JP2001254966A - Method for monitoring terminal appliance and gas central heating system employing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for monitoring a terminal appliance capable of collecting information up to internal information of the terminal appliance and a gas central heating system employing the method without increasing load on a CPU as a control means mounted on a communication board of a heat source unit. SOLUTION: The method for monitoring the terminal appliance monitors the state of the terminal appliance of the gas central heating system comprising the heat source unit and the terminal appliance connected to the heat source unit through a hot water supply pipe and an intra-system communication means. In this method, a mode flag is set to the heat source unit, a first polling is executed cyclically from the heat source unit to the terminal appliance and the cycle of the first polling is extended according to the state of the flag and a second polling different from the first polling is executed during the period of a cycle of the first polling. Information necessary for diagnosis of the terminal appliance is collected from the relevant terminal appliance by the second polling.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal device monitoring method and a gas central heating (GCH) system using the same, and more particularly, to the status of a GCH terminal device connected to a heat source device constituting the GCH. And a gas central heating system to which the method is applied.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, gas central heating (G)
CH) systems have become widespread. The GCH system includes a heat source having a relatively large capacity, such as a bath, a kitchen,
In addition to hot water supply to washrooms, hot water supply to GCH terminal devices such as floor heating panels, air conditioners, and dryers is performed.

[0003] Accordingly, the heat source unit is connected to a bath, a kitchen, and a toilet via a hot water supply pipe, and is also connected to a GCH terminal device via a hot water supply pipe which is a circulation path. And
The heat source unit is connected to a bath remote control and a kitchen remote control via a communication line, like a normal water heater, and performs a predetermined combustion operation such as automatic hot water filling and reheating in response to an operation request from the remote control.

[0004] Further, the heat source device of the GCH system is provided with a communication board for accommodating a communication line for a communication line connecting to a GCH terminal device to be connected. From this communication board to the GCH terminal equipment at a predetermined interval regularly,
Polling is performed at predetermined intervals to collect the status of terminal devices. Then, in response to an operation request from a remote controller or a control panel of the terminal device corresponding to the collected state, corresponding combustion operation control is performed.

[0005] On the other hand, when a new terminal device is laid or when a terminal device is repaired, a trial operation status is monitored using a monitor device. Here, it is desirable to obtain internal information necessary for diagnosis of the terminal device at the time of repair, for example, information such as the date of manufacture for each terminal and the total operation time in order to improve the efficiency of the repair work. It is desired to obtain by using

[0006]

However, in addition to the polling which is constantly performed at predetermined intervals from the heat source device to the GCH terminal device, the information necessary for the diagnosis of the terminal device is necessary for the diagnosis of the terminal device. It is conceivable to perform polling from a heat source device in order to obtain sufficient internal information. But,
In such a case, C as a control means mounted on the heat source unit
The load on the PU becomes heavy, which is not preferable.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device monitoring method capable of collecting terminal internal information without increasing the load on a CPU, and a gas central heating system using the same.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a gas central heating unit having a heat source unit, and a terminal device connected to the heat source unit via a hot water supply pipe and communication means in the system. The present invention is directed to a method of monitoring the status of terminal equipment of a heating system and a gas central heating system using the same.

In one embodiment, a mode flag is set in the heat source device, a first polling is periodically performed on the terminal device, and the first polling is performed in accordance with a state of the mode flag. The polling cycle is extended, and a second polling different from the first polling is executed during the extended first polling cycle. Then, by this second polling, information necessary for diagnosis of the terminal device is collected from the corresponding terminal device.

In another embodiment, the first polling is stopped according to the state of the mode flag, and a second polling different from the first polling is executed. Then, the second polling collects information necessary for diagnosis of the corresponding terminal device, and after the information collection by the second polling is completed, restarts the first polling. I do.

In still another embodiment, the state of the terminal device for the steady operation of the terminal device is collected by the first polling.

In another embodiment, the information necessary for diagnosing the terminal device collected by the second polling is transferred to a monitor device connected to the heat source device.

Further features of the present invention will be apparent from embodiments of the present invention described with reference to the following drawings.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such embodiments do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar components will be described with the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the terminal device monitoring method of the present invention and the configuration of an embodiment of a GCH system to which the terminal device monitoring method is applied, and a fault diagnosis device as an automatic test run monitoring device independent of a heat source device. is there.

In the following embodiment, an example in which a bath, a floor heating panel, a bath dryer, and two air conditioners are connected to a heat source device as terminal devices of the GCH system will be described.

In FIG. 1, a GCH system includes a heat source unit 1 for burning hot fuel such as gas to supply hot water or circulate hot water.
And a plurality of GCH terminal devices connected thereto, such as a floor heating panel 60, a bath dryer 64, an air conditioner 68, an air conditioner 72, and a bath 50.

The heat source unit 1 includes a hot water supply path 11 for supplying hot water to a bath, a kitchen and a washroom and its heat exchanger 10, and a hot water supply path 14 and its heat exchanger 13 for supplying circulating hot water to other GCH terminal equipment. Having. Each of the heat exchangers is provided with combustion burners 12, 15 for burning fuel such as gas.

A water supply pipe (not shown) and a hot water tap are connected to the first hot water supply path 11, and when the hot water tap is opened, water is supplied from the water supply pipe into the hot water supply path 11, and in response thereto, the burner 12 burns. Hot water is supplied to the hot water tap. Hot water taps are provided in kitchens, washrooms, baths, and the like.

Further, the first hot water supply path 11 is provided with an on-off valve 16.
The hot water is supplied to the bath 50 via the reheating circuit 53. The reheating circuit 53 is connected to the reheating heat exchanger 19, and the hot water in the bathtub is heated by heat exchange from the hot water that bypasses the second hot water supply path 14.

The second hot water supply path 14 is provided with the outgoing header 8.
0, the floor heating panel 60, the bath dryer 64, and the air conditioner 6 via respective circulation paths connected to the return header 81.
8 and 72, respectively, and circulates hot water in these circulation paths in response to requests from the respective terminal devices.

The circulation of hot water to the terminal equipment is performed by opening and closing valves 62, 66, 70,
74. These thermal valves are opened and closed by driving from a control microcomputer 21 in the heat source device 1.

The GCH terminal devices are provided with control microcomputers 61, 65, 69, and 73, respectively, and are connected to the communication microcomputer 22 in the heat source device 1 via a communication line. In the case of the floor heating panel 60, the microcomputer 61 is a floor heating remote controller, and in the case of the bath dryer 64, the microcomputer 61 is
Reference numeral 5 denotes a control device. In the case of the air conditioners 68 and 72, the microcomputers 69 and 73 are control devices. The bath remote controller 51 is also formed of a microcomputer and can communicate with the communication microcomputer 22 of the heat source unit 1.

The control microcomputer 21 provided in the heat source unit 1 monitors the output of a sensor inside the heat source unit in response to an operation command from the remote controllers 51 and 61 and the control devices 65, 69 and 73 of the GCH terminal. Then, the actuator inside the heat source device is driven.

The actuator includes, for example, a gas solenoid valve of a combustion burner, an ignition igniter (not shown), circulating pumps 17 and 18, a bath hydrant 16, and thermal valves 62 and 66 for opening a circulation path to each terminal. 70, 74, etc., and the sensors include a water inlet temperature of the hot water supply passages 11, 14, a hot water temperature sensor (not shown), a combustion fan rotation speed sensor (not shown), and the like.

The control microcomputer 21 is connected to a nonvolatile memory 54 in which various parameters and set values of the heat source device are recorded. Further, the nonvolatile memory 54
Also stores the password of the heat source device 1. The control microcomputer 21 receives a command signal from each terminal, a monitor signal, a command signal from a remote controller, and the like via the communication microcomputer 22, and transmits a signal indicating an operation state or an error. The control microcomputer and the communication microcomputer may be realized by an integrated microcomputer.

When a hot water tap in a kitchen or a lavatory is opened or an operation command is issued from a bath remote controller, the control microcomputer 21 starts the combustion operation of the combustion burner 12, and the same operation as in a normal water heater. Combustion control is performed.

When an operation command is issued from the GCH terminal device, the operation command is transmitted to the communication microcomputer 2.
2 is sent. The communication between the microcomputer of each terminal and the communication microcomputer 22 is intelligent communication performed according to a common protocol determined in advance between manufacturers.

When receiving the operation command, the communication microcomputer 22 transmits the operation command to the control microcomputer 21. In response, the control microcomputer 21 controls to open the thermal valve of the terminal that has issued the operation command, and performs corresponding combustion control.

Further, as a device for realizing the test run monitoring device function, a failure diagnosis device 2 composed of a portable information terminal such as a notebook personal computer is transmitted to a control microcomputer 21 in the heat source device 1 via a protocol conversion device 3. Connected.

For this purpose, the heat source unit 1 is provided with a connector 23 for connecting a communication cable 26.
The failure diagnosis device 2 is a portable information terminal such as a general-purpose notebook personal computer. Therefore, since it operates on a standard OS such as Windows 95 or Windows NT (both are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation), its communication protocol is also a standard protocol.

On the other hand, the control microcomputer 21 in the heat source unit 1 to be subjected to the failure diagnosis has different specifications for each maker, and the communication protocol that can be supported is also a unique specification different from the standard protocol. Often.
The communication function of the microcomputer 21 is normally developed for an operation test at the time of a shipping test by a manufacturer, and therefore, a communication protocol and a password are different for each manufacturer. Therefore, as an embodiment, a protocol conversion device 3 is interposed between the failure diagnosis device 2 and the water heater 1, and the protocol conversion is performed between a message according to a standard protocol and a message according to a protocol unique to the water heater. I have.

The protocol converter 3 includes a connector 31,
32 and a protocol conversion means 30 composed of a microcomputer or the like. Protocol conversion means 30
Has a CPU, a RAM, a ROM containing a program conversion program, an input / output buffer BUF, and the like.A communication control memory area in the memory RAM is converted into a communication control memory area including predetermined registers for protocol conversion. The necessary communication protocol parameters on the water heater side are recorded.

Microcomputer 2 for controlling heat source unit 1
1 incorporates a control program. This control program includes, for example, a combustion control sequence program for controlling a combustion sequence corresponding to an operation requested by each remote controller or terminal, and a communication control program for communicating with the failure diagnosis device 2. By having this communication control program, it is possible to communicate with the failure diagnosis device 2 and enable automatic failure diagnosis.

The control microcomputer 21 in the heat source unit 1 receives a predetermined command signal such as hot water supply or operation from the remote controller, the microcomputer of the GCH terminal device, and the failure diagnosis device 2 when, for example, the control program is executed. Is recorded in the built-in RAM.

The built-in combustion control sequence program refers to the mode flag and executes the control program corresponding to the command signal. Further, the combustion control sequence program detects the state of the sensor from the sensor output data recorded in the built-in RAM, and writes data for instructing driving of the actuator required for combustion control to a corresponding area in the built-in RAM. . The control microcomputer 21 gives a command signal to the actuator in the heat source device with reference to the command data written in the built-in RAM.

Accordingly, the failure diagnosis device 2 uses the microcomputer 21 in the heat source device 1 by using the communication means.
By rewriting information in the built-in RAM, it is possible to instruct desired combustion control required for failure diagnosis,
Also, by reading out information from the RAM, it is possible to monitor the corresponding sensor output and the state in the water heater.

To this end, the failure diagnosis device 2 is provided with a keyboard 28 and a monitor screen 27 as input means, and further, a communication port 29.

The communication port 29 of the failure diagnosis device 2
It is connected to the protocol converter 3 via the 2C cable 27. Then, the protocol conversion device 3 is connected to the connector 23 of the heat source device 1 via another cable 26.

Here, the control microcomputer 21 collects, via the communication microcomputer 22, a command signal from each terminal, a monitor signal, a command signal from a remote controller, and operation status data of each terminal. As a method, the terminal equipment is periodically polled by the communication sequence program, and information is received and collected from the corresponding terminal in response to the polling.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration inside the failure diagnosis device 2. As shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numbers. The failure diagnosis device 2 has the above-described monitor screen 27, keyboard 28, connector terminal 29 as a communication port, CPU 30, hard disk 31 as a file storage device, and main memory 32 as hardware.

As part of the information file stored in the hard disk 31 together with the OS, application software for receiving input from the keyboard 28 and performing necessary display on the monitor screen 27 is included. Further, data for providing a common failure diagnosis menu screen to a repair worker using the application software is also stored in the hard disk 31.

A communication control program for performing communication via a cable connected to the connector terminal 29 is also included as a part of the information file stored in the hard disk 31. The communication control program creates a message format and communicates with the outside according to a standard communication protocol according to a general-purpose OS.

Further, the information file also has a failure diagnosis program for the GCH terminal device. As described later, the test operation monitoring method according to the present invention is also realized as a part of the execution by the failure diagnosis program.

FIG. 3 shows a plurality of terminal devices (1 to
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for collecting state data of the terminal device 100 from n) 100 by the heat source device 1. A polling signal is sequentially and periodically sent from the heat source device 1 (specifically, the communication processor 22 of the heat source device 1) to the plurality of terminal devices 100.
In response, a response signal is returned from each terminal device to the heat source device 1.

Here, in the case where the monitor device 2 as the support device intends to obtain diagnostic information of the terminal device which is effective at the time of repair as described above, the monitor device 2
Makes an inquiry to the heat source unit 1 (see A and B in FIG. 3). Therefore, at the timing of the inquiry from the monitor device 2, communication with the monitor device 2 is required in addition to the normal polling process, and the processing load on the control processor 21 and the communication processor 22 of the heat source device 1 increases. .

When the diagnostic information of the terminal device is not collected in the heat source device 1, a new polling process for the terminal device for collecting the diagnostic information is required in addition to the normal polling process. Processor 2
1 and the processing load on the communication processor 22 is increased.

Therefore, the present invention solves such a problem. As one embodiment, the operation flow is shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 shows a sequence flow corresponding to FIG.

The operation flow of FIG. 4 is realized by executing a control program stored in the control processor 21 shown in FIG. According to the control program, the control processor 21
Determines the set mode flag. That is,
It is determined whether the mode is the communication control mode or the terminal monitor mode (step S1).

When in the communication control mode, normal polling processing is performed. That is, the heat source device 1 sequentially polls a plurality of terminal devices at a predetermined cycle, and collects a command request from the terminal devices and an operation state (step S2: see periods A and B in FIG. 5).

On the other hand, when the terminal monitor mode is set, the normal polling process is stopped (step S3). Then, monitor communication is performed during the period in which the normal polling process is stopped (step S4). Monitor communication is performed by the heat source unit 1
Is a process of collecting diagnostic information by polling for the terminal device requested, and sending the collected information to the monitor device 2 (see period C in FIG. 5).

Thus, the heat source device 1 can transmit the diagnostic information of the terminal device of the monitor device 2 without increasing the load.

FIG. 6 shows an operation flow as still another embodiment, and FIG. 7 shows a sequence flow corresponding to FIG.

The operation flow of FIG. 6 is also realized by executing a control program stored in the control processor 21 shown in FIG. According to the control program, the control processor 21 determines the set mode flag. That is, it is determined whether the mode is the communication control mode or the terminal monitor mode (step S1).

In the case of the communication control mode, normal polling processing is performed. That is, the heat source device 1 sequentially polls a plurality of terminal devices in a predetermined cycle, and collects a command request from the terminal devices and an operation state (step S2: see period A in FIG. 7).

On the other hand, in the case of the terminal monitor mode, the normal polling processing interval is extended (step S5:
(See period B in FIG. 7). Then, monitor communication is performed during the extended interval of the normal polling process (see C in FIG. 7).

Accordingly, during this period, normal polling processing and monitor communication for collecting diagnostic information of the terminal are performed (step S6). However, since the interval for the normal polling process is extended, the control processor 21 and the communication processor 22 are not required to increase the load.

Thus, the heat source device 1 can similarly transmit the diagnostic information of the terminal device to the monitor device 2 without increasing the load.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, the failure diagnosis device 2
, It is possible to collect diagnostic information of the GCH device without increasing the load on the processor of the heat source device 1. As a result, it is possible to increase the efficiency of work at the time of failure repair.

The above-described embodiment is merely an example for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, but includes the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. Reach.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a GCH system and a failure diagnosis device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration inside a failure diagnosis device.

FIG. 3 shows a plurality of terminal devices (1 to n) 100 to a heat source device 1
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for collecting state data of the terminal device 100 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation flow of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a sequence flow corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation flow of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a sequence flow corresponding to FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 heat source unit 2 failure diagnosis device 3 protocol conversion device 21 control processor 22 communication processor 40 general-purpose middleware application (program) 42 information file 44 manufacturer call order file 60 floor heating panel (GCH terminal device) 64 bus dryer ( GCH terminal equipment) 68,73 Air conditioner (GCH terminal equipment)

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Morita 1-5-20 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo F-term in Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. 3K003 XA00 XB06 XC01 XC03 3L073 CC11 DD08 DE07 DF05 5B089 GA01 JA35 JA36 KA06 KB10 KC30 KC43 KG02 MC02

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device monitoring method for monitoring the status of a terminal device of a gas central heating system having a heat source device and a terminal device connected to the heat source device via a hot water supply pipe and communication means in the system. Setting a mode flag in the heat source device, periodically performing a first polling from the heat source device to the terminal device, and extending a period of the first polling according to a state of the mode flag. And performing a second polling different from the first polling during the extended period of the first polling. The second polling is necessary for diagnosing the terminal device from a corresponding terminal device. Terminal device monitoring method characterized by collecting important information. 2. A terminal device monitoring method for monitoring the status of a terminal device of a gas central heating system having a heat source device and a terminal device connected to the heat source device via a hot water supply pipe and communication means in the system. Setting a mode flag in the heat source device, periodically performing a first polling from the communication board to the terminal device, and stopping the first polling according to a state of the mode flag. Executing a second polling different from the first polling, collecting information required for diagnosing the terminal device from the corresponding terminal device by the second polling, and collecting information required by the second polling. The terminal device monitoring method, wherein after the collection is completed, the first polling is restarted. 3. The terminal device monitoring method according to claim 1, wherein a status of the terminal device for steady operation of the terminal device is collected by the first polling. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information necessary for diagnosing the terminal device collected by the second polling is transferred to a monitor device connected to the heat source device. Terminal equipment monitoring method. 5. A gas central heating system comprising: a heat source device; and a terminal device connected to the heat source device via a hot water supply pipe and communication means in the system, wherein a communication substrate provided in the heat source device is provided. The heat source unit has a function of setting a mode flag and a function of polling the terminal device. The polling is a first polling performed periodically on the terminal device, and the mode is Extending the first polling cycle according to the state of the flag, and having a second polling different from the first polling performed during the extended first polling cycle; The gas central heating system, wherein the heat source device collects, from the corresponding terminal device, information necessary for diagnosis of the terminal device by the second polling. 6. A gas central heating system comprising a heat source device and a terminal device connected to the heat source device via a hot water supply pipe and communication means in the system, wherein the heat source device has a mode flag setting function. And a function of polling the terminal device. The polling includes a first polling performed periodically for the terminal device and a first polling performed temporarily according to a state of the mode flag. Stopping, and having a second polling different from the first polling to be executed during the paused period, the communication board transmits the second polling from the corresponding terminal device to the terminal device by the second polling. Gather information needed for diagnosis,
The gas central heating system, wherein the first polling is restarted after the end of the second polling period. 7. The gas central heating system according to claim 5, wherein a state of the terminal device for steady operation of the terminal device is collected by the first polling. 8. The monitor according to claim 5, further comprising a monitor device connected to the heat source device through a communication means, wherein the information necessary for diagnosing the terminal device collected by the second polling is displayed on the monitor. Gas central heating system characterized by being transferred to the device.