JP3054556B2 - Centralized control device for showcase - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a showcase centralized control device for centrally controlling the operation of a plurality of showcases collectively.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores are provided with a plurality of showcases.
Conventionally, each showcase is individually controlled by a control device including a temperature controller and a timer for defrosting. Therefore, various setting operations related to the temperature of the showcase, defrost control, and the like must be performed individually at the place where the showcase is installed. Therefore, when the setting is changed depending on the season or weather, the operation becomes extremely complicated.

Further, in order to grasp the operating state such as various set values and the temperature of the showcase, it is necessary to go to a place where the showcase is installed and individually check the data. There was a problem that could not be easily grasped. Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
In Japanese Patent No. 291085 (F25D21 / 06), a control device of each showcase is connected to a centralized control device constituted by a microcomputer via a signal line, and various setting operations of data relating to operation control of each showcase are performed by a higher-level centralized control device. And the control data is transmitted from the central control device to the control device of each lower-order showcase based on the data, and the data relating to the operation state of each showcase is collected by the central control device and collectively managed. It is shown. According to such a system, the operation control of a plurality of showcases can be performed collectively, so that the setting and management work is significantly simplified.

[0004]

However, according to such a system, when control data is not sent due to a failure of a higher-level central management device or a signal line in the middle, or
If the received control data is lost due to a power failure,
In all showcases, there was a problem that control abnormalities such as abnormally high and low temperatures or frost blockage occurred.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problems. Even when an abnormality occurs in centralized control by a higher-level control device or when an abnormality occurs in a power supply, an individual power supply can be controlled. An object of the present invention is to provide a centralized control device for a showcase that can normally operate the showcase.

[0006]

That is, a centralized control device for a showcase according to the present invention is a centralized control device for collectively controlling the operation of a plurality of showcases. A plurality of terminal-side control devices respectively provided in the plurality of showcases and connected to the higher-level control device, wherein the higher-level control device inputs data relating to operation control of the plurality of showcases Means, and a higher-level control device-side transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data, wherein the terminal-side control device corresponds to a terminal-side transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data and a type of a showcase to be installed, respectively. Storage means for storing a plurality of types of data, and control means for executing control of the equipment. When the data related to the operation control is received, the control of the device is executed based on the data, and when the data is not received from the host control device, the data is stored based on the data stored in the storage unit. Executing the control of the device, the terminal-side control device includes a selection unit for selecting a type of the showcase provided with the terminal-side control device, and the data corresponding to the type of the showcase selected by the selection unit. Is taken out of the storage means to control the device.

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

According to the centralized control device for a showcase of the present invention, the storage means stores a plurality of types of data corresponding to the types of the installed showcases, and the terminal-side control device controls the terminal-side control. The apparatus is provided with a selection means for selecting the type of the showcase provided, and the data corresponding to the type of the showcase selected by the selection means is taken out of the storage means to execute the control of the equipment. It is possible to realize operation control according to the type of showcase even in the event of an abnormality, etc., to unify the data stored in the storage means of each terminal-side control device, and to reduce the cost of parts. Become.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a centralized control device 1 for a showcase of the present invention. The system of the centralized control device 1 of the present invention is configured by a host control device 2 composed of a personal computer or the like and a microcomputer,
It is provided in a plurality of showcases (not shown) installed in a store, and is constructed from a plurality of terminal-side control devices 3...

The host controller 2 is provided in a security room of a store or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, a microcomputer 4 as control means for the host controller, a ROM 6, a RAM 7, and an EEPROM 8 connected to the microcomputer 4.
Transmitting / receiving means 9 as a higher-level control device-side transmitting / receiving means,
11, an output control means 12 and an input control means 13. The transmission / reception means 9 and 11 are configured by a serial interface. The transmission / reception means 9 is connected to a signal line 14, and the transmission / reception means 11 is connected to a signal line 16.

The ROM 6 stores a communication protocol and a control program for the higher-level control device 2 itself. The RAM 7 stores various data sent from each terminal-side control device 3 and various operation control data sent to each terminal-side control device 3. Data on
The control data of the host controller 2 itself (display data of the display unit 17, a timer, a flag, etc.) is stored, and the EEPROM 8
Stores data related to various settings and installation states of each showcase, and is held even when the power is turned off.

The output control means 12 has a display unit 1 such as a CRT.
7 is connected, and the input control means 13 is connected to a keyboard 18 as input means. The keyboard 18 sets data relating to operation control such as temperature control and defrost control of each showcase, or instructs the display unit 17 to display data. Next, the terminal-side control device 3 is provided in each showcase as described above, and as shown in FIG.
And a ROM 22 and a RAM 23 as storage means connected to the microcomputer 21, an EEPROM 24 as storage means, transmission / reception means 26 and 27 as terminal side transmission / reception means, an output control means 28 and an input control means 29. Is done. The transmitting / receiving means 26 and 27 are constituted by a serial interface.
Is the signal line 14, and the transmitting / receiving means 27 is the signal line 16
Connected to each other.

The ROM 22 stores a communication protocol and a control program for the terminal-side control device 3 itself. A table of empty areas in the ROM 22 stores types (1) and (2) of all showcases to be installed. ), A plurality of types of initial data (data related to operation control) respectively corresponding to. On the other hand, the RAM 23 stores the control data of the terminal-side control device 3 itself,
The PROM 24 stores the data relating to the operation control of the showcase sent from the higher-level control device 2 and the data set by the terminal-side control device 3, and retains the data even when the power is turned off.

A display section 31 and an actuator 32 are connected to the output control means 28. This actuator 32
Means a device of a showcase such as a compressor, a heater for defrosting an expansion valve or a cooler, and lighting. The input control means 29 is connected to a setting switch 33, a sensor 34 for detecting the temperature inside the refrigerator or the cooler of the showcase, a selection switch 36 comprising a dip switch as a selection means, and an external input terminal 37. The data detected by the sensor 34 is also stored in the RAM 23.

The setting switch 33 inputs data relating to individual operation control such as temperature control and defrosting control of the showcase provided with the terminal-side control device 3, or inputs the data to the upper control device 2. A channel number for identifying the terminal-side control device 3 is set. Further, the selection switch 36 is provided for the types (1), (2),... Of the showcase in which the terminal-side control device 3 is provided.
Is a switch for setting “を” to the microcomputer 21. Further, control data from, for example, a refrigerator (not shown) is input to the external input terminal 37.

With the above configuration, the operation of each device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 4 shows a program of the microcomputer 21 of the terminal-side control device 3. First, the host control device 2 will be described.
From the keyboard 18, for each of the channel numbers assigned to each terminal-side control device 3, a set temperature in the refrigerator, various alarms, various set values relating to defrosting of the cooler, a management temperature, and the like.
Input data related to showcase operation control. Data relating to the operation control of each showcase set by the keyboard 18 is stored in the microcomputer 4.
Is stored in the RAM 7 and the EEPROM 8.
Further, the microcomputer 4 transmits data input from the keyboard 18 from the transmission / reception means 9 to the terminal-side control device 3 of each showcase via the signal line 14. Then, these data are transmitted while being distinguished for each channel number.

On the other hand, the microcomputer 21 of the terminal-side control device 3 determines whether or not the transmission / reception means 26 has received the data addressed to its own channel number from the signal line 14 in step S1. The computer 21 proceeds to step S2 to determine whether or not the data has been changed by comparing with the previous data. If the data is the first data or has been changed, the process proceeds to step S3 and stores the data in the EEPROM 24. The setting data such as the set temperature in the refrigerator (data relating to the operation control of the showcase) is written and stored, and the process proceeds to step S4. If the data has not been changed in step S2, the process directly proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the microcomputer 2
An actuator 32 compares the output of the sensor 34 with respect to the inside temperature of the showcase from the sensor 34 with the set temperature of the inside of the set data stored in the EEPROM 24.
And controls the expansion valve and the compressor motor to control the internal temperature to the internal set temperature. Also, regarding the start and end of the defrosting of the cooler, the microcomputer 21 performs EE.
By controlling the energization of a defrost heater as the actuator 32 based on the data on the start and end timings of the defrost stored in the PROM 24, defrost of a cooler (not shown) of the showcase is performed to prevent frost blockage. .

Since the EEPROM 24 storing the data from the host controller 2 retains the data even when the power is turned off, the data is not lost even if an instantaneous power failure or the like occurs. Therefore, even when such a power supply abnormality occurs, in each showcase, the subsequent operation control can be normally executed based on the data received before and written in the EEPROM 24.

The data relating to the operating state such as the internal temperature of the showcase is stored in the microcomputer 2
1 is sequentially stored in the RAM 23 and updated. The microcomputer 4 of the higher-level control device 2 polls the microcomputer 21 of each terminal-side control device 3 connected to itself, for example, once a minute, for example. When the microcomputer 21 of each terminal-side control device 3 is polled by the host control device 2, the data relating to the operating state of the showcase stored in the RAM 23 together with its own channel number is transmitted from the transmission / reception means 27 via the signal line 16. To the host controller 2. The host controller 2 receives and collects the data relating to the operation state by the transmission / reception means 11 and stores the data relating to the operation state in the RAM 7 for each terminal-side controller 3, that is, for each channel. The data on the operation state in the RAM 7 is updated by transmitting data from the terminal-side control device 3 at the next polling.

The host control device 2 collects data on the operating state of each showcase from each terminal-side control device 3 in such a procedure. The microcomputer 4 reads the internal temperature, the internal set temperature stored in the EEPROM 8 and the like from the data collected in the RAM 7 by operating the keyboard 18 and displays them on the display unit 17 for each channel number. Thus, the operation of the plurality of showcases connected to the host control device 2 is centrally controlled.

Here, if a failure occurs in the upper control device 2 or a failure occurs in the signal line 14 and the data relating to the showcase operation control is not transmitted from the higher control device 2, the terminal control device 3 Transmission / reception means 26
Cannot receive data. Microcomputer 2
In step S1, the program proceeds from step S1 to step S5 to determine whether data has already been written to the EEPROM 24. If the abnormality has occurred during the operation and data has been received at least once, the process proceeds to step S4 to execute control of the device based on the data stored in the EEPROM 24 at that time. I do. Therefore, even when an abnormality occurs during the driving, in each showcase, the EE received and
The subsequent operation control can be normally executed based on the data written in the PROM 24.

Next, the host controller 2 or the signal line 1
If the failure of No. 4 has occurred since the power was turned on, that is, from the beginning of the operation, and no data has been received (ie, no data has been written to the EEPROM 24), the microcomputer 21 Proceeding from step S5 to step S6, it is determined whether or not the type of the showcase selected and set by the selection switch 36 is (1). If the type of the showcase is (1), the process proceeds to step S7, where the ROM 2
The initial data (operation control data) corresponding to the type (1) showcase stored in the table in 2 is taken out and written into the EEPROM 24.

The type of the showcase selected and set by the selection switch 36 in step S6 is (1)
If not, the process proceeds to step S8, and it is determined whether or not the type of showcase is (2). If the type of the showcase is (2), the process proceeds to step S9, and the initial data (data related to the operation control) corresponding to the type (2) showcase stored in the table in the ROM 22 is extracted. , In the EEPROM 24. Then, such determination is made for all types (n) (step S
n), the initial data relating to the operation control corresponding to the type of showcase in which the terminal-side control device 3 is provided is stored in the EEPROM of the terminal-side control device 3.
24, and the process proceeds to step S4 and the EE
The device is controlled based on the data written in the PROM 24.

As described above, when the terminal-side control device 3 provided in each showcase cannot receive data relating to the operation control of the showcase from the beginning of power-on due to a failure of the host control device 2 or the signal line 14, etc. Since the control of the device is executed based on the initial data stored in the ROM 22, the operation control can be normally executed in each showcase even at the time of such an abnormality.

In particular, the table in the ROM 22 stores a plurality of types of data respectively corresponding to the types of all the showcases installed, and the terminal-side control device 3 is a show in which the terminal-side control device 3 is provided. A selection switch 36 for selecting the type of case is provided, and initial data corresponding to the type of showcase selected by the selection switch 36 is taken out of a table in the ROM 22, and the EEPRO
Since the control of the device is executed by writing to M24, the operation control according to the type of the showcase can be realized even when the host controller 2 or the like is abnormal. In addition, the RO of each terminal side control device 3
Since the data stored in the M22 can be unified, the manufacturing cost of the ROM 33 can be reduced.

In the embodiment, the case where the data transmission is interrupted due to the failure of the host control device 2 or the like has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this case. It is assumed that the abnormality of the received data is diagnosed and the same control is executed.

[0031]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the storage means stores a plurality of types of data respectively corresponding to the types of the showcases to be installed, and the terminal-side control device controls the terminal-side control. The apparatus is provided with a selection means for selecting the type of the showcase provided, and the data corresponding to the type of the showcase selected by the selection means is taken out of the storage means to execute the control of the equipment. It is possible to realize operation control according to the type of showcase even in the event of an abnormality, etc., to unify the data stored in the storage means of each terminal-side control device, and to reduce the cost of parts. Become.

[0032]

[0033]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a centralized control device for a showcase of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the host control device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the terminal-side control device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a program of a terminal-side control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 central control device 2 higher-level control device 3 terminal-side control device 9 transmitting and receiving means 11 transmitting and receiving means 14 signal line 16 signal line 18 keyboard 21 microcomputer 22 ROM 24 EEPROM 26 transmitting and receiving means 36 selection switch

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A centralized control device for collectively controlling the operation of a plurality of showcases, wherein the centralized control device is provided in each of the plurality of showcases and connected to the higher-order control device. A plurality of terminal-side control devices, wherein the high-order control device includes an input unit for inputting data related to the operation control of the plurality of showcases, and a high-order control unit-side transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving data. The terminal-side control device includes a terminal-side transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving data, and an installed system.
Multiple types of data corresponding to different types of cases
The storage device includes a storage unit that stores the data, and a control unit that executes control of the device. When the control unit receives data related to the operation control of the showcase from the higher-level control device, the control unit performs a process based on the data. When controlling the device and not receiving the data from the higher-level control device, the device performs control of the device based on the data stored in the storage unit, and the terminal-side control device controls the terminal-side control. The apparatus further comprises a selection unit for selecting a type of the showcase provided with the device, and the data corresponding to the type of the showcase selected by the selection unit is taken out of the storage unit to execute control of the device. Showcase centralized control device.