JP2966720B2 - Centralized control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To speed-up the start-up of a system by executing an initialization communication processing for checking up a state of connection between an indoor machine and an outdoor machine controller through a sub-communication line, when a power source is made. CONSTITUTION:When a power source is made for a cooling-heating system, the respective CPUs of indoor machines 20A, 20B and 20C transmit indoor machine reset signals onto the outdoor machine controller 21 side through a sub-communication line LS1. An outdoor machine controller 21 discriminates whether the number of registered indoor machines and the number of indoor machines scheduled to be connected are equal to each other. In the case when these numbers accord with each other, this means completion of a communication processing for initialization between all of the indoor machines 20A, 20B and 20C and the outdoor machine controller 21, and the outdoor machine controller 21 sets a flag of completion of the communication processing for initialization between the indoor machines 20A, 20B and 20C and the outdoor machine controller 21 and transmits a signal of completion of initialization between the indoor and outdoor machines to a communication adaptor 3-1 through the sub-communication line LS1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a central control device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a centralized control device for centrally controlling a plurality of air conditioners.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a common outdoor unit and a common main controller are provided, a plurality of indoor units are connected to a main controller via a sub-controller and a communication line, and the whole system is controlled by the main controller. There is an air conditioning centralized management system in which a sub-controller provided on a user side locally controls an indoor unit connected to the sub-controller.

[0003] Such a centralized cooling and heating management system is advantageous in terms of cost, installation area, and the like as compared with the case where an outdoor unit and an indoor unit are individually provided in order to obtain the same cooling and heating capacity.

By the way, in such a centralized cooling and heating management system, when the system is powered on, a controller between the controllers constituting the system needs to be reconfigured in order to reconstruct the system.
Alternatively, communication processing (hereinafter referred to as initialization processing) for confirming the actual connection state (connection model, model capability, and the like) has been performed between the controller and the indoor unit (outdoor unit). ,

[0005]

In the above-described conventional centralized management system, the initialization processing is configured so that each device constituting the system performs the processing at a different timing.

For this reason, when the power is turned on, the communication lines become busy due to all the devices trying to perform the initialization processing at the same time, and a collision for exclusive use of the communication line occurs. As a result, the initialization processing can be performed. There is a problem that the number of devices that cannot perform the process increases and the total initialization processing time increases.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and reliable initialization process for connection confirmation in system reconfiguration even in a centralized management system to which a large number of controlled devices are connected, and to speed up system startup. It is an object of the present invention to provide a centralized control device that can be realized.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first controlled device group including a plurality of controlled devices, and a first controlled device group locally controlled by a local control device. Terminal processing control that is connected to the second controlled device group, the first controlled device group, and the second controlled device group via a sub communication line, and controls each of the connected controlled device groups. And a control device connected to the terminal processing control device via a main communication line and controlling the entire system, and each controlled device constituting the first controlled device group includes a power supply. A first initialization processing means for performing an initialization communication processing at the time of turning on the power supply; and the local control device confirms a connection state with each of the first initialization processing means via the sub communication line at the time of turning on the power. Perform initialization communication processing for Comprising a second initialization process unit configure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the centralized control device according to the first aspect, the terminal processing control device includes an initialization communication process between the first initialization processing means and the second initialization processing means. Detecting means for detecting the end of the initialization process by monitoring the process, and based on the detection result of the detection means, after the initialization communication process ends, between the first controlled device group, It is configured to perform initialization communication processing for confirming the connection state via the sub communication line.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first controlled device group including a plurality of controlled devices, a second controlled device group controlled locally by a local control device, and the first controlled device group. A terminal processing control device that is connected to the control device group and the second controlled device group via a sub communication line, and controls each of the connected controlled device groups; and a terminal processing control device and a main communication line. And a management control device connected to the local control device, the control device comprising: a control device connected to the local control device, the control device comprising: A first initialization communication processing step of performing a first initialization communication processing for confirming connection between the first and second communication apparatuses; a determination step of determining whether the first initialization communication processing is completed; After the communication process is completed, Configure and a second initializing communication processing step of performing a second initialization process communication processing for checking connection between the control device and the terminal processing controller.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the first initialization processing means and the second initialization processing means perform initialization for confirming the connection state via the sub communication line prior to other processing when the power is turned on. Perform communication processing.

Therefore, when the power is turned on, the connection between the first group of controlled devices and the second group of controlled devices can be reliably confirmed.
In addition, it can be easily performed, and the system can be easily reconfigured.

According to the second invention, the detection means detects the end of the initialization processing by monitoring the initialization communication processing between the first initialization processing means and the second initialization processing means.

Thus, after the initialization communication processing between the first initialization processing means and the second initialization processing means is completed, the terminal processing control device communicates with the first controlled device group. An initialization communication process for confirming a connection state is performed via a communication line.

Therefore, until the initialization communication process between the first controlled device group and the second controlled device group is completed, no interruption is caused by the initialization process by the terminal processing control device. Therefore, no collision occurs due to the use of the sub communication line, and as a result, the initialization process can be sped up.

According to the third invention, the first initialization communication processing step is for confirming connection between each controlled device constituting the first controlled device group and the local control device when the power is turned on. Of the first initialization communication process.

In parallel with this, the determining step determines whether or not the first initialization communication processing has been completed, and based on this determination, the second initialization communication processing step determines whether the first initialization communication processing has been completed. After the termination, a second initialization communication process for confirming connection between each controlled device and the terminal processing control device is performed.

Therefore, the first initialization communication processing step,
Since the second initialization communication processing step and the second initialization communication processing step do not collide simultaneously to occupy the sub communication line, the initialization communication processing can be speeded up as a result.

[0019]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a centralized cooling / heating system.

The cooling / heating system 1 is roughly divided into a main controller 2 for controlling the entire system 1 and a terminal processing control connected to the main controller 2 via a two-wire main communication line LM using a multiplex transmission system. A plurality of communication adapters 3-1 to 3-3 functioning with the device, and a controlled device connected to each of the communication adapters 3-1 to 3-3 via a two-wire sub-communication line as well as a main communication line. And a device group UG.

Next, an embodiment of the controlled device group UG is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

Various modes of the controlled device group UG can be considered, and an example will be described below.

The first communication adapter 3-1 has a sub communication line L
A plurality of indoor units 20 and an outdoor unit controller 21 are connected via S1, and a plurality of outdoor units 22 are connected via the outdoor unit controller 21.

A plurality of indoor units 20 and one outdoor unit 22 are connected to the second communication adapter 3-2 via the first sub communication line LS21.
Are connected, and a second controlled device group to which a plurality of indoor units 20 and one outdoor unit 22 are similarly connected via the second sub-communication line LS22 is connected. I have.

The third communication adapter 3-3 has a sub communication line L
A plurality of indoor / outdoor unit sets 24 in which one outdoor unit is connected to one indoor unit 20 via S3 are connected via a group control communication line GL which is a control line of one remote controller 25. Multiple indoor / outdoor unit sets 26
Is connected.

Here, the configuration of the main controller 2, the communication adapter 3-1 and the communication adapter 3-2 will be described.

The main controller 2 includes a communication control board having substantially the same configuration as that of a communication adapter to be described later, a controller main body 2-1 storing a control board (not shown) for performing various controls, etc., various setting data, A display unit 2-2 for displaying an operation state or the like of the control device;
Printer for printing out various data 2-3
And is provided.

The communication adapter 3-1 is, as shown in FIG.
A CPU 10 for controlling the entire communication adapter 3-1; a ROM 11 for storing control programs and data; a RAM 12 for temporarily storing various data; an interface unit 13 for performing an interface operation with the outside;
CPU 10, ROM 11, R
The AM 12 and the interface unit 13 are connected via a bus. Further, controlled devices U11 to U1n such as an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are connected via an interface unit 13 and a sub communication line LS1. Other communication adapter 3
The same applies to -3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the communication adapter 3-2 is almost the same as the communication adapter 3-1, as shown in FIG.
A CPU 10 for controlling the whole, a ROM 11 in which a control program, data, and the like are stored; a RAM 12, which also functions as a data buffer and temporarily stores various data;
And an interface unit 13A that performs an interface operation with the outside.
ROM 11, RAM 12, and interface unit 13A
And are connected via a bus. Controlled devices U11 to U1n such as an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are connected via an interface unit 13A, a communication connection terminal T1 and a sub communication line LS21, and further, the controlled devices U21 to U2n are connected to an interface unit 13A. Connection terminal T2 and the sub communication line LS22.

Next, a control system of the indoor unit will be described by taking the indoor unit 20 connected to the communication adapter 3-1 via the sub communication line LS1 as an example.

As shown in FIG. 4, the indoor unit 20 includes a CPU 30 for controlling the entire indoor unit 20, a control program,
It comprises a ROM 31 storing data and the like, a RAM 32 for temporarily storing various data, and an interface unit 33 for performing an interface operation with the outside. Are connected via a bus. Further, the communication adapter 3-1, the other indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit controller 21 are connected via the interface unit 33 and the sub communication line LS1.

Next, the configuration of the outdoor unit controller 21 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the outdoor unit controller 21 has a CPU 4 for controlling the entire outdoor unit controller 21.
0, ROM storing control programs, data, etc.
41, a RAM 42 for temporarily storing various data,
And an interface unit 43 for performing an interface operation with the outside.
The OM 41, the RAM 42, and the interface unit 43 are connected via a bus. Further, the communication adapter 3-1 and the indoor unit 20 are connected via the interface unit 33 and the sub communication line LS1, and each outdoor unit 2
2 is connected via a second sub communication line LSB.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 shows a processing flowchart in the initialization processing of the entire cooling and heating system 1. In the following description, for simplicity of description, initialization between the communication adapter 3-1 and all the indoor units 20 and the outdoor unit controllers 21 connected to the communication adapter 3-1 via the sub communication line LS1 will be described. The processing will be described.

The CPU 10 of the communication adapter 3-1 determines whether or not the communication processing for initialization (initial communication processing) performed between all the indoor units 20 and the outdoor unit controller 21 has been completed (step S1). .

All indoor units 20 and outdoor unit controller 21
If the communication process for initialization between the two has been completed, the process proceeds to step S4.

All indoor units 20 and outdoor unit controller 21
If the communication process for initialization between the two has not been completed, the CPU 10 of the communication adapter 3-1 enters a standby state,
CPU 30 of each indoor unit 20 and outdoor unit controller 21
CPU 40 sequentially performs communication processing for initialization (step S2).

When the communication process for initialization between the CPU 30 of all the indoor units 20 and the CPU 40 of the outdoor unit controller 21 connected to the sub communication line LS1 ends,
The outdoor unit controller 21 sets a processing end flag indicating that the initialization processing between all the indoor units 20 and the outdoor unit controller 21 connected via the sub communication line LS1 has been completed, and communicates as communication data. Adapter 3-1
Via the sub communication line LS1 (step S
3).

Thus, the CPU 1 of the communication adapter 3-1
0 recognizes that the communication process for initialization performed between all the indoor units 20 and the outdoor unit controller 21 has been completed, and shifts the process to step S4 (step S1).

Next, the CPU 10 of the communication adapter 3-1 completes the communication processing for initialization performed between all the indoor units 20 connected to the communication adapter 3-1 and the sub communication line LS1. (Step S)
4).

When the communication process for initialization between the communication adapter 3-1 and all the indoor units 20 has been completed, the process proceeds to step S7.

If the communication process for initialization between the communication adapter 3-1 and all the indoor units 20 is not completed, the CPU 10 of the communication adapter 3-1 and the CPU 3 of each indoor unit 20
0 performs communication processing for initialization sequentially (step S
5).

When the communication process for initialization between the CPU 10 of the communication adapter 3-1 and the CPU 30 of all the indoor units 20 is completed, the CPU 10 of the communication adapter 3-1 indicates that the initialization process has been completed. The processing end flag is turned on, and transmitted as communication data to the main controller 2 via the main communication line LM (step S6).

Thereafter, the normal operation mode is set, and the entire system is controlled while performing regular communication processing between the main controller, the communication adapter, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit (step S7).

Next, a communication process for initialization between all the indoor units 20 and the outdoor unit controller 21 connected to the sub communication line LS1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, the communication adapter 3-1 and the three indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C and the outdoor unit controller 21 are connected to the sub communication line LS1 as shown in FIG. Is connected. In this case, it is assumed that the indoor unit number setting switch of the outdoor unit controller 21 (not shown) is set to a position corresponding to three connected indoor units.

When power is supplied to the cooling and heating system 1,
First, each CPU 30 of the indoor units 20A, 20B, 20C
An indoor unit reset signal is transmitted to the outdoor unit controller 21 via the interface unit 33 and the sub communication line LS1 (step P1).

On the other hand, the CPU 4 of the outdoor unit controller 21
0 is the CPU 30 of all the indoor units 20A, 20B, 20C via the interface unit 43 and the sub communication line LS1.
Transmits an outdoor unit reset signal in a receivable signal format (step P2).

Accordingly, the indoor units 20A, 20B, 20
Among the CPUs 30 of C, the CPU 30 of the indoor unit (in this case, the indoor unit 20A) which exclusively occupies the sub communication line LS1 sends the multi-address request signal via the sub communication line LS1 to the outdoor unit controller 21. (Step P3).

As a result, the outdoor unit controller 21
Knowing that the indoor unit 20A is requesting the multi-address data, the indoor unit 2 transmits the multi-address setting signal corresponding to the smallest number among the unregistered multi-address data.
The data is transmitted to the CPU 30 at 0A via the sub communication line LS1 (step P4). More specifically, in this case, since there is no registered multi-address data yet, a multi-address setting signal corresponding to multi-address data = "# 1" is transmitted to the CPU 30 of the indoor unit 20A.

The CPU 30 of the indoor unit 20A that has received the multi-address setting signal sets a predetermined address determination flag in the RAM 32, and notifies the multi-address data of the indoor unit 20A that the multi-address data is "# 1". Is transmitted to the outdoor unit controller 21 (step P).
5) Notify that the multi-address data = "# 1" is used.

In response to this notification, the outdoor unit controller 21
Registers the multi-address data = "# 1" as the multi-address data in use (step P
6). This completes the communication process for initialization of the indoor unit 20A with the outdoor unit controller 21.

The outdoor unit controller 21 determines the number of indoor units that should be connected to the already registered number of multi-address data, that is, the number of registered indoor units and the number of indoor units to be connected by the indoor unit number setting switch. Are determined to be equal to each other (Step P7).

If the number of registered indoor units is different from the number of indoor units to be connected, the communication process for initialization has not been completed yet, so that the communication between the other indoor units 20 B and 20 C and the outdoor unit controller 21 is not completed. The communication process of step P3 to step P6 is sequentially performed between them.

If the number of registered indoor units matches the number of indoor units to be connected, all indoor units 20A, 20B, 20
C and the communication process for initialization between the outdoor unit controller 21 are completed, and the outdoor unit controller 21
Transmits, via the sub communication line LS1, an indoor / outdoor unit initialization process end signal in which an end flag indicating that the initialization communication process between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit controller is completed is set (step P8).

Thus, after this, the indoor units 20A, 20A,
Periodic communication processing during normal operation is performed as needed between 0B, 20C and the outdoor unit controller 21.

During the period of the periodic communication processing, the CPU 10 of the communication adapter 3-1 and all the indoor units 20A, 20B,
Communication processing for initialization between 20C is performed.

Next, a communication process for initialization between the CPU 10 of the communication adapter 3-1 and the CPU 30 of all the indoor units 20 connected to the sub communication line LS1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, the communication adapter 3-1 and the three indoor units 20A, 20B, 20C are connected to the sub-communication line LS1 as shown in FIG.
The case where the outdoor unit controller 21 is connected will be described. In this case, it is assumed that the maximum number of indoor units that can be connected to the communication adapter 3-1 is 16.

The CPU 10 of the communication adapter 3-1 monitors communication processing for initialization between the indoor units 20A, 20B, 20C and the outdoor unit controller 21, and the outdoor unit controller 21 performs initialization between the indoor and outdoor units. The end processing signal is transmitted via the sub communication line LS1, and the indoor unit 20A,
It is determined whether or not the regular communication process during the normal operation has been started between the outdoor unit controller 20B, 20C and the outdoor unit controller 21 (step P10).

The communication adapter 3-1 allows the outdoor unit controller 21 to send an indoor / outdoor unit initialization processing end signal to the sub communication line LS.
1 and the indoor units 20A, 20B, 20
When the regular communication process during normal operation is started between C and the outdoor unit controller 21, the multi-address data is set based on the set multi-address data.
For the indoor unit 20A corresponding to "# 1", the model data request signal is transmitted to the interface unit 13 and the sub communication line LS1.
(Step P11).

The indoor unit 20 that has received the model data request signal
A CPU 30 sends a model data signal including various model data such as the capability of the indoor unit 20A to the CPU 13 of the communication adapter 3-1 to the interface unit 33 and the sub-unit. The data is transmitted via the communication line LS1 (step P12).

As a result, the communication adapter 3-1 indicates that the indoor unit 20A corresponding to the multi-address data = "# 1" is connected to the sub-communication line LS1 and that the indoor unit 20
The model data corresponding to A is registered in a predetermined area of the RAM 12 (step P13).

Hereinafter, similarly, the communication adapter 3-1
Multi-address data = “# 2” to communication adapter 3-1
And transmits a model data request signal corresponding to multi-address data = “# 16” corresponding to the maximum indoor unit connectable to the device. In this case, the device corresponding to the multi-address data = “# 4” to the multi-address data “# 16” is not actually connected, but the communication adapter 3-1 corresponds to a certain multi-address data. If the model data request signal corresponding to the next multi-address data cannot be received from the device corresponding to the multi-address data within a predetermined time after transmitting the model data request signal to Has become.

When the transmission of the model data request signal corresponding to the multi-address data = “# 1” to the multi-address data “# 16” and the reception of the corresponding model data are completed, the communication adapter 3-1 determines that the data has been lost. To prevent
Again, transmission of the model data request signal corresponding to the multi-address data = "# 1" to multi-address data "# 16" and reception of the corresponding model data are performed.

After these processes are completed, the communication adapter 3-1 performs regular communication with only the indoor unit in which the model data is registered, in the above-described example, only the indoor units 20A, 20B, and 20C (step S1). P14).

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
The initialization process for reconstructing the system can be performed efficiently, the occupation time of the communication line accompanying the initialization process can be reduced, and the initialization process can be performed quickly and reliably.

[0069]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first initialization processing means and the second initialization processing means for confirming the connection state via the sub communication line prior to other processing when the power is turned on. Since the initialization communication process is performed, the connection between the first controlled device group and the second controlled device group can be reliably and easily confirmed when the power is turned on, and the system can be easily reconfigured. As a result, the system can be reconfigured quickly.

According to the second invention, the detection means detects the end of the initialization processing by monitoring the initialization communication processing between the first initialization processing means and the second initialization processing means,
After the initialization communication processing between the first initialization processing means and the second initialization processing means is completed, the terminal processing control device connects to the first controlled device group via the sub communication line. Since the initialization communication processing for state confirmation is performed, the initialization processing by the terminal processing control device is performed until the initialization communication processing between the first controlled device group and the second controlled device group is completed. Is not performed, no collision occurs due to the use of the sub communication line, and the initialization process can be further speeded up, and the system rebuilding can be further speeded up. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the second initialization communication processing step includes, after the completion of the first initialization communication processing, the second initialization communication processing step for confirming a connection between each controlled device and the terminal processing control device. Since the initialization processing communication processing is performed, the first initialization communication processing step and the second initialization communication processing step do not simultaneously collide to occupy the sub communication line. It is possible to speed up the rebuilding of the entire system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cooling and heating system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a communication adapter.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of another communication adapter.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of the indoor unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an outdoor unit controller.

FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart in an initialization processing of the entire system.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an initialization process between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit controller.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for an initialization process.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an initialization process between a communication adapter and an indoor unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air-conditioning system 2 Main controller 2-1 Controller main body 2-2 Display part 2-3 Printer 3-1 to 3-3 Communication adapter 10, 30, 40 CPU 11, 31, 41 ROM 12, 32, 42 Non-volatile RAM 13 , 13A, 33, 43 Interface Unit 20 Indoor Unit 21 Outdoor Unit Controller 22 Outdoor Unit 23 Outdoor Unit 24 Indoor / Outdoor Unit Set 25 Remote Controller 26 Indoor / Outdoor Unit Set LM Main Communication Line LS1, LS21, LS22, LS3, LSB Sub Communication Line T1, T2 communication connection terminals UG Controlled device group U11 to U1n, U21 to U2n Controlled device

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-7-95673 (JP, A) JP-A-4-198652 (JP, A) JP-A-2-146448 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F24F 11/02 103

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first device comprising a plurality of controlled devices.
A controlled device group, a second controlled device group controlled locally by a local control device, and a first controlled device group and a second controlled device group connected via a sub communication line A terminal processing control device that controls each connected controlled device group, and a management control device that is connected to the terminal processing control device via a main communication line and controls the entire system, Each controlled device constituting the first controlled device group includes first initialization processing means for performing initialization communication processing when power is turned on, and the local control device is connected via the sub communication line when power is turned on. A centralized control device comprising second initialization processing means for performing initialization communication processing for confirming a connection state with each of the first initialization processing means. 2. The centralized control device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal processing control device monitors the initialization communication processing between the first initialization processing means and the second initialization processing means. Detecting means for detecting the end of the initialization processing, and based on the detection result of the detection means, after the initialization communication processing is completed, the sub-communication line between the first controlled device group A centralized control device for performing initialization communication processing for confirming a connection state via a communication device. 3. A first device comprising a plurality of controlled devices.
Connected to a controlled group of devices, a second group of controlled devices locally controlled by a local control device, and the first controlled device group and the second controlled device group via a sub communication line. A terminal processing control device that controls each connected controlled device group,
A control device connected to the terminal processing control device via a main communication line and controlling the entire system, comprising: a first control target device group when power is turned on. A first initialization communication process for performing a first initialization communication process for confirming connection between each controlled device and the local control device; and determining whether the first initialization communication process is completed. A second initialization communication for performing a second initialization communication process for confirming connection between each controlled device and the terminal processing control device after the first initialization communication process is completed. A control method for a centralized control device, comprising: a processing step.