JP2927249B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner having control means for controlling a compressor and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent air conditioners, for example, a compressor is driven by an inverter, and a compression capacity is controlled by changing a driving frequency thereof, thereby improving air conditioning comfort and energy saving. And so on. And such control is generally a CP
The control is performed by a microcomputer including functions such as U, ROM, and RAM, and data necessary for control (control data) is usually stored in the ROM. However, with the advance of semiconductor technology, a relatively large capacity EEPROM (electrically erasable and rewritable ROM) has become available at a low price, so that control data is stored in this EEPROM. became. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control unit provided in the air conditioner of the present invention. A conventional air conditioner will be described with reference to FIG. In this control unit,
A microcomputer (control means) 1 for performing the above-described control is mounted on a printed circuit board 5. In a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "microcomputer") 1, a ROM (auxiliary storage means) 3 in which various data and control programs are stored in advance, and various data during a control operation are stored. It includes a RAM 4 and a CPU (not shown) for executing a control program. An EEPROM (storage means) 2 is provided on the printed circuit board 5 so as to be connected to the microcomputer 1, so that the stored contents can be read from the microcomputer 1.

The ROM 3 provided in the microcomputer 1 is a mask ROM. Therefore, the contents are written in advance together with the control program, and data cannot be written to the ROM 3 later on a production line or the like.
However, in the air conditioner, the EEPROM 2 is provided so as to be connected to the microcomputer 1. Therefore, control data can be written to the EEPROM 2 later on a production line or a site where an air conditioner is installed. Therefore, in the air conditioner, by changing the control data to be written to the EEPROM 2 on the manufacturing line, it is possible to switch between a plurality of models that perform different air conditioning controls using different control data.
Costs can be reduced by using parts of each model in common. Further, since the air conditioning capacity and the like can be finely adjusted on site, the comfort of the air conditioning can be further improved.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional air conditioner, the compressor and the like are controlled using the control data written in the EEPROM 2. Therefore, if EE
If the data written in the PROM 2 is incorrect, the air conditioner will malfunction. Therefore, in the air conditioner, the correctness of data written by the following method is checked. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the control data has 2 bytes (16 bits) as one word (FIG. 3A), and the upper 8 bits store the data itself (eg, “10010010”). The lower 8 bits store an inverted version of the data of the upper 8 bits (“01101101”) (FIG. 9B). Then, after reading the data, an exclusive OR of these upper 8 bits and lower 8 bits is obtained,
If all eight bits of the result are "1", it is determined that the written storage contents are correct.

By the way, in the EEPROM 2 before writing of control data on a manufacturing line or the like, data written for product inspection before shipment is stored as it is.
However, this data is often written in the same format as that shown in FIG. 3 (a), and therefore, if the control data is forgotten to be written in the right / wrong judgment, it can be reliably detected. There was a problem that it was not possible. Further, there is a problem that even when the data is written but the data is of another model, this cannot be reliably detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to reliably prevent erroneous control of control means by using erroneous stored contents stored in storage means. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner capable of preventing such an air conditioner.

[0007]

Therefore, an air conditioner according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an air conditioner having a storage means 2 and a control means 1 for controlling a compressor or the like using the contents stored in the storage means 2. In the device, a confirmation data area is provided in the storage means 2, and the control means 1 stores the confirmation data in the storage means 2 only when it is confirmed that required confirmation data is stored in the confirmation data area. It is characterized in that control is performed using stored contents.

In the air conditioner of the first aspect, the control means 1 confirms that required confirmation data is stored in the confirmation data area provided in the storage means 2. Therefore, it is possible to confirm whether or not necessary data is stored in the storage means 2, and it is possible to reliably prevent the control means from performing erroneous control using erroneous storage contents.

Further, the air conditioner according to the present invention is characterized in that the confirmation data indicates that control data is stored in the storage means 2.

In the air conditioner according to the second aspect, it is possible to reliably prevent erroneous control due to the non-writing of control data.

The air conditioner according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the confirmation data further includes information indicating a type of the control data.

In the air conditioner according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm whether or not the required type of control data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the air conditioner is provided with an auxiliary storage means 3 in which preliminary data is stored in advance.
Is characterized in that when it is not possible to confirm that required confirmation data is stored in the confirmation data area, control using the preliminary data is performed.

According to the air conditioner of the fourth aspect, it is possible to continue the control without stopping the operation even if the contents of the storage means are incorrect.

In the air conditioner according to a fifth aspect, the storage means 2
Is an electrically erasable and writable read-only storage device.

In the air conditioner according to the fifth aspect, a system that is flexible and free from erroneous control can be provided.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, specific embodiments of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control unit provided in the air conditioner. The hardware configuration of this control unit is the same as the control unit in the above-described conventional air conditioner. That is, the microcomputer 1 is mounted on the printed circuit board 5, and inside the microcomputer 1, a ROM 3 in which preliminary data, a control program, and the like to be described later are stored in advance.
And a RAM for storing various data during the control operation
4 and a CPU (not shown) for executing the control program. Further, the printed circuit board 5 includes
An EEPROM 2 is provided to be connected to the microcomputer 1 so that the stored contents can be read from the microcomputer 1.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage state inside the EEPROM 2. As shown in FIG. One word is composed of 16 bits, and data from the first control data to the n-th control data is written in order from address 1 to address n.
Then, next to the n-th control data, that is, the address n +
At address 1, confirmation data is written. The confirmation data is written at the same time as the control data is written, includes information indicating the type of the control data with respect to the model, the air-conditioning capacity, and the like, and includes an EEPROM.
The data that is unlikely to be used as the test data of No. 2 is selected. And in the ROM 3 of the microcomputer 1,
Specific collation data indicating the type of control data requested by the microcomputer 1 is stored in advance. The term "storage means" referred to in the claims of this specification refers to the EEPROM 2 as described above, but more precisely, the first control data to the n-th data in the EEPROM 2.
This refers to an area from address 1 to address n of the address where the control data is stored. The area of the (n + 1) th address corresponds to the “confirmation data area”.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining one word of the control data. The configuration of this control data is also the same as that of the above-mentioned conventional example. In the upper 8 bits, the data itself is stored, and in the lower 8 bits, data obtained by inverting the data of the upper 8 bits is stored. (A)
(B)).

Next, the operation of the control unit configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the power of the air conditioner is turned "ON", control data is read from address 1 of the EEPROM 2 in step S1. In "decision 1" in step S2, as shown in FIG. 3C, an exclusive OR of the upper 8 bits and the lower 8 bits of the control data is calculated, and the result 8 is obtained.
It is determined whether all the bits are "1". If at least one bit is "0", then step S
Proceeding to 5, the "NG data" indicating that the storage content of the EEPROM 2 is invalid is written into a flav area provided at a specific address in the RAM 4. On the other hand, when all the bits are "1", the control data is read out from the address 2 and the "judgement 1" is performed again. Then, if an illegal storage content is detected on the way and the process proceeds to step S5,
This is repeated until it is determined that all the data up to the n-th control data is proper data. The operation in step S5 when an illegal storage content is detected is as described above. However, when it is determined that all the control data is appropriate, the process proceeds to step S3, and "determination 2" I do.

In "determination 2" of step S3, EE
The data for confirmation is read out from address n + 1 of PROM2,
The confirmation data is compared with the collation data stored in the ROM 3 in advance. By this comparison, it is confirmed whether or not the read confirmation data indicates the type of control data requested by the microcomputer 1. This confirmation is generally performed by judging whether or not the data for confirmation and the data for collation match. However, in addition, a specific difference such as, for example, data in which both are inverted from each other is used. The confirmation may be performed by using. If the control data is not requested by the microcomputer 1, the process proceeds to step S5. If the control data is requested, the process proceeds to step S4.
“OK data” indicating that the storage content of the ROM 2 is appropriate is written.

With the above operation, the EEPROM 2
By reading the flag area of the RAM 4, it is possible to know whether the data stored in the RAM is proper or incorrect. Therefore, this is read out in step S6, and when "OK data" is written, the compressor and the like are controlled using the data read out from EEPROM 2 in step S7. On the other hand, step S6
When "NG data" is read out in step S8,
The above control is performed using the preliminary data written in the ROM 3. This preliminary data is a type of control data stored as data that can control each type of air conditioner by an average operation.

In the air conditioner constructed and operated as described above, control data is written in the EEPROM 2 from address 1 to address n, and confirmation data is written in the subsequent address n + 1. Then, the microcomputer 1 compares the confirmation data with the collation data stored in the ROM 3 in advance, and determines whether the control data is appropriate. Therefore, an EE in which inspection data remains due to non-writing
The PROM 2 can be reliably eliminated, and even when the control data is written, it can be determined whether or not the type of the control data is the one requested by the microcomputer 1. Further, by storing the result of this determination in the RAM 4, the subsequent control procedure can be simplified, and this can be used for inspection on a production line, etc., thereby reducing man-hours. Further, in the above description, spare data capable of controlling each model by an average operation is stored in the ROM 3, and when it is determined that the control data in the EEPROM 2 is invalid, the control is performed using the spare data. It has become. Therefore, even if the EEPROM 2 fails after the air conditioner is installed, the control can be continued without stopping the operation of the air conditioner.

Although the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be variously modified and implemented within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above description, “determination 1” is performed in step S2, and when it passes, “determination 2” is performed next in step S3, but this may be reversed. Although the example using the EEPROM 2 has been described above, the present invention can be applied to a case where another type of PROM such as a UV-EPROM or a mask ROM is used as the external memory of the microcomputer 1. In such a case, it is possible to prevent erroneous control of the microcomputer 1 mainly when a memory element is erroneously mounted on the printed circuit board 5, for example, when an unwritten one is loaded or another type is loaded. .

[0026]

According to the air conditioner of the present invention, the control means confirms that required confirmation data is stored in the confirmation data area provided in the storage means. Therefore, it is possible to confirm whether necessary data is stored in the storage means, and it is possible to reliably prevent the control means from performing erroneous control using incorrect storage contents.

According to the air conditioner of the second aspect, it is possible to reliably prevent erroneous control due to non-writing of control data.

According to the air conditioner of the third aspect, it is possible to confirm whether or not the data is a necessary type of control data.

In the air conditioner according to the fourth aspect, the control can be continued without stopping the operation even if the contents of the storage means are incorrect.

According to the air conditioner of the fifth aspect, a system that is flexible and free from erroneous control can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control unit provided in an air conditioner of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage state inside an EEPROM.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating one word of control data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 microcomputer 2 EEPROM 3 ROM

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A storage means (2), and the storage means (2)
In the air conditioner provided with control means (1) for controlling a compressor or the like using the stored contents of (1), a storage data area is provided in the storage means (2), and the control means (1)
Is characterized in that control is performed using the storage contents of the storage means (2) only when it is confirmed that required confirmation data is stored in the confirmation data area. Harmony machine. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation data indicates that the control data is stored in the storage means (2). 3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the confirmation data further includes information indicating a type of the control data. 4. An auxiliary storage means (3) in which spare data is stored in advance, and said control means (1) cannot confirm that required confirmation data is stored in said confirmation data area. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control using the preliminary data is performed when the control data is stored.
Any of the air conditioners. 5. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is a read-only storage device of an electrically erasable and writable type.