JP3819304B2 - Combustion equipment control unit replacement method and combustion equipment control unit - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for replacing a control unit that stores data of a plurality of types of operating conditions in advance and controls the operation of a combustion device based on the operating conditions selected from the plurality of operating conditions by a set selection parameter. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), in order to be able to cope with water heaters having different specifications such as the type of fuel gas, the exhaust mode, and the hot water supply function, one type of control unit can be used. Data of a plurality of types of operating conditions according to the specifications is stored in the ROM 50 in advance, and the setting data (ds_data) of the dip switch 52 is used as a selection parameter to allow the CPU 51 to respond to the specifications of the water heater from the plurality of types of operating conditions There is known a control unit 55 adapted to select an operating condition.
[0003]
However, when the selection parameter is set by the dip switch 52 in this way, the manufacturing operator must set the selection parameter by operating the dip switch 52 in the manufacturing process of the combustion equipment. There is an inconvenience that can not be done. In addition, an erroneous selection parameter may be set due to an operation error of the manufacturing operator.
[0004]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the combustion device is manufactured, the communication device 60 is connected to the communication connector 61, and the data (cm_data) of the selection parameter transmitted from the communication device 60 is transmitted to the communication interface circuit 62. A control unit 66 is proposed (Japanese Patent No. 0633437) in which the data (cm_data) is stored in the E ² PROM 63.
[0005]
In the control unit 66, the CPU 64 uses the selection parameter data (cm_data) stored in the E ² PROM 63 to select the operation conditions corresponding to the specifications of the combustion device from among a plurality of operation condition data stored in the ROM 65 in advance. Select.
[0006]
Further, the selection parameter data (cm_data) can also be input to the CPU 64 via the remote control connector 68 and the remote control interface circuit 69 by a special operation of the remote control 67 installed to remotely operate the water heater. Therefore, when the control unit 66 needs to be replaced after installing the water heater, the replacement operator can set the selection parameter by operating the remote controller 67, and the communication device 60 does not need to be prepared.
[0007]
However, in this case, there is a disadvantage that the configuration of the remote control 67 becomes complicated in order to provide a function for setting the selection parameter. Some hot water heaters incorporating the control unit 66 are not provided with the remote controller 67. In this case, when the control unit 66 needs to be replaced after the water heater is installed, the replacement work is performed. There is an inconvenience that the person must bring the communication device 60 to the place where the combustion device is installed and replace the control unit 66.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background, and it is possible to easily replace a control unit of a combustion device that stores a selection parameter received from an external communication device at the time of manufacture and selects an operation condition from the selection parameter. An object is to provide a method that can be used.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in order to achieve the above-described object, and is provided with a communication means that is provided in a combustion device and performs communication with an external communication device, and data of a plurality of types of operating conditions are stored. A rewritable non-volatile memory that stores data of a selection parameter for selecting an operation condition corresponding to the combustion device from the plurality of types of operation conditions and maintenance data for the combustion device. A second memory; and an operation control means for controlling the operation of the combustion device based on the operation condition selected by the selection parameter, and the selection parameter is transmitted by the communication means when the combustion device is manufactured. The present invention relates to a method for replacing a control unit received from a communication device and stored in the second memory.
[0010]
The control unit is provided with a switch mounting portion on which a switch for setting the selection parameter can be mounted, and switch mounting detection means for detecting whether or not the switch is mounted, and the operation control means includes the switch When it is detected by the mounting detection means that the switch is not mounted, the operation of the combustion device is controlled based on the operating condition selected by the selection parameter stored in the second memory, and the switch When it is detected by the mounting detection means that the switch is mounted, the operation of the combustion device is controlled based on the operating condition selected by the selection parameter set by the switch. When the control unit without the switch is installed in the combustion appliance, When replacing the unit, the old control unit and replace the new control unit the switch is mounted, and sets the selected parameters by the switch.
[0011]
According to this invention, since the parameter is transmitted from the communication device to the control unit and stored in the nonvolatile memory when the combustion device is manufactured, the control unit without the switch is incorporated. Accordingly, the cost of parts of the combustion device can be reduced by the amount that the switch is not required. In addition, when the control unit needs to be replaced due to a failure or the like after the combustion equipment is installed, the combustion unit is operated by operating the switch by replacing the new control unit with the switch with the old control unit. It is possible to easily set the parameters according to the specifications of the device. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare the communication device in advance for maintenance of the combustion device, and the replacement time of the control unit is shortened, so that the cost and time required for maintenance of the combustion device are reduced. Can do.
[0012]
Further, the present invention is a control unit that is provided in a combustion device and controls the operation of the combustion device. The control unit is connected to an external communication device and communicates with the communication device. Corresponding to the combustion device from among the plurality of types of operation conditions received from the communication means via the first memory storing the operation condition data, the maintenance data of the combustion equipment and the communication means A rewritable nonvolatile second memory storing selection parameter data for selecting an operation condition, and an operation control for controlling the operation of the combustion device based on the operation condition selected by the selection parameter Improvement of a control unit of a combustion device comprising means.
[0013]
A switch mounting portion on which a switch for setting the selection parameter can be mounted; and a switch mounting detection unit that detects whether the switch is mounted or not. When it is detected that the switch is not mounted, the operation of the combustion device is controlled based on the operating condition selected by the selection parameter stored in the second memory, and the switch mounting detection means When it is detected that the switch is mounted, the operation of the combustion device is controlled based on the operation condition selected by the selection parameter set by the switch.
[0014]
According to the present invention, at the time of manufacturing the combustion apparatus, the switch is not required by incorporating the control unit without the switch and transmitting the parameter from the communication device to the control unit. Therefore, the parts cost of the combustion equipment can be reduced. Further, when replacing the control unit after the combustion equipment is installed, the switch according to the specifications of the combustion equipment is operated by operating the switch by replacing the old control unit with the new control unit to which the switch is attached. Parameters can be set easily.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a method for replacing a control unit of a combustion device according to the present invention.
[0016]
Referring to FIG. 1, a control unit 1 (1a, 1b) is incorporated in a water heater (corresponding to the combustion device of the present invention) and controls the operation of the water heater. 13A, LPG, etc.), exhaust variation (standard, extension, special extension), hot water filling function (auto, semi-auto, manual), etc.
[0017]
The control unit 1 includes a CPU 2 (2a, 2b) for controlling the overall operation of the control unit 1, a ROM 3 (3a, 3b, the present invention) in which an operation program for the CPU 2 and data of a plurality of types of operating conditions are stored in advance. A selection parameter for selecting an operating condition corresponding to the specifications of the hot water heater in which the control unit 1 is incorporated from the operating conditions for maintenance of the hot water heater and the plurality of types of operating conditions. E ² PROM 4 (4a to data sp) is stored, 4b, corresponding to the second memory of the present invention), the communication device 5 and the communication connector 6 (6a such as a personal computer, 6b) and through the communication cable 7 A communication interface circuit 8a (corresponding to the communication means of the present invention) that is connected and communicates with the communication device 5 and the selection parameter (sp) are manually operated. DIP switch 9 for setting (corresponding to the switch of the present invention) is provided with a DIP switch mounting portion 10 can be mounted (10a, 10b, corresponds to a switch mounting portion of the present invention) by.
[0018]
First, with reference to FIG. 1A, a procedure for writing selection parameter data in the E ² PROM 4a at the time of manufacturing a water heater will be described.
[0019]
At the time of manufacturing the water heater, the control unit 1a and the communication device 5 are connected by the communication cable 7 in a state where the control unit 1a is incorporated in the water heater and the power source of the water heater is turned on. Then, data (cm_data) of the selection parameter (sp) corresponding to the specification of the water heater in which the control unit 1a is incorporated is transmitted from the communication device 5, and the data (cm_data) is input via the communication interface circuit 8a. The CPU 2a writes the data (cm_data) to the E ² PROM 4a.
[0020]
Here, for example, when the dip switch 9 is not mounted, the dip switch mounting unit 10 outputs a logic high level voltage to the CPU 2, and when the dip switch 9 is mounted, the logic low level voltage is output to the CPU 2. A circuit pattern to be output is formed. Therefore, the CPU 2 can detect the presence or absence of the dip switch 9 by checking the output voltage from the circuit pattern.
[0021]
When the CPU ² detects that the dip switch 9 is not mounted, the CPU ² reads the data (cm_data) of the selection parameter (sp) stored in the E ² PROM 4 and reads out a plurality of types of operating conditions stored in the ROM 3. The data of the operating condition corresponding to the selection parameter (sp) is selected from the above data. Then, the CPU 2 controls the operation of the water heater based on the selected operating condition.
[0022]
Therefore, it is not necessary to attach the dip switch 9 to the control unit 1a incorporated in the water heater at the time of manufacturing the water heater, thereby reducing the parts cost of the dip switch 9. In addition, since the setting process of the selection parameter (sp) is automated, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an artificial setting error that may occur when the selection parameter (sp) is set by manual operation of the dip switch 9 by the manufacturing operator. Can do.
[0023]
Next, with reference to FIG.1 (b), the procedure which replaces | exchanges the old control unit 1a incorporated in the water heater installed in the house etc. with the new control unit 1b is demonstrated.
[0024]
The operator who replaces the control unit 1 first turns off the power supply of the water heater, removes the connectors that have connected the old board 1a and the water heater body, and removes the old board 1a from the water heater body. Then, the control unit 1b having the dip switch 9 mounted on the dip switch mounting portion 10b is attached to the water heater body, and the connectors of the water heater body are connected to the control unit 1b.
[0025]
Then, the replacement operator operates the DIP switch 9 to set the selection parameter (sp). Here, the dip switch 9 has, for example, a 4-bit contact, and data (ds_data) corresponding to the state (ON / OFF) of each contact is input to the CPU 2b.
[0026]
When the CPU 2b detects that the dip switch 9 is mounted based on the output voltage from the circuit pattern of the dip switch mounting portion 10b, the data (ds_data) output from the dip switch 9 is used as a selection parameter (sp). Data on the operating conditions corresponding to the specifications of the water heater is selected from a plurality of types of operating condition data stored in the ROM 3b.
[0027]
Thus, when the control unit 1 is replaced, it is not necessary to prepare the communication device 5 to set the selection parameter (sp), and the replacement operator can easily set the selection parameter (sp) by operating the DIP switch 9. can do.
[0028]
The communication connector 6 and the communication interface circuit 8 may be provided exclusively for connection with the communication device 5, but are common to portable terminal devices for water heater maintenance and remote controllers for remote control of the water heater. The communication specifications may be shared with these.
[0029]
Further, the mounting of the dip switch 9 to the dip switch mounting portion 10 may be performed by soldering directly to the substrate of the control unit 1, and the dip switch 9 is attached to the socket previously soldered to the substrate of the control unit 1. You may insert it.
[0030]
In this embodiment, a dip switch is used as the switch of the present invention. However, other types of switches such as a rotary switch may be used as long as the selection parameter (sp) can be set.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a control unit for a combustion device and a method for replacing the same according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional combustion equipment control unit and its replacement method.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... control unit, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... ROM , 4 ... E 2 PROM, 5 ... communication equipment, 6 ... communication connector, 7 ... communication cable, 8 ... communication interface circuit, 9 ... DIP switch, 10 ... DIP switch mounted Part

Claims (2)

A communication means provided in the combustion device for communicating with an external communication device, a first memory storing data of a plurality of types of operating conditions, and the combustion from the plurality of types of operating conditions A rewritable non-volatile second memory in which data of a selection parameter for selecting an operation condition corresponding to the device and maintenance data for the combustion device are stored, and an operation condition selected by the selection parameter An operation control means for controlling the operation of the combustion device based on the control, and when the combustion device is manufactured, the selection parameter is received from the communication device by the communication means and stored in the second memory. A unit replacement method,
The control unit is provided with a switch mounting portion on which a switch for setting the selection parameter can be mounted, and switch mounting detection means for detecting whether or not the switch is mounted, and the operation control means is configured to detect the switch mounting. When it is detected by the means that the switch is not mounted, the operation of the combustion device is controlled based on the operation condition selected by the selection parameter stored in the second memory, and the switch mounting detection is performed. When it is detected by the means that the switch is mounted, the operation of the combustion device is controlled based on the operating condition selected by the selection parameter set by the switch,
At the time of manufacturing a combustion device, the control unit not equipped with the switch is incorporated into the combustion device,
When replacing the control unit, the control unit for the combustion equipment is replaced by replacing the old control unit with a new control unit fitted with the switch, and setting the selection parameter with the switch. A control unit provided in the combustion device for controlling the operation of the combustion device;
Communication means connected to an external communication device and communicating with the communication device, a first memory storing data of a plurality of types of operating conditions, maintenance data for the combustion device, and the communication means A rewritable non-volatile second memory in which data of a selection parameter for selecting an operation condition corresponding to the combustion device among the plurality of types of operation conditions received from the communication device via the communication device is stored And an operation control means for controlling the operation of the combustion device based on the operating condition selected by the selection parameter,
A switch mounting portion on which a switch for setting the selection parameter can be mounted, and a switch mounting detection means for detecting whether or not the switch is mounted;
When the switch attachment detecting means detects that the switch is not attached, the operation control means is based on the operation condition selected by the selection parameter stored in the second memory. And when the switch mounting detection means detects that the switch is mounted, the operation of the combustion device is controlled based on the operating condition selected by the selection parameter set by the switch. A control unit for a combustion device.

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