JP2001317088A - Electronic controller for construction machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic controller for a construction machine which permits the replacement of a controller unit without requiring the readjustment of the internal data in the components. SOLUTION: A controller unit 1 having an internal memory 3 storing the internal data of the components, a connector connectable to a communication port 15 of the controller unit 1, and an external memory unit 14 for back-up having an external memory 17 for reading the internal data from the internal memory 3 through the connector are provided. By making a configuration as stated above, when the controller unit 1 has a trouble, an external memory unit 14 is removed from the troubled controller unit 1 and installed to a new controller unit, and the internal data stored in the external memory 17 can be shifted to the internal memory of a new controller unit through the communication port 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic control device for a construction machine which controls components such as an actuator and a monitor based on control data output from a controller unit. The present invention relates to an electronic control device for a construction machine having an internal memory for storing data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electronic control device mounted on a construction machine such as a hydraulic excavator, an internal memory is built in a controller unit for controlling components such as an actuator and a monitor, and an adjustment value of control data is stored in the internal memory. There is known a device that performs optimum control by a controller unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional controller unit of this type, in which the direction of an arrow indicates the flow of a main signal. A controller unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 performs a data operation and controls a signal flow, an internal memory 3 for storing internal data of components of a construction machine, for example, an adjustment value of control data, and a control content. A ROM 4 for storing programs and the like in advance and interfaces 5 and 6 for exchanging data with the outside are provided. The interface 5 includes a digital input unit 7 and an analog input unit 8 for receiving output signals of sensors and switches (not shown), and a communication port 9 for transmitting and receiving information to and from components such as actuators and monitors (not shown).
And a sensor supply power supply 10, and the other interface 6 includes an LED, a buzzer, a lamp, a relay,
Digital output unit 1 that outputs signals to solenoid valves, lights, etc.
1, an actuator drive output unit 12 that outputs a control signal to a proportional solenoid valve or a motor via an actuator drive circuit (not shown), and a controller power supply 13. The internal memory 3 has one interface 5
Has a rewritable function that can set and store the adjustment value of the control data input from the controller, and that the data in the memory is not erased even when the controller power supply 13 is turned off.
That is, it has non-volatility.

In the conventional controller unit 1 configured as described above, the arithmetic unit 2 outputs an output value from data such as an operation lever and an angle sensor input from one interface 5 according to the procedure of a program stored in the ROM 4. By calculating and outputting this output value as control data from the other interface 6, the operation time of the actuator, lighting of the lamp, and the like are controlled. here,
When the output value that is the control data is changed, for example, when the data input to the arithmetic unit 2 varies due to the difference in the characteristics of the angle sensor, or when the user operates the actuator in accordance with the work situation, When controlling with a portable terminal such as a personal computer,
And input the adjustment value of the control data
This adjustment value is stored in the internal memory 3 via the communication port 9. As a result, the arithmetic unit 2 changes the output value based on the initial value stored in the ROM 4 and the adjustment value stored in the internal memory 3 and outputs the changed output value as control data. And lamps are controlled by the optimal operation.

As a technique related to this kind of technique, for example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-271409 is cited.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned prior art, since the internal data such as the adjustment value of the control data is stored only in the internal memory 3 of the controller unit 1 mounted on the construction machine. When the controller unit 1 fails and is replaced with a new controller unit, internal data such as control data adjustment values must be input again to the internal memory of the newly replaced controller unit. There is a problem that it takes a lot of time and effort.

The internal memory 3 of the controller unit 1 has stored therein internal data unique to the machine in the past. To retrieve the internal data, many complicated electronic devices are required, and an operation for handling these devices is required. Since it is necessary to know the method, it takes time to perform the adjustment and setting work after the replacement of the controller unit as described above, and it is difficult to completely restore the internal data to the new controller unit. Therefore, actually, the internal data is not inherited when the controller unit is replaced, and the internal data accumulated in the past is often lost. For example, when the operation time and the update date of the construction machine included in the internal data become unclear and the failure information disappears, there have been inconveniences such as the history of the construction machine being unknown.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the internal data of the components is stored in an internal memory of a controller unit mounted on a construction machine, and the internal data is read from the internal memory to an external memory. With this configuration, if the controller unit fails, the internal data stored in the external memory can be transferred to the internal memory of the new controller unit after replacing the controller unit with a new controller unit. it can.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An electronic control apparatus for a construction machine according to the present invention includes a controller unit for controlling a component device, and the controller unit has a built-in internal memory for storing internal data of the component device. An electronic control device for a machine, comprising: a backup external memory unit having a connector detachably connected to the controller unit, and an external memory for reading internal data stored in the internal memory via the connector. It is.

With this configuration, the internal data of the component device is read from the internal memory of the controller unit to the external memory and stored in a state where the connector of the backup external memory unit is connected to the controller unit in a normal state. Then, when the controller unit fails, replace this controller unit with a new controller unit, connect the connector of the backup external memory unit to the new control unit, and connect the external memory to the internal memory of the new controller unit. Transfer internal data. This eliminates the need to adjust or set the internal data in the internal memory of the new controller unit, shortening the maintenance service time required for the replacement operation of the controller unit, and maintaining the internal memory after the replacement of the control unit. Since the data is inherited, the reliability of the internal data can be improved.

[0011]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic control unit of a construction machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a backup external memory unit provided in the embodiment, and FIG. It is the figure seen from the side.
In FIG. 1, the same components as those shown in FIG. 4 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic control unit for a construction machine according to the present embodiment has a controller unit 1 and a backup external unit which is removably mounted on the controller unit 1 and fastened with screws (not shown). And a memory unit 14. This external memory unit 14
Has a connector 16 on the lower surface side as shown in FIG. 3, and detachably connects this connector 16 to another communication port 15 provided in the controller unit 1.
As shown in (1), an external memory 17 for reading data in the internal memory 3 via the connector 16 is provided. The external memory 17 is supplied with power from the controller unit 1 via the communication port 15. . Also, screw holes 18 are provided at four corners of the external memory unit 14, and as shown in FIG. 2, the external memory unit 14 is mounted on the controller unit 1 and is inserted into the screw holes 18 ( (Not shown). The machine-specific internal data stored in the internal memory 3 includes, for example, a machine code or a serial number (a machine-specific number including characters) of a construction machine, adjustment values / set values of constituent devices, operation time, internal time, and the like. Data update date,
Number of removals and parts of the electronic device including the control unit 1, logging data, failure information (failure history), maintenance information, repair information, user information, owner record, date of manufacture, version information, specifications (optional parts, Functions, etc.), and other information.

In the electronic control unit for a construction machine constructed as described above, the arithmetic unit 2 of the controller unit 1 normally operates in the same manner as the conventional controller unit shown in FIG. , An output value is calculated from data such as an operation lever or an angle sensor input from one interface 5, and the output value is output from the other interface 6 as control data, so that the operating time of the actuator and the lighting of the lamp Control and so on. Here, the control data for changing the output value is determined based on the initial value stored in advance and the adjustment value stored in the internal memory 3.

When a key switch (not shown) is turned on at the time of starting the construction machine, the electronic control unit of this embodiment is initialized in the following procedure. That is, first, it is determined whether or not the external memory unit 14 is connected to the controller unit 1. As a result, if the external memory unit 14 is not connected, the operator of the construction machine is warned of an abnormality, The initialization process of the control device ends, and the process proceeds to another initialization process. On the other hand, when the external memory unit 14 is connected, it is determined whether or not the internal data is stored in the internal memory 3 of the controller unit 1. As a result, when the internal data is not stored,
Is determined to be new, and the internal data stored in the external memory 17 is copied to the internal memory 3 via the communication port 15. When the internal data is stored in the internal memory 3, the machine code of the construction machine and the update date included in the information are compared with the information in the external memory 17. If the information matches, a flag indicating that there is no problem in the processing is set, the initialization processing of the electronic control device of the present embodiment is completed, and the processing shifts to another initialization processing. If the machine codes of the construction machines match and the update dates are different, the latest update date is selected from the information in the internal memory 3 and the external memory 17, and the internal memory 3 and the external memory are selected based on the selected update date. The information in the memory 17 is unified, and a flag indicating that there is no problem in processing is set. Further, when the machine codes of the construction machines are different, the operator is warned of the abnormality and the initialization process of the electronic control device of the present embodiment is terminated, and the process proceeds to another initialization process.

When the key switch is turned off when the construction machine is stopped, a backup process of the internal data is performed in the following procedure. That is, it is first determined whether or not the external memory unit 14 has been detached from the controller unit 1 during the operation of the construction machine. As a result, the external memory unit 14 has not been detached. When the state is maintained, the internal data is read from the internal memory 3 of the controller unit 1 to the external memory unit 14 via the communication port 15 and stored. Further, when the construction machine is operated for a long time, the internal data is read out and stored in the external memory unit 14 at predetermined time intervals.

As described above, in the above embodiment, when the controller unit 1 mounted on the construction machine fails, the controller unit 1 is replaced with a new controller unit. The memory unit 14 is removed and mounted on a new controller unit. Thereafter, as described above, when the key switch is turned on at the time of starting the construction machine, the electronic control device of this embodiment is initialized, and the internal data stored in the external memory 17 is copied to the internal memory 3 via the communication port 15. It is supposed to.

In the embodiment constructed as described above,
After the controller unit 1 of the construction machine breaks down and is replaced with a new controller unit, by attaching the external memory unit 14 to the new controller unit, the data stored in the controller unit 1 is transferred to the new controller unit. Can be transferred automatically.

[0018]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above and has the following effects.

Since the internal data stored and held in the internal memory of the controller unit of the construction machine is copied to the external memory, the controller unit is replaced with a new controller unit due to a failure of the controller unit. The above-mentioned internal data can be transferred from the external memory. Accordingly, troublesome work for adjusting and setting control data and the like when a new controller unit is replaced is omitted, and maintenance service time required for replacing the controller unit can be reduced. Therefore, the cost required for replacing the controller unit can be reduced, and the reliability of the internal data can be improved because the internal data is inherited even after the replacement of the controller unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic control device of a construction machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a backup external memory unit provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view of the external memory unit for backup as viewed from a lower surface side.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional controller unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 controller unit 3 internal memory 14 external memory unit for backup 15 communication port 16 connector 17 external memory

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electronic control device for a construction machine, comprising: a controller unit for controlling a component device, wherein the controller unit has an internal memory for storing internal data of the component device, wherein the controller unit is detachable from the controller unit. An electronic control device for a construction machine, comprising: a backup external memory unit having a connector connected to the internal memory and an external memory that reads internal data stored in the internal memory via the connector.