JP2003279120A - Combustion control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain electric power consumption. <P>SOLUTION: When operating a remote controller 20 for a bath, an RC main power source closing/cutoff control part 26 of the remote controller 20 for the bath is turned on and makes output, and an RC main power source 23 is turned on, and an RC control part 21 is started. An MC carrier detecting part 15 of a main controller 10 detects a carrier from the remote controller 20 for the bath according to this starting, and an MC power source closing/ cutoff control part 16 is turned on and makes output, and an MC main power source 13 and an MC control part 11 are started. Thus, supply voltage to the respective remote controllers 20 and 40 increases, and even in the unoperated remote controller 40 for a kitchen, an RC control part 41 of itself is stated by receiving a change in this voltage, and the whole communication system of a water heater with the reheating function is started, and is put in an ordinary mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combustion control device for remotely controlling a combustion control section of a main controller with a remote controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a combustion control system, for example, a hot water supply system, a remote controller is installed at a hot water supply place such as a kitchen or a bathroom, and an operation command from the remote controller is provided in a main controller (hereinafter referred to as a main controller). (Referred to as)) and controls the hot water supply.

The remote controller and the main controller are constantly supplied with power to loads such as a communication circuit and a combustion control circuit so that they can be operated at any time in response to an operation command from a user. In order to suppress the power consumption of each load when not in use, a system is considered in which power supply is limited to a specific load to stand by (standby mode), and operation of the remote controller is detected to return to the normal mode.

This communication system, as shown in FIG.
A main computer 110 (hereinafter referred to as MC as necessary) provided in the water heater body, a bath remote controller 120 that receives power from the main computer 110 via a communication line 160, and performs data communication, and a kitchen remote controller 140 (hereinafter, if they are not distinguished, they are simply called remote controllers,
(Hereinafter referred to as RC if necessary).

The main controller 110 is an MC for controlling combustion.
The microcomputer 111, an MC communication IC 112 that communicates with a remote controller based on a command from the MC microcomputer 111, an MC driver 119 that is a communication driver thereof, and a commercial power supply are converted into DC voltage to the MC microcomputer 111 and the MC communication IC 112. A main power supply 113 for supplying electric power, a main power supply switch 114 provided in a power supply line to the main power supply 113, an MC carrier detection unit 115 for detecting a communication signal (carrier) from each remote controller 120, 140,
Main power switch 114 depending on the presence / absence of carrier detection
The MC main power on / off control unit 116 for controlling the power supply and the commercial power supply to the MC microcomputer 11 without the main power switch 114.
MC carrier detection unit 11 by converting to a voltage different from 1
5, a sub power supply 117 for supplying power to the MC main power on / off control unit 116. The main controller 110 closes the main power switch 114 in the normal mode,
Power is supplied to all the loads, and in the standby mode, the main power switch 114 is opened, and the MC carrier detection unit 1
15. Only the MC main power on / off control unit 116 (marked with * in FIG. 6) is supplied with power from the sub power supply 117. Reference numeral 162 in the figure denotes a power supply unit including a main power supply 113 and a sub power supply 117.

The remote controller 120 includes an RC microcomputer 121 that controls display and communication of the remote controller 120, an RC communication IC 122 that communicates with the main computer 110 based on a command from the RC microcomputer 121, and an RC driver that serves as a communication driver for the RC microcomputer 121. 132 and the RC microcomputer 121 and the RC communication IC 1 by changing the electric power from the sub power supply 117 obtained from the main controller 110 via the communication line 160 to a desired voltage.
22, an RC power supply 123 to be supplied to the power supply 22, and an RC switch 124 provided in a power supply line to the RC power supply 123,
An RC carrier detection unit 125 that detects a carrier from the main computer 110, and an RC carrier detection unit 125 that detects whether a carrier is detected or not.
RC power on / off control unit 12 for controlling the power switch 124
6, an operation key 130 having a setting switch for setting the operation switch 130a and the hot water supply temperature, and a key detection unit 131 for detecting whether or not the operation switch 130a is operated.
And a display unit 129 displaying the set hot water supply temperature and the like. The remote controller 120 closes the RC switch 124 in the normal mode, supplies power to all loads, and opens the RC switch 124 in the standby mode to control the key detection unit 131 and RC power on / off. Part 12
6, Only the RC carrier detector 125 is supplied with power from the main controller 110. Since the kitchen remote controller 140 has the same configuration as the bath remote controller 120, a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the sequence at startup will be described with reference to FIG. Main computer 110, remote control 120,
When the 140 is in the standby mode, the operation switch 13 of one remote controller (here, the bath remote controller 120)
When 0a is operated, the key detection unit 131 outputs an ON signal, and the RC power on / off control unit 126 receives the RC signal in response to the ON signal.
Switch 124 is closed, and RC microcomputer 121, from main computer 110 via communication line 160 and RC power supply 123,
RC communication IC 122, display unit 129, RC driver 1
Power is supplied to 32 and they are activated. Thus
In order to return the entire system to the normal mode, the RC microcomputer 121 sends a carrier (here, a return signal to the normal mode) via the RC communication IC 122 and the RC driver 132.
Is transmitted to the communication line 160.

In the main controller 110, the MC carrier detection unit 115 detects the carrier from the communication line 160, and the MC main power on / off control unit 116 closes the main power switch 114 so that the main power supply 113 MC microcomputer 11
1 and the MC communication IC 112 are supplied with power, and these are activated and restored. In this way, the MC microcomputer 111 transmits the normal command to the communication line 160. On the other hand, in the kitchen remote controller 140 that is not operated, the RC carrier detection unit 14
5 detects the carrier from the bath remote control 120 via the communication line 160, and like the bath remote control 120,
The RC power on / off control unit 146 closes the RC switch 144, and from the main controller 110 to the communication line 160 and the RC power source 1.
43 via the RC microcomputer 141 and the RC communication IC 142
Power is supplied to these to start them. In this way, in addition to the operated bath remote controller 120, the kitchen remote controller 140 and the main computer 11 which are not operated are operated.
0 switches from the standby mode to the normal mode, and the main controller 110 transmits a normal command at the timings assigned to the respective remote controllers 120 and 140 to start communication. Specifically, the main computer 110 transmits data to the bath remote controller 120 and receives a response from the bath remote controller 120, and then transmits data to the kitchen remote controller 140 to send a response from the kitchen remote controller 140. Repeat receiving.

When the operation switch of one remote controller is turned off and the other remote controller is not controlled for a predetermined time during the operation in the normal mode, if the conditions for shifting to the standby mode are met, the MC microcomputer 111 transmits a command for shifting to the standby mode to each remote controller 120, 140. In response to this, the RC microcomputer 1 of each remote controller 120, 140
21 and 141 each have their own R at a predetermined timing.
An OFF signal is output to the C power on / off control units 126 and 146 to stop the power supply from the RC power sources 123 and 143, and the standby mode is entered. Then, the MC microcomputer 111 of the main controller 110 controls the MC main power on / off control unit 11 at a predetermined time.
An off signal is output to 6, the main power supply 113 is turned off, the supply of power to the MC microcomputer 111 and the MC communication IC 112 is stopped, and the standby mode is entered.

[0010]

However, in this communication system, each remote controller 120, 140 is provided with a dedicated circuit (carrier detection section 125, 145) for receiving a return command signal (carrier) from the main controller 110. This has to be provided, and the power consumption in the carrier detection units 125 and 145, which are operating even during standby, is large. Further, the carrier detectors 125 and 145 are expensive because they require a filter circuit for discriminating the frequency of communication data and have a complicated structure. An object of the combustion control device of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to suppress power consumption.

[0011]

A combustion control device according to claim 1 of the present invention which solves the above-mentioned problems is a main power supply which operates only in a normal mode and an output voltage which is different from that of the main power supply and operates at least in a standby mode. And a combustion control unit that is supplied with power from the main power supply to control combustion of the burner, and a mode switching unit that is supplied with power from the sub power supply and switches between a normal mode and a standby mode. In a combustion control device including a main controller and a plurality of remote controllers that are supplied with power from the power supply section of the main controller and communicate with the combustion control section, the remote controller is supplied from the power supply section of the main controller. Based on the power supply voltage of the remote controller, the operation mode of the remote controller itself is switched from standby mode to normal mode. And summarized in that with a stage.

Further, a combustion control device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the combustion control device according to the first aspect, wherein the remote controller is an operation determination unit which determines whether or not a remote controller is operated in a standby mode of the remote controller. By detecting that the remote controller is operated and switching itself to the normal mode, and outputting a mode switching command to the mode switching unit of the main controller to set the main controller to the normal mode. The gist is to switch the remote control of from the standby mode to the normal mode.

The combustion control device according to claim 3 of the present invention is the combustion control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set voltage of the main power supply is set higher than the set voltage of the sub power supply. And

In the combustion control device according to claim 1 of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, in the normal mode in which the main controller (hereinafter referred to as the main controller) performs combustion control, electric power is supplied from the main power source to the combustion control unit and the remote controller. Then, each remote controller in the standby mode for power saving detects the power supply voltage of the main power source of the main controller and switches the operation mode of its own remote controller to the normal mode. In this way, since the operation mode of the remote controller is switched by using the difference between the main power supply voltage and the sub power supply voltage that was originally provided in the main computer without using a carrier, a dedicated circuit for receiving a return command (carrier The detection circuit) does not need to be provided for each remote controller, and the power consumption of the remote controller during standby can be suppressed.

Further, the combustion control device according to claim 2 of the present invention is set to 1 when the main controller and each remote controller are in a standby state.
When the remote controller is operated, the remote controller detects that the remote controller is operated and switches itself to the normal mode, and outputs a mode switching command to the mode switching section of the main controller to set the main controller to normal mode. Set to the mode and supply power from the main power supply to the remote control. The other remote controllers detect the voltage of the main power source and switch their operation modes to the normal mode. That is, by operating one remote controller, another remote controller can be automatically switched from the standby mode to the normal mode without using a communication carrier.

Further, in the combustion control device according to claim 3 of the present invention, the set voltage of the main power source is higher than that of the sub power source, and the power from the power source section is not distinguished between the main power source and the sub power source. In the normal mode, the high-voltage main power supply is automatically given priority over the sub-power supply and supplied to each remote controller.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, preferred embodiments of the combustion control device of the present invention will be described below.

A water heater with a reheating function as one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system of the water heater with a reheating function includes a main controller 10 (hereinafter, referred to as a main controller or MC) provided in the main body of the water heater and a communication line 60 to the main controller 10. It is composed of a bath remote controller 20 and a kitchen remote controller 40 that receive power and perform data communication (hereinafter, simply referred to as a remote controller when they are not distinguished, and referred to as RC if necessary). It should be noted that in this water heater with a reheating function, up to four remote controllers can be connected, but in the present embodiment, two remote controllers are provided.

The main console 10 is a sensor of the water heater body,
MC control unit 11 (combustion control unit) including a microcomputer connected to an actuator via an input / output interface and controlling combustion of a hot water supply burner and a bath burner (not shown)
And the remote controller 2 based on a command from the MC control unit 11.
0 and 40, MC transmitting / receiving circuit 12, a watchdog circuit 19 for monitoring runaway of the MC control unit 11, a commercial power supply converted into a DC voltage, the MC control unit 11, the MC transmitting / receiving circuit 12, the watchdog circuit An MC main power supply 13 for supplying power to the MC 19, an MC main power supply switch 14 provided on a power supply line to the MC main power supply 13, and an MC for detecting a communication signal (carrier) from each remote controller 20, 40.
The carrier detection unit 15, an MC power on / off control unit 16 (mode switching unit) that controls the MC main power switch 14 according to the presence / absence of carrier detection, and a commercial power supply to the MC control unit 1
MC carrier detection unit 15 by converting into a voltage different from 1
And MC for supplying power to the MC power on / off control unit 16
It is composed of a sub power supply 17 and an MC filter 18 which prevents carriers from the remote controllers 20 and 40 from being sent to the MC main power supply 13 and the MC sub power supply 17. Since no switch is provided in the power supply line to the MC sub power supply 17, the MC sub power supply 17 is constantly supplied with power from the commercial power supply. In the main controller 10, the MC main power switch 14 is closed in the normal mode, power is supplied to all the loads, and the MC main power switch 14 is opened in the standby mode to open the MC carrier detector 15. MC power on / off control unit 1
6, MC secondary power supply 17 (marked with * in FIG. 1)
Only the MC sub power supply 17 supplies power. Reference numeral 62 in the figure denotes a power supply unit including the MC main power supply 13 and the MC sub power supply 17, and is connected to the communication line 60 that also serves as a power supply line.

Next, the main components of the bath remote controller 20 will be described. Note that the kitchen remote controller 40 (see FIG. 2) has similar components, and thus description thereof will be omitted. The bath remote controller 20 includes a display unit 29 for displaying a set hot water supply temperature and a buzzer, and a main controller 1.
R for communication control with 0 and driving control for the display unit 29
The C control unit 21, the RC transmission / reception circuit 22 that communicates with the main computer 10, and the RC control unit 21, the RC transmission / reception circuit 22, and the display unit that change the power obtained from the main computer 10 through the communication line 60 to a desired voltage. RC main power supply 2 for supplying power to 29
3, an RC main power supply switch 24 provided in a power supply line to the RC main power supply 23, a voltage detection unit 25 that detects a voltage of electric power supplied from the main controller 10, and an RC main power according to a voltage detection value. RC for controlling the power switch 24
Main power on / off control unit 26 (remote control side mode switching means)
An operation key 30 having a setting switch for setting the operation switch 30a and the hot water supply temperature, and the operation switch 3
The key detection unit 31 (operation determination unit) that detects the presence / absence of operation of 0a, the voltage detection unit 25 that changes the power obtained from the main controller 10 via the communication line 60 to a desired voltage, and turns on / off the RC main power An RC sub power supply 27 that supplies power to the control unit 26, the operation keys 30, and the key detection unit 31, and a communication signal (carrier) from the RC transmission / reception circuit 22 to the main computer 10 is sent to the voltage detection unit 25 and the RC sub power supply 27. The RC filter 28 is provided to prevent it. In the bath remote controller 20, the RC main power switch 24 is closed in the normal mode, power is supplied to all loads, and the RC main power switch 24 is opened in the standby mode to open the voltage detection unit 2.
5, Only the RC power on / off control unit 26, the RC sub power supply 27, and the key detection unit 31 are supplied with power from the main computer 10.

The bath remote controller 20 is a main console 1
Data is transmitted in response to a response request 1 (not shown) that is a signal included in the remote control information transmitted from 0. On the other hand, the kitchen remote controller 40 is a response request that is a transmission signal from the main controller 10. The data is transmitted to 2. That is, the remote controllers 20 and 40 are assigned timings for communicating with the main computer 10, respectively.

Next, the sequence at startup will be described with reference to FIG. When the main controller 10 is in the standby mode, the remote controllers 20 and 40 are supplied with power from the MC auxiliary power supply 17 of the main controller 10 at the set voltage via the communication line 60 to maintain the standby mode. From this state, there is 1
When the operation switch 30a of the remote controller (bath remote controller 20 here) is operated, the key detection unit 31 outputs an ON signal, and in response thereto, the RC power ON / OFF control unit 26.
Closed the RC main power switch 24,
From the communication line 60, power is supplied to the RC control unit 21, the RC transmission / reception circuit 22, and the display unit 29 to activate them, and the RC control unit 21 transmits communication data to the RC transmission / reception circuit 2
2, it transmits to the main computer 10 via the communication line 60.

Then, in the main computer 10, the MC carrier detector 15 detects the carrier from the communication line 60,
MC power on / off control unit 16 is MC main power switch 14
Is closed, power is supplied from the MC main power supply 13 to the MC control unit 11, the MC transmission / reception circuit 12, and the watchdog circuit 19, which are activated, and the set voltage of the MC main power supply 13 is applied to the remote controllers 20 and 40. To be done.

In the remote controller (the kitchen remote controller 40 in this case) whose operation switch is not operated, the voltage detector 45 detects the voltage of the main power source, and the RC power on / off controller 46 receives it. The RC main power switch 44 is closed, the power supplied from the main controller 10 via the communication line 60 is converted into a predetermined voltage by the RC main power 43, and the display section 4 is displayed.
Power is supplied to the RC control unit 41 and the RC transmission / reception circuit 42 to activate them, and the standby mode is switched to the normal mode to enable communication with the main computer 10. That is, when a remote controller is operated, RC of the remote controller is operated.
The control unit etc. is activated, and the MC of the main computer 10 is accompanied by it.
The main power supply 13 and the MC control unit 11 are activated to change the voltage supplied to each remote controller, and even in a remote controller that is not operated, its own RC control unit is activated in response to this voltage change, and hot water supply with a heating function is provided. The entire communication system of the device starts up and enters the normal mode.

The main computer 10 in the normal mode transmits remote controller control information from the activated MC controller 11 and also transmits a response request signal to each remote controller at predetermined intervals. Upon receiving this information, the bath remote controller 20 transmits the operation information to the main computer 10. On the other hand, the kitchen remote controller 40 receives the signal of the response request 2 and receives the main controller 1
The data that it is connected to 0 is transmitted to the main computer 10. However, since only two remote controllers are connected to the main computer 10, no reply is sent to the response request signals 3 and 4. In this way, the communication between the main computer 10 and the remote controllers 20 and 40 is repeated.

Next, the sequence of shifting from the normal mode to the standby mode will be described with reference to FIG. The bath remote control 20 is operated by the operation switch 3 during operation in the normal mode.
When the off operation is performed at 0a, the off operation data is transmitted to the main computer 10 in response to the remote controller control information transmitted from the main computer 10. MC control unit 1 of main computer 10
In No. 1, when the conditions for shifting to the standby mode (such as the remote control that is not turned off and the control operation is not performed for a predetermined time) are met, the main power supply stop signal is output to the MC power on / off control unit 16, and the MC The main power switch 14 is opened, and the power supplied to each remote controller 20, 40 is supplied from the MC main power supply 13 to the MC.
Switch to the sub power supply 17.

As a result, the remote controllers 20 and 40 detect the standby voltage, open the RC main power supply switches 24 and 44, turn off the RC main power supplies 23 and 43, and obtain power from the RC. Control unit 21, 41, RC transmission / reception circuit 2
The operation of 2, 42 and the display units 29, 49 is stopped to enter the standby mode. In the main computer 10 as well, the MC main power supply 1
MC control unit 1 that was getting power from it by turning off 3
1, the operation of the MC transmission / reception circuit 12 and the watchdog circuit 19 is stopped, and the standby mode is entered.

As described above, in the communication system of the hot water heater with the reheating function of this embodiment, a dedicated circuit (carrier detection unit) for receiving a return shift command signal to each remote controller.
Even without providing the above, each remote controller can be activated by a simple method of voltage detection, and power consumption during standby can be suppressed. Moreover, the circuit for standby / normal switching becomes inexpensive.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there. For example, MC
Instead of always operating the sub-power source 17, as shown in FIG. 5, an MC sub-power source switch 61 is provided in the power supply line to the MC sub-power source 17, and the control by the MC power-source on / off control unit 16 causes The normal mode may not be operated and only the standby mode may be operated.

The voltage detectors 25 and 45 of the remote controllers 20 and 40 may detect the voltage with the intermediate value between the set voltage of the MC main power supply 13 and the set voltage of the MC sub power supply 17 as a threshold value. . In other words, 8V (MC sub power supply 17) and 12V
Even if an accurate voltage value such as (MC main power supply 13) is not detected, one of the intermediate values of 10 V or more and less than 10 V is detected to turn on / off the RC main power on / off control units 26, 46. Then, the standby / normal mode may be switched. In addition, the set voltage of the MC sub power supply 17 is set to the MC main power supply 13
The RC main power-on / off control units 26 and 46 may be controlled based on the difference in the detected voltage by setting the voltage higher than the set voltage.

Further, the transition from the normal mode to the standby mode may be performed by communication data instead of being performed based on the detection of the set voltage of the MC auxiliary power supply 17. In this case, the timing of switching to the MC sub power supply 17 may be set to a predetermined time after the remote controllers 20 and 40 are put in the standby mode by carrier transmission. Further, the communication between the main controller and the remote controller may use another dedicated communication line instead of the power supply line, or may communicate wirelessly instead of by wire. Further, the key for the key detection unit 31 to detect the presence / absence of operation is not limited to the operation switch 30a, and other operation keys 3
It may be 0 (for example, an up key or a down key for increasing or decreasing the set hot water supply temperature).

[0032]

As described in detail above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the combustion control device, each remote controller in standby mode
Since it is possible to switch to the normal mode simply by checking the voltages of the two types of power supply that the main controller originally has, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated circuit for detecting the carrier in each remote controller. The power consumed by the circuit can be suppressed. Moreover, since the mode switching circuit has a simple structure, the manufacturing cost is low.

Further, according to the combustion control device of the second aspect of the present invention, by operating one remote controller to set the operation power source of the main controller to the main power source, all the remote controllers can be operated without using a communication carrier. Can be activated.

Further, according to the combustion control device of the third aspect of the present invention, since the set voltage of the main power source is higher than that of the sub power source,
A circuit for preferentially supplying the power from the main power source to the remote controller in the normal mode is unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed. Moreover, since the voltage of the power supply that operates during standby is lower, the power consumption can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system of a water heater with a reheating function as one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a part of a block diagram of a communication system of a water heater with a reheating function as one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart when the communication system as one embodiment is started up.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of standby shift of the communication system as one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a communication system of a water heater with a reheating function as a modified example.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a communication system of a water heater with a reheating function as a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of starting and standby shift of a communication system as a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Main controller, 11 ... MC control unit, 12 ... MC transmission / reception circuit, 13 ... MC main power supply, 14 ... MC main power switch, 15 ... MC carrier detection unit, 16 ... MC power on / off control unit, 17 ... MC auxiliary power supply, 20 ... bath remote control, 2
1, 41 ... RC control unit, 22, 42 ... RC transceiver circuit,
23, 43 ... RC main power supply, 24, 44 ... RC main power supply switch, 25, 45 ... Voltage detection unit, 26, 46 ... RC main power supply on / off control unit, 27 ... RC sub power supply, 30, 50 ... Operation Keys, 30a, 50a ... Operation switch, 31, 51 ...
Key detection unit, 40 ... Kitchen remote control, 61 ... MC sub-power supply switch, 62 ... Power supply unit, 125 ... RC carrier detection unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A power supply unit having a main power supply that operates only in a normal mode and a sub power supply that has an output voltage different from that of the main power supply and that operates at least in a standby mode; A main controller including a combustion control unit, a mode switching unit that is supplied with power from the sub power supply and switches between a normal mode and a standby mode, and power is supplied from a power supply unit of the main controller and the combustion control unit is also provided. In a combustion control device including a plurality of remote controllers that perform communication, the remote controller switches the operation mode of the remote controller from a standby mode to a normal mode based on a power supply voltage supplied from a power supply unit of the main controller. A combustion control device comprising mode switching means. 2. The remote controller includes an operation determination unit that determines whether or not a remote controller is operated in a standby mode of the remote controller, detects that the remote controller is operated, and switches itself to a normal mode. 2. The combustion control device according to claim 1, wherein another remote controller is switched from the standby mode to the normal mode by outputting a mode switching command to the mode switching unit of the main controller to set the main controller to the normal mode. 3. The set voltage of the main power supply is set higher than the set voltage of the sub power supply.
The combustion control device described.