초록 ▼

A power supply system includes a plurality of electric products; a power generation apparatus capable of varying an amount of power generation; and a power control apparatus for controlling power supply from the power generation apparatus to the plurality of electric products. Each of the plurality

A power supply system includes a plurality of electric products; a power generation apparatus capable of varying an amount of power generation; and a power control apparatus for controlling power supply from the power generation apparatus to the plurality of electric products. Each of the plurality of electric products is structured to be capable of outputting a first power request signal for requesting a desired amount of power. The power control apparatus receives the plurality of first power request signals respectively from the plurality of electric products, generates a second power request signal for requesting an amount of power which is determined in accordance with a total amount of power requested by the plurality of first power request signals, and outputs the second power request signal to the power generation apparatus. The power generation apparatus increases or decreases the amount of power generation so as to match the amount of power generation with a target amount of power generation which is determined in accordance with the second power request signal.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A power supply system, comprising:a plurality of electric products; a power generation apparatus capable of varying an amount of power generation; and a power control apparatus for controlling power supply from the power generation apparatus to the plurality of electric products, wherein: each of

1. A power supply system, comprising:a plurality of electric products; a power generation apparatus capable of varying an amount of power generation; and a power control apparatus for controlling power supply from the power generation apparatus to the plurality of electric products, wherein: each of the plurality of electric products is structured to be capable of outputting a first power request signal for requesting a desired amount of power, the power control apparatus receives the plurality of first power request signals respectively from the plurality of electric products, generates a second power request signal for requesting an amount of power which is determined in accordance with a total amount of power requested by the plurality of first power request signals, and outputs the second power request signal to the power generation apparatus, and the power generation apparatus increases or decreases the amount of power generation so as to match the amount of power generation with a target amount of power generation which is determined in accordance with the second power request signal. 2. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the power generation apparatus is a fuel cell.3. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the power control apparatus generates the second power request signal so as to fulfill R=ΣRi+Rm, where R indicates an amount of power requested by the second power request signal, Ri (i=0, 1, . . . n) indicates an amount of power requested by each of the plurality of first power request signals, and Rm indicates a minimum necessary amount of power for communication between the plurality of electric products and the power control apparatus.4. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein:the power generation apparatus determines whether or not the amount of power generation matches the target amount of power generation which is determined in accordance with the second power request signal; and when the amount of power generation is determined to match the target amount of power generation, the power generation apparatus outputs a matching signal to the power control apparatus, and the power control apparatus outputs an acknowledging signal to each of at least one electric product which outputs the first power request signal among the plurality of electric products, in response to the matching signal. 5. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein:the power generation apparatus determines whether or not the amount of power generation matches the target amount of power generation which is determined in accordance with the second power request signal, and when the amount of power generation is determined to match the target amount of power generation, the power generation apparatus outputs an acknowledging signal to each of at least one electric product which outputs the first power request signal among the plurality of electric products. 6. A power supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply apparatus for outputting at least one of power supplied from the power generation apparatus and power supplied from a power supply source other than the power generation apparatus,wherein the power generation apparatus determines whether or not the amount of power generation matches the target amount of power generation which is determined in accordance with the second power request signal: and when the amount of power generation is determined to match the target amount of power generation, the power generation apparatus outputs a matching signal to the power control apparatus, and the power control apparatus determines whether or not an amount of power requested by a current second power request signal is increased as compared with an amount of power requested by a previous second power request signal; and when it is determined that the amount of power requested by the current second power request signal is increased as compared with the amount of power requested by the previous second power request signal, the power control apparatus controls the power supply apparatus to compensate for an insufficiency in the power supplied from the power generation apparatus with power supplied from the power supply source, during a period from when the current second power request signal is output to the power generation apparatus until when the matching signal is received from the power generation apparatus. 7. A power supply system according to claim 6, wherein the power control apparatus controls the power supply apparatus to compensate for the insufficiency in the power supplied from the power generation apparatus with power supplied from the power supply source only when the increase of the amount of power requested by the current second power request signal over the amount of power requested by the previous second power request signal is equal to or more than a prescribed value.8. A power supply system according to claim 6, wherein the power supply source supplies commercial power.9. A power supply system according to claim 6, wherein the power supply source is a storage cell.10. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electric products are connected to the power control apparatus via a wireless system or a wired system.11. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the first power request signal is a state signal indicating a state of the electric product; and the power control apparatus obtains an amount of power required by the electric product in the state which is indicated by the state signal, and generates the second power request signal based on the amount of power required by the electric product.12. A computer system comprising a server computer and a terminal, wherein:the server computer includes a storage section for storing a correspondence table indicating a relationship between a state of an electric product and power consumption of the electric product in the state, and the correspondence table is downloaded from the server computer through a network in accordance with a request from the terminal; wherein: the terminal is connected to a power supply system, the power supply system includes a plurality of electric products, a power generation apparatus capable of varying an amount of power generation, and a power control apparatus for controlling power supply from the power generation apparatus to the plurality of electric products, and the power control apparatus outputs a power request signal to the power generation apparatus, and the downloaded correspondence table is stored in the power control apparatus. 13. A power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply system is a system for supplying power to at least one of a home and an office.