JP2006103413A - Electric actuator system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discriminate a control specification even if data are not received from the outside. <P>SOLUTION: This electric actuator system is provided with electric actuators 100a-100e provided with a DC motor M for driving doors 4-13b and driving circuits 200 for driving the motor M, respectively; and an electronic control device 20 for controlling the respective DC motors M by performing multiple-communication between the respective driving circuits 200 through a wire harness W/H. A plurality kinds of control specifications for controlling the DC motor M by the electronic control device 20 are set. The electronic control device 20 receives addresses from the respective electric actuators through the wire harness W/H (S110) and selects the corresponding control specification based on the received address (S120). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to an electric actuator system that controls a plurality of electric actuators through multiplex communication using an electronic control unit.

  In recent years, most of the air conditioners for vehicles have common functions, such as export cars for foreign countries such as Europe, America, Asia and Afrika, and frequent minor changes. A plurality of types of electronic control devices having different control specifications (operation specifications) are set.

  That is, multiple types of similar operation specifications are set for the electronic control device, and it is necessary to individually manufacture and manage the electronic control device according to various control specifications in spite of the similar operation specifications. In addition, the manufacture and management of the electronic control device has become complicated.

  Therefore, as an electronic control device for air conditioning control, a common electronic control device that can handle various control specifications is set, and control specifications received from other electronic control devices (for example, an electronic control device for engine control) are set. There has been proposed one that receives specification data and selects a corresponding control specification based on the received specification data (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In this system, the electronic control unit for air conditioning control stores a plurality of types of control programs corresponding to a plurality of types of control specifications in advance, and selects the corresponding control program from a plurality of types of control programs. The selected control program is executed.
JP-A-4-126625

  However, in the above-described electric actuator system, in order for the electronic control unit for air conditioning control to receive the identification data of the operation specifications from other electronic control units, the specification data is not received by the electronic control unit for air conditioning control. In addition, an external input port is required, and it is also necessary to connect another electronic control unit and an electronic control unit for air conditioning control with a wire harness.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electric actuator system capable of discriminating control specifications of a plurality of electric actuators without receiving data from outside.

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention described in claim 1,
A plurality of electric actuators (100a ... 100e) each comprising an electric motor (M) for driving the movable part (4, 11a ... 13b) and a drive circuit (200) for driving the electric motor;
An electric actuator system comprising: an electronic control device (20) for controlling the plurality of electric motors by performing multiplex communication with the plurality of drive circuits through a wire harness (W / H),
A plurality of control specifications for controlling the plurality of electric motors by the electronic control device are set,
The electronic control device receives signals from the plurality of electric actuators through the wire harness, and selects a corresponding control specification from the plurality of types of control specifications based on the received signal. It is characterized by.

  Therefore, even if data is not received from the outside, it is possible to determine the corresponding control specification according to the received signals received from the plurality of electric actuators.

  Specifically, as in the invention described in claim 2, identification information is given to each of the plurality of electric actuators for each function, and the received signal includes the plurality of electric actuators. Each identification information may be used.

  In particular, as in the third aspect of the invention, the electronic control unit determines the number of the plurality of electric actuators based on reception information received from the plurality of electric actuators, and determines the determined number. Based on the above, control specifications of the plurality of electric motors may be selected.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the electronic control device controls the plurality of electric motors based on a combination of the number of the plurality of electric actuators and identification information of each of the plurality of electric actuators. Specifications may be selected.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the electronic control device selects the control specifications of the plurality of electric motors at a timing when power is first supplied from the battery (B).

  Therefore, if data stored in the non-volatile memory is used every time control of each electric motor is started, it is not necessary to select a control specification every time control of each electric motor is started.

  In this case, as in the invention described in claim 6, the electronic control device includes a nonvolatile memory (21) that retains data storage even when power is not supplied. When the control specifications of the plurality of electric motors are selected, it is necessary to store data indicating the selected control specifications in the nonvolatile memory.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

  1 to 4 show an embodiment according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the electric actuator system according to the present invention is applied to a vehicle air conditioner, and an outline of the present embodiment will be described below.

  That is, in this embodiment, a common electronic control unit is used for the left and right independent vehicle air conditioners and the single type vehicle air conditioner. Here, the left and right independent vehicle air conditioner and the single type vehicle air conditioner have different operation specifications of the indoor air conditioner unit and different control specifications of the electronic control device, respectively, A common electronic control unit is employed.

  And, as will be described later, when the electronic control device is connected to the indoor air conditioner unit and connected to the in-vehicle battery, which control specification is applicable (that is, the left and right independent type, or Whether it is a single type indoor air conditioner unit).

  First, prior to the description of the control specification discrimination process, a left and right independent vehicle air conditioner and a single type vehicle air conditioner will be described.

(Left and right independent type)
First, an indoor air conditioner unit 1A of a left and right independent vehicle air conditioner will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a left and right independent air conditioner unit 1A.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the left and right independent indoor air conditioner unit 1A includes a duct 2 for blowing air into the vehicle interior, and the inside air inlet 3a for introducing the internal air from the vehicle interior is provided in the duct 2. And an outside air inlet 3b for introducing outside air from outside the vehicle compartment.

  Further, the duct 2 is provided with an inside / outside air switching door 4 that selectively opens and closes the outside air introduction port 3b and the inside air introduction port 3a. The inside / outside air switching door 4 has an electric actuator 100a as a driving means. It is connected. Further, a centrifugal blower 5 for generating an air flow blown toward the vehicle interior is provided in the duct 2 on the air downstream side of the outside air introduction port 3b and the inside air introduction port 3a. Has an impeller 5b and a blower motor 5a for rotating the impeller 5b.

  Further, an evaporator 6 as an air cooling means for cooling air is provided in the duct 2 on the air downstream side of the centrifugal blower 5, and further, an air heating means is provided on the air downstream side of the evaporator 6. A heater core 7 is provided. A partition plate 8 is provided in the duct 2 on the air downstream side of the evaporator 6, and the partition plate 8 partitions the inside of the duct 2 into a driver seat side passage 9a and a passenger seat side passage 9b.

  Here, a bypass passage 10 a is provided on the side of the heater core 7 in the driver seat side passage 9 a, and the bypass passage 10 a bypasses the cool air cooled by the evaporator 6 with respect to the heater core 7. A bypass passage 10 b is provided on the side of the heater core 7 in the passenger seat side passage 9 b, and the bypass passage 10 b bypasses the cool air cooled by the evaporator 6 with respect to the heater core 7.

  Air mix doors 11a and 11b are provided on the air upstream side of the heater core 7. The air mix door 11a bypasses the amount of cold air flowing through the driver's seat side passage 9a and the amount passing through the heater core 7 depending on the opening. The ratio of the amount passing through the passage 10a is adjusted. Further, on the air downstream side of the heater core 7, a driver seat side mixing chamber is provided for mixing the air passing through the heater core 7 and the air passing through the bypass passage 10a.

  Here, by mixing the air passing through the heater core 7 and the air passing through the bypass passage 10a, the air temperature blown out from the mixing chamber toward the driver seated on the driver's seat is controlled as will be described later. Will be. Moreover, the air mix door 11b adjusts the ratio of the amount passing through the heater core 7 and the amount passing through the bypass passage 10b in the cold air flowing through the passenger seat side passage 9b depending on the opening degree. A passenger seat side mixing chamber for mixing the air passing through the heater core 7 and the air passing through the bypass passage 10 b is provided on the air downstream side of the heater core 7.

  Here, by mixing the air passing through the heater core 7 and the air passing through the bypass passage 10b, the temperature of the air blown out from the mixing chamber toward the passenger seated in the passenger seat is controlled as will be described later. It will be.

  On the other hand, electric actuators 100b and 100c as driving means are connected to the air mix doors 11a and 11b, respectively, and the opening degrees of the air mix doors 11a and 11b are adjusted by the electric actuators 100b and 100c, respectively. The The evaporator 6 is a heat exchanger that forms a well-known refrigeration cycle together with a compressor, a condenser, a liquid receiver, and a decompressor (not shown). The evaporator 6 cools the air flowing in the duct 2. .

  Here, the compressor is connected to the engine of the automobile via an electromagnetic clutch (not shown), and the compressor is driven and stopped by intermittently controlling the electromagnetic clutch. The heater core 7 is a heat exchanger that uses engine coolant (hot water) of the automobile as a heat source, and the heater core 7 heats the cold air cooled by the evaporator 6.

  Further, in the duct 2, a driver seat side face outlet FrDr is opened on the air downstream side of the heater core 7. The driver seat side face outlet FrDr uses the air from the driver seat side mixing chamber as a driver seat. Blow out toward the driver's upper body.

  Here, an air outlet switching door 12a that opens and closes the face air outlet 1FrDr is provided in the duct 2 at the air upstream portion of the face air outlet 1FrDr.

  The duct 2 includes a driver-seat-side foot outlet FtDr that blows air from the driver-seat-side mixing chamber to the driver's lower body, and air from the driver-seat-side mixing chamber to the driver-seat-side region on the inner surface of the windshield. A driver's seat side defroster outlet DfDr is provided. Further, air outlet switching doors 13a and 14a for opening and closing the respective air outlets are provided in the air upstream portions of the driver seat side foot outlet FtDr and the driver seat side defroster outlet DfDr. The outlet switching doors 12a, 13a, and 14a are independently opened and closed by an electric actuator 100d via a link mechanism (not shown).

  On the other hand, also on the passenger seat side, the duct 2 has air in the driver seat side foot outlet FtPa for blowing air from the passenger seat side mixing chamber to the lower body of the passenger seat, and air from the passenger seat side mixing chamber to the lower body of the passenger seat passenger. A passenger seat side foot outlet FtPa that blows out, and a passenger seat side defroster outlet DfPa that blows air from the passenger seat side mixing chamber to the passenger seat side region of the inner surface of the windshield are provided. And the blower outlet switching doors 12b, 13b, and 14b which open and close those blower outlets FtPa, DfPa, and DfPa are provided. The outlet switching doors 12b, 13b, and 14b are independently opened and closed by an electric actuator 100e via a link mechanism (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the left and right independent vehicle air conditioner includes an electronic control unit (air conditioner ECU) 20, and the electronic control unit 20 includes a flash memory 21, a RAM 22, and a microcomputer 23. It is a well-known apparatus comprised from these.

  The flash memory 21 is a storage circuit that retains data storage even when power is not supplied. The flash memory 21 includes a control program for controlling the left and right independent indoor air conditioner units (hereinafter, left and right independent control). In addition to a program, a control program for controlling a single type indoor air conditioner unit (hereinafter referred to as a single type control program) is stored.

  The RAM 22 is a storage circuit that can store data only when power is supplied. The RAM 22 stores data associated with control processing of the microcomputer 23. As will be described later, the microcomputer 23 receives addresses (identification information) from the electric actuators 100a to 100e, selects a corresponding control specification based on these addresses, and corresponds to the selected control specification. Run the control program. That is, the air conditioning control process is executed by the microcomputer 23. The address is data indicating identification information for each function of the electric actuator.

  Here, the air conditioning control process will be described in brief. The microcomputer 23 detects the air temperature inside the driver's seat detected by the driver's seat side air temperature sensor S1a and the vehicle interior detected by the driver's seat side solar radiation sensor S2a. Based on the driver-side solar radiation intensity, the temperature outside the passenger compartment detected by the outside air temperature sensor S3, the set temperature TestDr output from the driver-side temperature setter Ra set by the occupant, etc. The blowing temperature TAODr is calculated.

  Here, the target blowing temperature TAODr is a blowing air temperature necessary for maintaining the air temperature on the driver's seat side in the passenger compartment at the set temperature TestDr regardless of changes in environmental conditions (vehicle thermal load conditions).

  The microcomputer 23 also detects the passenger seat side air temperature in the passenger compartment detected by the passenger seat side air temperature sensor S1b, the passenger seat side solar radiation intensity detected in the passenger seat side solar radiation sensor S2b, and the outside air temperature. The passenger side target blowing temperature TAOPa is calculated based on the temperature outside the passenger compartment detected by the sensor S3 and the set temperature Test Pa output from the passenger side temperature setter Rb set by the passenger.

  Further, the microcomputer 23 has a detection water temperature Tw of the temperature sensor S3 that detects the temperature of the hot water flowing into the heater core 7 (engine cooling water), and a detection of the temperature sensor S4 that detects the temperature of the air blown from the evaporator 6. The temperature Te is input, and the microcomputer 23 controls the electric actuators 100a to 100e based on the target blowing temperatures TAODr, TAOPa, the blowing air temperature Te, and the detected water temperature Tw, and the doors 4, 11a, 11b, 14a, 14b. Are rotated to their target positions, and the rotational speed of the blower motor 9a is controlled.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the electric actuators 100a to 100e is connected in series by a wire harness W / H, and the wire harness W / H includes a power supply line, a ground line, and a communication line. The electric actuators 100a to 100e are based on a direct current motor (electric motor) M, a drive circuit 200 for driving the direct current motor M via communication with the microcomputer 23, and a rotation angle of the direct current motor M, respectively. And a sliding pulse generator Pg for generating a two-phase pulse signal having a phase shift. The two-phase pulse signal is used for detection of the rotation angle and the rotation direction of each door 4, 11a,.

(Single type)
The indoor air conditioner unit 1B of the single-type vehicle air conditioner will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a single-type indoor air conditioner unit 1B.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the single-type indoor air conditioner unit 1B includes the duct 2 including the inside air introduction port 3a and the outside air introduction port 3b, similarly to the room air conditioner unit 1A, and the outside air introduction port 3b and the inside air introduction. An inside / outside air switching door 4 for selectively opening and closing the mouth 3a is provided. The inside / outside air switching door 4 is connected to an electric actuator 100a as driving means.

  A centrifugal blower 5 is provided in the duct 2, and an evaporator 6 is provided on the downstream side of the centrifugal blower 5. Further, a heater core 7 is provided on the air downstream side of the evaporator 6. A bypass passage 10 is provided on the side of the heater core 7, and this bypass passage 10 bypasses the cool air cooled by the evaporator 6 with respect to the heater core 7.

  An air mix door 11 is provided on the air upstream side of the heater core 7, and the air mix door 11 passes through the heater core 7 and the bypass passage 10 in the cold air from the evaporator 6 depending on the opening degree. And adjust the ratio. A mixing chamber for mixing the air passing through the heater core 7 and the air passing through the bypass passage 10 is provided on the air downstream side of the heater core 7.

  Here, the air passing through the heater core 7 and the air passing through the bypass passage 10 are mixed to control the temperature of the air blown out from the mixing chamber toward the passenger seated in the front seat, as will be described later. It will be.

  On the other hand, an electric actuator 100b as driving means is connected to the air mix door 11, and the opening degree of the air mix door 11 is adjusted by the electric actuator 100b.

  Further, a face air outlet Fr is opened on the air downstream side of the heater core 7 in the duct 2, and the face air outlet Fr blows air from the mixing chamber toward the upper body of the front seat occupant.

  Here, an air outlet switching door 12 that opens and closes the face air outlet Fr is provided in the air upstream portion of the face air outlet Fr.

  The duct 2 is also provided with a foot outlet Ft for blowing air from the mixing chamber to the lower half of the front seat occupant and a defroster outlet Df for blowing air from the mixing chamber to the inner surface of the windshield. And in the air upstream part of the foot blower outlet Ft and the defroster blower outlet Df, the blower outlet switching doors 13 and 14 which open and close each blower outlet are provided. The air outlet switching doors 12, 13, and 14 are independently opened and closed by an electric actuator 100d via a link mechanism (not shown).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the single-type vehicle air conditioner includes an electronic control device 20 as in the left and right independent type vehicle air conditioner. As will be described later, the microcomputer 23 of the electronic control unit 20 receives addresses (identification information) from the electric actuators 100a, 100b, and 100d, selects the corresponding control specifications based on these addresses, A control program corresponding to the selected control specification is executed.

  In this case, the microcomputer 23 detects the air temperature in the vehicle interior detected by the inside air temperature sensor S1, the solar radiation intensity detected in the vehicle interior detected by the solar radiation sensor S2, and the temperature outside the vehicle interior detected by the outside air temperature sensor S3. The target blowout temperature TAO is calculated based on the set temperature Test output from the temperature setter R set by the occupant.

  Here, the target blowing temperature TAO is a blowing air temperature necessary for maintaining the air temperature in the passenger compartment at the set temperature Test regardless of changes in environmental conditions (vehicle heat load conditions).

  Further, the microcomputer 23 has a detection water temperature Tw of the temperature sensor S3 that detects the temperature of the hot water flowing into the heater core 7 (engine cooling water), and a detection of the temperature sensor S4 that detects the temperature of the air blown from the evaporator 6. The temperature Te is input, and the microcomputer 23 controls the electric actuators 100a, 100b, and 100d based on the target blowing temperature TAODr blowing air temperature Te and the detected water temperature Tw to control the doors 4, 11, 12, 13, and 14. While rotating to each target position, the rotation speed of the blower motor 9a is controlled.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the electric actuators 100a, 100b, and 100d are connected in series by the wire harness W / H, and the electric actuators 100a, 100b, and 100d are respectively connected to the DC motor M and the drive. A circuit 200 and a sliding pulse generator Pg are provided.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the present embodiment, although different control specifications are set for the single type vehicle air conditioner and the left and right independent type vehicle air conditioner, as described above, the single type vehicle air conditioner and the left and right type air conditioners A common electronic control unit 20 is employed for the independent vehicle air conditioner. Therefore, the corresponding control specification is selected as follows.

  First, when the vehicle air conditioner is mounted on the vehicle and the electronic control unit 20 is first connected to the in-vehicle battery and the power is turned on for the first time, the microcomputer 23 follows the flowchart shown in FIG. Run the program. The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 shows a selection process for selecting a control specification.

  First, the microcomputer 23 transmits a request signal to each of the electric actuators (step S100). Here, an address indicating a function is set in advance in the drive circuit of each electric actuator, and each electric actuator returns a corresponding address when receiving a request signal.

  Here, data indicating the correspondence between the address received from the electric actuator and the control specification is stored in advance in the flash memory 21, and the electronic control unit 20 selects the control specification based on the stored data. .

For example, when the respective addresses of the electric actuators 100a to 100e are received (step S110), the control specifications of the left and right independent vehicle air conditioners are selected (step S120). On the other hand, when the respective addresses of the electric actuators 100a, 100b, and 100d are received (step S110), the control specifications of the single-type vehicle air conditioner are selected (step S120). When a control specification is selected as described above, specification data indicating the selected control specification is stored in the flash memory 21 (step S130). This specification data is used to select a control program every time the air conditioning control process is executed.
Next, the effect of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  The electric actuators 100a... 100e each having a DC motor M for driving the doors 4... 13b and a drive circuit 200 for driving the motor M, and each drive circuit 200 are multiplexed and communicated through the wire harness W / H. And an electronic control unit 20 for controlling each DC motor M.

  A plurality of types of control specifications for controlling the DC motor M by the electronic control device 20 are set, and the electronic control device 20 receives each address from each electric actuator through the wire harness W / H and receives this address. Based on the address, a corresponding control specification is selected from a plurality of types of control specifications. Therefore, the corresponding control specification can be determined without receiving data from the outside (that is, another electronic control device).

  Further, since the control specification is selected when the power is turned on for the first time and the specification data indicating the control specification is stored in the flash memory 21, it is not necessary to select the control specification every time the air conditioning operation is started thereafter.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the electronic control device 20 has been described with respect to the example in which each address is received from each electric actuator through the wire harness W / H and the corresponding control specification is selected based on the received address. Instead of this, the following may be used.

  That is, the control specification may be selected based on the number of electric actuators connected to the wire harness W / H. Further, the control specification may be selected by a combination of the number and the address.

  In the above-described embodiment, an electronic control device that is applied to a vehicle air conditioner is shown, but instead, an electronic control device that is applied to other industrial equipment such as hot water supply equipment may be used.

It is a mimetic diagram showing a schematic structure of a right-and-left independent type vehicle air-conditioner concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the connection structure of the electronic controller and electric actuator in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the single type vehicle air conditioner which concerns on the above-mentioned embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the connection structure of the electronic controller and electric actuator in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the selection process of the control specification by the electronic controller which concerns on the above-mentioned embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

4 ... 13b ... door, M ... DC motor, 200 ... drive circuit,
100a ... 100e ... electric actuator, 20 ... electronic control unit,
W / H ... Wire harness

Claims (6)

A plurality of electric actuators (100a ... 100e) each comprising an electric motor (M) for driving the movable part (4, 11a ... 13b) and a drive circuit (200) for driving the electric motor;
An electric actuator system comprising: an electronic control device (20) for controlling the plurality of electric motors by performing multiplex communication with the plurality of drive circuits through a wire harness (W / H),
A plurality of control specifications for controlling the plurality of electric motors by the electronic control device are set,
The electronic control device receives signals from the plurality of electric actuators through the wire harness, and selects a corresponding control specification from the plurality of types of control specifications based on the received signal. Electric actuator system characterized by Identification information is given to each of the plurality of electric actuators for each function,
The electric actuator system according to claim 1, wherein the received signal is identification information of each of the plurality of electric actuators. The electronic control unit determines the number of the plurality of electric actuators based on reception information received from the plurality of electric actuators, and determines the control specifications of the plurality of electric motors based on the determined number. The electric actuator system according to claim 2, wherein the electric actuator system is selected. The electronic control unit selects a control specification of the plurality of electric motors according to a combination of the number of the plurality of electric actuators and identification information of each of the plurality of electric actuators. The electric actuator system described. The electric control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electronic control unit selects a control specification of the plurality of electric motors at a timing when power is first turned on from the battery (B). Actuator system. The electronic control device includes a non-volatile memory (21) that retains data storage even when power is not supplied,
6. The electronic control device according to claim 1, wherein when the control specifications of the plurality of electric motors are selected, data indicating the selected control specifications is stored in the nonvolatile memory. The electric actuator system described in 1.

Images