JP4947493B2 - Vehicle air conditioner control device with sensor identification function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner control device, and more particularly to a vehicle air conditioner control device with a sensor identification function having a sensor identification function.

Various sensors including a solar radiation sensor are input-connected to a control device (air conditioner control means) for a vehicle air conditioner as described in, for example, Patent Document 1 below. Each sensor detects a predetermined physical quantity (for example, solar radiation amount, temperature) and outputs each sensor value (for example, current value) to the control device. And a control apparatus performs various calculations required for the air-conditioning control of a vehicle interior based on each sensor value.
Japanese Patent No. 3826549

  By the way, among the various sensors described above, for example, the solar radiation sensor is shared with an auto light control system (a system for automatically turning on and off the headlamps according to the brightness of the surroundings of the vehicle) and integrated with the light control sensor. There are two types, one that is used only for conventional air conditioner control, and another type that has different detection characteristics depending on the vehicle type. In this case, an input circuit including a connection terminal corresponding to each type is provided in the control device so that both types can be handled. The control device normally determines which type is connected by an identification signal (for example, a flag set for identifying the type) included in an external signal from the in-vehicle LAN such as CAN. Referring to the table corresponding to the solar radiation sensor determined to be connected, the subsequent calculation processing is executed.

  However, in many cases, the external signal from the in-vehicle LAN is not a signal originally provided exclusively for identifying the type of sensor. For this reason, there is a possibility that the method of using an external signal from the in-vehicle LAN cannot identify the type of sensor. In the future, it is expected that sensors other than the solar radiation sensor such as the inside air sensor and the outside air sensor may be configured to selectively use different types of detection characteristics (for example, resistance values). Similar problems may occur. On the other hand, if a determination circuit as hardware is provided for each input circuit so as to identify the type of sensor, the above problem can be solved, but an increase in cost is inevitable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioner control device with a sensor identification function that can identify the type of connected sensor with an inexpensive configuration by the air conditioner control means itself without using an external signal from the in-vehicle LAN. There is.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In order to solve the above-described problem, the vehicle air conditioner control device with a sensor identification function of the present invention is provided with an input circuit individually including a connection terminal that can connect a plurality of types of sensors that detect the same physical quantity, The air conditioner control means is set to execute a subsequent calculation process using a sensor value from a sensor connected to any one of the input circuits, and the air conditioner control means is configured to store all the sensor values of the input circuit. Comparing means for comparing magnitudes is provided, a sensor connected to any one of the input circuits is determined according to the result of comparison by the comparing means, and calculation is performed using the sensor value of the determined sensor. A process is executed. In this case, the plurality of types of sensors are solar radiation sensors for detecting the solar radiation amount, each storing a solar radiation amount table for calculating the solar radiation amount corresponding to the sensor value of each sensor. It is preferable that the solar radiation amount is calculated with reference to the solar radiation amount table corresponding to the sensor determined in the processing .

  In this vehicle air conditioner control device with a sensor identification function, an input circuit including input terminals to which a plurality of types of sensors for detecting the same physical quantity can be connected is provided individually in advance in the air conditioner control means. Then, the comparison means of the air conditioner control means compares the magnitudes of all the sensor values of the input circuit, and the connected sensor is determined according to the result of the comparison, and the sensor value by the determined sensor is determined. After that, the subsequent calculation process is executed.

  Therefore, a sensor connected to the air conditioner control means is identified by executing a simple program without using an external signal from the in-vehicle LAN and without providing a determination circuit as hardware for each input circuit. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily ensure the accuracy of sensor discrimination with an inexpensive configuration.

  In carrying out the present invention, the air conditioner control means includes determination means for determining sensor failure based on all sensor values of the input circuit, and the comparison means determines that the sensor has not failed by the determination means. It is good to comprise so that a comparison process may be performed on the condition. In this case, the sensor failure may be caused by, for example, a sensor short circuit.

  According to this, a sensor failure is determined based on sensor values in all of the input circuits by the determination means, and the comparison process is executed on the condition that it is determined that the sensor has not failed. For this reason, since the sensor value is not used at the time of a sensor failure, the normal operation | movement of an air-conditioner can be maintained favorable.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a vehicle air conditioner control device CA to which the present invention is applied is mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle air conditioner control apparatus CA includes an air conditioner ECU 10 integrated with a control panel CP, and various sensors including a solar radiation sensor 20 connected to the air conditioner ECU 10.

  The air conditioner ECU 10 (air conditioner control means) includes a microcomputer 11 (hereinafter simply referred to as a microcomputer 11) including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like as main components, and is stored in a ROM or the like by turning on an ignition switch and turning on a control panel CP. 4 is repeatedly executed every predetermined short time, and a control signal corresponding to the execution is output to a drive circuit of an air conditioner unit (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air conditioner ECU 10 is connected to a positive electrode of a battery BT via a power supply line LB, and the power supply voltage of the battery BT is set to a predetermined voltage by an IC or the like not shown. The level (for example, 5V) is supplied to the microcomputer 11.

  The air conditioner ECU 10 has connection terminals T1 and T2 to which a certain type of solar radiation sensor 20 (hereinafter referred to as solar radiation sensor A) is connected via external signal lines L1 and L2, respectively, according to the type of solar radiation sensor 20. The input circuit 12 including the input circuit 12 and the input circuit including the connection terminals T1 and T3 to which the solar radiation sensor 20 of another type (hereinafter referred to as the solar radiation sensor B) is connected through the external signal lines L1 and L3, respectively. 13 is provided.

  The input circuit 12 is connected to the ground of the air conditioner ECU 10 via the resistor R1, and the input circuit 13 is connected to the ground of the air conditioner ECU 10 via the resistor R2. A voltage corresponding to the magnitude of the current flowing through the input circuits 12 and 13 is A / D converted and taken into the microcomputer 11.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the solar radiation sensor 20 detects the amount of solar radiation by a photodiode incorporated therein, and is attached to the upper part of the instrument panel. Both types of solar radiation sensors A and B of the solar radiation sensor 20 change the output current in accordance with the change in the amount of solar radiation, but their output current change characteristics are different. In the ROM of the microcomputer 11, a solar radiation amount table for calculating the solar radiation amount based on the A / D conversion value of the voltage value corresponding to the output current of the solar radiation sensors A and B is stored and connected. Corresponding to the solar radiation sensors A and B, one of the solar radiation amount tables is referred to. The calculated solar radiation amount is used to perform various calculations necessary for air conditioning control.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. The air conditioner ECU 10 repeatedly executes the sensor identification program of FIG. 4 stored in the ROM or the like every predetermined short time by turning on the ignition switch and turning on the control panel CP.

  The execution of this sensor identification program is started in step S10, and in step S11, the voltage value corresponding to the magnitude of the current flowing through the input circuit 12 to which the solar radiation sensor A is connected is an abnormal value (for example, 5V). Judge whether or not there is. First, as shown in FIG. 2, a case where the solar radiation sensor A is connected to the connection terminals T1 and T2 and the solar radiation sensor A is not short-circuited will be described.

  In this case, since the voltage value according to the magnitude of the current flowing through the input circuit 12 to which the A input, that is, the solar radiation sensor A is connected, becomes a positive value less than an abnormal value (for example, less than 5 V) according to the solar radiation amount. In step S11, “Yes” is determined, and the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, it is determined whether or not the voltage value corresponding to the magnitude of the current flowing through the input circuit 13 to which the solar radiation sensor B is connected is not an abnormal value (for example, 5V). As shown in FIG. 2, when the solar radiation sensor B is not connected to the connection terminals T1 and T3, the voltage value corresponding to the magnitude of the current flowing through the input circuit 13 to which the B input, that is, the solar radiation sensor B is connected. Since it becomes the minimum value (for example, 0V), it determines with "Yes" in step S12, and progresses to step S13.

  In step S13, it is determined whether the A input is larger than the B input. Since the A input is a positive value and the B input is the minimum value, “Yes” is determined in step S13, and the sensor A is used in step S14, that is, the solar radiation sensor A is determined to be connected. In the subsequent calculation processing, the solar radiation amount is calculated with reference to the solar radiation amount table corresponding to the solar radiation sensor A. After the process in step S14, the execution of the sensor identification program is terminated in step S17.

  On the other hand, although the solar radiation sensor A is connected to the connection terminals T1 and T2, a case where the solar radiation sensor A is short-circuited will be described. In this case, since the A input becomes an abnormal value (for example, 5V), “No” is determined in step S11, and the process of step S16 is executed. In step S16, a default process, that is, a diagnostic code representing the solar radiation sensor A and a failure content (short) are stored in the RAM or the like, and an error process such as outputting to the control panel CP to notify the user is executed. At this time, the subsequent calculation processing is executed without using the A input by the solar radiation sensor A, assuming that there is no A input, or using an initial setting value or the like.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, a case where the solar radiation sensor B is connected to the connection terminals T1 and T3 and the solar radiation sensor B is not short-circuited will be described.

  In this case, since the voltage value corresponding to the magnitude of the current flowing through the input circuit 12 to which the A input, that is, the solar radiation sensor A is connected, becomes the minimum value (for example, 0 V), it is determined as “Yes” in step S11. Proceed to step S12. The voltage value according to the magnitude of the current flowing through the input circuit 13 to which the solar radiation sensor B is connected becomes a positive value less than an abnormal value (for example, less than 5 V) according to the solar radiation amount. ”And proceeds to step S13. Since the A input is the minimum value and the B input is a positive value, it is determined as “No” in step S13, and the sensor B is used in step S15, that is, the solar radiation sensor B is determined to be connected. In the subsequent calculation processing, the solar radiation amount is calculated with reference to the solar radiation amount table corresponding to the solar radiation sensor B. After step S15, the execution of the sensor identification program is terminated in step S17.

  On the other hand, the solar radiation sensor B is connected to the connection terminals T1 and T3. However, when the solar radiation sensor B is short-circuited, the A input becomes the minimum value (for example, 0V), so “Yes” is determined in step S11. ”And the B input becomes an abnormal value (for example, 5 V). Therefore,“ No ”is determined in step S12, and the process of step S16 is executed. In step S16, the diagnostic code representing the solar radiation sensor B and the failure content (short) are stored in the RAM or the like, and error processing such as outputting to the control panel CP and notifying the user is executed. At this time, the subsequent calculation process is executed without using the B input by the solar radiation sensor B, assuming that there is no B input, or using an initial setting value or the like.

  As is apparent from the above description, in this embodiment, the connection terminals T1, T2 or T1, T3 to which the two types of solar radiation sensors A, B for detecting the solar radiation amount that is the same physical quantity can be connected to the air conditioner ECU 10. The input circuits 12 and 13 are provided individually in advance. And the voltage value according to the electric current which flows into the input circuits 12 and 13 is compared by execution of the process of step S13 by air-conditioner ECU10. And by execution of the process of step S14 or step S15, it is determined whether it is the solar radiation sensor A or the solar radiation sensor B that is connected based on the input circuit 12 and 13 with a larger voltage value. Subsequent calculation processing (calculation of solar radiation amount referring to the solar radiation amount table corresponding to the determined solar radiation sensor) is executed using the voltage value (A / D conversion value) by the determined sensor.

  Thereby, without using an external signal from the in-vehicle LAN, and without providing a determination circuit as hardware for each of the input circuits 12 and 13, by executing a simple sensor identification program as shown in FIG. The solar radiation sensor 20 connected to the air conditioner ECU 10 can be identified. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily ensure the accuracy of discrimination of the solar radiation sensor 20 with an inexpensive configuration.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, failure (short) of the solar radiation sensors A and B is determined based on the voltage value according to the electric current which flows into the input circuits 12 and 13 by execution of the process of step S11, S12 by air-conditioner ECU10, The process of step S13 is executed on condition that the solar radiation sensors A and B have not failed.

  Thereby, since the voltage value is not used at the time of failure (short circuit) of the solar radiation sensors A and B, the normal operation of the air conditioner unit can be satisfactorily maintained.

  In the above embodiment, the solar radiation sensor 20 is employed as the sensor according to the present invention. However, for example, an inside air sensor, an outside air sensor, or the like may be employed. In this case, the sensor value is taken into the air conditioner ECU 10 from the inside air sensor or the like so that the input becomes 0 V when the inside air sensor or the like is short-circuited. Therefore, in this case, for example, the processing in step S11 and the processing in step S12 in FIG. 4 are combined into one, and the default processing is executed when the A input is 0V and the B input is 0V. In addition, in step S13, it is configured to determine whether or not the A input is smaller than the B input (A input <B input), and the voltage value is small by executing the process of step S14 or step S15. What is necessary is just to comprise so that the type of the inside air sensor etc. which are connected may be determined based on the input circuit 12 and 13 of which one (it may determine with a physical value instead of a voltage value).

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, in order to determine the failure of the solar radiation sensor 20, it comprised so that it might be determined whether the A input of a sensor and B input are 5V, but it is not restricted to this, For example, it assumes. You may comprise so that a default process may be performed when the sensor value exceeding the upper limit of the solar radiation amount is detected, and when the sensor value which is less than the assumed lower limit of the solar radiation amount is detected.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although two types of solar radiation sensors A and B were used as the solar radiation sensor 20, it is also possible to set it as the specification using three or more types of sensors.

  In the above embodiment, the sensor identification program of FIG. 4 is mainly executed when the vehicle is running, and the determination process of step S13 is executed even after the actually connected sensor is determined. Instead of this, for example, by applying light to the solar radiation sensor 20 at the factory shipment stage, the sensor identification program of FIG. 4 is executed, and after determining the actually connected sensor, the sensor is stored. Thereafter, it is possible to configure so that the determination process of step S13 is not executed when the sensor identification program of FIG. 4 is executed.

It is a perspective view which shows the state with which the vehicle air conditioner control apparatus to which this invention was applied was mounted | worn with the vehicle. The block diagram which shows the connection specification of the air-conditioner ECU of FIG. 1, and a solar radiation sensor. The block diagram which shows the connection specification of the air-conditioner ECU of FIG. 1, and a solar radiation sensor. The flowchart which shows the sensor identification program performed by the air-conditioner ECU of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

CA vehicle air conditioner control device CP control panel 10 air conditioner ECU (air conditioner control means)
BT battery LB power supply lines L1, L2, L3 external signal lines T1, T2, T3 connection terminals R1, R2 resistance 11 microcomputer 12, 13 input circuit 20 solar radiation sensor A, solar radiation sensor B

Claims (4)

Input circuits each including a connection terminal capable of connecting a plurality of types of sensors that detect the same physical quantity are provided separately in advance, and the sensor values obtained by the sensors connected to any one of the input circuits are used thereafter. Air conditioner control means set to execute the calculation process,
The air conditioner control means includes a comparison means for comparing the magnitudes of all the sensor values of the input circuit, and is connected to any one of the input circuits according to the comparison result by the comparison means. A vehicle air conditioner control device with a sensor identification function, wherein a sensor is determined, and the calculation process is executed using a sensor value of the determined sensor.   The air conditioner control means includes determination means for determining sensor failure based on all sensor values of the input circuit, and the comparison means is determined by the determination means that the sensor has not failed. The vehicle air conditioner control device with a sensor identification function according to claim 1, wherein the comparison process is executed on the condition of the above.   The vehicle air conditioner control device with a sensor identification function according to claim 2, wherein the sensor failure is caused by a short circuit of the sensor. The plurality of types of sensors, Ri solar radiation sensor der for detecting a solar radiation amount, solar radiation table for calculating the solar radiation amount corresponding to the sensor value of the sensors are stored respectively, the air conditioning control unit, The vehicle air conditioner control device with a sensor identification function according to claim 1 , wherein the solar radiation amount is calculated with reference to a solar radiation amount table corresponding to the determined sensor in the calculation process .

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