Design support system for electrical / electronic apparatus housing box and design support method for electrical / electronic apparatus housing box

Abstract

To prevent design of an electrical / electronic apparatus housing box from proceeding unless a user selects a connection relationship among electrical / electronic apparatuses after displaying the connection relationship among the electric / electronic apparatuses derived by calculation on display means.SOLUTION: A design support system for an electrical / electronic apparatus housing box capable of supporting design of the electrical / electronic apparatus housing box that stores electrical / electronic apparatuses in a housing includes: input means that can be used to input housing specification information which is specification information related to the housing and apparatus specification information which is specification information related to the electrical / electronic apparatuses; calculation means that can calculate, on the basis of the input apparatus specification information, a connection relationship among the electrical / electronic apparatuses; and selection means that enables selection of the connection relationship among the electrical / electronic apparatuses displayed on display means capable of displaying the calculated connection relationship among the electrical / electronic apparatuses. The electrical / electronic apparatus housing box can be designed on the basis of the connection relationship among the electrical / electronic apparatuses selected using the selection means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a design support system and a design support method for an electric / electronic device storage box. [Background technology]

[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, a system is known in which, when electrical and electronic devices to be placed in a panel are specified via an item input means, a panel product diagram is automatically created. By using such a system, a panel product diagram can be automatically created quickly regardless of the user's skill level. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-151906 A

[0004] Incidentally, the positions at which electrical and electronic equipment are placed and the connection state between electrical and electronic equipment (connection state of conductive members such as electric wires and bar members) change depending on the relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment placed in the panel. In other words, simply specifying electrical and electronic equipment may not create a product drawing of the panel desired by the user. On the other hand, when electrical and electronic equipment is specified, a product drawing is automatically created. For this reason, it is quick to create a product drawing, but there are cases where the created product drawing is not the product drawing of the panel desired by the user. In such cases, it was necessary to start over from the beginning by specifying the electrical and electronic equipment. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The inventor of the present invention has made extensive research into this issue and attempted to solve it. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to prevent the design of a storage box for electrical and electronic equipment from proceeding unless a user selects the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment after the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment derived by calculation are displayed on a display means. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a design support system for an electrical and electronic equipment storage box is provided that is capable of supporting the design of an electrical and electronic equipment storage box for storing electrical and electronic equipment within a housing, based on specification information input by a user using an input means, and the design support system comprises: input means that can be used to input housing specification information, which is specification information regarding the housing, and equipment specification information, which is specification information regarding the electrical and electronic equipment; calculation means that can calculate the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment based on the input equipment specification information; and selection means that makes it possible to select the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment displayed on a display means that can display the calculated connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment, and is capable of designing a box for storing electrical and electronic equipment based on the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment selected using the selection means.

[0007] It is also preferable that the calculation means is capable of deriving a plurality of connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices, and the selection means is configured to be capable of selecting a portion from among the plurality of connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices displayed by the display means.

[0008] It is also preferable that the device is configured to include a connection relationship changing means for changing the connection relationships between the displayed electrical and electronic devices, and the calculation means judges whether or not a design is possible with the configuration of the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices changed by the connection relationship changing means, and if it is judged that the design is possible, the display means is configured to display the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices changed by the connection relationship changing means.

[0009] Furthermore, it is preferable that the calculation means is capable of calculating to derive an arrangement relationship between the electrical and electronic devices based on the connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices calculated by the calculation means, or the connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices calculated by the calculation means and the housing information, the display means is capable of displaying the calculated arrangement relationship between the electrical and electronic devices, and the selection means is capable of selecting an arrangement relationship between the electrical and electronic devices from the arrangement relationships between the electrical and electronic devices derived by the calculation means, and a box for storing electrical and electronic devices can be designed based on the selected arrangement relationship between the electrical and electronic devices.

[0010] It is also preferable that the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices can be displayed using a plurality of symbols, some of the plurality of symbols can be made into one block, and the layout relationships between the electrical and electronic devices can be displayed using the plurality of blocks.

[0011] It is also preferable to provide a layout change means for specifying the layout relationship between the displayed electrical and electronic devices, and after the layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices has been displayed, when the layout change means is used to specify the layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices, the layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices specified by the layout change means can be displayed on the display means.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferable for the design support method for an electrical / electronic device storage box to support the design of an electrical / electronic device storage box for storing electrical / electronic devices within a housing based on specification information input by a user using an input means, the design support method for an electrical / electronic device storage box including the steps of: inputting device specification information, which is information regarding the specifications of the electrical / electronic devices; calculating connection relationships between the electrical / electronic devices based on the input device specification information; displaying the calculated connection relationships between the electrical / electronic devices; and selecting a desired connection relationship between the electrical / electronic devices from the displayed connection relationships between the electrical / electronic devices.

[0013] It is also preferable that the configuration includes a step of calculating a positional relationship between the electrical and electronic devices based on the calculated connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices, or the connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices calculated by the calculation means and the input housing information, a step of displaying the calculated positional relationship between the electrical and electronic devices, and a step of selecting a desired positional relationship between the electrical and electronic devices from the displayed positional relationships between the electrical and electronic devices.

[0014] Furthermore, the design support method for an electrical / electronic device storage box that supports the design of an electrical / electronic device storage box for storing electrical / electronic devices within a housing, based on specification information input by a user using an input means, preferably includes the steps of: displaying a housing template including housing specification information, which is specification information regarding the housing, or an electrical / electronic device template including device specification information, which is specification information regarding the electrical / electronic device, or a template for an electrical / electronic device storage box including housing specification information and device specification information; selecting a desired template from the displayed templates; changing the selected housing specification information or device specification information; calculating connection relationships between the electrical / electronic devices based on the selected or changed device specification information; displaying the calculated connection relationships between the electrical / electronic devices; and selecting a desired connection relationship between the electrical / electronic devices from the displayed connection relationships between the electrical / electronic devices. Effect of the Invention

[0015] In the present invention, it is possible to prevent the design of the electrical and electronic equipment storage box from progressing unless the user selects the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment after the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment derived by calculation are displayed on the display means. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents displayed on a display at the start of use of the design support system. [Diagram 2]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of input of housing specification information. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of inputting information related to options of a housing. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of input of electrical and electronic equipment specification information; [Diagram 5] 13 is a diagram showing an example in which basic conditions such as a usage mode of the electric / electronic device storage box are input. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a wiring image showing a connection relationship between electric and electronic devices; [Figure 7] 7 is a diagram showing an example of a wiring image showing a connection relationship between electric and electronic devices different from that shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] This is a diagram showing an example in which the displayed wiring image is changed to another one by manipulating it, where the hanging manner of the branch breakers located on the secondary side of the main breaker is changed. [Figure 9] This is a diagram showing an example of changing the displayed wiring image to another one by manipulating it, where some of the branch breakers located on the secondary side of the main breaker are moved to the primary side of the main breaker. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the wiring numbers being assigned. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a diagram showing the connection relationship between electric and electronic devices and a diagram showing the layout relationship between the electric and electronic devices displayed on a display. [Figure 12] This figure shows the contents displayed on the display when the wiring image is the same as the example shown in FIG. 10 but a space is set. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the contents displayed on the display when the block division is changed from the example shown in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of specifications of electrical and electronic devices on one-phase three-wire system side of two systems. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of specifications of electrical and electronic devices on a three-phase, three-wire system side of the two systems. [Figure 16]16 is a diagram showing an example of a display of connection relationships between electric and electronic devices in response to the contents entered in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a layout relationship between electric and electronic devices derived for the connection image shown in FIG. 16 and displayed on a display. [Figure 18] 18 is a diagram showing an example of a layout relationship between electric and electronic devices, which is different from that shown in FIG. 17 and is derived from the image of connections shown in FIG. 16, and is displayed on a display. [Figure 19] 17 and 18, which are derived from the image of connections shown in FIG. 16, and are shown on a display. FIG. [Figure 20] 11A and 11B are diagrams showing examples of templates for electrical and electronic equipment storage boxes including housing specification information and equipment specification information displayed on a display. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The embodiment of the invention is described below. As can be understood from FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the design support system for an electrical / electronic device storage box of this embodiment can support the design of an electrical / electronic device storage box that stores electrical / electronic devices in a housing, based on information on specifications input by a user using an input means. This design support system for an electrical / electronic device storage box includes an input means that can be used to input housing specification information, which is specification information on the housing, and device specification information, which is specification information on the electrical / electronic device, a calculation means that can calculate the connection relationship between the electrical / electronic devices based on the input device specification information, and a selection means that can select the connection relationship between the electrical / electronic devices displayed on a display means that can display the calculated connection relationship between the electrical / electronic devices. In addition, the electrical / electronic device storage box can be designed based on the connection relationship between the electrical / electronic devices selected using the selection means. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the design of the electrical / electronic device storage box from proceeding unless the user selects the connection relationship between the electrical / electronic devices after the connection relationship between the electrical / electronic devices derived by the calculation is displayed on the display means.

[0018] In addition, a design support method for an electrical / electronic device storage box that supports the design of an electrical / electronic device storage box for storing electrical / electronic devices in a housing based on information on specifications input by a user using an input means is required to include the steps of inputting device specification information, which is information on the specifications of the electrical / electronic devices, calculating connection relationships between the electrical / electronic devices based on the input device specification information, displaying the calculated connection relationships between the electrical / electronic devices, and selecting a desired connection relationship between the electrical / electronic devices from the displayed connection relationships between the electrical / electronic devices. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the design of the electrical / electronic device storage box from progressing unless the user selects the connection relationship between the electrical / electronic devices after the connection relationships between the electrical / electronic devices derived by the calculation are displayed on the display means.

[0019] The following explanation will be based on boxes for storing electrical and electronic equipment used for power distribution, such as distribution boards, switchboards, control panels, and high-voltage receiving equipment. However, the invention may of course also be applied to design support systems such as system racks equipped with servers, communication devices, computing devices, etc., or work boxes equipped with communication devices, lighting equipment, desks, chairs, etc., for people to work inside.

[0020] The electric / electronic device storage box of the embodiment includes a housing and electric / electronic devices stored in the housing. The electric / electronic devices may be, but are not limited to, electrical or electronic devices such as breakers, switches, terminal blocks, time switches, lightning arresters, outlets, transformers, relays, communication devices, measuring devices, control devices, sensor devices, and air conditioners, as well as circuits made up of electronic devices such as emergency circuits and automatic flashing circuits.

[0021] Information used when determining the specifications of a box for storing electrical and electronic equipment includes "enclosure specification information" regarding the specifications of the enclosure, "equipment specification information" regarding the specifications of the electrical and electronic equipment, and "electrical and electronic equipment storage box specification information" regarding the specifications of the box for storing electrical and electronic equipment.

[0022] The "casing specification information" regarding the specifications of the casing may be, for example, the material of the casing (iron, stainless steel, resin, etc.), the dimensions of the casing (width, height, depth), the color of the casing, etc. (see FIG. 2). It may also be information regarding the performance or type of the casing (waterproof performance, earthquake resistance, heat resistance, wall-mounted type, freestanding type, etc.), the position of the wire entering the casing, the position of the wire exiting the casing (top wire entering, bottom wire exiting, rear wire entering, rear wire exiting, etc.), the installation area of ​​the electric and electronic devices in the casing, information regarding the wiring space in the casing (the area where wiring is possible when the electric and electronic devices are not installed, the area where wiring is possible that changes depending on the installation of the electric and electronic devices), information regarding the doors that constitute the casing (the number of doors, the direction in which they open, etc.), etc. It may also be information regarding the options of the casing (see FIG. 3). For example, it may be information regarding processing (hole processing, welding processing, etc.) for the casing (processing position, number, etc.), information regarding parts (locking device, heat countermeasure device, waterproofing material, etc.) to be attached to the casing (installation position, number, etc.).

[0023] "Device specification information" on the specifications of electrical and electronic devices includes, for example, information on type (conventional breaker, earth leakage breaker, circuit breaker, plug-in breaker, terminal block, relay, ammeter, wattmeter, communication device, time switch, SPD, control circuit, etc.), information on performance (electrical performance such as rated current and rated interrupting capacity, physical performance such as strength, etc.), information on the number of systems (such as forming two systems, one-phase three-wire and three-phase three-wire, within one case), information on the number, etc. (See Figure 4.) It may also be information on options for electrical and electronic devices, such as information on parts added to electrical and electronic devices (such as handle locks).

[0024] In addition, the "equipment specification information" may be information regarding functions and roles (role as an incoming line (shown as "incoming" in Figure 4), role as a main breaker (shown as "main" in Figure 4), role as a branch breaker (shown as "branch" in Figure 4), role as a secondary device of a branch breaker (shown as "branch secondary" in Figure 4), role as a primary device of a main breaker, etc.), information regarding installation location (side installation, door installation, etc.), information regarding the connection relationship between electrical and electronic devices (whether connection is possible, etc.), etc. Information regarding the connection relationship may be calculated based on information regarding functions and roles.

[0025] Furthermore, the "equipment specification information" may be information regarding the layout relationship between electrical and electronic devices (for example, whether 10 identical devices are arranged in one row, or whether they are divided into two groups and arranged in two rows of five each). The information regarding the layout relationship depends on the connection relationship. For example, in the layout relationship between a main breaker and a branch breaker, if a branch breaker is connected to the secondary side of the main breaker, the branch breaker is arranged below the main breaker, and if a branch breaker is connected to the primary side of the main breaker, the branch breaker is arranged to the left and right of the main breaker to distinguish it from other branch breakers as it is an emergency circuit.

[0026] The "electrical and electronic equipment storage box specification information" regarding the specifications of the electrical and electronic equipment storage box includes, for example, the installation location, installation environment (indoors, outdoors, salt damage area, heavy snowfall area, high altitude area, etc.), installation condition (mounted on a wall, mounted on a pole, freestanding, etc.), the power company that has jurisdiction over the area in which it will be used, and the frequency band of the area in which it will be used (see Figure 5).

[0027] The specification information of the electrical and electronic equipment storage box in the embodiment is linked to the drawing number, and is also linked to the housing specification information and the equipment specification information. It is preferable that the system is configured so that information about the designed electrical and electronic equipment storage box is output by searching the drawing number during the design stage or after the design is completed.

[0028] The housing specification information and the device specification information are input using an input means, and this input may be performed using a means commonly used for inputting information into a personal computer, a smartphone, etc. (input using a keyboard or mouse, input to a display, etc.). Also, the specification information may be input by capturing a document on which the specification information is written using optical character recognition. Also, the specification information may be input using voice input or eye contact input. The specification information may be input using a product name number or the like assigned to various information.

[0029] It is preferable that all of the housing specification information and device specification information are input using the input means, but even if only a part of them is input, the calculation means may perform calculations. In other words, the input specification information may be compared with specification information of previously designed electrical and electronic device storage boxes to estimate the housing specification information and device specification information desired by the system user, and the electrical and electronic device storage box may be designed.

[0030] In addition, as an input means, a plurality of templates of electrical / electronic device storage boxes configured with standard housing specifications and device specifications may be prepared, and the housing specification information and device specification information may be input by selecting one from the plurality of templates. In this case, the product number may be input for either the housing specification information or the device specification information, and the other may be input by selecting it from the template.

[0031] On the other hand, input for changing the housing specification information or device specification information of the electrical and electronic equipment storage box selected from the template may be input by the input means, for example, information regarding the size of the housing may be changed as the housing specification information, or new electrical and electronic equipment may be added as the device specification information.

[0032] The calculation means is used when calculating the connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices, and can calculate the connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices based on inputted device specification information, etc. This calculation may be performed by either a method using a database or a method not using a database.

[0033] When using a database to calculate the connection relationships between electrical and electronic devices, the device specification information stored in the database should contain information that indicates the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices. This information should be used to compare the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices contained in the input device specification information, and to calculate the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices.

[0034] For example, assume that the database stores information that an electrical / electronic device of type "SB228" is an electrical / electronic device that functions as a main breaker and can be connected to incoming electric lines and branch breakers. Also assume that the database stores information that an electrical / electronic device of type "BB51" is an electrical / electronic device that functions as a branch breaker and can be connected to devices classified as secondary devices of branch breakers, such as main breakers, measuring instruments that measure current, voltage, and power, and control circuits. Using this information and the input information, the connection relationships between electrical / electronic devices can be calculated.

[0035] On the other hand, when a database is not used for computing the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices, the information representing the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices may be input together with the device specification information, and the computing means may be configured to perform computations based on the input information representing the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices.

[0036] Furthermore, even if a database is not used for the calculation of the connection relationships between electrical and electronic devices, the calculation may be possible without inputting information that represents the connection relationships between electrical and electronic devices. For example, the connection relationships between electrical and electronic devices based on the input device specification information may be calculated by artificial intelligence based on information about electrical and electronic device storage boxes designed in the past and information about the connection relationships between electrical and electronic devices input as training data.

[0037] In order to prevent the calculation results by the calculation means from being unexpected by the system user, a priority may be set for the equipment specification information. For example, for items with a high set priority, the connected electric / electronic devices and the number of electric / electronic devices constituting the equipment are not changed. Also, instead of a priority, a prohibition on changes may be set. In this case, for items for which prohibition on changes is set, the contents are maintained, and only other items become adjustment factors.

[0038] In an embodiment, when the connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices are calculated by the calculation means, the connection relationships are created as a wiring image and displayed by the display means. For example, a symbol is assigned to each of the input device specification information, and the symbols are connected with lines to display the connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices on a display or the like. The displayed wiring image represents the connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices, and does not need to represent the layout relationship of the electric and electronic devices in the housing.

[0039] It is also preferable to provide each symbol with a description that indicates the function or role of the electrical and electronic equipment. For example, this description is determined for each electrical and electronic equipment. For example, "measurement" may be written for something that measures electricity-related data, and "control" may be written for a control circuit (see FIG. 6). Note that "measurement" in FIG. 6 corresponds to "WH" in FIG. 4. Also, "control" in FIG. 6 corresponds to "TM" in FIG. 4.

[0040] In the embodiment, the system is configured so that when a user of the system judges that the displayed wiring image is satisfactory and selects this wiring image, the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices are determined. However, the system may also be configured so that the calculation means calculates the connection relationships between a plurality of electrical and electronic devices, a plurality of wiring images are displayed, and the user of the system selects the wiring image that he or she wishes to adopt from the plurality of wiring images.

[0041] In order to make this possible, it is preferable that the calculation means is capable of deriving a plurality of connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices, and the selection means is configured to enable selection of a portion from the plurality of connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices displayed by the display means. Note that a plurality of connection images may be displayed simultaneously on a display or the like, or may be displayed one by one or several by one, and the display may be switched.

[0042] When multiple electrical / electronic devices with the same function, role, or type are input, the connection relationships may be calculated as one unit, or the connection relationships may be calculated by dividing the devices into multiple units. In this case, the units may be displayed as multiple symbols.

[0043] In addition, there are cases where multiple electrical and electronic devices can be connected to each electrical and electronic device, and cases where electrical and electronic devices can be connected so that their relative relationships with each other are different. For example, a branch breaker can be connected to the secondary side of a main breaker, and it can also be connected to the primary side. In addition, a measuring device can be connected to the secondary side of a branch breaker when measuring one circuit, and can be connected to the primary side of a main breaker when measuring the entire circuit. For this reason, the wiring image will differ depending on where the electrical and electronic devices are connected.

[0044] In addition, when using a symbol that groups multiple electrical and electronic devices into one unit to display a wiring image, the number of electrical and electronic devices included in the symbol may differ even if the number of symbols is the same. For this reason, it is preferable to display the number of electrical and electronic devices that make up the unit (see Figure 6).

[0045] Although an actual unit of a box for storing electrical and electronic equipment is formed by mounting multiple electrical and electronic equipment on a base member, the unit used in the wiring image does not necessarily have to be such a group. However, when a product group is formed by grouping a predetermined number of electrical and electronic equipment, it is preferable to configure the display to preferentially display the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment using this product group when calculating by the calculation means. By configuring in this way, the manufacturing efficiency of boxes for storing electrical and electronic equipment can be improved.

[0046] Incidentally, the system may be provided with a connection relationship changing means that allows a system user to modify the connection image displayed on a display or the like. For example, it is preferable for the connection relationship changing means to allow the number of electrical and electronic devices included in a symbol to be changed, the connection positions of the symbol to be changed, etc. It is preferable that the modified content is displayed on a display or the like.

[0047] Furthermore, when the wiring image is modified, a different wiring image may be calculated by the calculation means based on the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices in the modified wiring image, and may be displayed on a display or the like.

[0048] Since the modified content may not be suitable for the configuration of the electrical and electronic equipment storage box, it is preferable to configure the system so that it can determine whether or not the electrical and electronic equipment can be connected to each other based on the modified content. For example, it is preferable to configure the system so that a warning is displayed if the connection is not possible.

[0049] In order to make this possible, it is preferable that the design support system is provided with a connection relationship changing means for changing the connection relationships between the displayed electrical and electronic devices, and the calculation means judges whether or not a design is possible with the configuration of the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices changed by the connection relationship changing means, and if it is judged that the design is possible, the design support system is configured to be capable of displaying, on the display means, the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic devices changed by the connection relationship changing means.

[0050] Here, an example of using the system of the embodiment will be described. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, equipment specification information such as "incoming cv", "1 main SB228", and "14 branch BB51" is input. When this work is completed, the button for creating a wiring image is pressed. Then, based on the input equipment specification information, the connection relationship between the electric and electronic devices is calculated, and a wiring image is displayed (see Fig. 6).

[0051] If there is no problem with the displayed wiring image, the connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices is determined by pressing the decision button. If there is a problem with the displayed wiring image, it is possible to press the back button and re-enter the device specification information, but if there are multiple candidates for the connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices, the configuration may be such that the candidates can be confirmed. In the example shown in Fig. 6, another wiring image is displayed by pressing the next button or previous button (see Fig. 7).

[0052] In the embodiment, it is also possible to modify the displayed wiring image. In the modification example shown in Fig. 8, a configuration in which 28 branch breakers are evenly divided between two symbols is modified to two branch breakers and 26 branch breakers. In the modification example shown in Fig. 9, the connection destination of the two branch breakers is changed from the secondary side of the main breaker to the primary side.

[0053] If there are no problems with the revised content, the user can carry out the selection task. In this example, the connection relationships between electrical and electronic devices are selected by pressing the Confirm button. When the connection relationships between electrical and electronic devices are selected, the connection numbers are displayed on the input screen. (In Fig. 10, the connection relationships between electrical and electronic devices are shown as initial, unrevised connection images, and have been determined.)

[0054] When the connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices are selected, the calculation means calculates the layout relationship between the electric and electronic devices in the housing based on the device specification information, the connection relationships between the selected electric and electronic devices, the housing specification information, etc. For example, the calculation means calculates to derive the layout relationship between the electric and electronic devices based on the connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices calculated by the calculation means, or the connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices calculated by the calculation means and the housing information.

[0055] The inputted device specification information can be used to grasp the size of each of the electrical and electronic devices. Also, the layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices in the housing may be calculated by a calculation means based on the determined connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices, the unit size of each electrical and electronic device (the larger of the size of the connected electrical and electronic devices or the base member), the wiring distance, the ease of wiring work, and the like.

[0056] For example, when electrical and electronic devices are connected to each other by electric wires, arranging them close to each other reduces the number of wires used for wiring and makes wiring work easier. For this reason, it is preferable to configure the system to perform calculations that treat electrical and electronic devices connected by electric wires as electrical and electronic devices that should be arranged close to each other.

[0057] When information on the size of the housing is input as the housing specification information, it is preferable that the layout relationship between the electric and electronic devices is calculated so that the housing is equal to or smaller than the input size. If the size of the entire electric and electronic devices arranged in the calculated layout relationship does not fit within the housing, a message to that effect may be displayed and the user may be prompted to modify the device specification information and the housing specification information.

[0058] When the overall size of the electric / electronic devices arranged in the calculated layout relationship is smaller than the specified size of the housing, a display may be displayed indicating that the housing size can be reduced.

[0059] If no information regarding the size of the housing is input as housing specification information (this may include cases where only part of the width, height, and depth is input), a housing that can accommodate the overall size of the electrical and electronic devices arranged in the calculated relative positions of the electrical and electronic devices can be calculated.

[0060] When the layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices is found by calculation, the result is displayed using a display means. If the displayed content is confirmed to be acceptable and a selection is made, the electrical and electronic device storage box is designed in accordance with the selected content.

[0061] In order to make this possible, it is preferable that the calculation means is capable of calculating to derive a layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices based on the connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices calculated by the calculation means, or based on the connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices calculated by the calculation means and the housing information. It is also preferable that the display means is capable of displaying the calculated layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices. It is also preferable that the selection means is capable of selecting a layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices from the layout relationships between the electrical and electronic devices derived by the calculation means, and the design support system is configured to be capable of designing the electrical and electronic device storage box based on the selected layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices.

[0062] In addition, in the design support method for a storage box for electrical and electronic equipment, it is preferable to have a configuration including the steps of: calculating a positional relationship between the electrical and electronic equipment based on the calculated connection relationship between the electrical and electronic equipment, or the connection relationship between the electrical and electronic equipment calculated by a calculation means and input housing information; displaying the calculated positional relationship between the electrical and electronic equipment; and selecting a desired positional relationship between the electrical and electronic equipment from the displayed positional relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment.

[0063] In displaying the determined connection image, a plurality of symbols may be divided into a plurality of blocks. For example, a block may be represented by a single enclosure, and a symbol or a group of symbols contained within the enclosure may be displayed so as to be understood as belonging to one block (see FIG. 11).

[0064] Dividing into blocks can improve convenience. For example, convenience can be improved by treating electrical and electronic devices arranged on the same base member as one block, or by dividing into blocks so that the circuits can be distinguished.

[0065] It is preferable to configure the display so that an image of how each of these blocks will be arranged inside the case is also displayed. For example, it is easy to understand whether the blocks are arranged in order from the top of the case, or whether some of the blocks are arranged side by side in the left-right direction.

[0066] For this reason, it is preferable that the design support system is capable of displaying the connection relationships between electrical and electronic devices using a plurality of symbols, making some of the plurality of symbols into single blocks, and displaying the layout relationships between the electrical and electronic devices using a plurality of blocks.

[0067] In the embodiment, the distance between each block is configured to secure the minimum distance that should be provided to prevent electrical accidents. However, in order to secure space for wiring or to secure space for installing new electrical and electronic equipment, a layout image with additional space added may be calculated. Also, the system may be configured to allow the user of the system to add space (see Figs. 11 and 12). Note that, as with the wiring image, the layout image may also be configured to be capable of displaying multiple images derived by calculation. Also, the system may be configured to allow the user of the system to modify the layout image by reconfiguring the group configuration (see Figs. 11 and 13).

[0068] In order to make this possible, it is preferable that the design support system is provided with a layout modification means for specifying the layout relationship between the displayed electrical and electronic devices, and once the layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices has been displayed, when the layout modification means is used to specify the layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices, the layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices specified by the layout modification means can be displayed on the display means.

[0069] Here, an example of using the system of the embodiment will be described. In the example shown in Fig. 10, after the connection relationship between the electric and electronic devices is determined, pressing the Next button displays a wiring image and a layout image (see Fig. 11). The layout image basically assumes that blocks A, B, and C are arranged from the top of the case in this order, but this is not a limitation.

[0070] Here, the layout image displayed as shown in Fig. 11 was modified by adding a space (SP) to change the layout image (see Fig. 12). In this example, a calculation was performed to add space without changing the case size, so blocks B and C are arranged in parallel while securing space above and below the case. Of course, a layout image in which the case size is changed in response to the addition of space may also be calculated.

[0071] When multiple layout images are derived, an arrangement image different from the currently displayed layout image may be displayed by performing an operation. For example, an arrangement image in which the block division of symbols in the connection image is changed may be displayed by pressing the next button or the previous button (see Figs. 12 and 13).

[0072] If there are no problems with the displayed wiring image, the user presses the confirm button to complete the design of the electrical and electronic equipment storage box. In other words, the electrical and electronic equipment storage box to be handled is determined by selecting the connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment and the layout relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment in the housing based on the inputted equipment specification information and housing specification information.

[0073] So far, we have explained the case where the electrical and electronic equipment storage box has one system, but it is also possible to have multiple systems. Here, we will explain an example where there are two systems. For example, assume that the equipment specification information is entered with the first system being a one-phase three-wire system (see FIG. 14) and the second system being a three-phase three-wire system (see FIG. 15). Also, assume that no case specification information is entered.

[0074] For example, suppose that the wiring image shown in Fig. 16 is presented as a candidate. If this wiring image is acceptable, the user selects it. In the example shown in Fig. 16, the user can select the displayed wiring image by pressing the enter button.

[0075] A wiring image is displayed based on the selected wiring image. If multiple wiring image candidates are derived by calculation, they can be displayed. For example, according to the selected wiring image, the first system of the displayed wiring image is displayed as block A, the second system as block B (see Figure 17).

[0076] Here, the following three candidates for the wiring image were derived by calculation. In the first wiring image candidate, block A and block B are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction (see Figure 17). In this example, the case is long horizontally.

[0077] The second candidate wiring image has block A and block B placed one above the other (see Figure 18). In this example, the housing is vertically long. The third candidate wiring image has block A and block B placed in separate housings (see Figure 19). In this example, the housing is vertically long, but the vertical length is set to be shorter than in the second example.

[0078] As can be understood from these descriptions, when housing specification information is not input (for example, information regarding housing size is not input), it is preferable to configure the wiring image so that examples of different housing sizes or different numbers of housings are derived as candidates.

[0079] Here, an example in which a box for storing electric and electronic equipment can be designed using a template will be described. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a template for a box for storing electric and electronic equipment, including housing specification information and device specification information, displayed on a display. After inputting basic information, a user selects a desired template from the templates displayed on the display. By selecting a template, the housing specification information and device specification information are automatically input as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. Housing option information (see FIG. 3) may be automatically input within the range included in the template. In this case, the housing specification information may be manually input, and the device specification information may be automatically input by selecting a device template, or one of the housing specification information and device specification information may be manually input and the other may be automatically input using a template.

[0080] The templates represent standard electrical / electronic device storage boxes, standard housings, and standard electrical / electronic devices, and are registered in a database. The order in which the templates are displayed on the display may be any order, such as the order in which they are registered in the database, the order in which they are most frequently selected by users, or the order in which they were most recently selected by users.

[0081] In addition, in the case of templates for electrical and electronic devices, a template may be registered for each electrical and electronic device, but if a template for a unit that groups together multiple electrical and electronic devices is registered, it is possible to omit the user's selection and input tasks.

[0082] As can be understood from these descriptions, a design support method for an electrical and electronic equipment storage box that supports the design of an electrical and electronic equipment storage box for storing electrical and electronic equipment within a housing, based on specification information input by a user using an input means, preferably comprising the steps of: displaying a housing template including housing specification information, which is specification information regarding the housing, or an electrical and electronic equipment template including device specification information, which is specification information regarding the electrical and electronic equipment, or a template for an electrical and electronic equipment storage box including housing specification information and device specification information; selecting a desired template from the displayed templates; changing the selected housing specification information or device specification information; calculating connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment based on the selected or changed device specification information; displaying the calculated connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment; and selecting a desired connection relationship between the electrical and electronic equipment from the displayed connection relationships between the electrical and electronic equipment.

[0083] Although the present invention has been described above by taking the embodiment as an example, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be embodied in various forms.

Claims

1. A design support system for an electrical / electronic device storage box capable of supporting the design of an electrical / electronic device storage box for storing electrical / electronic devices in a housing, based on information on specifications input by a user using an input means, comprising: An input means that can be used to input housing specification information, which is specification information related to a housing, and device specification information, which is specification information related to an electric / electronic device; A calculation means capable of calculating a connection relationship between electric and electronic devices based on input device specification information; a selection means for enabling a selection of the connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices displayed on a display means capable of displaying the calculated connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices; Equipped with A design support system for an electrical / electronic device storage box that can design an electrical / electronic device storage box based on the connection relationships between electrical / electronic devices selected using a selection means.

2. The calculation means is capable of deriving a plurality of connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices; 2. The design support system for an electric / electronic device storage box according to claim 1, wherein the selection means makes it possible to select a part of the connection relationships between the plurality of electric / electronic devices displayed by the display means.

3. a connection relationship changing means for changing a connection relationship between the displayed electric and electronic devices; The calculation means determines whether or not a design is possible with the configuration of the connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices changed by the connection relationship changing means; If the design is deemed possible, 2. The design support system for an electric / electronic device storage box according to claim 1, wherein the display means can display the connection relationships between the electric / electronic devices changed by the connection relationship changing means.

4. the calculation means is capable of performing calculations to derive a layout relationship between the electric and electronic devices based on the connection relationship between the electric and electronic devices calculated by the calculation means, or based on the connection relationship between the electric and electronic devices calculated by the calculation means and the housing information, the display means is capable of displaying the calculated positional relationship between the electric and electronic devices; the selection means is capable of selecting a positional relationship between the electric and electronic devices from the positional relationships between the electric and electronic devices derived by the calculation means; 4. The design support system for an electric / electronic device storage box according to claim 1, which is capable of designing an electric / electronic device storage box based on the layout relationship between selected electric / electronic devices.

5. The connection relationships between electrical and electronic devices can be displayed using multiple symbols, 2. The design support system for electrical and electronic equipment storage boxes as described in claim 1, wherein a portion of the plurality of symbols is made into one block, and the positional relationship between the electrical and electronic equipment is displayed using the plurality of blocks.

6. a layout change means for specifying a layout relationship between the displayed electric and electronic devices, When the layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices is designated using the layout change means after the layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices has been displayed, 2. The design support system for an electric / electronic device storage box according to claim 1, wherein the display means is capable of displaying the layout relationship between the electric / electronic devices specified by the layout change means.

7. A design support method for an electrical / electronic device storage box, which supports the design of an electrical / electronic device storage box for storing electrical / electronic devices in a housing, based on information regarding specifications input by a user using an input means, comprising: A step of inputting device specification information which is information regarding the specifications of electrical and electronic equipment; A step of calculating a connection relationship between the electric and electronic devices based on the input device specification information; A step of displaying the calculated connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices; selecting a desired connection relationship between the electric and electronic devices from the displayed connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices; A design support method for an electrical / electronic device storage box comprising:

8. calculating a layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices based on the calculated connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices or the connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices calculated by the calculation means and the input housing information; displaying the calculated layout relationship between the electrical and electronic devices; selecting a desired arrangement relationship between the electric and electronic devices from the displayed arrangement relationships between the electric and electronic devices; The design support method for an electrical / electronic device storage box according to claim 7, further comprising:

9. A design support method for an electrical / electronic device storage box, which supports the design of an electrical / electronic device storage box for storing electrical / electronic devices in a housing, based on information regarding specifications input by a user using an input means, comprising: displaying a template of a housing including housing specification information which is specification information related to the housing, or a template of an electrical / electronic device including device specification information which is specification information related to the electrical / electronic device, or a template of a box for storing electrical / electronic devices including the housing specification information and the device specification information; selecting a desired template from the displayed templates; changing the selected housing specification information or device specification information; A step of calculating a connection relationship between the electric and electronic devices based on the selected or changed device specification information; A step of displaying the calculated connection relationship between the electrical and electronic devices; selecting a desired connection relationship between the electric and electronic devices from the displayed connection relationships between the electric and electronic devices; A design support method for an electrical / electronic device storage box comprising:

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