JP4780591B2 - Data transfer method between control units - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention moves the data from the old control unit to the new control unit when replacing the control unit attached to the apparatus and holding the data necessary for controlling the apparatus in a non-volatile memory. Regarding the method.

  In recent years, for example, in a water heater using oil or gas as an energy source, control data and life data are backed up using a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM. Here, in general, the nonvolatile memory is mounted on the control unit together with other electronic components such as the CPU and RAM, and the control data and life data are retained in the nonvolatile memory, so that the control data is lost when a power failure occurs. Therefore, the operation of the water heater becomes abnormal or the life data is not cleared when the power is restored.

  However, in the configuration as described above, when the control unit is replaced for maintenance of the water heater or the like, the nonvolatile memory is also replaced at the same time, so that there is a disadvantage that control data and life data are not inherited.

  Therefore, when the control unit is replaced, the control unit (old control unit) removed from the water heater is connected to the newly installed control unit (new control unit) via a communication cable. There has been proposed a data movement method between control units in which control data and life data held in a nonvolatile memory (EEPROM) are transferred to a new control unit and written to the nonvolatile memory of the new control unit (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  In the method described in Patent Document 1, a data movement start switch for instructing the control unit to start data transfer is provided, and an operator who replaces the control unit operates the data movement start switch of the new control unit. When this happens, the data held in the non-volatile memory of the old control unit is transferred to the new control unit and held in the non-volatile memory of the new control unit.

However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, when an operator erroneously operates the data movement start switch of the old control unit instead of the new control unit, the data held in the non-volatile memory of the new control unit is changed to the old control unit. It is transferred to the unit and held in the non-volatile memory of the old control unit. For this reason, the data held in the old control unit is lost, and there is a problem that it is impossible to transfer data from the old control unit to the new control unit.
JP-A-10-133957

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and when replacing a control unit, it is impossible to transfer the data held in the nonvolatile memory from the old control unit to the new control unit due to an erroneous operation by the operator. An object of the present invention is to provide a data movement method between control units that prevents the above-described problem.

  The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and includes a nonvolatile memory capable of reading and writing data, a communication port, an electrical load connection port to which an electrical load is connected, and the nonvolatile memory. Data is read out and output to the outside via the communication port, and data input from the outside via the communication port is written to the non-volatile memory; In a device including a control unit having a data movement start switch for instructing the start of movement of data held in the volatile memory, when the control unit is replaced, the data is held in the non-volatile memory of the old control unit before the replacement. The present invention relates to a method for moving data to a new control unit after exchange.

  The device is provided with an electrical load, and when the control unit is attached to the device, the electrical load is connected to the electrical load connection port, and the control unit is electrically connected to the electrical load connection port. An electrical load connection detecting means for detecting that a load is connected, the communication port of the old control unit removed from the device, and the communication port of the new control unit newly attached to the device A first step of connecting via a communication cable to enable communication between the data moving means of the new control unit and the data moving means of the old control unit; and after the completion of the first step, When the data movement start switch of the new control unit or the old control unit is operated, the control unit on which the data movement switch is operated is In the second step of detecting whether or not an electric load is connected to the electric load connection port of the control unit by the electric load connection detecting means of the control unit, and in the second step, the data movement switch is When the operated control unit detects that an electrical load is connected to the electrical load connection port of the control unit, the control unit is the new control unit and the other control unit is the old control unit. The data moving means of the old control unit is assumed to be a unit, and the data stored in the nonvolatile memory of the old control unit is transmitted to the new control unit via the communication cable, and the data moving means of the new control unit Receives data sent from the old control unit and writes it to the nonvolatile memory of the new control unit In the second step, when the control unit on which the data movement switch is operated does not detect that an electrical load is connected to the electrical load connection port of the control unit, And a third step of prohibiting the data movement process.

  According to the present invention, when the control unit is replaced, first, the control unit (old control unit) removed from the device and the control newly attached to the device in the first step. Units (new control units) are connected via a communication cable so that communication is possible between the data moving means of the new control unit and the data moving means of the old control unit.

  Next, when the data movement start switch of the new control unit or the old control unit is operated by the second step, the control unit to which the data movement start switch is operated is changed to the control unit of the control unit. It detects whether or not an electrical load is connected to the electrical load connection port.

  Here, when the data movement start switch is operated, when an electric load is connected to the electric load connection port of the control unit in which the data movement start switch is operated, the control unit is attached to the device. Therefore, it can be determined that the control unit is a new control unit. Therefore, in this case, in the third step, the data movement process is executed assuming that the control unit in which the data movement start switch is operated is the new control unit and the other control unit is the old control unit. The

  On the other hand, when the data movement start switch is operated, when an electric load is not connected to the electric load connection port of the control unit in which the data movement start switch is operated, the control unit It can be determined that it is an old control unit. Therefore, in this case, the data movement process is prohibited in the third step. Thereby, when an operator who replaces the control unit accidentally operates the data movement start switch of the old control unit, the data held in the nonvolatile memory of the new control unit is changed to the old control unit. It is possible to prevent the data held in the non-volatile memory of the old control unit from being lost and the data transfer from the old control unit to the new control unit being disabled. .

  The device is provided with a plurality of electrical loads, and when the control unit is attached to the device, the plurality of electrical loads are connected to the electrical load connection port, and in the second step, When the control unit on which the data movement switch is operated detects that at least one electrical load is connected to the electrical load connection port of the control unit by the electrical load connection detection means of the control unit In addition, in the third step, the data movement process is executed.

  In the present invention, when the control unit is attached to the apparatus in the first step, a plurality of electrical loads are connected to the electrical load connection port of the control unit. When the control unit is replaced during the maintenance of the apparatus, a disconnection abnormality may occur in a plurality of electric loads. When the data movement process is executed on the condition that all of the plurality of electric loads are connected to the electric load connection port, there is an electric load in which a disconnection abnormality occurs in this way. In this case, the data movement process cannot be executed unless the electrical load in which the disconnection abnormality has occurred is specified and replaced with a normal product.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in the second step, the control unit on which the data movement switch is operated is connected to the electrical load connection port of the control unit by the electrical load connection detection means of the control unit. When it is detected that at least one electric load is connected, the data movement process is executed in the third step. As a result, as described above, even if a part of the plurality of electric loads connected to the electric load connection port is broken, the data movement process is executed, and the old control unit Data can be moved from to the new control unit.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the control unit 15 (15a, 15b) in the present embodiment. In addition to the hot water supply function, the control unit 15 has a reheating function that circulates and heats hot water in the bathtub through a recirculation circulation path that communicates with the bathtub, and a hot water heating terminal (hot air heater, floor heater, etc. ) And a hot water heating device (corresponding to the device of the present invention) having a hot water heating function for supplying hot water to the hot water heating terminal via a hot water circulation path to control the operation of the gas hot water supply device To do.

  The control unit 15 is an electronic unit composed of a microcomputer or the like, and includes an EEPROM 22 (corresponding to the nonvolatile memory of the present invention), a data movement start switch 34 for instructing the movement start of data held in the EEPROM 22, and the EEPROM 22. Data movement means 35 for reading out the held data and outputting it from the communication port 33 and writing the data inputted via the communication port 33 into the EEPROM 22; a power supply port 42 connected to the AC power supply 40 via the power cable 41; A power supply circuit 43 that generates DC power from AC power supplied to the power supply port 42, an overcurrent protection circuit 44 that prevents excessive current from flowing from the power supply circuit 43, and power output from the power supply circuit 43 to the communication port 33 Output (+) power line 45a and (-) power line 5b, and the current from the communication port 33 to the power supply circuit 43 is provided with a backflow prevention circuit 46 which prevents the flow.

  Further, each control unit 15 includes an electric load connection port 50 to which the thermistors 60 to 64 and the overheat switch 65 corresponding to the electric load of the present invention are connected, and the thermistors 60 to 64 and the overheat switch 65 to the electric load connection port 50. And an electrical load connection detecting means 51 for detecting whether or not it is connected. The data moving means 35 and the electrical load connection detecting means 51 are configured by causing a microcomputer to execute a control program for the gas hot water supply device.

  In the present embodiment, a hot water thermistor 60 that detects the temperature of hot water supplied from the gas hot water supply device to the hot water supply pipe, a heat exchanger thermistor 61 that detects the temperature of hot water discharged from the hot water supply heat exchanger, and hot water in the bathtub. A bath thermistor 62 that detects the temperature of the gas, a heating thermistor 63 that detects the temperature of hot water supplied from the gas hot water supply device to the heating hot water circuit, and a temperature drop in the gas hot water supply device that is a starting condition for the freeze prevention operation. An overheat switch 65 that detects a low temperature thermistor 64 and a high temperature abnormality in the gas hot water supply device is connected to the electrical load connection port 50.

  The EEPROM 22 holds data of a thermistor detection value necessary for controlling the operation of the gas water heater, a correction value data for a flame rod detection value for detecting the flame of the gas burner, data of an operation time of the gas water heater, and the like. Is done. As a result, even if a power failure occurs and the power supply from the AC power supply 40 to the gas hot water supply device is cut off, the correction value data and the operation time data are retained in the EEPROM 22 without being lost, and are recovered from the power failure. Thereafter, the control unit 15 can control the gas water heater using these data.

  However, when the control unit 15 is replaced for maintenance of the gas water heater, the data held in the EEPROM 22 of the control unit 15 (old control unit 15b) removed from the gas water heater is newly added to the gas water heater. It is necessary to move to the EEPROM 22 of the control unit 15 (new control unit 15a) attached to. Then, by moving the data held in the EEPROM 22 in this way, the new control unit 15a can take over the data from the old control unit 15b and control the gas water heater.

  Hereinafter, a procedure for moving data held in the EEPROM 22 of the old control unit 15b to the EEPROM 22 of the new control unit 15 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Referring to FIG. 1, an operator who replaces control unit 15 first removes old control unit 15b attached to the gas hot water supply device, attaches new control unit 15a to the gas hot water supply device, and connects electric load connection port 50. The thermistors 60 to 64 and the overheat switch 65 are connected to each other. The operator connects the power port 42 of the new control unit 15a to the AC power supply 40 via the power cable 41, and connects the communication port 33 of the new control unit 15a and the communication port 33 of the old control unit 15b to the communication cable 31. Connect with.

  When the new control unit 15 a and the old control unit 15 b are connected via the communication cable 31, the new control unit 15 a is operated by DC power generated by the power supply circuit 43. On the other hand, the DC power generated by the power supply circuit 43 of the new control unit 15a is supplied to the communication port 33 of the old control unit 15b via the power supply lines 45a and 45b and the communication cable 31.

  In this case, the old control unit 15 b is operated by DC power supplied to the communication port 33. Therefore, an operator who replaces the control units 15a and 15b does not need to connect the power cable 41 in order to supply AC power to the power port 42 of the old control unit 15b, and the new control unit 15a and the old control unit 15b. The old control unit 15b can be brought into an operable state by a simple operation of connecting the two with the communication cable 31.

  In this way, the communication port 33 of the old control unit 15b and the communication port 33 of the new control unit 15a are connected via the communication cable 31, and the data moving means 35 of the new control unit 15a and the data moving means of the old control unit are connected. The step of enabling communication between 35 corresponds to the first step of the present invention.

  Next, in order to instruct the start of the “data movement process” for moving the data held in the EEPROM 22 of the old control unit 15b to the EEPROM 22 of the new control unit 15a, the operator moves the data movement start switch of the new control unit 15a. 34 is operated.

  Here, when the old control unit 15b and the new control unit 15a start operation by the execution of the first step described above, the control units 15a and 15b themselves are removed from the old control unit (the water heater 1). It is not possible to recognize whether it is a control unit) or a new control unit (a control unit newly attached to the water heater 1).

  Therefore, as a second step, the control unit 15 in which the data movement start switch 34 has been operated is a flowchart shown in FIG. 2 in order to determine whether it is the new control unit 15a or the old control unit 15b. Execute the process.

  Referring to FIG. 2, when the data movement start switch 34 is operated by the operator in STEP 1 and the data movement start switch 34 is turned on, the process proceeds to STEP 2. STEP 2 to STEP 7 are processes by the electrical load connection detecting means 51.

  Here, the port for the hot water thermistor 60, the heat exchanger thermistor 61, the bath thermistor 62, the heating thermistor 63, and the low sensitivity thermistor 64 is an A / D converter input of 8 bits resolution (0 to 1024) provided in the microcomputer. When these thermistors are not connected or are disconnected, the digital conversion value of the voltage level of the A / D converter input is 1008 or more.

  Therefore, the electrical load connection detecting means 51 determines whether or not these thermistors 60 to 64 are connected to the electrical load connection port 50, and the digital conversion value of the voltage level of the connection port of these thermistors 60 to 64 is 1008 or more. It is detected by judging whether or not.

  The overheat switch 65 is a bimetal switch that is closed when the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined overheat detection temperature and is open when the ambient temperature exceeds the overheat detection temperature. The overheat switch port of the electrical load connection port 50 is connected to the logic input port of the microcomputer. When the overheat switch 65 is in a closed state (a state where the overheat detection temperature is lower), the overheat switch port is connected to the overheat switch port. When the input level to the logical input port is low and the overheat switch 65 is in the open state (a state higher than the overheat detection temperature), the input level from the overheat switch port to the logical input port is high. Has been.

  Therefore, the electrical load connection detection means 51 determines whether the input level from the overheat switch port of the electrical load connection port 50 to the logic input port is low or high, so that the overheat switch 65 is connected to the electrical load. It is determined whether or not the port 50 is connected.

  In STEP 2, the electric load connection detecting means 51 determines whether or not the digital conversion value of the input voltage of the hot water thermistor port of the electric load connection port 50 is 1008 or more. When the digital conversion value is 1008 or more (when the hot water thermistor 60 is not connected or when the connected hot water thermistor 60 is disconnected), the process proceeds to STEP3. On the other hand, when the digital conversion value is smaller than 1008 (when the hot water thermistor 60 is connected), the process proceeds to STEP10.

  Similarly, the electrical load connection detecting means 51 determines whether or not the heat exchange thermistor 61 is connected to the electrical load connection port 50 in STEP3, and in STEP4 the bath thermistor 62 is connected to the electrical load connection port 50. In step 5, it is determined whether the heating thermistor 63 is connected to the electric load connection port 50, and in STEP 6, it is determined whether the low-sensitivity thermistor 64 is connected to the electric load connection port 50. To do.

  Further, the electrical load connection detecting means 51 determines whether or not the overheat switch 65 is connected to the electrical load connection port 50 in STEP7. In STEP 2 to STEP 7, at least one of the hot water thermistor 60, the heat exchanger thermistor 61, the bath thermistor 62, the heating thermistor 63, the low-sensitivity thermistor 64, and the overheat switch 65 is connected to the electrical load connection port 50. Branching to STEP 10 when it is detected.

  Here, in STEP 2 to STEP 7, at least one of the hot water thermistor 60, the heat exchanger thermistor 61, the bath thermistor 62, the heating thermistor 63, the low sensitivity thermistor 64, and the overheat switch 65 is connected to the electrical load connection port 50. If it is detected that the data movement start switch 34 has been operated in STEP 1, it can be determined that the control unit 15 is the new control unit 15 a attached to the gas hot water supply device.

  Therefore, in this case, the “data movement process” is executed in STEP 10 with the control unit on which the data movement start switch 34 is operated as the new control unit 15a and the other control unit as the old control unit 15b.

  Specifically, the data movement unit 35 of the new control unit 15a transmits a data movement start command to the data movement unit 35 of the old control unit 15b via the communication cable 31. The data moving means 35 of the old control unit 15 b that has received the data movement start command reads the data held in the EEPROM 22 and transmits the data to the new control unit 15 a via the communication cable 31.

  Then, the data moving means 35 of the new control unit 15a sequentially writes the received data to the EEPROM 22, whereby the data held in the EEPROM 22 of the old control unit 15b is moved to the EEPROM 22 of the new control unit 15a. The “data movement process” is completed.

  Here, when the control unit 15 is replaced, any of the thermistors 60 to 65 and the overheat switch 65 may be broken. Further, when the control unit 15 is used for a general purpose in a gas hot water supply device that does not have a reheating function or a gas hot water supply device that does not have a hot water heating function, a bath thermistor 62 or a heating thermistor is connected to the electric load connection port 50. 63 may not be connected.

  Therefore, when it is detected by STEP 2 to STEP 7 that any one of the thermistors 60 to 64 and the overheat switch 65 is connected to the electrical load connection port 50, the process branches to STEP 10 and “data movement processing” is performed. ”Is executed. Thereby, when one of the thermistors 60 to 64 and the overheat switch 65 connected to the electric load connection port 50 is broken, or one of the thermistors 60 to 64 and the overheat switch 65 is an electric load. Even when the connection port 50 is not connected, the “data movement process” can be executed.

  Next, in STEP2 to STEP7, all of the hot water thermistor 60, the heat exchanger thermistor 61, the bath thermistor 62, the heating thermistor 63, the low-sensitivity thermistor 64, and the overheat switch 65 are connected to the electrical load connection port 50. If NO is detected, the process proceeds to STEP 8 and the “data movement process” is not executed.

  Here, when the new control unit 15 a is attached to the gas water heater, the thermistors 60 to 64 and the overheat switch 65 are connected to the electrical load connection port 50. Therefore, in STEP2 to STEP7, it is detected that all of the hot water thermistor 60, the heat exchanger thermistor 61, the bath thermistor 62, the heating thermistor 63, the low-sensitivity thermistor 64, and the overheat switch 65 are connected to the electrical load connection port 50. If not, it can be determined that the data movement start switch 34 of the old control unit 15b removed from the gas water heater in STEP 1 has been operated.

  Therefore, in this case, by prohibiting the “data movement process”, the data in the EEPROM 22 of the new control unit 15a is transferred to the old control unit 15b and written to the EEPROM 22 of the old control unit 15b, and is stored in the old control unit 15b. It prevents the data that was held from being lost.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, when it is detected that at least one of the thermistors 60 to 64 and the overheat switch 65 is connected to the electrical load connection port 50, “data transfer” is performed. "Process" is executed, and when it is not detected that any of the thermistors 60 to 64 and the overheat switch 65 is connected to the electrical load connection port 50, the "data movement process" is prohibited.

  However, the electric load of the present invention is not limited to the thermistor and the overheat switch, and may be an electric load connected to the control unit such as various sensors and electric actuators.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the example applied to replacement | exchange of the control unit with which the gas hot-water supply apparatus was equipped was shown, also when replacing | exchanging the control unit with which other types of apparatuses, such as a gas cooker, are replaced | exchanged. The application of the present invention is possible.

  In this embodiment, a control unit using an EEPROM as the nonvolatile memory of the present invention is shown. However, other types of nonvolatile memories such as a flash memory may be used.

The block diagram of the control unit with which a gas hot-water supply apparatus is equipped. The flowchart for detecting whether the control unit by which the data movement start switch was operated is a new control unit attached to the gas hot-water supply apparatus, and performing a data movement process.

Explanation of symbols

  15a ... new control unit, 15b ... old control unit, 22 ... EEPROM, 33 ... communication port, 34 ... data movement start switch, 35 ... data movement means, 43 ... power supply circuit, 44 ... overcurrent protection circuit, 45 ... power supply line 46 ... Backflow prevention circuit, 50 ... Electrical load connection port, 51 ... Electrical load connection detection means, 60 ... Hot water thermistor, 61 ... Heat exchange thermistor, 62 ... Bath thermistor, 63 ... Heating thermistor, 64 ... Low-sensitivity thermistor, 65 ... Overheat switch

Claims (2)

A nonvolatile memory capable of reading and writing data, a communication port, an electrical load connection port to which an electrical load is connected, and reading data in the nonvolatile memory and outputting the data to the outside through the communication port, Further, data moving means for writing data input from the outside via the communication port to the nonvolatile memory, and data movement start for instructing the data moving means to start moving data held in the nonvolatile memory In a device comprising a control unit having a switch, when the control unit is replaced, the data held in the nonvolatile memory of the old control unit before replacement is moved to the new control unit after replacement,
The device is provided with an electrical load, and when the control unit is attached to the device, the electrical load is connected to the electrical load connection port;
The control unit includes an electrical load connection detecting means for detecting that an electrical load is connected to the electrical load connection port.
The communication port of the old control unit removed from the device and the communication port of the new control unit newly attached to the device are connected via a communication cable, and the data moving means of the new control unit A first step of enabling communication between the data moving means of the old control unit;
After completion of the first step, when the data movement start switch of the new control unit or the old control unit is operated, the control unit to which the data movement switch is operated is connected to the electric load of the control unit. A second step of detecting whether or not an electrical load is connected to the electrical load connection port of the control unit by connection detection means;
In the second step, when the control unit on which the data movement switch is operated detects that an electric load is connected to the electric load connection port of the control unit, the control unit Assuming that the other control unit is the old control unit, the data moving means of the old control unit transfers the data stored in the non-volatile memory of the old control unit to the new control unit via the communication cable. And the data movement means of the new control unit receives the data transmitted from the old control unit and executes a data movement process to write to the nonvolatile memory of the new control unit,
In the second step, when the control unit on which the data movement switch is operated does not detect that an electric load is connected to the electric load connection port of the control unit, the data movement process A data transfer method between control units, the method comprising: The device is provided with a plurality of electrical loads, and when the control unit is attached to the device, the plurality of electrical loads are connected to the electrical load connection port,
In the second step, at least one electrical load is connected to the electrical load connection port of the control unit by the electrical load connection detection means of the control unit when the data movement switch is operated. 2. The method for moving data between control units according to claim 1, wherein, in the third step, the data movement processing is executed when it is detected that the operation is being performed.

Images