JP2005195303A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner, updating a control parameter, simplifying the system configuration and easily resetting the control parameter. <P>SOLUTION: A microcomputer 57 updates a storage area for the control parameter among storage areas of a flash ROM 57A independently of updating the other storage areas and inhibits updating of storage area for the control parameter in updating at least some of the other storage areas except the storage area for the control parameter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to an air conditioner capable of updating a control parameter.

  When controlling a DC motor or the like, it is required to accurately detect and control the drive voltage. Therefore, in general, a circuit for reading a DC power supply is configured in hardware (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Even when this circuit is assembled, elements and ICs used in the circuit are selected. Therefore, it is important to minimize errors in the circuit itself, and such a method is expensive.

Therefore, if the error for each substrate can be written to the flash ROM in the inspection after the substrate is created, the error can be eliminated by an inexpensive method, and the DC motor control can be stabilized.
JP 2002-125391 A

  Conventionally, when writing data such as errors for each substrate, components such as a non-volatile memory (NVRAM) are required, which increases costs. Further, when the nonvolatile memory fails, if it is replaced with another one, there is a problem that it is necessary to reset parameters used for the board.

  When these operations are performed, devices used for setting are required, and in reality, there is a problem that it is difficult to respond in the market.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can simplify the system configuration and easily reset control parameters.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an air conditioner including a control unit having a flash ROM that stores a control parameter of a controlled device may update another storage area of the control parameter among the storage areas of the flash ROM. A parameter area updating unit is provided that performs the update independently of the storage area and prohibits the update of the control parameter storage area when at least a part of the storage area other than the control parameter storage area is updated. It is characterized by.

  According to the above configuration, the parameter area update unit updates the control parameter storage area of the flash ROM storage area independently of the update of the other storage areas.

  The parameter area updating unit prohibits updating of the control parameter storage area when at least a part of the storage area other than the control parameter storage area is updated.

  In this case, a temporary storage unit that temporarily stores control parameters to be written in the storage area of the control parameters in the storage area of the flash ROM is provided, and the temporary storage unit is based on a write instruction command input from the outside. The control parameter stored in the storage unit may be transferred to a storage area for the control parameter.

  The temporary storage unit may be configured as a RAM.

  Furthermore, based on a write preparation instruction command input from the outside, the temporary storage unit may store a control parameter to be written in the control parameter storage area.

  Furthermore, a voltage detection unit that detects a power supply voltage to be supplied to the driven unit and outputs voltage detection data to the external device, the parameter area update unit from the external device based on the detected power supply voltage The storage area of the control parameter may be updated with the input control parameter for controlling the driven part.

  According to the present invention, the system configuration can be simplified and the control parameters can be easily reset.

  Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an air conditioner according to the present embodiment.

  The air conditioner 50 is configured by connecting the outdoor units 1A and 1B in parallel to the inter-unit piping 9 including the gas pipe 5 and the liquid pipe 7 and connecting the indoor units 3A and 3B in parallel. The In the outdoor unit 1A, an accumulator 16A is connected to the suction side of the compressor 11A, a four-way valve 13A is connected to the discharge side via an oil separator 12A, and an outdoor heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor refrigerant pipe 18A on the four-way valve 13A side. 14A and the outdoor expansion valve 15A are sequentially connected. An outdoor fan 17A for sending air to the outdoor heat exchanger 14A is disposed adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger 14A.

  In the indoor unit 3A, an indoor expansion valve 38A and an indoor heat exchanger 34A are sequentially connected to an indoor refrigerant pipe 39A, one end of the indoor refrigerant pipe 39A is connected to the gas pipe 5, and the other end is an indoor heat exchanger 34A and an indoor expansion valve. Each is connected to the liquid pipe 7 through 38A. An indoor fan 37A for blowing air to the indoor heat exchanger 34A is disposed adjacent to the indoor heat exchanger 34A. Since the indoor unit 3B has the same configuration as the indoor unit 3A, description thereof is omitted.

  During the cooling operation, the four-way valves 13A and 13B are switched to the dotted line positions (positions during the cooling operation). After the refrigerant discharged from the compressors 11A and 11B passes through the oil separators 12A and 12B and the four-way valves 13A and 13B as shown by dotted arrows, the refrigerant enters the outdoor heat exchangers 14A and 14B, and is condensed here. The liquid flows through the outdoor expansion valves 15A and 15B and flows into the indoor units 3A and 3B.

  The refrigerant flowing into the indoor units 3A and 3B enters the indoor expansion valves 38A and 38B and the indoor heat exchangers 34A and 34B, evaporates here, and then flows through the gas pipe 5 and is divided into the outdoor units 1A and 1B. Then, the divided refrigerant is returned to the compressors 11A and 11B through the four-way valves 13A and 13B and the accumulators 16A and 16B.

  During the heating operation, the four-way valves 13A and 13B are switched to a solid line position (a position during the heating operation). As shown by solid arrows, the refrigerant discharged from the compressors 11A and 11B passes through the oil separators 12A and 12B and the four-way valves 13A and 13B, then flows through the gas pipe 5 and flows into the indoor units 3A and 3B.

  The refrigerant that has flowed into the indoor units 3A and 3B enters the indoor heat exchangers 34A and 34B, condenses, and then flows through the liquid pipe 7 via the indoor expansion valves 38A and 38B, and enters the outdoor units 1A and 1B. Divide. Then, the divided refrigerant passes through the outdoor expansion valves 15A and 15B, enters the outdoor heat exchangers 14A and 14B, and evaporates there, and then passes through the four-way valves 13A and 13B and the accumulators 16A and 16B. Return to 11B.

  The air conditioner 50 includes a controller 20, and the controller 20 controls the operation of the outdoor units 1A and 1B and the indoor units 3A and 3B. In the following description, control of a motor that drives the compressor 11A. Will be mainly described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration around the motor that drives the controller and the compressor.

  The controller 21 is connected to a power source 51 that supplies a DC power source as shown in FIG.

  The controller 21 further includes a DC brushless motor 52 that drives the compressor 11 </ b> A (see FIG. 1), and an inverter 53 as a drive circuit that drives the DC brushless motor 52.

  The power source 51 is a substrate for converting AC power to DC power. In this embodiment, AC power input at AC 200 V is converted to DC 280 V DC power and output to the controller 21.

  The controller 21 corresponds to the microcomputer 57 that controls the brushless DC motor 1 via the inverter 53, the voltage dividing circuit 15 that divides the voltage of the DC power supplied from the power supply 51, and the divided voltage. And an A / D conversion circuit 55 for converting the voltage detection data to be detected.

  In the present embodiment, the voltage dividing circuit 54 divides the power supply voltage of DC 280 V into a DC voltage of about DC 15 to 20 V and outputs it to the A / D conversion circuit 55.

  The A / D conversion circuit 55 performs analog / digital conversion of the input DC voltage, converts it to voltage detection data having a value corresponding to the detected DC voltage, and outputs it to the photocoupler 56.

  The photocoupler 56 performs electrical / optical conversion and outputs voltage detection data to the digital input port of the microcomputer 57 in an insulated state.

  The microcomputer 57 has a flash ROM 57A, an external input / output port 57B, and a parameter RAM 57C, which will be described later, and generates drive control data for controlling the driving of the brushless DC motor 52 based on the input voltage detection data. Insulated output is output to the inverter 53 via the coupler 58, and the inverter 53 controls the brushless DC motor 52.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of address correspondence between the flash ROM and the parameter RAM.

  In the flash ROM 57A of the microcomputer 57, a firmware area AFW for storing a rewrite program for rewriting data in the flash ROM 57A, a parameter area APR for storing various control parameters, and an application for storing a normal program are stored. And area AAP.

  Here, the address of the firmware area AFW is 0000H to 1FFFH (H represents a hexadecimal number), the address of the parameter area APR is 2000H to 2FFF, and the address of the application area AAP is 3000H to It is 3FFFFH.

  Similarly, in the parameter RAM 57C of the microcomputer 57, a firmware area AFW1 in which a rewriting program for rewriting data in the flash ROM 57A is temporarily stored, a parameter area APR1 in which various control parameters are temporarily stored, and the like. And an area AEX1 used for the purpose.

  Here, the address of the firmware area AFW1 is the same as the address of the firmware area AFW of the flash ROM 57A and is 0000H to 1FFFH (H represents a hexadecimal number), and the address of the parameter area APR1 is the address of the parameter area APR of the flash ROM 57A. The address is the same as 2000H to 2FFF.

  The firmware area AFW, parameter area APR, and application area AAP are rewritten independently and collectively. For example, the entire parameter area APR1 and address = 2000H to 2FFF are rewritten in a batch independent of the firmware area AFW or the application area AAP.

   The flash ROM rewrite mode includes the following three cases.

(1) Mode in which only the application area is rewritten (2) Mode in which both the firmware area and application area are rewritten (3) Mode in which all areas including the parameter area are rewritten These three modes are versioned by the control program The control program is updated when it is uploaded. However, since the parameter area APR stores information on a single substrate of the microcomputer 57 (such as correction data of the corresponding inverter), it is usually used. It is not subject to rewriting. That is, normally, the rewriting modes (1) and (2) are used.

  On the other hand, the rewriting of the parameter area APR is performed by inputting a command from the external device 100 via the external input / output port 57B configured as a serial interface, for example. Examples of the external device 100 include a personal computer or a dedicated rewriting device.

  Here, a method of rewriting the parameter area APR will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence flow at the time of parameter area rewriting.

  The external device 100 makes a status inquiry to the microcomputer 57 via the external input / output port 57B (step S1).

  Thereby, the microcomputer 57 performs a voltage detection process (step S2).

  Specifically, the voltage dividing circuit 54 divides the voltage of the power supply 51 into a DC voltage of about DC 15 to 20 V and outputs it to the A / D conversion circuit 55. The A / D conversion circuit 55 receives the input DC voltage. Is converted into voltage detection data having a value corresponding to the DC voltage detected by the analog / digital conversion and is output to the photocoupler 56. The photocoupler 56 performs the electro / optical conversion and performs digital conversion of the microcomputer 57. Outputs voltage detection data to the input port in an insulated state.

  Thereby, the microcomputer 57 calculates the difference (difference voltage) with respect to the reference voltage (= DC 280 V) of the actual power supply voltage corresponding to the voltage detection data, and outputs it to the external device 100 via the external input / output port 57B.

  The external device 100 to which the difference (difference voltage) is input determines whether or not the difference is within a predetermined range (within an allowable range) (step S4). That is, it is determined whether or not it is a non-defective product that can be corrected by the control parameter.

  In the determination of step S4, when the difference is within a predetermined range (within an allowable range), that is, when the power source 51 is a non-defective product that can be corrected by the control parameter (step S4; Yes), the external device 100 A rewrite preparation instruction command is output to the microcomputer 57 via the external input / output port 57B (step S5).

  The microcomputer 57, to which the rewrite preparation instruction command is input, performs a RAM setting process for writing the rewrite control parameter input via the external input / output port 57B into the parameter RAM 57C in accordance with the rewrite preparation instruction command (step S6). In this case, the rewrite control parameter is generated by the external device 100 based on the difference (difference voltage) input from the microcomputer 57 in the process of step S4.

  Thereafter, when the transfer of the rewrite control parameter is completed, the external device 100 outputs a rewrite instruction command to the microcomputer 57 via the external input / output port 57B (step S7).

  On the other hand, when the transfer of the rewrite control parameter is completed, the microcomputer 57 determines whether or not a rewrite instruction command is input from the external device 100 (step S8).

  If it is determined in step S8 that the rewrite instruction command has not yet been input (step S8; No), the microcomputer 57 enters a standby state.

  If a rewrite instruction command is input in the determination in step S8 (step S8; Yes), the microcomputer 57 rewrites the rewrite control parameter stored in the parameter RAM 57C, that is, the contents of the parameter area APR1 of the parameter RAM 57C. Is rewritten over the parameter area APR of the flash ROM 57A at once (step S9).

  In this rewriting process, after the rewriting is completed, the microcomputer 57 is rebooted (restarted), and the contents of the parameter area APR of the flash ROM 57A are written back to the parameter RAM 57C.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily set control parameters in the flash ROM. More specifically, the system can be constructed at a lower cost than when a nonvolatile memory (NVRAM) is used. In addition, IC memory components can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the substrate area.

  Furthermore, since control parameters can be set by communication (in the case of the above example, serial communication) via the external input / output port 57B, a plurality of control parameters can be rewritten simply by adding a command.

  Further, by connecting a plurality of microcomputers 57 to an external device, control parameters can be rewritten simultaneously, and production efficiency can be improved.

  In the above description, the air conditioner has been described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to other devices that are used by writing control parameters in the flash ROM.

It is a systematic diagram of the air harmony device concerning this embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed schematic structure of the motor periphery which drives a controller and a compressor. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an address correspondence relationship between a flash ROM and a parameter RAM. FIG. It is a sequence flow at the time of parameter area rewriting.

Explanation of symbols

1A, 1B Outdoor unit 3A, 3B Indoor unit 5 Gas pipe 7 Liquid pipe 9 Inter-unit piping 11A, 11B Compressor 13A, 13B Four-way valve 14A, 14B Outdoor heat exchanger 19A, 19B Oil level sensor 21 Controller (parameter area update unit) )
34A, 34B Indoor heat exchanger 38A, 38B Indoor expansion valve 50 Air conditioner 52 Brushless DC motor 53 Inverter 54 Voltage divider circuit (voltage detector)
55 A / D conversion circuit (voltage detector)
56 Photocoupler (Voltage detector)
57 Microcomputer (parameter area update unit)
58 Photocoupler 100 External device

Claims (5)

In an air conditioner including a control unit having a flash ROM for storing control parameters of a controlled device,
Of the storage areas of the flash ROM, the control parameter storage area is updated independently of the update of other storage areas, and at the time of updating at least a part of other storage areas other than the control parameter storage area An air conditioner comprising a parameter area updating unit that prohibits updating of the storage area of the control parameter. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein
Of the storage area of the flash ROM, comprising a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing control parameters to be written to the storage area of the control parameters,
An air conditioner that transfers the control parameter stored in the temporary storage unit to a storage area for the control parameter based on a write instruction command input from outside. In the air conditioning apparatus according to claim 2,
The air conditioner is characterized in that the temporary storage unit is configured as a RAM. In the air conditioning apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
An air conditioner that stores control parameters to be written in the storage area of the control parameters in the temporary storage unit based on a write preparation instruction command input from the outside. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A voltage detection unit that detects a power supply voltage to be supplied to the driven unit and outputs voltage detection data to an external device;
The parameter area updating unit updates a storage area of a control parameter with a control parameter for controlling the driven part input from an external device based on the detected power supply voltage. apparatus.

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