Abnormality Locating System

An abnormality locating system includes a display device, a controller, and a storage storing map data of a power feeder. The controller includes a distance information obtainer that obtains distance information indicating a distance from a power supply to a location of the abnormality, and an abnormality site display processor. The abnormality site display processor performs an abnormality site estimation process of estimating a location of an abnormality site based on the distance information, the abnormality site is a site of the abnormality of the thermal line, and a display process of causing the display device to display a map indicating a position of the thermal line based on the map data and to display, on the map, an estimated position of the abnormality site estimated through the abnormality site estimation process.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-098528 filed Jun. 15, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an abnormality locating system for locating an abnormality of a thermal line in a power feeder including a feed line extending along a movement path of a movable body to feed power to the movable body, and the thermal line extending along the feed line.

Description of Related Art

An example of such a power feeder is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-201006 (Patent Literature 1). In the background described hereafter, reference signs in parentheses are the reference signs in Patent Literature 1. The power feeder described in Patent Literature 1 includes an induction line (14) extending along a movement path of a transport vehicle (V) to feed power to the transport vehicle (V), a thermal line (15) extending along the induction line (14), and a protection device (25). The protection device (25) includes a direct current (DC) power supply (33) connected to a pair of conductive wires (17) included in the thermal line (15) and includes a detection resistance (34) connected in series to the conductive wires (17) and a meter relay (35) connected in parallel to the detection resistance (34) to detect short-circuiting on any conductive wire (17). In response to the conductive wire (17) being short-circuited, the short-circuit point of the conductive wire (17) can be determined by tracking, using the meter relay (35), a current value that changes based on the position of the short-circuit point of the conductive wire (17).

In response to an abnormality such as short-circuiting on a thermal line, an operator responding to abnormalities is to easily determine the estimated position of the abnormality site on a wiring layout of the thermal line to improve the work efficiency. The technique described in Patent Literature 1 allows the operator to determine the distance along the thermal line to a short-circuit point as the position of the short-circuit point on the thermal line. The thermal line is, however, often wired along complex paths, and thus the operator may have difficulty in determining the short-circuit point on the wiring layout of the thermal line by simply learning the distance to the short-circuit point. This easily lowers the work efficiency of the operator removing the abnormalities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Techniques are awaited for the operator to easily determine, in response to the abnormality on the thermal line, the estimated position of the abnormality site on the wiring layout of the thermal line.

An abnormality locating system according to an aspect of the disclosure is a system for locating an abnormality of a thermal line in a power feeder. The power feeder includes a feed line extending along a movement path of a movable body to feed power to the movable body, a power supply connected to the feed line to feed power to the feed line, the thermal line extending along the feed line, and an abnormality detector to detect an abnormality of the thermal line. The system includes a display device that displays information, a controller that controls the display device, and a storage storing map data of the power feeder. The map data includes power supply positioning information indicating a position of the power supply, feed line positioning information indicating a position of the feed line connected to the power supply, and thermal line positioning information indicating a position of the thermal line along the feed line. The controller includes a distance information obtainer and an abnormality site display processor. The distance information obtainer, in response to the abnormality detector detecting an abnormality of the thermal line, obtains distance information indicating a distance from the power supply to a location of the abnormality. The abnormality site display processor performs an abnormality site estimation process of estimating a location of an abnormality site based on the distance information, the abnormality site being a site of the abnormality of the thermal line, and a display process of causing the display device to display a map indicating the position of the thermal line based on the map data and to display, on the map, an estimated position of the abnormality site estimated through the abnormality site estimation process.

With the structure according to the above aspect, when an abnormality, such as short-circuiting or disconnection, is detected on the thermal line, the estimated position of the abnormality site can be displayed on a map indicating the layout of the thermal line (specifically, on a wiring layout of the thermal line) displayed on the display device. The operator can thus easily determine the estimated position of the abnormality site on the wiring layout of the thermal line based on the information displayed on the display device. This allows the operator to easily determine the abnormality site on the thermal line in the power feeder when, for example, the operator goes to the abnormality site for inspection or repair.

As described above, this structure allows the operator to easily determine the estimated position of the abnormality site on the wiring layout of the thermal line.

Further aspects and features of the abnormality locating system will be apparent from embodiments described below with reference to the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An abnormality locating system according to one or more embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. An abnormality locating system S locates an abnormality of a thermal line4in a power feeder100(a power feeder facility).

The power feeder100feeds power to movable bodies1moving along a movement path2. In the present embodiment, the power feeder100uses a wireless power feeding technique to feed power to the movable bodies1.

FIG.1shows an article transport facility200as an example of a facility in which the power feeder100is used. In the example shown inFIG.1, the movement path2allows passage through processors21, in which the articles (or objects contained in the articles) that are not shown are to be processed, and the movable bodies1(automatic guided vehicles in this example) move along the movement path2to transport the articles. For example, an article to be processed in a processor21is loaded to the processor21by a movable body1, and the article that has been processed in the processor21is unloaded from the processor21by the movable body1. The article is, for example, a front opening unified pod (FOUP) that contains semiconductor wafers.

The movement path2may be defined physically or virtually. InFIG.3, the movement path2is defined physically with a pair of rails20(a pair of horizontally spaced rails20in this example). When the movement path2is defined virtually, the movement path2is defined with, for example, a two-dimensional code or a radio frequency (RF) tag installed on the floor surface.

The movable body1illustrated inFIG.3has the structure described below. The movable body1includes a traveler11that travels along the movement path2(the rails20in this example) and a body10connected to the traveler11. The articles contained in the body10are transported by the movable body1. The traveler11includes travel wheels13that roll on traveling surfaces (upper surfaces in this example) of the rails20, and a travel driver12(e.g., an electric motor such as a servo motor) that rotates the travel wheels13. When the travel wheels13are driven by the travel driver12to rotate, the traveler11travels along the rails20. The traveler11further includes guide wheels14that roll on guide surfaces (side surfaces in this example) of the rails20. The traveler11travels along the rails20with the guide wheels14in contact with and guided along the guide surfaces of the rails20.

In the example shown inFIG.3, the movable body1is a ceiling-hung transport vehicle that travels along the rails20hung from and supported by the ceiling. However, the movable body1may be of another type. The movable body1may be, for example, a tracked carriage that travels along rails on the floor surface, a traveling carriage (shuttle carriage) that travels along rails arranged for the respective multiple shelves for storing articles, or a traveling carriage for a stacker crane.

As shown inFIGS.2and3, the power feeder100includes feed lines3and power supplies5each connected to the feed lines3. Each power supply5feeds power to the feed lines3. The power supply5is, for example, a power supply panel incorporating a device for supplying power. The power supply5feeds alternating current (AC) to the feed lines3. The power supply includes a power supply circuit such as a switching power supply circuit, including an inverter circuit. The power supply5causes, for example, the power supply circuit to output AC through pulse width modulation (PWM).

The feed lines3extend along the movement path2for the movable body1. In the example shown inFIG.3, the feed lines3extend along the rails20defining the movement path2. The feed lines3feed power to a movable body1. The feed lines3may feed power to the movable body1contactlessly or with contact. For example, power is fed to the movable body1from the feed lines3as induction lines when fed contactlessly, or power is fed to the movable body1from the feed lines3as trolley lines with contact. In the present embodiment, power is fed from the feed lines3to the movable body1contactlessly. In other words, the feed lines3feed power to the movable body1without contact. As shown inFIG.3, each feed line3includes a conductive wire body3a(core wire) formed from a conductor and a coating3bformed from an insulator and covering the conductive wire body3a. In the example inFIG.3, the feed line3includes a single conductive wire with the conductive wire body3aand the coating3b. The feed line3may include a conductive wire bundle including multiple conductive wires each including the conductive wire body3aand the coating3bbundled together, and an insulation coating covering the conductive wire bundle.

The movable body1includes a power receiver15that receives power supply from the feed lines3. In the present embodiment, the power receiver15receives power from the feed lines3contactlessly. In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG.3andFIG.6(referred to later), two feed lines3extend along the movement path2. The power receiver15between the two feed lines3receives power from the two feed lines3contactlessly. In the example shown inFIG.3, a single feed line3extends along one of the pair of rails20, and another feed line3extends along the other of the pair of rails20.

As shown in a simplified manner inFIG.2, each feed line3and each thermal line4(described later) extend from the corresponding power supply5along the movement path2and return to the power supply5(in other words, the same power supply5). In other words, the feed line3and the thermal line4form a closed loop. In the present embodiment, as described above, the two feed lines3extend along the movement path2and form the same closed loop.

A single closed loop may be formed with a single continuous feed line3or with multiple feed lines3connected to one another through joints such as connectors or terminal blocks. Similarly, a single closed loop may be formed with a single continuous thermal line4or with multiple thermal lines4connected to one another through joints such as connectors or terminal blocks. A single continuous feed line3may have different portions each as a single feed line3in an extension direction (a direction in which the feed line3extends). For example, the two feed lines3extend along the movement path2as described above in the present embodiment. The two feed lines3may be connected to each other through a joint, or may each have different portions of a single continuous feed line3in the extension direction. Similarly, a single continuous thermal line4may include different portions each as a single thermal line4in an extension direction (a direction in which the thermal line4extends).

At least some of the movements of the movable body1(e.g., a movement along the movement path2) are performed using power received by the power receiver15. In other words, power received by the power receiver15is fed to an actuator (e.g., the travel driver12described above) to operate the movable body1. The power receiver15includes, for example, a pickup coil. In the pickup coil, a magnetic field is generated around the feed lines3receiving AC. The magnetic field induces AC power. The AC power is converted to, for example, DC and fed to the actuator to operate the movable body1.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG.2, the power feeder100includes multiple power feeding units that are each a set of the feed lines3and the power supply5connected to the feed lines3. In other words, the power feeder100includes multiple feed lines3and power supplies5connected to the corresponding feed lines3. The multiple feed lines3herein are multiple feed lines3each extending from the corresponding power supply5along the movement path2and return to the power supply5.

Each of the multiple power feeding units feeds power to the movable body1in the corresponding feeding area. Two power supplies5different from each other are used as a first power supply51and a second power supply52. InFIG.6, the area in which the feed lines3are connected to the first power supply51(excluding an area between the first power supply51and a terminal box T described later) is a feeding area in which power is fed from the first power supply51. The area in which the feed lines3are connected to the second power supply52(excluding an area between the second power supply52and the terminal box T described later) is a feeding area in which power is fed from the second power supply52. For the movable body1to receive power at a joint between the feeding areas, the multiple power supplies5are controlled to cause their AC with the same phase to flow through the two feed lines3at the joint, although this is not described in detail.

The power feeder100includes, in addition to the feed lines3, the thermal lines4(heat-sensitive line) extending along the feed lines3. The thermal lines4extend along the movement path2together with the feed lines3. The power feeder100in the present embodiment includes multiple feed lines3and the thermal lines4extending along the respective feed lines3.

As shown inFIG.3, each thermal line4includes a pair of conductive wires, or a first conductive wire41and a second conductive wire42. Each of the first conductive wire41and the second conductive wire42is coated with an insulator4bincluding a core wire4aformed from a conductor. The core wire4asoftens at a predetermined temperature. The first conductive wire41and the second conductive wire42in the pair are twisted into a twisted pair. The twisted conductive wires are further covered with a cover4cto form the thermal line4. When the insulator4bsoftens, the core wire4ain the first conductive wire41and the core wire4ain the second conductive wire42come in contact with each other, causing short-circuiting on the thermal line4. Although the insulator4bsoftens, the first conductive wire41and the second conductive wire42are covered with the cover4c. This reduces the exposure of the core wire4aoutside.

The thermal lines4extend along the feed lines3to detect abnormal heat generation in and around the feed lines3. In the example shown inFIG.3, each thermal line4is adjacent to the corresponding feed line3(in contact with the corresponding feed line3from outside in this example). When each feed line3includes a conductive wire bundle and an insulation coating covering the conductive wire bundle as described above, the corresponding thermal line4may be contained under the insulation coating. In this case, the thermal line4is, for example, surrounded by multiple conductive wires included in the conductive wire bundle at the center of the feed line3.

The power feeder100includes an abnormality detector6that detects an abnormality on the thermal line4. In response to the abnormality detector6detecting an abnormality on the thermal line4, abnormality control for removing the abnormality on the thermal line4is performed by, for example, a controller7(described later). The abnormality control is, for example, control to stop the power supply to the feed lines3from the power supply5.

Abnormalities on the thermal line4detected by the abnormality detector6include short-circuiting on the thermal line4caused by heat generation. For example, abnormal heat generation in and around the feed line3causes short-circuiting on the thermal line4. Example causes of abnormal heat generation of the feed line3include temperature increase in the feed line3caused by an overcurrent or short-circuiting caused by an overload. Example causes of abnormal heat generation around the feed line3include a temperature increase caused by a magnetic field generated around the feed line3by metal around the feed line3(e.g., a metal tool accidentally misplaced by an operator). Such abnormalities on the thermal line4detected by the abnormality detector6may include, in addition to short-circuiting on the thermal line4, a disconnected thermal line4caused by faulty installation or aging.

As shown inFIG.4, the abnormality detector6in the present embodiment is disposed in each power supply5. More specifically, as shown inFIG.5, the abnormality detector6includes a first substrate61incorporated in the power supply5. The first substrate61is a thermal line substrate for detecting an abnormality on the thermal line4. The abnormality detector6further includes a second substrate62incorporated in the power supply5. The second substrate62is an abnormality site locating substrate for locating an abnormality site9on the thermal line4.

The connection state between the abnormality detector6and the thermal line4is switched by a switching device60, such as a relay, between a first connection state in which the first substrate61is connected to the thermal line4(indicated by the solid lines inFIG.5), and a second connection state in which the second substrate62is connected to the thermal line4(indicated by the broken lines inFIG.5). The connection state between the abnormality detector6and the thermal line4is set to the first connection state during a normal operation, and is switched to the second connection state when an abnormality on the thermal line4is detected by the abnormality detector6(specifically, the first substrate61).

In the example shown inFIG.5, the first substrate61includes a signal output unit6c, a first detection circuit6a, and a second detection circuit6b. In the first connection state described above, a first end of the thermal line4is connected to the signal output unit6cand the first detection circuit6a, and a second end of the thermal line4is connected to the second detection circuit6b. More specifically, a first end of the first conductive wire41is connected to the signal output unit6c, a first end of the second conductive wire42is connected to the first detection circuit6a, and second ends of the first conductive wire41and the second conductive wire42are connected to the second detection circuit6b.

The signal output unit6cincludes a circuit (e.g., a DC-DC converter) included in a power supply, and feeds power to the first conductive wire41and the second conductive wire42. The first detection circuit6amonitors the current flowing through the first end of the second conductive wire42. The second detection circuit6bmonitors the current flowing through a joint between the second end of the first conductive wire41and the second end of the second conductive wire42. The first detection circuit6aand the second detection circuit6beach include, for example, a mechanical relay including a coil and a contact. The first detection circuit6aand the second detection circuit6bdetermine that a signal is detected when a current (e.g., a current sufficient to close the contact in the relay; the same applies hereafter) is flowing through the monitored area of the corresponding current, and determine that no signal is detected when no current is flowing through the monitored area of the corresponding current.

When the thermal line4is normal, the first detection circuit6aand the second detection circuit6bboth determine that a signal is detected. In contrast, when the thermal line4is short-circuited, the first detection circuit6adetermines that a signal is detected, but the second detection circuit6bdetermines that no signal is detected. A similar determination result is obtained when the thermal line4is disconnected at a position closer to the second end (the end connected to the second detection circuit6b) than the short-circuited site. When the thermal line4is disconnected, the first detection circuit6aand the second detection circuit6bboth determine that no signal is detected. A similar determination result is obtained when the thermal line4is short-circuited at a position closer to the second end than the disconnection site.

The abnormality detector6(specifically, an arithmetic processor in the abnormality detector6) determines that the thermal line4is abnormal (specifically, short-circuiting) when the state changes from the first detection circuit6aand the second detection circuit6bboth detecting a signal to the first detection circuit6adetecting a signal and the second detection circuit6bdetecting no signal. The abnormality detector6also determines that the thermal line4is abnormal (specifically, disconnection) when the state changes from the first detection circuit6aand the second detection circuit6bboth detecting a signal changes to the first detection circuit6aand the second detection circuit6bboth detecting no signal.

The first substrate61may not include the first detection circuit6a. In this case, the abnormality detector6determines that the thermal line4is abnormal when the state changes from the second detection circuit6bdetecting a signal to the second detection circuit6bdetecting no signal. An abnormality on the thermal line4is detected without being distinguished between short-circuiting and disconnection.

In the example shown inFIG.5, the second substrate62includes a reference voltage generator6d, a voltage detector6e, and a resistance6f. In the second connection state described above, the first conductive wire41has the first end connected to the reference voltage generator6dthrough the resistance6f, the second conductive wire42has the first end grounded, and the first conductive wire41has the second end connected to the second end of the second conductive wire42. The voltage detector6edetects a voltage between the resistance6fand the first end of the first conductive wire41.

A reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generator6dis divided by the resistance6fand the conductor resistance of the thermal line4. The conductor resistance of the thermal line4changes based on the abnormality site9(specifically, the short-circuited site). More specifically, the conductor resistance of the thermal line4increases as the distance between the first end of the thermal line4(the end connected to the reference voltage generator6d) and the abnormality site9increases. Thus, the distance from the abnormality detector6to the abnormality site9(in the present embodiment, the same as the distance from the power supply5to the abnormality site9) can be estimated based on a value detected by the voltage detector6ewith respect to the reference voltage. The abnormality detector6thus estimates the distance to the abnormality site9using the conductor resistance of the thermal line4changing based on the abnormality site9(specifically, the short-circuited site). The method for estimating the distance to the abnormality site9described above is a mere example, and other estimation methods may also be used.

An abnormality locating system S according to the present embodiment will now be described. As shown inFIG.4, the abnormality locating system S includes a display device80that displays information, a controller7that controls the display device80, and a storage82that stores map data83about the power feeder100. In the present embodiment, the controller7also controls the power supplies5. The controller7may be a device separate from the device that controls the power supplies5. In this case, the controller7may not communicate with the power supplies5. The abnormality locating system S further includes an input device84. The functions of the controller7are implemented by, for example, hardware including an arithmetic processor cooperating with a program executed on the hardware.

The devices shown inFIG.4are at least conceptually distinguishable from one another, and two or more of the devices (e.g., the controller7and the power supply5) may be included in a common device, or any of the devices may include multiple devices. The functional components of the controller7are at least logically distinguishable from one another, and may not be physically separate from one another. At least some of the functions of the abnormality detector6(e.g., the function to determine an abnormality on the thermal line4or the function to estimate the distance to the abnormality site9) may be implemented by the controller7.

The controller7generates a display image to be displayed on a display screen81(refer toFIGS.6to8) of the display device80and controls the display device80to display the display image on the display screen81. The display device80may be, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescent (EL) display. In the example inFIGS.6to8, the display screen81is disposed on the outer surface of the display device80. The display screen81may be projected onto, for example, a projection surface.

The controller7obtains operation information representing the details of operations (e.g., numerical input operations and screen operations) performed on the input device84by the operator. The controller7generates, for example, a display image corresponding to the details of the screen operation. Examples of the input device84include a keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, or a touchscreen). The display device80may be integral with the input device84, or for example, may be a device with the display screen81functioning as a touchscreen.

The storage82includes a storage medium that stores or rewrites information. The controller7refers to the storage82and obtains information stored in the storage82(e.g., information included in the map data83). Examples of the storage82include a flash memory and a hard disk drive. The storage82may be disposed on a server or a cloud server that can communicate with the controller7.

The map data83stored in the storage82includes power supply positioning information indicating the positions of the power supplies5, feed line positioning information indicating the positions of the feed lines3connected to the respective power supplies5, and thermal line positioning information indicating the positions of the thermal lines4extending along the corresponding feed lines3. The map data83may further include other information used to display a map M (described later). Examples of the other information include layout information about the movement path2or address information set for the movement path2.

In the present embodiment, the power feeder100includes multiple feed lines3and multiple power supplies5. Thus, the power supply positioning information included in the map data83indicates the positions of the multiple power supplies5. The feed line positioning information included in the map data83indicates the positions of the feed lines3connected to the respective power supplies5. The thermal line positioning information indicates the positions of the thermal lines4extending along the corresponding feed lines3.

The controller7includes a distance information obtainer71and an abnormality site display processor72. In the present embodiment, the controller7further includes a power identification information obtainer70.

The distance information obtainer71is a functional component that obtains distance information indicating the distance from a power supply5(specifically, a target power supply described later) to an abnormality site on the thermal line4in response to the abnormality detector6detecting an abnormality on the thermal line4. In the present embodiment, the distance information obtainer71obtains a distance value input by the operator using the input device84as the distance information. For example, a distance value to the abnormality site9estimated by the abnormality detector6(specifically, the second substrate62) is displayed on a display of the power supply5. The operator then inputs the displayed value using the input device84. The distance value on the display of the power supply5may be zero when, for example, an abnormality has occurred in the power supply5. This structure easily allows an abnormality on the thermal line4to be distinguished from an abnormality on the power supply5. In place of the structure in which the operator inputs a distance value as described above, for example, the distance information obtainer71may obtain a distance value to the abnormality site9estimated by the abnormality detector6as the distance information through communication between the controller7and the abnormality detector6or between the controller7and the power supply5.

For the abnormality detector6disposed differently from the power supply5, for example, when a distance value input into the controller7by the operator or through the communication indicates a distance value from a base position different from the power supply5to the abnormality site9, the distance information obtainer71obtains the distance value from the power supply5to the abnormality site9using calculation based on the distance value input into the controller7(e.g., adding the distance value between the power supply5and the base position).

The power identification information obtainer70is a functional component that obtains power identification information for identifying a target power supply as a power supply5connected to the feed lines3along which an abnormal thermal line4extends. In the present embodiment, the operator specifies the power supply5using the input device84, and the power identification information obtainer70obtains information identifying the power supply5specified by the operator as the power identification information. With an abnormality report as a warning sound, warning light, or a screen display, for example, the operator identifies the power supply5connected to the feed lines3along which the abnormal thermal line4extends (in other words, the power supply5to which the abnormal thermal line4is connected) and specifies the identified power supply5using the input device84. The operator specifies the power supply5by, for example, selecting the power supply5on the map M (described later) with a click operation or by inputting a number identifying the power supply5. In place of the above structure, for example, the power identification information obtainer70may obtain the power identification information through communication between the controller7and the abnormality detector6or between the controller7and the power supply5.

The abnormality site display processor72is a functional component that performs an abnormality site estimation process and a display process. In the abnormality site estimation process, the abnormality site display processor72estimates the abnormality site9on a thermal line4based on the distance information. In the abnormality site estimation process in the present embodiment, the abnormality site display processor72estimates the abnormality site9based on the distance information and the power identification information. In the display process, the abnormality site display processor72causes the display device80to display the map M indicating the positions of the thermal lines4based on the map data83and to display, on the map M, an estimated position E of the abnormality site9estimated through the abnormality site estimation process.

FIG.6shows the map M being displayed on the display screen81through the display process.FIG.6shows the map M showing the thermal lines4in an area of the layout of the movement path2(refer toFIG.1). The map M further shows the movement path2, the feed lines3, the power supplies5, terminal boxes T (described later), and the addresses of the movement path2(numerical values such as 0000 in this example). This map shows two power supplies5, or the first power supply51and the second power supply52, the feed lines3connected to the first power supply51, the thermal lines4extending along the feed lines3(the thermal lines4connected to the first power supply51), the feed lines3connected to the second power supply52, and the thermal lines4extending along the feed lines3(the thermal lines4connected to the second power supply52). For example, the power supplies5, the area between the power supply5and the terminal box T in the feed line3, and the area between the power supply5and the terminal box T in the thermal line4may be displayed at positions different from the actual positions on the map M for ease of viewing.

In the present embodiment, as shown in a simplified manner inFIG.2, each feed line3and each thermal line4extend from the corresponding power supply5and return to the power supply5(in other words, the same power supply5), and thus are included in a circulation path P. One side along a circulation direction of the circulation path P is a first side C1, and the side opposite to the first side C1is a second side C2. In the present embodiment, the power feeder100includes the terminal boxes T. The feed line3includes a first portion extending from the power supply5to the terminal box T on the first side C1and a second portion extending from the power supply5to the terminal box T on the second side C2. The first portion and the second position are adjacent to each other to reduce the likelihood of generating a magnetic field in the surrounding environment (in other words, to form a non-inductive line). In the example shown inFIG.6, a single line segment indicates the portion between the power supply5and the terminal box T in the feed line3. In the example shown inFIG.6, a single line segment indicates the portion between the power supply5and the terminal box T in the thermal line4as well.

In the abnormality site estimation process, the abnormality site display processor72estimates, as the abnormality site9, a position away from the power supply5(specifically, the target power supply; the same applies hereafter) by the distance indicated by the distance information (distance information obtained by the distance information obtainer71) along the thermal line4. More specifically, in the abnormality site estimation process, the abnormality site display processor72estimates a first position E1and a second position E2each as the abnormality site9. The first position E1is away from the power supply5by the distance indicated by the distance information on the first side C1along the circulation path P (circulation path P including the thermal line4; the same applies hereafter). The second position E2is away from the power supply5by the distance indicated by the distance information on the second side C2along the circulation path P. As shown inFIG.7, the abnormality site display processor72causes each of the first position E1and the second position E2to be displayed on the map M as an estimated position E of the abnormality site9in the display process. Unlike inFIG.6, the feed lines3are not shown inFIG.7.

InFIG.7, the target power supply (the power supply5connected to the feed lines3along which an abnormal thermal line4extends) is the first power supply51. InFIG.7, two estimated positions E, or the first position E1and the second position E2are shown on the map M. The first position E1is away from the first power supply51by the distance indicated by the distance information on the first side C1along the circulation path P. The second position E2is away from the first power supply51by the distance indicated by the distance information on the second side C2along the circulation path P. The estimated positions E are indicated by double circles.

In the display process, the abnormality site display processor72may highlight a path of the thermal line4from the power supply5(specifically, the target power supply) to each estimated position E of the abnormality site9over a path of the other portion of the thermal line4. For example, using different colors (e.g., tone or brightness), different thicknesses, different shapes (e.g., a solid line, a dashed line, and a dot-dash line), or a combination of these, the path of the thermal line4from the power supply5to the estimated position E of the abnormality site9can be highlighted over a path of the other portion of the thermal line4. In the example shown inFIG.7, as indicated by the reference letters H, both the path of the thermal line4from the first power supply51to the first position E1and the path of the thermal line4from the first power supply51to the second position E2are thicker than the path of the other portion of the thermal line4. InFIG.7, both the first position E1and the second position E2are highlighted, but either the first position E1or the second position E2(e.g., the one selected by the operator) may be highlighted alone.

For example, the abnormality locating system S with the structure described below allows the path of the thermal line4from the power supply5to the estimated position E of the abnormality site9to be easily identified. The controller7is designed to receive an abnormality site display operation to cause displaying of the abnormality site9. When the abnormality site display operation is yet to be received, the abnormality site display processor72causes, in the display process, the display device80to display both the power supply5(specifically, the target power supply; the same applies hereafter) and the estimated position E of the abnormality site9or to display the entire path of the thermal line4from the power supply5to the estimated position E of the abnormality site9on the map M. In the example shown inFIG.7, the entire path of the thermal line4from the power supply5to the estimated position E of the abnormality site9(both the first position E1and the second position E2in this example) is displayed on the map M.

When the abnormality site display operation is received, the abnormality site display processor72causes, in the display process, the display device80to display the map M indicating the area around the estimated position E of the abnormality site9. More specifically, when an operation of selecting the first position E1(e.g., a click operation using the input device84) is received as an abnormality site display operation, the map M indicating the area around the first position E1is displayed. When an operation of selecting the second position E2is received as an abnormality site display operation, the map M indicating the area around the second position E2is displayed, as in the example shown inFIG.8(d). When the map M indicating the area around the estimated position E of the abnormality site9is displayed on the display device80, the area around the estimated position E of the abnormality site9may be enlarged more than in the normal display process (refer toFIG.7, in which the abnormality site display process is not received), as in the example shown inFIG.8(d).

The abnormality locating system S having the structure described below in addition to or in place of the above structure still allows the path of the thermal line4from the power supply to the estimated position E of the abnormality site9to be easily identified. The controller7is designed to receive a video reproduction request operation. The video reproduction request operation is, for example, a click operation on a button image representing video reproduction using the input device84. When the video reproduction request operation is received, the abnormality site display processor72performs, in the display process, a video reproduction process of displaying the map M while moving a base position A of the map M displayed on the display device80along the path of the thermal line4from the power supply5(specifically, the target power supply) to the estimated position E of the abnormality site9. InFIGS.8(a)to8(d), the maps M displayed when a video reproduction request operation is performed for the second position E2(refer toFIG.7) are shown in chronological order ofFIGS.8(a),8(b),8(c), and8(d). The base position A is indicated by the double circle in the same manner as the estimated position E in each figure.

In the examples shown inFIGS.8(a)to8(d), each map M shows the base position A at the center of the display area of the map M (the entire display screen81in this example). The map M may show the base position A at a position different from the center of the display area of the map M. For example, when the base position A is close to the edge of the layout of the movement path2and an object to be displayed (a display target) is not in one of areas adjacent to the base position A, the map M may show the base position A displaced from the center position toward the area with no display target. In this case, the map M displayed may have a wider display area opposite to the area with no display target.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

(1) In the above embodiment, in the abnormality site estimation process, the abnormality site display processor72estimates the first position E1and the second position E2each as the abnormality site9. The first position E1is away from the power supply5by the distance indicated by the distance information on the first side C1along the circulation path P. The second position E2is away from the power supply5by the distance indicated by the distance information on the second side C2along the circulation path P. The disclosure is not limited to this structure. When the estimated position E can be narrowed down to either the first position E1or the second position E2, only one of the first position E1or the second position E2may be estimated as the abnormality site9. For example, when a side away from the joint with the second substrate62(specifically, the reference voltage generator6d; refer toFIG.5) along the circulation path P can be identified as the first side C1, only the first position E1can be estimated as the abnormality site9. Additionally, when, for example, a side away from the joint with the second substrate62along the circulation path P can be identified as the second side C2, only the second position E2can be estimated as the abnormality site9.

(2) In the above embodiment, the power feeder100includes multiple power feeding units that are sets of the feed lines3and the power supply5connected to the feed lines3. The disclosure is not limited to this structure. The power feeder100may include a single power feeding unit. In this case, unlike in the above embodiment, the controller7may not include the power identification information obtainer70.

(3) The structure described in each of the above embodiments may be combined with any other structures described in the other embodiments unless any contradiction arises. This also applies to combinations of the embodiments described as other embodiments. For other structures as well, the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative in all aspects. Thus, the embodiments described herein may be modified variously as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Overview of Embodiment

The abnormality locating system described above will be overviewed below.

The abnormality locating system is a system for locating an abnormality of a thermal line in a power feeder. The power feeder includes a feed line extending along a movement path of a movable body to feed power to the movable body, a power supply connected to the feed line to feed power to the feed line, the thermal line extending along the feed line, and an abnormality detector to detect an abnormality of the thermal line. The system includes a display device that displays information, a controller that controls the display device, and a storage storing map data of the power feeder. The map data includes power supply positioning information indicating a position of the power supply, feed line positioning information indicating a position of the feed line connected to the power supply, and thermal line positioning information indicating a position of the thermal line along the feed line. The controller includes a distance information obtainer and an abnormality site display processor. The distance information obtainer, in response to the abnormality detector detecting an abnormality of the thermal line, obtains distance information indicating the distance from the power supply to a location of the abnormality. The abnormality site display processor performs an abnormality site estimation process of estimating a location of an abnormality site based on the distance information, the abnormality site being a site of the abnormality of the thermal line, and a display process of causing the display device to display a map indicating the position of the thermal line based on the map data and to display, on the map, an estimated position of the abnormality site estimated through the abnormality site estimation process.

With the structure according to the above aspect, when an abnormality, such as short-circuiting or disconnection, is detected on the thermal line, the estimated position of the abnormality site can be displayed on a map indicating the layout of the thermal line (specifically, on a wiring layout of the thermal line) displayed on the display device. The operator can thus easily determine the estimated position of the abnormality site on the wiring layout of the thermal line based on the information displayed on the display device. This allows the operator to easily determine the abnormality site on the thermal line in the power feeder when, for example, the operator goes to the abnormality site for inspection or repair.

As described above, this structure allows the operator to easily determine the estimated position of the abnormality site on the wiring layout of the thermal line.

The feed line and the thermal line may extend from the power supply along the movement path and return to the power supply. In the abnormality site estimation process, the abnormality site display processor may estimate, as the location of the abnormality site, a position away from the power supply by a distance indicated by the distance information along the thermal line.

In this structure, when an abnormality on the thermal line is detected, an estimated position of the abnormality site displayed on the display device can be estimated with high accuracy.

In the structure in which the abnormality site is estimated as described above, the thermal line may be included in a circulation path extending from the power supply and returning to the power supply. In the abnormality site estimation process, the abnormality site display processor may estimate a first position and a second position each as the location of the abnormality site. The first position may be away from the power supply by the distance indicated by the distance information along the circulation path on a first side in a circulation direction of the circulation path. The second position may be away from the power supply by the distance indicated by the distance information along the circulation path in on on a second side in the circulation path. The second side may be opposite to the first side. In the display process, the abnormality site display processor may cause each of the first position and the second position to be displayed on the map as the estimated position of the abnormality site.

In this structure, when the thermal line is included in the circulation path, two positions are away from the power supply by the same distance along the thermal line. The display device may thus display the two positions as candidates for the estimated position of the abnormality site on the wiring layout of the thermal line.

In the abnormality locating system with each structure described above, the controller may be configured to receive an abnormality site display operation to cause displaying of the abnormality site. When the abnormality site display operation is yet to be received, the abnormality site display processor may cause, in the display process, the display device to display both the power supply and the estimated position of the abnormality site on the map or to display an entire path of a portion of the thermal line which portion extends from the power supply to the estimated position of the abnormality site on the map. In response to the controller receiving the abnormality site display operation, the abnormality site display processor may cause, in the display process, the display device to display a portion of the map which portion indicates an area around the estimated position of the abnormality site.

In this structure, the operator can easily determine the positional relationship between the power supply and the abnormality site with both the power supply and the estimated position of the abnormality site being displayed on the map, or with the entire path of the thermal line from the power supply to the estimated position of the abnormality site being displayed on the map. The operator can also easily determine the structure of the power feeder around the abnormality site by performing the abnormality site display operation for causing the display device to display the map indicating the area around the estimated position of the abnormality site.

In the display process, the abnormality site display processor may highlight a path of a first portion of the thermal line which first portion extends from the power supply to the estimated position of the abnormality site over a path of a second portion of the other portion of the thermal line.

This structure allows the display device to display information that allows the operator to easily identify the path of the thermal line from the power supply to the estimated position of the abnormality site.

The controller may be configured to receive a video reproduction request operation. In response to the controller receiving the video reproduction request operation, the abnormality site display processor may perform, in the display process, a video reproduction process of causing the display device to display the map while moving a base position over the map displayed on the display device along a path of a portion of the thermal line which portion extends from the power supply to the estimated position of the abnormality site.

This structure allows the display device to display information that allows the operator to easily identify the direction, as well as the shape, of the path of the thermal line from the power supply to the estimated position of the abnormality site.

The abnormality locating system according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may produce at least one of the effects described above.