units 3.

[0032] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the switching unit 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the switching unit 3 has a processor 31, a storage unit 32, a communication unit 33, a current measurement circuit 34, and a switch circuit 35. The processor 31 is electrically connected to the storage unit 32, the communication unit 33, the current measurement circuit 34, and the switch circuit 35 via a bus.

[0033] The processor 31 executes various processes. The processor 31 is configured by, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a micro-control unit (MCU), a micro processing unit (MPU), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), a system large-scale integrated circuit (LSI), or the like.

[0034] The storage unit 32 is a computer-readable storage medium that stores various programs and various data. The storage unit 32 is configured with a non-volatile memory or a volatile memory, etc. The processor 31 executes the programs stored in the storage unit 32 to perform various processes described later.

[0035] The communication unit 33 communicates with external devices. For example, the communication unit 33 performs data communication with the communication unit 33 of another switching unit 3. The communication unit 33 also performs data communication with the network setting terminal 4. In the following description, the communication unit 33 will be described as performing wireless communication, but it may be configured to perform wired communication with external devices.

[0036] The current measurement circuit 34 measures the current value of the current (hereinafter referred to as the “output current”) that the switching unit 3 supplies to the electric device 9. In other words, the current measurement circuit 34 measures the current value of the actual current used by the electric device 9 connected to the switching unit 3.

[0037] The switch circuit 35 switches the power supply to the electric device 9. Between the breaker 2 and the electric device 9, the switch circuit 35 switches between a state in which conduction is possible (ON state) and a state in which conduction is cut off (OFF state) between the breaker 2 and the electric device 9. The switch circuit 35 switches the conduction on and off based on a control signal output by the processor 31.

[0038] 3 is a diagram showing an output table Tb1 and a priority table Tb2 stored by the storage unit 32. In the output table Tb1, the node ID, priority, output current, and time stamp are registered in a mutually associated state for all nodes participating in the mesh network. In the following description, the node ID and priority may be referred to as "node information."

[0039] The "output current" in the output table Tb1 is information indicating the output current measured by the current measurement circuit 34 at each node. Each node transmits the measured output current to other nodes as needed. The destination node updates the output current corresponding to the source node in the output table Tb1 to the received output current. In this way, the output table Tb1, which holds the latest output current of each node, is shared among multiple nodes.

[0040] The time stamp is information indicating the time when the output current of the corresponding node was updated in the output table Tb1. The time stamp is appropriately set based on a synchronized time within the node or based on real time.

[0041] The priority table Tb2 is data generated from the output table Tb1 by the processor 31 of the switching unit 3. Priorities and accumulated outputs are registered in the priority table Tb2 in association with each other. The accumulated output is a value obtained by accumulating the output of the associated priority and the output of a priority lower than that priority. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the accumulated output of priority 1 is "9A" which is the sum of the output currents of priorities 1 to 3, "2A", "4A", and "3A". Moreover, the accumulated output of priority 2 is "7A" which is the sum of the output currents of priorities 2 and 3, "4A" and "3A".

[0042] The priority table Tb2 is used for each node to determine whether or not to cut off its own power supply in order to avoid a current overload, which will be described later. By referring to the priority table Tb2, it is possible to quickly determine up to which priority the node whose power supply needs to be cut off in order to make the total output equal to or less than the flow rate threshold.

[0043] <Registering a new node in the output table Tb1> When a new switching unit 3 (hereinafter referred to as a "new switching unit 3") is added to the power supply system 1, the node information of the new switching unit 3 is added to the output table Tb1.

[0044] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing how node information of a new switching unit 3 is added to an existing output table Tb1. The example shown in Fig. 4 shows a case where a third switching unit 3 (node ​​C) is added to a power supply system 1 including two existing switching units 3 (nodes A and B).

[0045] When adding a new switching unit 3, the user performs an input operation to add the new switching unit 3 in the network setting terminal 4. As a result, the network setting terminal 4 sets a node ID and a priority for the new switching unit 3. Then, the network setting terminal 4 transmits node information including the node ID and the priority to the new switching unit 3. As a result, the new switching unit 3 becomes able to participate in the mesh network as a new node (hereinafter referred to as a "new node").

[0046] The new node also transmits its own node information to each existing node (hereinafter referred to as "existing node"). Then, each existing node adds the node information transmitted from the new node to the output table Tb1. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, node C, which is a new node, transmits node ID "C" and priority "3" as node information to existing nodes A and B, and these data are added to the output table Tb1. As a result, the node information of the new node is registered in the output table Tb1 of each existing node. In addition, in the output table Tb1, the initial value "0A" is entered in the output current column of the new node. In addition, the timestamp column is entered with the time when the initial value of the output current was entered.

[0047] In addition, when the priority of an existing node needs to be changed due to the addition of a new node, the priority of each existing node may be updated as appropriate. For example, if there is an existing node with a lower priority than the priority of the new node, the priority of that node may be lowered by one. In addition, it is not necessary to update the priority of the existing node, and nodes with the same priority may coexist on the mesh network.

[0048] In addition, each existing node updates the priority table Tb2 using the updated output table Tb1. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 4, one row with a priority of "3" and an accumulated output of "0A" is added to the priority table.

[0049] In this embodiment, the new node transmits its own node information to other existing nodes, but the network setting terminal 4 may transmit the node information of the new node to the existing nodes.

[0050] Although not shown in the figure, the existing nodes transmit the node information and output current of each existing node to the new node. Then, the new node registers the transmitted node information and output current of the existing nodes in the output table Tb1. As a result, the new node also holds an output table Tb1 equivalent to the output table Tb1 held by the existing nodes.

[0051] <Output table and priority table update process> 5 is a diagram showing a flow for updating the output table Tb1 and the priority table Tb2. Each node executes the flow shown in FIG.

[0052] First, the node determines whether or not a new output current has been measured by the current measurement circuit 34 (current measurement determination process S1). If an output current has been measured (Yes), the node updates the output table Tb1 (output table update process S2). In addition, the node updates the priority table Tb2 based on the output table Tb1 updated by the output table update process S2 (priority table update process S3).

[0053] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of updating the output table Tb1 and the priority table Tb2. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the output of node B (priority 2) is changed from 4A to 3A. In this case, node B updates the current output of node B from "4A" to "3A" in the output table Tb1, and updates the time stamp. Then, node B updates the priority table Tb2 based on the updated output table Tb1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the accumulated output of priority 1 is updated from "9A" to "8A", and the accumulated output of priority 2 is updated from "7A" to "6A".

[0054] Returning to Fig. 5, after the priority table update process S3, the node transmits the new output current to the other nodes (transmission process S4). In addition, the other nodes that receive the new output current update the output current of the node that transmitted the output current to the new output current in the output table Tb1, and also update the timestamp. As a result, the other nodes also hold output tables Tb1 equivalent to the output table Tb1 shown in Fig. 5.

[0055] If the output current is not measured in the current measurement determination process S1, the node skips the output table update process S2 to the transmission process S4 and ends the flow.

[0056] The output table update process S2 corresponds to a “first update process” in which, focusing on the first switching unit 3 and the second switching unit 3 among the multiple switching units 3, the processor 31 of the first switching unit 3 updates the first output current of the first switching unit 3 stored in the memory unit 32 to a new first output current measured by the current measurement circuit 34.

[0057] The transmission process S4 corresponds to a "transmission process" in which the processor 31 of the first switching unit 3 transmits the first output current to the second switching unit 3.

[0058] Furthermore, when each node receives an output current transmitted from another node, it updates the output current of the other node input in the output table Tb1 to the new output current. This update process corresponds to a "second update process" in which the first switching unit 3 updates the second output current measured by the current measuring circuit 34 of the second switching unit 3 and stored in the storage unit 32 to the new second output current transmitted from the second switching unit 3.

[0059] <Processing when current exceeds limit> Next, a process for handling an excess current will be described. An excess current refers to a state in which the total value of the output currents of all the switching units 3 in the power supply system 1 exceeds a preset current threshold. This current threshold is set to, for example, the upper limit of the current set in the breaker 2 or a value lower than the upper limit of the current.

[0060] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an operation flow for dealing with an excess current. Each node executes the flow shown in Fig. 7, for example, periodically. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a priority table Tb2 that is updated in response to an excess current.

[0061] First, the node uses the priority table Tb2 to determine whether or not to cut off its own power supply (cutoff determination process S11). Specifically, the node determines whether or not the cumulative output of its own priority exceeds the current threshold. If it is determined by the cutoff determination process S11 that the cumulative output exceeds the current threshold, the node cuts off the power supply by turning off the switch circuit 35 (cutoff process S12).

[0062] For example, as shown in Fig. 8, when the current value of node B increases from "3A" to "6A", the priority table Tb2 is updated by the priority table update process S3 shown in Fig. 5. Specifically, since the priority of node B is "2", the accumulated output of priority 1 is updated from "8A" to "11A", and the accumulated output of priority 2 is updated from "6A" to "9A".

[0063] In this situation, if the current threshold is set to 10 A, which is the same as the upper limit of the current of breaker 2, the cumulative output (11 A) of priority 1 is greater than the current threshold (10 A). Then, node A, which has priority 1, cuts off the power supply to the electric device 9 by executing the cutoff process S12. Then, the total value of the current supplied from breaker 2 to each electric device 9 is limited to 9 A, thereby preventing the occurrence of a current overload.

[0064] 7, the node that has executed the cutoff process S12 determines whether or not to resume power supply using the priority table Tb2 (step S13). Specifically, the processor 31 determines whether or not the cumulative output of its own priority in the priority table Tb2 has fallen below the current threshold. If it is determined that the cumulative output has fallen below the current threshold, the processor 31 resumes power supply by connecting the switch circuit 35 (recovery process S14).

[0065] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 8, after the power supply of node A is cut off, the output current of node C decreases from "3 A" to "1 A". Therefore, the priority table Tb2 is updated by the priority table update process S3 shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, since the priority of node C is "3", the accumulated output of priority 1 is updated from "11 A" to "9 A", the accumulated output of priority 2 is updated from "9 A" to "7 A", and the accumulated output of priority 3 is updated from "3 A" to "1 A". In this case, since the accumulated output of priority 1 of node A is below the current threshold value (10 A), node A resumes power supply by executing the recovery process S14.

[0066] In this way, each node switches the power supply according to its own priority. Therefore, current overload can be avoided by turning off the minimum amount of power required. This makes it possible to avoid current overload without using a server, allowing the electric device 9 to operate with high efficiency.

[0067] The shutoff determination process S11 and the shutoff process S12 correspond to a “switch control process” in which the processor 31 of the first switching unit 3 controls the switch circuit 35 based on the sum of the first output current and the second output current stored in the memory unit 32.

[0068] The cutoff determination process S11 corresponds to a "threshold determination process" for determining whether the sum of the first output current and the second output current exceeds a current threshold. The cutoff process S12 corresponds to a process for controlling the switch circuit 35 based on the determination result of the "threshold determination process."

[0069] Moreover, the shutoff determination process S11 and the shutoff process S12 correspond to processes for controlling the switch circuit 35 based on the priority. In particular, the shutoff determination process S11 corresponds to a "priority determination process" for determining whether or not the priority of the first switching unit 3 is higher than the priority of the second switching unit 3 when it is determined by the threshold determination process that the sum of the first output current and the second output current exceeds the current threshold. Moreover, the shutoff process S12 corresponds to a "shutoff process" for shutting off the first switching unit 3 when it is determined by the priority determination process that the priority of the first switching unit 3 is higher than the priority of the second switching unit 3.

[0070] The restoration process S14 corresponds to a "conduction process" for turning on the switch 35 that was cut off by the cut-off process when it is determined by the threshold determination process that the total value falls below the current threshold.

[0071] <How to handle communication failures> 9 is a diagram showing a flow executed by each node to deal with a communication failure. Each node executes the flow shown in FIG. 9 periodically, for example.

[0072] First, the node determines whether or not there is a node that cannot communicate due to some kind of failure (hereinafter referred to as a "communication-disabled node") (communication determination process S21). For example, in the power supply system 1, a lower limit value of the communication interval between two nodes (hereinafter referred to as a "communication lower limit time") is set in advance. The communication lower limit time is set, for example, by a user operating the network setting terminal 4. Then, the network setting terminal 4 transmits the set communication lower limit time to each switching unit 3, whereby the communication lower limit time is shared between the switching units 3.

[0073] In the communication determination process S21, the node performs a communication determination for each other node. In this communication determination, it is determined whether the time elapsed from the last communication time when communication was last performed to the current time (hereinafter referred to as "elapsed communication time") exceeds the lower communication limit time. A node whose elapsed communication time exceeds the lower communication limit time is determined to be unable to communicate. The last communication time is identified by a timestamp entered in the output table Tb1.

[0074] If the communication determination process S21 determines that there is an incommunicable node (if Yes), the node determines whether or not all other nodes are incommunicable (communication determination process S22). If the communication determination process S22 determines that all other nodes are incommunicable (if Yes), there is a possibility that a communication failure has occurred in the node itself. For this reason, the node cuts off the power supply by turning off the switch circuit 35 (cutoff process S23). In addition, the node updates its own output current to zero in the output table Tb1 (output table update process S24). Then, after executing the output table update process S24, the node updates the priority table Tb2 based on the updated output table Tb1 (priority table update process S25).

[0075] In this way, if there is a possibility that a communication failure is occurring in the node itself, the power supply to the node itself is cut off. This makes it possible to set the output of the node where the communication failure has occurred to zero, thereby reducing the occurrence of excess current in the power supply system 1.

[0076] On the other hand, if it is determined by the communication determination process S22 that all other nodes are not in communication (i.e., only some nodes are in communication) (No), the node updates the output current of the incommunicable node to zero in the output table Tb1 (output table update process S26).Then, the node updates the priority table Tb2 based on the output table Tb1 updated by the output table update process S26 (priority table output table update process S25).

[0077] For example, when a particular node is removed from the breaker 2, the node is disconnected from the mesh network and cannot communicate. In this case, the other nodes update the current output of the disconnected node to zero by the output table update process S26. This makes it possible to effectively redirect the current that was allocated to the disconnected node to other nodes.

[0078] The timestamp of the second switching unit 3 in the output table Tb1 of the first switching unit 3 corresponds to the “first final communication time” when the first switching unit 3 last communicated with the second switching unit 3. The communication determination process S21 corresponds to a “communication determination process” that determines whether or not the first elapsed time from the first final time to the current time exceeds the communication lower limit time.

[0079] The timestamp of the third switching unit 3 in the output table Tb1 of the first switching unit 3 corresponds to the “second final communication time” when the first switching unit 3 last communicated with the third switching unit 3. The communication determination process S22 corresponds to a process of determining whether the first elapsed time and the second elapsed time from the second final time to the current time exceed the communication lower limit time.

[0080] The cutoff process S23 corresponds to a process of cutting off the switch circuit 35 of the first switching unit 3 when it is determined by the communication determination process that the first elapsed time and the second elapsed time exceed the communication lower limit time.

[0081] The output table update process S26 corresponds to a process of updating or deleting the second output current of the second switching unit 3 stored in the memory unit 32 to zero when the communication determination process determines that the first elapsed time has exceeded the communication lower limit time.

[0082] In the above embodiment, in the output table update process S26, the output current of the node that cannot communicate is updated to zero in the output table Tb1, but the node information of the node that cannot communicate may be deleted once. Also, the priority of the node that is lower than the priority of the deleted node may be raised. In this case, also in the output table update process S24, the information of the node that cannot communicate is deleted from the output table Tb1, and the priority of other nodes that are higher than the node itself is raised by one. In this case, it is possible to prevent the node information of unused nodes from accumulating in the output table Tb1.

[0083] If it is determined in step S21 that a communication failure has occurred in at least one node, each node may transmit a command to the other nodes to execute the flow shown in Fig. 9. Then, the other nodes may execute the flow shown in Fig. 9 based on the command.

[0084] <2. Modification> Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications are possible.

[0085] For example, in the above embodiment, it is not essential that the power supply system 1 includes the breaker 2. For example, the multiple switching units 3 may be directly connected to the power source 8 without the breaker 2 being interposed therebetween.

[0086] Furthermore, a plurality of electric devices 9 may be connected to one switching unit 3. Furthermore, a single electric device 9 may be connected to a plurality of switching units 3.

[0087] In the above embodiment, the switching units 3 are configured to be able to perform data communication with each other via a mesh network, but this is not essential. For example, the switching units 3 may be configured to be able to perform data communication with each other via a router, a repeater, or the like.

[0088] Although the present invention has been described in detail, the above description is merely illustrative in all respects, and the present invention is not limited thereto. It is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned without departing from the scope of the present invention. The configurations described in the above embodiments and variations can be appropriately combined or omitted as long as they are not mutually contradictory. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 1. Power Supply System 2 Breaker 3 Switching Unit 4 Network setting terminal 9. Electrical Equipment 31 Processors 32 Storage section 33 Communications Department 34 Current measurement circuit (current measurement section) 35 Switch circuit (switch section)

Claims

1. A power supply system that supplies power to an electric device via a plurality of switching units including at least a first and a second switching unit, Each of the switching units comprises: A processor; A storage unit; The Communications Department and a current measuring unit that measures an output current supplied from the switching unit to the electrical device; A switch unit that switches the power supply to the electrical device; Each of them has the storage unit stores a first output current measured by the current measuring unit of the first switching unit and a second output current measured by the current measuring unit of the second switching unit; The processor of the first switching unit a first updating process of updating the first output current stored in the storage unit to a new first output current measured by the current measuring unit of the first switching unit; a transmission process of transmitting the new first output current to the second switching unit via the communication unit; a second update process of updating the second output current stored in the storage unit to a new second output current transmitted from the second switching unit; a threshold determination process for determining whether a total value of the first output current and the second output current stored in the storage unit exceeds a current threshold; a switch control process for controlling the switch unit based on a result of the threshold determination process; A power supply system that performs the above.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1 , a breaker electrically connected to the first and second switching units; Further equipped with A power supply system, wherein the current threshold is an upper limit value of a current flowing through the breaker or a value smaller than the upper limit value.

3. The power supply system according to claim 1 or 2, The storage unit stores a priority indicating an order in which power supply is preferentially cut off for each of the switching units, The switch control process includes a process of controlling the switch unit based on the priority.

4. The power supply system according to claim 3, The switch control process includes: a priority determination process for determining whether or not a priority of the first switching unit is higher than a priority of the second switching unit when the threshold determination process determines that the sum exceeds the current threshold; a shut-off process of shutting down the first switching unit when it is determined by the priority determination process that the priority of the first switching unit is higher than the priority of the second switching unit; A power supply system including:

5. The power supply system according to claim 4, The switch control process further includes: a conduction process for making the switch unit, which has been cut off by the cut-off process, conductive when the threshold determination process determines that the sum is below the current threshold.

6. The power supply system according to claim 1 or 2, the storage unit of the first switching unit stores a first final communication time when the first switching unit last communicated with the second switching unit; The processor of the first switching unit a communication determination process for determining whether a first elapsed time from the first last communication time to a current time has exceeded a communication lower limit time; A power supply system that performs the above.

7. The power supply system according to claim 6, The processor of the first switching unit a process of updating the second output current of the second switching unit stored in the storage unit to zero or deleting the second output current of the second switching unit when it is determined by the communication determination process that the first elapsed time has exceeded the communication lower limit time; A power supply system that performs the above.

8. The power supply system according to claim 6 or 7, The plurality of switching units further includes a third switching unit; the storage unit of the first switching unit stores a second final communication time when the first switching unit last communicated with the third switching unit; the communication determination process includes a process of determining whether or not the first elapsed time and a second elapsed time from the second last communication time to a current time exceed the communication lower limit time; The processor of the first switching unit a process of cutting off the switch unit of the first switching unit when it is determined by the communication determination process that the first elapsed time and the second elapsed time exceed a communication lower limit time; A power supply system that performs the above.

9. A switching unit for supplying power to an electrical device, comprising: A processor; A storage unit; The Communications Department and a current measuring unit that measures a current supplied to the electrical device; A switch unit that switches the power supply to the electrical device; A storage unit; Equipped with the storage unit stores a first output current measured by the current measuring unit of the switching unit and a second output current received via the communication unit; The processor, an updating process of updating the first output current stored in the storage unit with a new first output current measured by the current measuring unit; a transmission process of transmitting the new first output current to an outside via the communication unit; a second update process of updating the second output current stored in the storage unit to a new second output current received via the communication unit; a switch control process for controlling the switch unit based on a total value of the first output current and the second output current stored in the storage unit; A switching unit that performs the above.

10. A power supply method for supplying power to an electric device from a plurality of switching units including first and second switching units, comprising: Each of the switching units comprises: Each of the switching units comprises: A storage unit; a current measuring unit that measures a current supplied to the electrical device; A switch unit that switches the power supply to the electrical device; Each of them has the storage unit stores a first output current measured by the current measuring unit of the first switching unit and a second output current measured by the current measuring unit of the second switching unit; The power supply method includes: a first updating step of updating the first output current stored in the memory unit to a new first output current measured by the current measuring unit of the first switching unit; sending the new first output current to a second switching unit; a second updating step of updating the second output current stored in the storage unit to a new second output current transmitted from the second switching unit; and a switch control step of controlling the switch unit based on a total value of the first output current and the second output current stored in the memory unit.

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