Display device

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of appropriately operating a management system for managing energy.SOLUTION: An exemplary display device is a display device included in a management system that performs energy management, the display device including a manual setting region that displays input / output information of a device included in the management system and allows input information or output information of the device to be manually set, in which the manual setting region changes a display mode between a case where manual setting of the input information or the output information of the device is performed and a case where the manual setting is not performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9B

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, an electric / thermal energy network that exchanges electric energy and thermal energy has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The electric / thermal energy network connects, for example, a cogeneration system, a renewable energy source, an electric storage unit, a thermal storage unit, a power supply network, a thermal energy supply system, an electric load, and a thermal load. Optimization of energy management of the electric / thermal energy network is performed by a control device (computer). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6423967 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The control device that manages the energy of the electric and thermal energy network is equipped with an input device and a display device as a man-machine interface. The display device displays various input screens, etc.

[0005] There is a demand for technology that can appropriately operate a management system in a configuration in which there is a person who issues instructions to a control device using the screen of a display device.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables appropriate operation of a management system that manages energy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An exemplary display device of the present invention is a display device possessed by a management system that manages energy, and displays input / output information of devices possessed by the management system, and has a manual setting area that allows the input information or output information of the devices to be manually set, and the manual setting area changes its display mode depending on whether the input information or output information of the devices has been manually set or not. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a management system for managing energy can be appropriately operated. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] Image of the management system [Figure 2] Block diagram showing the system controller configuration [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a login screen is displayed on the screen of a display device; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a home screen is displayed on a screen of a display device; [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a user management screen is displayed on the screen of a display device; [Figure 6] A schematic diagram showing the permission list screen included in the user management screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed example of the authority change operation area shown in FIG. 6 ; [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a device management screen is displayed on the screen of a display device; [Figure 9A] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when a manual setting area is operated on the device management screen shown in FIG. 8; [Figure 9B] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen in which manual settings have been made using the manual setting area; [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a screen display when a manual setting area is operated during manual setting; [Figure 11] A schematic diagram showing an example of the screen when the manual tab is operated [Figure 12] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a device management screen different from that shown in FIG. 8 and displayed on the screen of the display device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <1. Management System> FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The management system 100 manages energy. That is, the management system 100 is an energy management system. In particular, the management system 100 manages electric energy and thermal energy. The management system 100 is applied to, for example, residential facilities, industrial facilities, or residential and industrial facilities.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the management system 100 includes a system controller 1. The management system 100 manages electric energy and thermal energy with the system controller 1 at its core. The management system 100 is configured to include equipment (electrical equipment) that is capable of supplying electric power, and equipment (thermal equipment) that is capable of supplying at least one of hot and cold energy. These pieces of equipment are controlled by the system controller 1.

[0013] Note that hot heat is warm heat, and cold heat is cold heat. In other words, when heat is classified into warm heat and cold heat, warm heat is hot heat, and cold heat is cold heat. For example, hot heat is air that is at a higher temperature than the room temperature, and cold heat is air that is at a lower temperature than the room temperature. Furthermore, the equipment shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and the configuration may be changed to one in which any of the equipment shown in FIG. 1 is missing, or to one in which equipment not shown in FIG. 1 is added.

[0014] 1, the management system 100 includes, as the above-mentioned electrical equipment, a renewable energy power generation device 2 and a storage battery 3. The renewable energy power generation device 2 and the storage battery 3 operate under the control of a system controller 1.

[0015] The renewable energy power generation device 2 is a device that generates power using renewable energy such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, or geothermal energy. The renewable energy power generation device 2 may be, for example, a solar power generation device or a wind power generation device. The renewable energy power generation device 2 is capable of supplying the power obtained by power generation to a power supply line of the management system 100. The storage battery 3 stores power generated by a power generation facility such as the renewable energy power generation device 2, and discharges the stored power as needed. In other words, the storage battery 3 is capable of supplying power to the power supply line of the management system 100. The storage battery 3 may be, for example, a lithium-ion battery.

[0016] The management system 100 is connected to a power grid 10. The power grid 10 is a large-scale commercial power grid, and supplies power to power-receiving equipment owned by the management system 100. The management system 100 can purchase electricity from the power grid 10 and receive a supply of power. The system controller 1 is provided so as to be able to control whether or not to receive a supply of power from the power grid 10. The system controller 1 may also be provided so as to be able to control whether or not to supply power to the power grid 10.

[0017] 1, the management system 100 includes, as the heat-related facilities, a boiler 4, a heat pump 5, and a hot water tank 6. The boiler 4, the heat pump 5, and the hot water tank 6 operate under the control of a system controller 1.

[0018] The boiler 4 can supply the thermal energy of steam or hot water obtained by burning a fuel such as gas to the heat supply line of the management system 100. The heat pump 5 operates an engine fueled by gas or the like to drive a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, thereby controlling temperature using the condensation heat or evaporation heat of the refrigerant. Here, temperature control refers to, for example, adjusting the temperature of indoor air when the heat pump 5 is applied to an air conditioner, or adjusting the temperature of the circulating fluid for the chiller when the heat pump 5 is applied to a chiller. A representative example of the circulating fluid is water. The heat pump 5 can perform a cooling operation to cool a temperature-controlled object and a heating operation to heat the temperature-controlled object. In other words, the heat pump 5 can switch between hot and cold energy and supply it to the heat supply line of the management system 100. The hot water storage tank 6 is connected to the boiler 4 or the like and can store hot energy by heat exchange between the aqueous medium in the tank and high-temperature hot water. The heat stored in the hot water tank 6 can be supplied to a heat supply line that the management system 100 has.

[0019] In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the management system 100 includes a cogeneration system 7 as a facility used for both the electrical and thermal facilities. The cogeneration system 7 operates under the control of a system controller 1. The cogeneration system 7 drives an engine using a fuel such as gas fuel, and generates electricity using a generator that is driven by the engine. The electricity generated by the generator can be supplied to a power supply line of the management system 100. The cogeneration system 7 can also supply thermal energy of steam or hot water obtained in a heat recovery boiler that utilizes heat (waste heat) generated by the engine to a heat supply line of the management system 100.

[0020] Electric power is supplied to the power load included in the management system 100 from a renewable energy power generation device 2, a storage battery 3, a power grid 10, or a cogeneration system 7. Examples of the power load include electric lights and various electrical appliances. Furthermore, hot or cold heat is supplied to the thermal load included in the management system 100 from a boiler 4, a heat pump 5, a hot water tank 6, or a cogeneration system 7. Examples of the thermal load include an air conditioner, a heating device, a refrigerator, a freezer, a hot water tank, etc.

[0021] <2. System Controller> 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system controller 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the system controller 1 has a control device 11, an input device 12, and a display device 13. That is, the management system 100 has the display device 13. The management system 100 further has the control device 11 and the input device 12.

[0022] The control device 11 controls the entire management system 100. The control device 11 is configured to include an integrated circuit for calculations such as a CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The control device 11 performs various functions by the integrated circuit for calculations such as the CPU executing calculation processes in accordance with computer programs stored in memory such as the ROM.

[0023] The input device 12 is provided to enable input of commands to the control device 11. The input device 12 is configured to include at least one of, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, a button, a rotary knob, etc. For example, when the input device 12 is a touch panel, the input device 12 and the display device 13 may be an integrated device. Furthermore, the control device 11 may be included in this integrated device.

[0024] The display device 13, under the control of the control device 11, displays a screen that displays various information related to the management system 100, an input screen for issuing commands to the control device 11, etc. The display device 13 is configured using, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel. The display device 13 may be configured to include a touch panel, and in this case, the display device 13 also serves as the input device 12 as described above.

[0025] <3. Screen display of the display device> Next, the display on the screen of the display device 13 will be described in detail.

[0026] (3-1. Screen display overview) 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a login screen 131 is displayed on a screen 130 of the display device 13. A person (user) who wishes to access the management system 100 is first required to input predetermined information on the login screen 131. In other words, the screens that display various information related to the management system 100 and the input screens for inputting commands to the control device 11 cannot be viewed unless the user inputs the necessary information on the login screen 131.

[0027] 3, the login screen 131 has a login information input area 1311. The login information input area 1311 has a username input area 1311a for inputting a username, a password input area 1311b for inputting a password previously associated with the username, and a login button 1311c. That is, the login screen 131 requests input of a username and a password.

[0028] The username and password are entered using, for example, a keyboard or a touch panel. In a configuration in which a touch panel or a mouse is used for input, the input may be performed using a soft keyboard (virtual keyboard) that appears on the login screen 131. The soft keyboard may appear on the login screen 131 when the user touches or clicks on the username input area 1311a or the password input area 1311b, for example. A similar soft keyboard may be used to enter letters and numbers on other types of screens other than the login screen 131.

[0029] In this embodiment, the login screen 131 has a header area 200 at the top that extends in the left-right direction of the screen 130. The login screen 131 also has a footer area 300 at the bottom that extends in the left-right direction of the screen 130. The header area 200 and footer area 300 are also displayed as appropriate on screens other than the login screen 131. For example, the header area 200 displays a company logo, a menu related to the screen display, etc. The footer area 300 displays, for example, the time, the name of a user who is permitted to log in, etc.

[0030] After the username and password are entered, when the login button 1311c is operated by touching or the like, the home screen 132 is displayed. If at least one of the username and password is incorrect, an error message is displayed on the login screen 131, and the home screen 132 is not displayed.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a home screen 132 is displayed on the screen 130 of the display device 13. In this embodiment, the home screen 132 is a screen designed to allow the demand and supply of electric energy and thermal energy in the management system 100 to be grasped at a glance. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the home screen 132 has a header area 200. The header area 200 includes a menu area 400 that indicates the types of screen display that can be selected. In this embodiment, the menu area 400 includes a home button 401, a status monitoring button 402, a graph button 403, a device management button 404, and an operation settings button 405. Each of the buttons 401 to 405 may be operated using, for example, a touch panel, a mouse, or a keyboard.

[0032] 4, home screen 132 is in a selected state, and therefore a selection indication indicating this selected state is displayed. In detail, a frame surrounding home button 401 is displayed as the selection indication. However, the selection indication is not limited to a frame surrounding a button, and other configurations may be used, such as a configuration in which the button is a different color from other buttons or a configuration in which the button is hatched differently from other buttons.

[0033] When the status monitoring button 402 is selected, a status monitoring screen is displayed. The status monitoring screen displays details of the operating status of each device included in the management system 100. Each device includes thermal devices and electrical devices. Thermal devices include, for example, the above-mentioned thermal-related equipment (including equipment that also serves as electrical-related equipment) and thermal loads (air conditioning equipment, footbath equipment, etc.). Electrical devices include, for example, the above-mentioned electrical-related equipment (including equipment that also serves as thermal-related equipment) and power loads.

[0034] When the graph button 403 is selected, a graph screen is displayed. The graph screen displays, for example, a graph showing the transition of the magnitude of the heat load and power load for each hour of the day and a breakdown of the output of each device relative to the load.

[0035] When the device management button 404 is selected, a device management screen is displayed. The device management screen displays device management information including input / output information of each device.

[0036] When the operation setting button 405 is selected, an operation setting screen is displayed. The operation setting screen includes an input screen for inputting information related to the operation of the management system 100. The information related to the operation includes information related to the control method of the management system 100. In this embodiment, the operation setting screen is configured to allow selection of whether optimization control and demand control are enabled or disabled.

[0037] Optimization control is a control method that performs control according to an optimization target selected by a user (a typical example is a customer) who uses the management system 100. Examples of optimization targets include cost priority, which prioritizes reducing various fees borne by the user; carbon dioxide emission priority, which prioritizes reducing carbon dioxide emissions generated by equipment operation; and primary energy consumption priority, which prioritizes reducing the consumption of primary energy required for equipment operation. In this embodiment, the user can select one of these three optimization targets. If the user selects cost priority, operation control that prioritizes cost reduction is performed, assuming that optimization control is enabled. If the user selects carbon dioxide emission priority, operation control that prioritizes reducing carbon dioxide emissions is performed, assuming that optimization control is enabled. If the user selects primary energy consumption priority, operation control that prioritizes reducing primary energy consumption is performed, assuming that optimization control is enabled.

[0038] Demand control is a control method for controlling devices included in the management system 100 so that the power received from the power grid 10 does not exceed a target demand value. The target demand value is set to be equal to or less than the contracted power. When optimization control and demand control are enabled, the management system 100 generally operates using optimization control, and switches to demand control when the received power approaches the target demand value.

[0039] As can be seen from the above explanation, the display device 13 can switch between multiple types of screens to display information managed by the management system 100. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the display device 13 can switch between at least five types of screens: a home screen, a status monitoring screen, a graph screen, a device management screen, and an operation setting screen. However, these screen displays are merely examples, and the types of screens that can be displayed by the display device 13 may be changed as appropriate.

[0040] 4, menu area 400 includes a forward button 406. When forward button 406 is operated by touching or the like, the type of button for selecting the screen type displayed in menu area 400 is switched. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to display screens other than the five types of screens, namely, the home screen, the status monitoring screen, the graph screen, the device management screen, and the operation setting screen. Examples of screens other than the above-mentioned five types include a user management screen for inputting user information and a screen setting screen for setting conditions related to the screen.

[0041] 4, the home screen 132 also has a footer area 300. The footer area 300 includes an icon area 301 that indicates the user name and a time information area 302 that includes the date and time. In this embodiment, when the icon area 301 is operated by touching or the like, logout can be performed. In a preferred configuration, when the icon area 301 is operated, a confirmation screen pops up on the screen to confirm whether or not to perform logout, and if logout is permitted on the confirmation screen, logout is performed.

[0042] In the present embodiment, as a preferred embodiment, the various screens selectable by the menu area 400, such as the home screen 132, further include a control status display area 500 that indicates the control status of the management system 100. With this configuration, the user can simultaneously obtain information about the control status of the management system 100 on a screen on which the user can grasp various types of information. In other words, user convenience can be improved.

[0043] In the embodiment, the control status display area 500 is included in the header area 200. More specifically, it is located immediately to the right of the menu area 400. However, the position of the control status display area 500 may be changed as appropriate. In the example shown in FIG. 4, "optimized" is displayed in the control status display area 500. This indicates that the management system 100 is operating under the above-mentioned optimization control. In addition to this, the control status display area 500 may also display, for example, "demand control" or "stopped."

[0044] (3-2. User Management Screen) 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a user management screen 133 is displayed on the screen 130 of the display device 13. The user management screen 133 can be selected by performing an operation such as touching a user management button 407 displayed in the menu area 400.

[0045] In detail, the user management screen 133 includes a submenu area 410. The user management screen 133 displays content according to a button selected from buttons 411a, 411b, and 411c displayed in the submenu area 410. In this embodiment, the buttons displayed in the submenu area 410 of the user management screen 133 include a personal settings button 411a, a user management list button 411b, and an authority list button 411c. Figure 5 shows the screen when the user management list button 411b is selected.

[0046] In this embodiment, when the user management button 407 is selected while a screen other than the user management screen 133 (for example, the home screen 132) is displayed, a specific button among the plurality of buttons 411a to 411c displayed in the submenu area 410 is automatically selected, and a screen corresponding to the selected button is displayed. For example, if the personal settings button 411a is designated as the specific button, when the user management button 407 is selected, the personal settings button 411a is automatically selected, and a personal settings screen, which is a screen for performing personal settings, is displayed. In this embodiment, this method is also used for other screens having the submenu area 410.

[0047] The list displayed on the screen 133 shown in Fig. 5 is a list of users (user names) registered in the management system 100. An authority group and a display language are shown for each user name. The display language is the language set on the personal settings screen displayed by operating the personal settings button 411a. The authority groups are groups divided according to the differences in the authority granted to the management system 100. A specific example of the authority granted to the management system 100 is access authority.

[0048] In this embodiment, the authority groups include four types of groups: "Administrator," "Serviceman," "General," and "Guest." The authority levels decrease in the order of "Administrator," "Serviceman," "General," and "Guest." That is, "Administrator" has the most authority, while "Guest" has the least authority. "Administrator" is a group to which people who manage the management system 100 belong. "Serviceman" is a group to which people who are entrusted with maintenance of the management system 100 by the administrator belong. "General" is a group to which customers who have signed a usage contract for the management system 100 belong. "Guest" is a group to which people who, for example, use the management system 100 on a trial basis as part of a demonstration belong. The types and number of authority groups may be changed as appropriate.

[0049] Which authority group each user belongs to is determined, for example, by an administrator, and cannot be freely decided by each user. The authority of a person accessing the management system 100 is determined by the user name entered on the login screen 131. For example, the "Activate," "Edit," and "Delete" fields shown in FIG. 5 are displayed differently depending on the authority group to which the logged-in user (user name) belongs. Buttons are displayed for items for which authority has been granted. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the logged-in user is authorized to edit the registered details of service personnel and general users. For example, the currently logged-in user cannot "Activate," "Edit," or "Delete" himself or herself or any user belonging to a group with a higher authority level than himself or herself.

[0050] "Activate" refers to the authority to recognize each user as a registered user of the management system 100. When a button is displayed in the "Activate" column, a user performing operations while viewing the screen can recognize the person for whom the button is displayed as a registered user of the management system 100. "Delete" refers to the authority to remove a user who has been registered once from the list of registered users. When a button is displayed in the "Delete" column, a user performing operations while viewing the screen can remove the person for whom the button is displayed from the list of registered users of the management system 100.

[0051] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an authority list screen 133a included in the user management screen 133 is displayed. The authority list screen 133a is displayed, for example, when the authority list button 411c is operated by touching or the like on the screen shown in Fig. 5. The authority list screen 133a shows the current authority status for authority groups that can edit the authorities.

[0052] In the list shown in FIG. 6, "screen" indicates the name (type name) of various screens displayed on the screen 130 of the display device 13. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the authority groups that can edit the authority are service personnel and general public. The authority status on various screens for both the service personnel and general public groups is shown. In the example shown in FIG. 6, blank areas indicate that the authority cannot be changed. On the screen displayed in FIG. 6, the authority can be changed for both service personnel and general public for the cost-effectiveness screen included in the graph screen. For this reason, an authority change operation area 1331 that enables the authority change operation is shown in the relevant location.

[0053] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed example of the authority change operation area 1331 shown in FIG. 6. When the selection button 1331a of the authority change operation area 1331 is operated by touching or the like, a list of selection items shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the authority list screen 133a. In this example, one item can be selected from "access denied," "view only," "partial editing allowed," and "full access allowed." The number and types of items for which authority can be changed may be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the number and types of items for which authority can be changed may differ depending on the type of screen (screen name). Furthermore, the items for which authority can be changed may differ depending on the authority group.

[0054] "No access" indicates that the target screen (the cost-effectiveness screen in the example shown in Figure 6) cannot be viewed. Because the target screen cannot be viewed, all of the operations that can be performed when the target screen is displayed are not permitted. "Viewing only" indicates that only viewing of the target screen is permitted, but not all of the operations that can be performed on that screen are permitted. On a screen that can only be viewed, for example, all of the operation areas (buttons, etc.) that would be displayed if permission was granted are not displayed, or are grayed out to indicate that the function as an operation area is disabled.

[0055] "Partially editable" indicates that the target screen can be viewed and some of the operational items that can be operated on that screen can be operated. On a partially editable screen, for example, only operation areas (buttons, etc.) related to items for which permission has been granted are displayed, and operation areas for items for which permission has not been granted are not displayed. As another example, all operation areas are displayed, but operation areas for items for which permission has not been granted are grayed out. "Full access" indicates that the target screen can be viewed and all of the operational items that can be operated on that screen can be operated.

[0056] A person performing an operation while viewing the permission list screen 133a can select a selectable permission item and change the permission by touching the apply button 1332 displayed on the permission list screen 133a, etc. Note that if a person who is not permitted to change the permission displays the permission list screen 133a, the apply button 1332 will be disabled, for example, and the permission cannot be changed.

[0057] As can be seen from the above, the display device 13 changes the display state of the screen that displays information related to the management system 100 depending on the type of operator who performs operations using the screen. This configuration makes it possible to prevent inappropriate operations by persons who do not have sufficient knowledge of the management system 100. In other words, the management system 100 can be operated appropriately.

[0058] In this embodiment, the type of operator is determined based on input information entered on the login screen 131. In particular, the type of operator is determined based on the user name entered on the login screen 131. This determination is made by, for example, the control device 11. However, the type of operator may also be determined by an information processing device (computer device) provided separately from the control device 11.

[0059] (3-3.Device management screen) Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the device management screen 134 is displayed on the screen 130 of the display device 13. As described above, the device management screen 134 can be selected by performing an operation such as touching the device management button 404 displayed in the menu area 400. Fig. 8 also shows an example of a screen that is displayed when a user name belonging to the authority group "serviceman" is entered on the login screen 131. This also applies to Figs. 9A, 9B, 10, and 11 described below.

[0060] In detail, the device management screen 134 includes a submenu area 410. The device management screen 134 displays content according to buttons 411d, 411e selected in the submenu area 410. The buttons displayed in the submenu area 410 of the device management screen 134 include a device details button 411d and a maintenance button 411e. Fig. 8 shows a state in which the device details button 411d is selected.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 8, when the device details button 411d is selected, input / output information of each device owned by the management system 100 is displayed. That is, the device management screen 134 displays device management information including input / output information of devices owned by the management system 100. The devices owned by the management system 100 include, for example, the above-mentioned electrical-related equipment and heat-related equipment (including equipment used for both). Specifically, the devices owned by the management system 100 include, for example, a renewable energy power generation device 2, a storage battery 3, a boiler 4, a heat pump 5, a hot water tank 6, a cogeneration system 7, and the like. In this embodiment, the management system 100 includes a plurality of devices.

[0062] The "management address" displayed on the equipment management screen 134 is an address defined in the control device 11, and in this embodiment includes a control address and a non-control address. "Type" indicates the classification of input or output. "DI" means digital input. "DO" means digital output. "AI" means analog input. "AO" means analog output. "Item name" is the specific name of the object whose input or output is being managed. In Figure 8, "cogeneration" is an abbreviation for cogeneration system.

[0063] Furthermore, "Manual Setting" displayed on the device management screen 134 displays information related to manual setting of input information or output information for each item managed using a management address. That is, the device management screen 134 has a manual setting information display area 1340. In this embodiment, the information displayed in the manual setting information display area 1340 includes the display of operation buttons that enable manual setting. The operation buttons are operated by touch or other operations. In other words, the device management screen 134 has a manual setting area 1341 that enables manual setting of input information or output information for devices held by the management system 100. Note that in this embodiment, the manual setting area 1341 is an operation button. Details of the manual setting area 1341 will be described later.

[0064] Furthermore, the "current status" displayed on the device management screen 134 indicates the current status of the input or output of each item managed using the management address. That is, the device management screen 134 further has a current status display area 1342 that displays the current status of the input or output of the devices in the management system 100. The current status may be displayed in words or numbers.

[0065] Furthermore, the "control reason" displayed on the device management screen 134 indicates the control reason why the input or output of each item managed using the management address is in its current state. That is, the device management screen 134 further has a control reason display area 1343 that displays the control reason why the input or output of the device is in its current state.

[0066] The display indicating the reason for control includes, for example, "optimization" indicating that the current state is due to optimization control, or "manual" indicating that the state is due to manual setting. The reason for control may be displayed for all items managed using the management address, or may be displayed for some of the items. For example, the reason for control may not be displayed (left blank) for non-control addresses among the management addresses.

[0067] In the example shown in FIG. 8, a device selection tab 1347 for selecting a device for which input / output information is to be displayed is provided in the upper left side of the table displaying the input / output information of each device. In this example, the device selection tab 1347 includes, by way of example, "Overall," "CP," "Boiler," and "Other." In the example shown in FIG. 8, "Overall" is selected for the device selection tab 1347, and input / output information related to all the devices is displayed. When "CP," a symbol representing the cogeneration system 7, is selected for the device selection tab 1347, input / output information related to the cogeneration system 7 is displayed. When "Boiler," a symbol representing the boiler 4, is selected for the device selection tab 1347, input / output information related to the boiler 4 is displayed. When "Other" is selected for the device selection tab 1347, input / output information related to devices excluding the cogeneration system 7 and the boiler 4 is displayed.

[0068] That is, the device management screen 134 can be switched to display device management information for each device. The types and number of devices included in the device selection tabs 1347 may be changed as appropriate. The layout of the device selection tabs 1347 may also be changed as appropriate.

[0069] Next, the manual setting area 1341 configured as an operation button will be described in detail. Note that, as will be described later, the manual setting area 1341 may not be displayed. Fig. 9A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen that is displayed when the manual setting area 1341 is operated on the device management screen 134 shown in Fig. 8. In detail, Fig. 9A shows an example of a screen that is displayed when the manual setting area 1341 corresponding to the item name "Cogeneration power upper limit command" is operated by touching or the like.

[0070] Operating manual setting area 1341 displays a first pop-up screen 1344 that allows the input information or output information of the corresponding item to be changed. In the example shown in FIG. 9A, first pop-up screen 1344 that allows the power upper limit command (output information) to be changed is displayed. 10.0 kW has been entered in power upper limit command input area 1344a of first pop-up screen 1344. That is, an operation to change the output value from the current state (power upper limit command 0 kW) has been performed. Note that a soft keyboard including, for example, a numeric keypad may be used to input the power upper limit command.

[0071] 9A, when OK button 1344b in first pop-up screen 1344 is operated by touching or the like, the power upper limit command is changed. When CANCEL button 1344c in first pop-up screen 1344 is operated by touching or the like, the power upper limit command is not changed, and first pop-up screen 1344 disappears, returning to the screen shown in FIG.

[0072] FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen in which manual setting has been performed using manual setting area 1341. Specifically, FIG. 9B shows an example of a screen when OK button 1344b in FIG. 9A is operated by touching or the like. Operating OK button 1344b causes first pop-up screen 1344 to disappear, and a display notifying that manual setting has been performed appears in manual setting information display area 1340. In FIG. 9B, as an example, the words "Manual Setting" appear superimposed on manual setting area 1341. That is, a user who sees manual setting area 1341 with the words "Manual Setting" superimposed thereon can recognize that the corresponding item has been manually set. Note that, in order to notify the user that manual setting has been performed, for example, the color of manual setting area 1341 may be changed instead of superimposing the words "Manual Setting."

[0073] In the example shown in FIG. 9B, the power upper limit command for the cogeneration system 7 is changed to 10.0 kW by manual setting, and therefore the input value of the power generation power (item name: cogeneration power generation power) of the cogeneration system 7 is automatically changed from 0 kW shown in FIG. 8 to 10 kW.

[0074] 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a screen display when manual setting area 1341 is operated during manual setting. As shown in FIG. 10, when manual setting area 1341, on which "Manual" is superimposed, is operated by touching or the like, a second pop-up screen 1345 is displayed. Similar to first pop-up screen 1344, second pop-up screen 1345 includes input area 1345a, which is provided so that a value can be input, OK button 1345b, and CANCEL button 1345c. When a value is input into input area 1345a and OK button 1345b is operated by touching or the like, the previously manually set value can be further changed.

[0075] Unlike first pop-up screen 1344, second pop-up screen 1345 includes a RESET button 1345d. Operating RESET button 1345d by touching or the like can return the screen to the state before manual setting was performed. Operating RESET button 1345d by touching or the like on the screen shown in Fig. 10 returns the screen to the screen shown in Fig. 8. Using RESET button 1345d makes it easy to return the screen to the state before manual setting was performed, so RESET button 1345d is a convenient function for the user.

[0076] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, for example, a manual tab 1346 that displays input / output information only for manually set items is provided in the upper right corner of the table that displays input / output information for each device. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen when the manual tab 1346 is operated. As shown in Fig. 11, when the manual tab 1346 is operated by touch or the like, a screen showing the current status of input or output only for the items that are currently manually set is displayed. Note that in the example shown in Fig. 11, since there is only one item that is currently being manually set, the current status, etc. of only that item is displayed. If there are multiple items that are currently being manually set, the current status, etc. of all of the multiple items are displayed.

[0077] That is, in this embodiment, the device management screen 134 further includes an operation area 1346 that displays device management information only for items that have been set using the manual setting area 1341. The layout of the manual tab 1346 may be changed as appropriate.

[0078] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a device management screen 134A different from that shown in FIG. 8 and displayed on the screen 130 of the display device 13. FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a screen that is displayed when a user name whose authority group is "general" is entered on the login screen 131. As described above, FIG. 8 is an example of a screen that is displayed when a user name whose authority group is "serviceman" is entered on the login screen 131. That is, the types of people who perform operations using the device management screen are different between FIG. 12 and FIG. 8. Note that, like FIG. 8, FIG. 12 illustrates a screen that is displayed when the device details button 411d is selected.

[0079] 12, only a device details button 411d is displayed in the submenu area 410. This differs from the device management screen 134 shown in FIG. 8, in which a device details button 411d and a maintenance button 411e are displayed in the submenu area 410. The maintenance button 411e is for maintenance of devices owned by the management system 100, and is not necessarily required for general (customer) users. For this reason, the maintenance button 411e is configured not to be displayed when logging in with a user name that belongs to the general authority group.

[0080] Note that, here, the maintenance button 411e is not displayed for unauthorized users, but this is merely an example. The maintenance button 411e may be displayed even for unauthorized users, and user operations on the maintenance button 411e may be invalid. In this case, for example, the maintenance button 411e may be grayed out to let the user know that the operation is invalid.

[0081] 12, for some items managed by management addresses, a manual setting area 1341 configured as an operation button is not displayed in the manual setting information display area 1340. Specifically, for the item names "Cogeneration Generated Power" and "Cogeneration Power Upper Limit Command," the manual setting area 1341 is not displayed in the manual setting information display area 1340. In other words, when logging in with a user name that belongs to the general authority group, manual setting cannot be performed for some of the items that a service technician can manually set. The settings for some of the items may be determined as appropriate, and the configuration of this embodiment is merely an example.

[0082] As can be seen from the above, in the display device 13 of this embodiment, the items that can be set using the manual setting area 1341 change depending on the type of operator who performs the operation using the screen.

[0083] In this embodiment, the number of manual setting areas 1341 displayed on the device management screen varies depending on the type of operator (user). In this embodiment, the manual setting area 1341 for each item is displayed for authorized users, and is not displayed for unauthorized users. However, this is merely an example. The manual setting area 1341 may also be displayed for unauthorized users, and user operations on the manual setting area 1341 may be invalid. In this case, for example, the manual setting area 1341 may be grayed out to let the user know that the operation is invalid.

[0084] <4. Things to keep in mind> Various modifications can be made to the various technical features disclosed in this specification without departing from the spirit of the technical creation. Furthermore, multiple embodiments and modifications shown in this specification can be combined to the extent possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 2. Renewable energy power generation equipment (equipment) 3. Storage battery (equipment) 4. Boiler (equipment) 5. Heat pump (equipment) 6. Hot water tank (equipment) 7. Cogeneration system (equipment) 13...Display device 100... Management System 130...screen 1341...Manual setting area 1342 Current status display area 1343 Control reason display area 1346 Manual tab (operation area)

Claims

1. A display device included in a management system that manages energy, Displaying input / output information of devices owned by the management system; a manual setting area for manually setting input information or output information of the device; The display device wherein the manual setting area changes its display mode depending on whether the input information or output information of the device has been manually set or not.

2. A display device included in a management system that manages energy, displaying device management information including input / output information of devices possessed by the management system; a manual setting area for manually setting input information or output information of the device; a display device having an operation area for displaying the device management information only for items for which settings have been made using the manual setting area;

3. A display device included in a management system that manages energy, Displaying input / output information of devices owned by the management system; a manual setting area for manually setting input information or output information of the device; a current status display area for displaying the current status of the input or output of the device; a display device having a control reason display area for displaying the control reason for the current state of the input or output of the device;

4. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein items that can be set using the manual setting area vary depending on the operator.

5. the management system includes a plurality of devices, The display device according to claim 2 , wherein the device management information can be displayed by switching for each of the devices.

6. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the display device displays an operation setting screen including an input screen for inputting information related to the operation of the management system.

7. The display device according to claim 6 , wherein the operation setting screen has a configuration in which information relating to a control method of the management system can be selected.

8. The user management screen for inputting user information of the management system is: The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising an authority change operation area that enables an operation for changing the authority of the display device depending on the operator.

9. The display device according to claim 8 , wherein the authority change operation area displays a list of selectable authority items.

Images