JP2007176371A - Product identification apparatus, and electronic device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a product identification apparatus which can increase the number of the kinds of products to be identified without enlarging the size of an electronic circuit. <P>SOLUTION: The product identification apparatus comprises two electric circuit systems having two resistors 4A, 5A and 4B, 5B connected in series respectively, A/D converters 8A, 8B for detecting the voltage at the respective connecting points 7A, 7B of the two series resistors 4A, 5A and 4B, 5B of the two electric circuit systems, and a control unit 11 for judging the function or the kind of the product based on the voltage at the connecting points 7A, 7B for the products, the function or the kind of which products have been determined by the voltage at the connecting points 7A, 7B of the two series resistors 4A, 5A and 4B, 5B of the two electric circuit systems detected by means of the A/D converters 8A, 8B. The product identification apparatus is set such that the total sum of the voltage at the respective connecting points 7A, 7B of the two series resistors 4A, 5A and 4B, 5B of the two electric circuit systems has a definite value. When the total sum of the voltage at the respective connecting points 7A, 7B is within a required range, it is recognized that the judgement for the kind of the product is correct. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for identifying the type of a product in a device using an electric circuit.

  In recent years, since the demand for products has been diversified, there are many types of products even in one device. In a large number of product groups of such one device, functions and / or characteristics differ depending on the type of product. In order to realize different functions and characteristics of the product, the parts and parts constituting the product are different. Manufacturers supplying multiple products must manufacture the different types of parts that make up those products and store them for maintenance.

  Taking a passenger car as an example, there are many car types even for one brand. For example, there are various combinations such as displacement, engine type, transmission configuration, drive system (FF, 4WD, etc.), sporty specification or luxury specification. Depending on the combination, for example, the way of controlling the engine and the transmission varies. Therefore, the electronic device used for those control differs for every vehicle model.

  In an electronic device, functions and control characteristics may be realized using a microcomputer. Different functions and characteristics are realized by different programs (including different data cases). Such embedded software is often mounted on an electronic device using a ROM (Read Only Memory), particularly a mask ROM. It is necessary to prepare different types of mask ROMs corresponding to different products. If a mask ROM (or microcomputer) is manufactured for each product type, initial costs and management costs are high.

  Therefore, a program corresponding to a plurality of types of products is stored in the ROM in advance, the product type is set by a switch or the like provided in the electronic device, and a program corresponding to the product type is selected and executed. It is possible.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for providing an in-vehicle electronic device that can be automatically adapted to a predetermined characteristic specification suitable for an attached vehicle type simply by being attached to a vehicle.

The technology of Patent Document 1 is based on vehicle identification means for identifying a vehicle type according to the state of a plurality of bit codes by vehicle identification wiring, and among characteristic parameters set in advance within a certain period after the accessory power is turned on. Control means for setting the characteristic specification of the in-vehicle electronic device based on the characteristic parameter selected corresponding to the vehicle type identified by the vehicle identification means, and prohibiting part of the functions of the in-vehicle electronic device during that period Is provided.
JP-A-9-65499

  However, in the method of identifying the vehicle type with the identification wiring, one wiring corresponds to one bit, so that there is a drawback that the number of wiring increases as the number of vehicle types increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a product identification device that can increase the number of product types that can be identified without increasing the size of an electronic circuit.

  In order to achieve the above object, a product identification device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes two systems of electric circuits in which two resistors are connected in series, and two series resistors of the two systems of electric circuits. For a product whose function or type is determined by the voltage detection means for detecting the voltage at the connection point of the two and the voltage at each connection point of the two series resistors of the two electric circuits detected by the voltage detection means And determining means for determining the function or type of the product based on the voltage at the connection point.

  In particular, the resistance values of the two series resistors of the two electric circuits are set so that the sum of the voltages at the connection points of the two series resistors of the two electric circuits is constant. The calculation means for calculating the sum of the voltages at the respective connection points of the two series resistors of the electric circuit, and the sum of the voltages at the connection points of the two series resistors of the two electric circuits are within a predetermined range. In such a case, it may include an certifying unit that certifies that the product type determined by the determining unit is correct.

  In this case, the resistance value of one resistor of one of the two electric circuits is the same as the resistance value of one resistor of the other electric circuit, and the resistance of the other resistor of the one electric circuit is the same. If the value and the resistance value of other resistors in other electric circuits are made the same, the number of parts can be reduced, and errors during assembly can be suppressed.

  An electronic device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the product identification device described above, a plurality of programs corresponding to each of the types of products, and a product determined by the product identification device among the plurality of programs. Selecting means for selecting a program corresponding to the type of the program.

  According to the product identification apparatus of the present invention, the number of product types that can be identified can be increased without increasing the size of a circuit for identifying a product.

  An embodiment of a product identification device and an electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The product identification device 2 is composed of a part surrounded by a broken line in FIG.

  In this Embodiment, although the function and characteristic of the electronic device 1 are not specified, it is a control apparatus of the electric pump mounted in a vehicle, for example. In addition to the product identification device 2, the electronic device 1 includes, for example, a display unit 15 that displays a control state of the electric pump, an output unit 16 that outputs a control signal, and a transmission / reception unit 17 that communicates data with other devices. With.

  The product identification device 2 includes an electric circuit including a power source 3A, a ground 6A, and resistors 4A and 5A connected in series between the power source 3A and the ground 6A. Similarly, an electric circuit including a power source 3B, a ground 6B, and resistors 4B and 5B connected in series between the power source 3B and the ground 6B is provided.

  An A / D converter 8A is connected to a connection point 7A between the resistors 4A and 5A. An A / D converter 8B is connected to a connection point 7B between the resistors 4B and 5B. The A / D converters 8A and 8B convert the voltages (analog) at the connection points 7A and 7B into digital data and supply them to the input unit 14, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 1 includes a control unit 11, a RAM (Random-Access Memory) 12, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13, an input unit 14, a display unit 15, an output unit 16, and a transmission / reception unit 17. . The RAM 12, ROM 13, input unit 14, display unit 15, output unit 16, and transmission / reception unit 17 are all connected to the control unit 11 via the internal bus 10.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 11, the RAM 12, the ROM 13, the input unit 14, and the internal bus 10 are elements that constitute the electronic device 1, but are also elements that constitute the product identification device 2, and the product identification device 2. This function is realized by using elements constituting the electronic device 1.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and executes processing for identifying a product, which will be described later, according to a program stored in the ROM 13. Further, processing for realizing the function of the electronic apparatus 1 is executed.

  The RAM 12 is used as a work area for the control unit 11. In some cases, a program or data stored in the ROM 13 is loaded.

  The ROM 13 is composed of a non-volatile memory, stores in advance a program for causing the control unit 11 to perform the above processing, and supplies data used by the program to the control unit 11 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 11. . The ROM 13 stores a plurality of product type programs 9A, 9B,... 9N corresponding to the electronic apparatus 1. A program corresponding to the product type that is the determination result of the product identification device 2 is selected from the programs 9A to 9N and executed by the control unit 11.

  In the present invention, a program is an instruction to a computer, which is combined so as to obtain one result, and / or other information used for processing by a computer. The plurality of programs 9A to 9N corresponding to the product type include data used by the program, and the programs 9A to 9N may be data only.

  The ROM 13 may be composed of a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, a hard disk, a DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disc Random Access Memory), a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disc Rewritable).

  The input unit 14 inputs the outputs of the A / D converters 8A and 8B from a parallel port or a serial port. The input unit 14 supplies the output of the A / D converter 8A or 8B to the control unit 11 in accordance with the input port address and the input command instructed by the control unit 11. The input unit 14 also includes a pointing device such as a key switch, a jog dial, a keyboard and a mouse, and an interface device for connecting them to an internal bus in order to realize the functions of the electronic device 1.

  The display unit 15 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode), a buzzer, or a speaker and a circuit that drives them, and displays the state of the electronic device 1 and the like. The display unit 15 can also display information for specifying a product, and may include a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) according to the function of the electronic apparatus 1.

  The output unit 16 includes an interface for transmitting a control signal of the control unit 11 to a control target, for example, an electric pump. The control unit 11 outputs a command signal to the controlled object via the output unit 16.

  The transmission / reception unit 17 includes a modem or network termination device, and a serial interface or LAN (Local Area Network) interface connected thereto. The control unit 11 communicates with other devices via the transmission / reception unit 17.

  Next, the operation of the product identification device 2 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, the operation of the product identification device 2 is performed by the control unit 11 in cooperation with the RAM 12, the ROM 13, and the input unit 14.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing voltage ranges of connection points 7A and 7B for identifying a product in the product identification device 2 according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the voltages of the power supplies 3A and 3B in FIG. 1 are 5 V, the resistance values of the resistors 4A and 5B are both R1, and the resistance values of the resistors 5A and 4B are both R2. The voltage of the power source 3A is divided by the resistor 4A and the resistor 5A, and the voltage at the connection point 7A changes in the range of 0V to 5V depending on the resistance value R1 of the resistor 4A and the resistance value R2 of the resistor 5A. The value is 5 · R2 / (R1 + R2). Similarly, the voltage at the connection point 7B varies in the range of 0V to 5V depending on the resistance value R2 of the resistor 4B and the resistance value R1 of the resistor 5B, and the voltage value becomes 5 · R1 / (R1 + R2).

  The voltages at the connection points 7A and 7B are converted into digital data by the A / D converters 8A and 8B, respectively. For example, when the outputs of the A / D converters 8A and 8B are 8 bits, a voltage of 0V to 5V is converted into 256 gradations. When the values converted into digital data are in the hatched areas Range0 to Range5 shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 11 determines these values as the values 0V to 5V described above the areas Range0 to Range5. . For example, the control unit 11 determines 0V when the voltage value of the connection point 7A is in the range of 0.1V to 0.4V, and determines 1V when the voltage value is in the range of 0.6V to 1.4V. . Further, in the case of the range of 1.6V to 2.4V, it is determined as 2V, in the case of the range of 2.6V to 3.4V, it is determined as 3V, and in the range of 3.6V to 4.4V, it is determined as 4V. If it is in the range of 4.6V to 5V, it is determined to be 5V. In the example of FIG. 2, the voltage values of the connection points 7A and 7B are determined by dividing into 6 regions of 0V, 1V, 2V, 3V, 4V and 5V.

  An electric circuit composed of resistors 4A and 5A connected in series and an electric circuit composed of resistors 4B and 5B connected in series are arranged, and the resistance values of resistors 4A and 5B are the same, and resistor 4B Since the resistance values of 5A and 5A are the same, a voltage obtained by subtracting the voltage of the other connection point from the voltage of the power supply 3A appears at one of the connection points 7A and 7B.

  When the voltage value is a value other than the ranges Range0 to Range5, it is determined that there is an error or failure in any of the resistors 4A to 5B or the A / D converters 8A and 8B.

  Regions Range0 to Range5 in FIG. 2 are examples. The voltage determination area can be set according to the type of product to be identified. The tolerances of the resistors 4A to 5B, the resolution and accuracy of the A / D converters 8A and 8B, and the like are selected according to the setting of the voltage determination region.

  FIG. 3 shows the correspondence between the combinations of the voltage values at the connection point 7A and the connection point 7B and the types of products to be identified. In FIG. 3, the analog voltage A is the voltage value at the connection point 7A, and the analog voltage B is the voltage value at the connection point 7B. As shown in FIG. 3, the number of product types is the same as the number of voltage determination regions. The sum of the analog voltage A and the analog voltage B is 5V. If the sum of the analog voltage A and the analog voltage B is not 5V, it can be determined that there is an error or failure due to noise or the like. In other words, the analog voltage A is used for product type discrimination, and the analog voltage B is used for parity check.

  As described above, by setting the resistance 4A and the resistance 5B, and the resistance 5A and the resistance 4B to the same resistance value, it is possible to reduce the types of components and reduce errors during assembly. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and if the ratio of the resistance value of the resistor 4A to the resistance value of the resistor 4B and the ratio of the resistance value of the resistors 5A and 5B are in a reciprocal relationship, the resistance values are not the same. May be.

  As a method of using the voltage value of the connection point 7B for the parity check, the resistance values of the resistors 4A and 5A are made the same, and the resistance values of the resistors 4B and 5B are made the same, so that it is the same as the voltage value of the connection point 7A. A method of relating the voltage values of the connection point 7A and the connection point 7B according to a certain rule, such as a method of making a value or a method of shifting the value by one with respect to the voltage value of the connection point 7A, may be used.

  If the parity check is not required and the range of the voltage determination area sufficiently covers the component error, the voltage at the connection point 7B may not be required. That is, the circuit of the power supply 3B, the resistors 4B and 5B, and the A / D converter 8B may be omitted.

  Alternatively, the voltage values at the connection point 7A and the connection point 7B may be used independently. By using two voltage values independently, in the example of FIG. 2, 36 types of products can be identified by 6 types × 6 types.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation for identifying the product type in the electronic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The control unit 11 acquires the voltage values at the connection points 7A and 7B from the A / D converters 8A and 8B via the input unit 14 (step S1). The controller 11 refers to the analog voltage determination area shown in FIG. 2 set in the ROM 13 and determines which area each voltage value is in (step S2). Then, the sum of the voltages at the connection points 7A and 7B is calculated (step S3). Then, it is determined whether or not the sum of the voltages is a predetermined value of 5V (step S4).

  When the sum of the voltages is not 5V (step S4; No), it can be determined that the resistors 4A to 5B or the A / D converters 8A and 8B are faulty or have an influence of noise or the like. In that case, the control unit 11 displays an error on the display unit 15. Since it may be erroneously determined due to noise, the voltage determination may be repeated several times from the acquisition of the voltages at the connection points 7A and 7B.

  If the sum of the voltages is a predetermined value 5V (step S4; Yes), it can be determined that the parity check is normal. In that case, it is determined which product type the determination voltage indicates. In the present embodiment, the voltage value at the connection point 7A is used as the determination voltage. First, it is determined whether or not the determination voltage is 0V (step S6). If it is 0V (step S6; Yes), the product type is set to 1 (step S7). If the determination voltage is not 0V (step S6; No), it is determined whether the determination voltage is 1V (step S9). When the determination voltage is 1V (step S9; Yes), the product type is set to 2 (step S10).

  Similarly, when the determination voltage is 2V (step S11; Yes), the product type is set to 3 (step S12), and when the determination voltage is 3V (step S13; Yes), the product type is set to 4. (Step S14), if the determination voltage is 4V (Step S15; Yes), the product type is 5 (Step S16), and if the determination voltage is 5V (Step S17; Yes), the product type is 6 (Step S18).

  When the product type is determined, the control unit 11 selects and executes a program corresponding to the product type from among the programs 9A to 9N stored in the ROM 13 (step S8).

  When the determination voltage is not any voltage (step S17; No), that is, when the determination voltage does not belong to any of the voltage determination regions in FIG. 2, the control unit 11 indicates an error on the display unit 15 as in step S5. Display is performed (step S19). In this case, since it is determined that the parity check is normal, it can be determined that an error occurs symmetrically at the connection points 7A and 7B or the A / D converters 8A and 8B. Again, as in the case described in step S5, the voltage determination may be repeated several times from the acquisition of the voltages at the connection points 7A and 7B.

  As described above, according to the product identification device 2 of the present invention, many product types can be identified using a resistance circuit. In addition, the accuracy of product identification can be verified using two resistance circuits. Even if the number of product types increases, the product type can be identified without increasing the number of circuits by appropriately selecting the tolerances of the resistors 4A to 5B and the accuracy of the A / D converters 8A and 8B.

  The electronic device 1 including the product identification device 2 can be configured so that a program corresponding to a plurality of types of products can be selected and executed in advance, so that a plurality of types can be selected by using, for example, one type of mask ROM or microcomputer. Can correspond to products. As a result, there is an effect that the initial cost and the management cost for the product group can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the electronic device 1 including the product identification device 2 is used. However, the determination result of the product identification device may be transmitted to another device via the transmission / reception unit 17, for example. The product identification information can be used in other devices such as various devices mounted on the vehicle. In this case, the product identification information can be used as information for identifying the type of vehicle. Since the same vehicle identification information can be used by the in-vehicle devices connected by communication, only one product identification device is required for the vehicle.

  In addition, the hardware configuration and the flowchart described above are merely examples, and can be arbitrarily changed and modified. For example, each of the resistors 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B does not need to be configured by one resistance element, and may be configured by a combination of a plurality of resistance elements. The “resistor” is an element for dividing the power supply voltage, and may be composed of a capacitive element, for example. The voltage values of the power supplies 3A and 3B may be different voltage values. Further, the voltages of the power supplies 3A and 3B are not limited to the voltage directly supplied from the power supply device, and may be a voltage obtained by stepping down or boosting the voltage supplied from the outside. Similarly, the ground voltage may be an arbitrary reference voltage. Further, for example, it is possible to configure the product identification from the voltage determination by a logic circuit that performs a logical operation on the outputs of the A / D converters 8A and 8B.

It is a block diagram of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the product identification voltage range which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the response | compatibility of the combination of the product identification voltage which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and a product type. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation for identifying a product type in the electronic device and the product identification device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic device
2 Product identification device
3A, 3B power supply
4A, 4B resistance
5A, 5B resistance
6A, 6B Ground
7A, 7B connection point
8A, 8B A / D converter (voltage detection means)
9A, 9B, 9N programs
11 Control unit (determination means)
12 RAM
13 ROM

Claims (4)

Two electric circuits in which two resistors are connected in series;
Voltage detection means for detecting the voltage at the connection point of each of the two series resistors of the two electric circuits;
For a product whose function or type is determined by the voltage at the connection point of each of the two series resistors of the two electric circuits detected by the voltage detection means, the product of the product is determined based on the voltage at the connection point. A determination means for determining a function or type;
A product identification apparatus comprising: The resistance values of the two series resistors of the two systems of electric circuits are set so that the sum of the voltages at the connection points of the two series resistors of the two systems of electric circuits is constant,
A computing means for computing a sum of voltages at respective connection points of two series resistors of the two electric circuits;
A certification means for authorizing that the judgment of the product type determined by the determination means is correct when the sum of the voltages at the connection points of the two series resistors of the two systems of electric circuits is within a predetermined range; ,
The product identification apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The resistance value of one resistor of one of the two electric circuits is the same as the resistance value of one resistor of the other electric circuit, and the resistance value of the other resistor of one electric circuit is the other. The resistance values of other resistors in the electrical circuit are the same,
The product identification apparatus according to claim 1. A product identification device according to claim 1;
A plurality of programs corresponding to each of the product types;
A selection means for selecting a program corresponding to the type of product determined by the product identification device from the plurality of programs;
An electronic device comprising:

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