JPH0638277A - Equipment fault detector for communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the detector to detect faults of all terminal equipments altogether including terminal equipments not being representative terminal equipments of a simple communication system in which no address setting is required. CONSTITUTION:Plural control terminal equipments 2a, 2d each having a transmitter-receiver and a remote controller supervising and controlling remotely the control terminal equipments 2a, 2d through communication are connected respectively by the multi-drop system. A simultaneous operation command is given to equipments controlled remotely from the remote controller by sending a communication signal with an attribute signal exclusively used for the equipments added thereto to the control terminal equipments 2a, 2d for the equipments controlled by the remote controller. Then only one representative control terminal equipment 2a always makes communication with the remote controller and the control terminal equipment 2d not being the representative terminal equipment is provided with a random number generating means return a fault signal to the remote controller once for plural number of times.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for communication, the communication line of which is a so-called multi-drop connection in which a plurality of terminals are electrically connected by a single crossover wiring when a terminal fails. The present invention relates to an abnormality detection device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in multi-drop wiring for connecting a plurality of communication terminals on the same communication line, when attempting to communicate with each other among a plurality of communication terminals, the contents of the communication data include the destination address. An identification number called an address is needed. The address is usually artificially set in each terminal by an address setting switch or the like in the initial setting state of the system. Further, as examples of other address setting methods, JP-A-62-100045 and JP-A-6-2006
A system for automatically setting a sequential address according to a wiring order by a daisy chain system as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-264462, and an already operating system as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-59938. Therefore, when adding a terminal to the system, the additional terminal automatically creates its own address and confirms with the existing terminal in the system whether the address is duplicated. There is also a method. In any case, an address is assigned to each unit for communication.

On the other hand, in the case of configuring a system without address setting for the purpose of improving workability in a simple system,
The address can be lost by the following method.
That is, for example, by using the control switch on page 129 and the commercial LOSSNAY (registered trademark) LGH-XXRMP series on pages 101 to 104 in the Mitsubishi Electric Exhaust Fan General Catalog dated November 1991, The remote controller communicates only with one of the controlled terminals as a representative, and other non-representative devices intercept the communication between the remote controller and the representative device and perform control according to the remote controller's request. Is.

[0004]

In the simple system described above, the abnormality can be detected by the remote controller for the representative terminal, but the abnormality of the non-representative device cannot be detected by the remote controller. Therefore, in order to detect the abnormality of all the terminals, it is indispensable that all the terminals have addresses. However, the address setting method cannot prevent the construction worker from making an address setting error. Further, in order to automatically address by the daisy chain method as shown in JP-A-62-100045 and JP-A-61-264462, an element for opening and connecting communication lines in wiring order is required. Therefore, the system configuration price increases. Furthermore, JP-A-6
In the automatic setting method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-59938, it is premised that there is a system whose address setting has already been completed, and it is necessary to set the address when setting a new system. Is.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above conventional problems, and provides an abnormality detecting apparatus in a communication system capable of collectively detecting the abnormality of all terminals in a simple system without setting an address. With the goal.

[0006]

A communication system according to the present invention has a simple system configuration that does not require setting of an address, and controls loads of the same form, and at the same time, has a plurality of communication transmitting / receiving devices. And a plurality of remote controllers for remotely monitoring the terminal group through communication,
Each terminal group is connected to the remote controller in a multi-drop format, and one of the remote controllers performs polling selecting communication, and for the model group controlled by the polling remote controller, an attribute signal specific to that model It is a communication system that issues a batch operation command to the model group by transmitting a communication signal added with, and at the same time that the representative remote controller of the model group constantly communicates with the remote controller that polls. , The remote controller for polling sends a signal that the representative of the model group does not return, and when an abnormality occurs in a model that is not a representative of the model group, the random number generation means and the counter means of the non-representative terminal perform polling once every several times. It has a means for returning an error to the remote controller.

In the communication system according to the second aspect of the present invention, a load of the same form is controlled, and at the same time, a plurality of terminal groups having a communication transmitting / receiving device and the terminal group are remotely monitored by communication. Each of the above terminal groups is connected to the remote controller in a multi-drop format, and one of the remote controllers performs polling selecting communication and is controlled by the polling remote controller. Is a communication system that issues a collective operation command to the model group by sending a communication signal with an attribute signal dedicated to that model to only one of the model groups. While performing continuous communication with the remote controller, the remote controller that polls sends a signal that the representative of the model group does not reply, When an error occurs in a different model, it has a means for returning an error to the remote controller that polls once every several times using a random number generation means and a counter means that a non-representative terminal has, and a counter that counts when an error is not received by the remote control. It has a function of canceling the abnormal display of a non-representative terminal when it has a certain number of abnormal responses.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the random number generating means of the non-representative terminal according to the first or second aspect of the present invention operates especially each time an abnormality is returned.

A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to the random number generating means according to the first or second aspect of the invention, in particular, a signal and A / A signal whose voltage level fluctuations averagely fluctuate at each time interval.
It is composed of a D converter.

Further, a fifth aspect of the present invention is the one in which the random number generating means according to the first or second aspect of the present invention is composed of an output signal of a sensor which changes depending on environmental conditions and an A / D converter. is there.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the random number generating means according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, in particular, the first oscillator and the second oscillator having different oscillation frequencies, and the signals of the respective oscillators. It is composed of a counter for counting the original.

[0012]

In the first aspect of the invention, since the device not set as the representative sends an error in the form of sending a reply to a specific signal transmitted from the remote controller when an error occurs, the remote controller can detect only an error in the representative device. Also, it is possible to collectively detect abnormality information of a plurality of devices that are not set as representatives. In addition, even if multiple devices that are not set as representatives send abnormality information at the same time and even if the remote control cannot receive the abnormality due to signal collision,
Since the signal collision does not occur every time, the remote controller can receive the abnormality information without fail while transmitting several times.

Further, in the second aspect of the invention, the counter is counted especially when the remote controller does not receive an error, and the abnormal display of the non-representative terminal is canceled when the error is returned a fixed number of times.

Further, in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth inventions, it is possible to prevent a signal collision in which a plurality of devices not particularly set as representatives transmit abnormality information at the same time. Like

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a physical configuration diagram showing a basic communication system as an embodiment of the present invention.
b and the respective control terminals 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d of a plurality of devices 2 of the same model having a communication function are connected. Here, the control terminals 2a, 2b, 2c, 2 of the device 2 to be connected are
It is assumed that d is one type of this device 2. Remote control 1a,
1b allows the user to start and stop this system and perform the control unique to the device 2, and two units are present in the system here. Among them, 1a is a main remote controller for polling communication in the system, and 1b is a slave remote controller for mutually communicating with the main remote controller 1a. Reference numeral 3 is a communication line that connects the main remote controller 1a, the slave remote controller 1b, and the plurality of control terminals 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a communication system in which the physical configuration of FIG. 1 is changed to a logical configuration. The direction of the arrow in the figure indicates the direction of communication, and the main remote controller 1a and the control terminals 2a to 2d of the same device 2, The main remote controller 1a and the sub remote controller 1b communicate with each other. In the sub remote controller 1b, the control terminals 2a to 2 of the same device 2 as the main remote controller 1a are connected.
It also shows a state in which communication exchanges between d are also monitored (see the broken line in the figure). Control terminals 2a to 2 of the same device 2
Only one control terminal 2a, which is set as a representative, sends a reply to the main remote controller 1a during a steady state among the other d, and the other control terminals 2b, 2c, 2d from the main remote controller 1a will be described later. When the attribute signal 33 relating to the model to be transmitted is transmitted, only that signal is received and is not transmitted. However, when an abnormality occurs in the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2, each of the control terminals 2a to 2d appropriately notifies the main remote controller 1a of the abnormality by the method described later. Or later,
The control terminal 2a of the device 2 set as a representative will be referred to as a main device control terminal, and the control terminals 2b to 2d of the other devices 2 will be referred to as slave device control terminals. Not having the representative right is determined when the representative right setting switch 23 in the hardware of the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2 described later is not set.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the transmission signal of the main remote controller 1a. The transmission signal is composed of two data areas as shown in the figure. In the drawing, the data area indicated by 33 is an attribute signal dedicated to the model, which indicates the attribute of the device 2 to be controlled. In the case of the system of FIG. 1, as the attribute signal 33, the attribute signal of the control terminal 2a of the same device or the attribute signal of the slave remote controller 1b is transmitted. Further, the data area indicated by 34 is control commands and data in which control information and request signals for respective attribute models are input.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of a transmission signal other than that of the main remote controller 1a. In the case of the communication system of FIG. 1, this transmission signal is transmitted from the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2 or the slave remote controller 1b to the main terminal. This is a signal sent as a reply signal to the remote controller 1a. In the figure, 35 is an attribute signal 33.
With the same attribute signal as, the self-attribute of the transmitting side is input and transmitted. Reference numeral 36 denotes a control command and a response command and data from each device 2 to the data 34 transmitted.

FIG. 5 shows the timing of polling of the main remote controller 1a during normal system operation and each control terminal 2a.
6 is a timing chart showing the timing of the reply from 2 to 2d, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2.
Is a CPU, 21 is a transmission / reception circuit connected to the communication line 3, 2
Reference numeral 2 is a timer for accumulating a fixed time, and the timer can be activated by the CPU 20 and reset. Reference numeral 23 is a representative right setting switch for switching from the control terminal 2a of the main device or the control terminal 2b of the slave device to 2d,
24 is a counter that counts the number of times a specific transmission signal is received,
The value can be read from the CPU 20 and can be cleared. Reference numeral 25 is a device driving / abnormality detector, and 26 is a random number generator.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of the main remote controller 1a and the slave remote controller 1b, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing their external appearance. In the symbols in the figure,
Reference numeral 10 is a CPU, 11 is a transmission / reception circuit connected to the communication line 3, 12 is a master / slave setting switch, 13 is an operation unit for the user to make desired settings for the device 2, and 14 is a setting and status of the device 2. A display unit 15 and a counter 15 are provided.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a program when the main remote controller 1a is operating, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a program at the time of operation b.
Is a flowchart showing a program when the control terminal 2a of the master device is operating, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a program when the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave device are operating.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an example of the configuration of the random number generating means 26. In the figure, 40 is a triangular wave generator, and 41 is an A / D converter for reading the level of the triangular wave signal. The signal reading of the A / D converter 41 is performed by the CPU 2
Commanded from 0, the data can be read from the CPU 20.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the configuration of the random number generating means 26. In the figure, reference numeral 42 denotes a sensor, such as a temperature sensor, as long as the voltage level fluctuates according to changes in the environment. I do not care. Reference numeral 41 is an A / D converter similar to the previous example of FIG.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the configuration of the random number generating means 26, in which 43 is a first oscillator and 44 is a second oscillator. 45 is the first,
It is a counter which receives the signals of the second oscillators 43 and 44 and counts. The start of this counter 45 is CP
The data can be read from the CPU 20 instructed by the U20.

Next, the operation of this system will be described. First, the system operation in the normal operation of this system will be described. In the system shown in FIG. 1, as described above, the main remote controller 1a is the control terminal 2 of this system.
This is a communication terminal device that conducts communication by performing polling from a to 2d at the timing shown in FIG. This indicates that the main remote control 1a is set to the main setting and the sub remote control 1b is set to the sub by the main / slave setting switch 12 of the remote controller. Further, the signal transmitted from each control terminal 2a to 2d is the attribute signal 3 with the attribute code as shown in FIG.
The model is managed by transmitting "3" and is not managed for each address. Sub-remote control 1b,
Control signals are cyclically transmitted from the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2 to the two types of terminals.

Here, one type of signal for each slave remote controller 1b (key input monitor request) and two types of signals for the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2 (device operation command,
This is a request to monitor the abnormality of the slave device). A "key input monitor request" is always sent from the main remote controller 1a, and a "key input monitor response" is always sent to the equipment operation command from the main equipment control terminal 2a "main equipment status / error". Information ”is returned. For "Abnormal device monitoring request",
The control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices appropriately reply as necessary.

In this system, the control terminals 2a to 2d of the devices 2 existing as the terminals of the same device 2 and the slave remote controller 1b have different attribute codes, and the values are programmed in advance in the respective devices 2. It is decoded with the value that is present and it is determined whether it is a signal addressed to itself. Also,
Even if the communication terminal does not have a dialogue in terms of timing, that is, the main remote controller 1a and a terminal other than itself, the dialogue content can be received and can be interpreted. It can be used for control. Of the signals transmitted by the main remote controller 1a, the "
"Abnormality monitor request" is a special signal, which is the control terminal 2 of the slave device.
These control terminals 2 when an abnormality occurs from b to 2d
It is a command that can appropriately send abnormality information from b to 2d to the main remote controller 1a by a method described later. Correspondence of the signal having the attribute signal 33 differs depending on whether the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2 are the master or the slave, but the control terminals 2a to 2d of the devices 2 are control commands,
The data 34 makes the distinction.

Referring to the timing chart of FIG. 5,
The program flow chart when the main remote controller 1a in FIG. 9 operates will be described step by step. When the program completes the initial setting after the power is turned on, first in step 101, the main remote controller 1a transmits a "key input monitor request" to the slave remote controller 1b. The slave remote controller 1b receives the signal and notifies the main remote controller 1a of a change in state. If this status change is reported,
If there is no key input in b, the contents of the data 34 are left blank and transmitted. On the main remote controller 1a, step 10
In step 2, first, it is confirmed whether or not there is a reply from the slave remote controller 1b. If there is no reply, in step 103, if there is a history of the reply being returned from the slave remote controller 1b in the same communication in the past, a communication error is caused. Then, the display section 14 displays the abnormality of the remote controller 1b. If no reply has been returned in the past, the sub remote controller 1b is ignored because it does not exist originally. In any case, the process proceeds to step 107 after the process.

When there is a reply from the slave remote controller 1b, the communication abnormality of the slave remote controller 1b is released in step 104, and when there is a change in the state from the slave remote controller 1b in step 105, that is, the key input with the slave remote controller 1b. If there is, it is determined in step 106 which key is pressed in the data 34, the memory in the CPU 10 of its own is rewritten with the information for controlling the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2, and then in step 107. Proceed with processing. This information is, of course, rewritten even when there is a key input on the main remote controller 1a described later. In step 107, the main remote controller 1a
Then, based on this information, the operation command signal of the device 2 is transmitted from the control terminal 2a of the device 2 to 2d. The control terminal 2a of the device 2 receives the operation command signal from the main remote controller 1a and operates the device 2. Since the operation command of the device 2 is cyclic polling communication, it is not always sent when the command is changed, for example, when the operation is changed from stop to operation, but it is sent every few seconds. The same signal as that sent may be sent, but in that case, the state of the device 2 is maintained as it is.

The control terminal 2a of the main equipment returns a status signal and an abnormal signal of the equipment 2 as a reply to the operation command of the equipment 2. In most cases, since the device 2 is not abnormal, the abnormal data in this reply signal is returned blank. On the main remote controller 1a, if there is no reply from the control terminal 2a of the main device in the next step 108, the communication abnormality of the main device is displayed in step 109, and the process proceeds to step 114. When there is a reply, the abnormality of the main equipment is released in step 110, and it is confirmed in step 111 whether the control terminal 2a of the equipment 2 is operating correctly with respect to the commanded signal or whether the equipment abnormality has occurred. Then
If there is a device abnormality, in step 112, the control terminal 2 of the main device
The device abnormality of a is displayed, and the process proceeds to step 114.

In step 114, the control terminal 2b of the slave device
Sends an "abnormality monitor request" to 2d. If a device abnormality has occurred in any one of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave device in step 115, the request command is returned once every several times. If there is a reply, in step 116, the device abnormality of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave device is displayed, the counter 15 is cleared (0) in step 117, and the process proceeds to step 121. Step 115
If there is no reply in step 118, the counter 15
Is incremented, and it is confirmed in step 119 whether or not there is a predetermined number of replies. Here, it is temporarily set to 100 times. When the value of the counter 15 reaches 100 times, it is determined in step 120 that the device abnormality of the slave device has been canceled, and the display of the device abnormality is canceled. If it has not reached 100 times, the process proceeds to step 121, and if the control terminal abnormality of the slave device has already occurred, the display of the device abnormality continues. If there is a key input in step 121, step 1
At 22, the information for controlling the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2 in the memory of its own CPU 10 is rewritten. Finally, in step 123, the operating conditions of the device 2 are displayed and one sequence ends. Thereafter, the program returns to step 101 again, and the same steps are repeated. When the abnormality information displayed on the main remote controller 1a is sorted out, there are communication abnormality of the control terminal 2a of the main equipment, equipment abnormality, and equipment abnormality of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave equipment. However, the control terminals 2b to 2
The device abnormality of d does not indicate which control terminal 2b to 2d, but displays a collective abnormality.

The sequence of the slave remote controller 1b will be described in order with reference to the program flow chart of FIG. When the program completes the initial settings after the power is turned on, in step 201, the main remote controller 1a
Set a timer of an appropriate time to wait for the transmission of the "key input monitor request". When the "key input monitor request" is transmitted from the main remote controller 1a in step 202, the timer is reset and transmitted in step 205. If not, the timer is counted in step 203 to check whether the time has expired. If the time has not expired, the process returns to step 202 and waits for transmission from the main remote controller 1a. It is determined that the polling communication is interrupted due to the failure of the remote controller 1a, the communication abnormality of the main remote controller 1a is displayed in step 204, and the slave remote controller 1b becomes the main remote controller instead of the main remote controller 1a, and the device 2 in the system is operated. It is stored in the memory in its own CPU 10 for the control terminals 2a to 2d. Begin polling based on information for controlling 2d from the control terminal 2a of the vessel 2. Remote control 1a, 1
Since b has both the program of the main remote controller 1a and the program of the slave remote controller 1b, and the program is simply switched by switching the master-slave setting switch 12 in the initial setting, in this case, the program goes to step 101 in FIG. move on.

The sequence is returned to the main sequence to continue the description. After the timer is reset in step 205, if there is a key input in the key input procedure described later in step 206, the key input is input to the response command, data 36, and if not, the data 36 is emptied and the main remote controller 1a
Send to. After transmission, a predetermined timer is set in step 206, and in step 208, the main remote controller 1a intercepts the signal transmitting the operation command from the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2. If the main remote controller 1a does not immediately intercept the signal transmitting the operation command from the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2 at this time, step 209
Then, the timer is counted, and if it does not count up, the process returns to step 208. If it counts up, the interception is given up and the process proceeds to step 221.

After successfully processing the signal in step 208, the timer is reset in step 210. In step 211, the operation display of oneself based on the intercepted signal,
Match the display on the main remote controller 1a. Step 21
In step 2, a predetermined timer is set again, and in step 213, the control terminal 2a of the main device intercepts the signal returned to the main remote controller 1a. If the control terminal 2a of the main device does not intercept the signal transmitted to the main remote controller 1a immediately at this time, the timer is counted in step 214, and if it does not count up, the process returns to step 213, and if it counts up, step At 215, the communication abnormality of the control terminal 2a of the device 2 is displayed on its own display unit 14, and the process proceeds to step 221.

When the control terminal 2a of the main equipment normally intercepts the signal returned to the main remote controller 1a in step 213, the timer is reset in step 216, and the communication abnormality of the control terminal 2a of the equipment 2 is released in step 217. To do.
In step 218, it is confirmed whether the signal intercepted in step 213 is operating correctly with respect to the signal instructed from the main remote controller 1a, and whether or not a device abnormality has occurred.
If there is a device abnormality, in step 219 the control terminal 2 of the main device
The device abnormality of a is displayed, and the process proceeds to step 221. If there is no equipment abnormality, the equipment abnormality of the control terminal 2a of the main equipment is canceled in step 220, and the operating state of the equipment 2 which cannot be grasped by the command from the main remote controller 1a due to an automatic operation command or the like is displayed. At step 221, a timer of an appropriate time for receiving the transmission of the "slave device abnormality monitor request" from the master remote controller 1a to the slave device control terminals 2b to 2d is set. In step 222, the main remote controller 1a
If a "slave device abnormality monitor request" is sent from the device, the timer is reset in step 225. If it is not sent, the timer is counted in step 223 to check whether the time is up. If the time has not expired at this time, the process returns to step 222 and waits for transmission from the main remote controller 1a. When the time is up, it is determined that the polling is interrupted due to the failure of the main remote controller 1a, the communication abnormality of the main remote controller 1a is displayed in step 224, and the sub remote controller 1b becomes the main remote controller in place of the main remote controller 1a and becomes the system inside. The polling is started based on the information for controlling the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2 stored in the memory of the CPU 10 of the device 2 to the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2.

After the processing of step 225, in step 226, it is confirmed whether the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices intercept the signal returned to the main remote controller 1a. This signal does not occur unless the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices have an abnormality in the device. Therefore, even if there is no reply, the communication error of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave device does not occur. If this signal is intercepted, step 227
Then, the device abnormalities of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices are displayed, and the counter 15 is cleared (0) in step 228.
Then, the process proceeds to step 231. When not intercepted, the counter 15 is incremented in step 229, and it is confirmed in step 230 whether the value of the counter 15 has reached 100 times. When the number of times reaches 100 times, the device abnormality of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave device is canceled in step 231. If not reached, the control terminal 2 of the slave device has already been reached.
When the device abnormality from b to 2d occurs, the device abnormality from the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices continues. In step 232, it is confirmed whether or not there is a key input on the sub remote controller 1b.
The information for controlling the control terminals 2a to 2d of the device 2 in the internal memory is rewritten. After that, the sequence returns to step 201 again, and the same steps are repeated. When the device abnormality information displayed on the slave remote controller 1b is sorted out, it is a communication error of the control terminal 2a of the main device, a device error, and a device error of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices. However, the device abnormalities of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices are different from each other.
It is not possible to display whether it is from b to 2d.

The sequence of the control terminal 2a of the main equipment is shown in FIG.
It will be described step by step using a program flow chart when the control terminal 2a of the first main device is operating. When the program completes the initial setting after the power is turned on, in step 301, it is confirmed whether or not there is a "device operation command" from the main remote controller 1a. Other signals are deleted by the attribute signal 33, control command, and data 34. If no order is received,
Step 301 is repeated many times. If received, in step 302, the abnormality and status of the device 2 are returned to the main remote controller 1a, and in step 303, the main remote controller 1a.
The device 2 is controlled in accordance with the instruction from. The flow returns to step 301 again.

The sequence of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices will be described step by step with reference to the program flow chart of FIG. 12 during the operation of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices. When the program completes the initial settings after power-on,
In step 401, it is confirmed whether or not there is a "device operation command" from the main remote controller 1a. Other signals are attribute signals 3
3, deleted by control command, data 34. If no instruction is received, step 401 is repeated many times. If received, the main remote controller 1 in step 402
The device 2 is controlled according to the command from a. Next, at step 403, it is confirmed whether or not there is a "request for abnormality monitoring of a slave device terminal" from the main remote controller 1a. Other signals are deleted by the attribute signal 33, control command, and data 34.
If no command is received, step 403 is repeated many times. If it is received, it is confirmed in Step 404 whether or not the abnormality of the device 2 has occurred. If not, the random number is set to 0 in Step 405, and Step 401
Return to. If an abnormality occurs, the random number is decremented in step 406, and if a borrow occurs in step 407 as a result (0 is decremented to -1), the abnormality information of the device 2 is displayed in step 408. It is transmitted to the main remote controller 1a. After that, the random number is read in step 409, and the process returns to the first step 401.

In the case of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices, even if an abnormality occurs, it does not always mean that the "remote monitor terminal abnormality monitor request" from the main remote controller 1a is not always returned. . This means that a plurality of slave device control terminals 2b to 2d are usually installed, and slave device control terminals 2b to 2d are installed.
This is because, if two or more of the above occur abnormally at the same time, if a response is always sent back to the request, the signals collide with each other and the main remote controller 1a may not be able to receive the signals. However, the control terminals 2b to 2
If the random numbers of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices are always the same, even if the transmission pattern of d is limited to several times at a time, abnormalities of the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices occur at the same time. In this case, the transmission signal of the abnormality information collides each time, and as a result, the main remote controller 1a cannot receive the abnormality signal of 2d from the control terminal 2b of each slave device. Therefore, the control terminals 2b to 2d of the respective slave devices update the value of the random number so that they can take different random numbers each time an abnormal signal is transmitted.

Next, the patterns in which the control terminals 2b to 2d of the slave devices generate random numbers will be described with three examples.

In FIG. 13, the triangular wave generator 40 is C
When a command to read the voltage level of the triangular wave is issued from the PU 20 to the A / D converter 41, it is uncertain at which point of the voltage level of the triangular wave the data is read. for that reason,
The A / D conversion value takes a different value every time. This value is CPU2
0 is read and used as a random number. Further, the oscillator is a triangular wave here, but it is not particularly limited to the triangular wave, and an oscillation source having a signal in which the fluctuation of the voltage level depending on time is averaged at each time interval, whether it is a sine wave or a sawtooth wave, Alternatively, the same effect can be obtained with a random signal.

In FIG. 14, the sensor 42 connected in place of the triangular wave generator 40 of FIG. 13 may be any one as long as its voltage level fluctuates due to changes in the environment such as a temperature sensor. In order to obtain different values among the control terminals 2b to 2d of the plurality of slave devices, it is desirable to use a sensor with as large an initial variation as possible.
In the A / D converter 41, the upper digit is the control terminal 2 of each slave device.
Since it is easy to take values close to each other from b to 2d, the upper value is truncated and a random number is created only by the lower value.

In FIG. 15, at least one of the first oscillator 43 and the second oscillator 44 is a signal which is not synchronized with the oscillation of the oscillator of the CPU 20. Further, it is desirable that the output frequencies of the oscillators 43 and 44 are separated by two orders or more. Now, assuming that the first oscillator 43 is an oscillation source whose frequency is larger than that of the second oscillator 44, the CPU
The counter 45 responds to the request from the second oscillator 4
From the rising signal (t1) of the rectangular wave of the output signal of 4,
Until the next rising signal (t2), the first oscillator 43
The pulse signals of are counted and transmitted. At this time as well, since the upper digit is likely to take a value close to the control terminal 2b of each slave device by 2d, the upper value is cut off and a random number is created only by the lower value.

In this embodiment, there is only one type of device control terminal group, but a plurality of attribute groups can be dealt with by adding polling for the attributes.

[0045]

As is apparent from the description of the embodiments, according to the first aspect of the invention, a device which is not set as a representative sends a reply to a specific signal transmitted from the remote controller when an abnormality occurs. Since the abnormal condition is returned by, the remote controller can detect not only the abnormal condition of the representative device but also the abnormal condition information of a plurality of devices not set as the representative at once. Also, even if multiple devices that are not set as representatives send abnormal information at the same time and the signals collide with each other and the remote control cannot receive the abnormality, a random number that is rewritten at any time will not cause a signal collision each time. Since it does not exist, it is possible to obtain the effect that the remote control can receive the abnormality information without fail while transmitting several times.

According to the second aspect of the invention, particularly when the remote control does not receive an error, the counter counts, and when a fixed number of replies are received, it is possible to cancel the abnormal display of the non-representative terminal. become.

Further, according to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth inventions, it is possible to prevent a signal collision such that a plurality of devices which are not set as representatives simultaneously transmit abnormality information. become able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a physical configuration of a basic communication system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing FIG. 1 by a logical configuration.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a transmission signal relating to the main remote controller of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a reply signal other than the main remote controller of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of communication in the system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing hardware of a control terminal of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the hardware of the remote controller of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an external view of a remote controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a program when the main remote controller according to the present invention operates.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a program when the slave remote controller according to the present invention operates.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart when the control terminal of the main equipment of the present invention is in operation.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart at the time of operation of the control terminal of the slave device of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an example of the random number generating means of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing another example of the random number generating means of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing still another example of the random number generating means of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a Main remote control 1b Slave remote control 2 Equipment 2a Main equipment control terminal 2b Slave equipment control terminal 3 Communication line 10 CPU 14 Display section 15 Counter 20 CPU 26 Random number generating means 33 Attribute signal 40 Triangular wave generating apparatus 41 A / D converter 42 Sensor 43 First oscillator 44 Second oscillator 45 Counter

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 9, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In the communication system according to the second aspect of the present invention, a load of the same form is controlled, and at the same time, a plurality of terminal groups having a communication transmitting / receiving device and the terminal group are remotely monitored by communication. Each of the above terminal groups is connected to the remote controller in a multi-drop format, and one of the remote controllers performs polling selecting communication and is controlled by the polling remote controller. Is a communication system that issues a collective operation command to the model group by sending a communication signal with an attribute signal dedicated to that model to only one of the model groups. While performing continuous communication with the remote controller, the remote controller that polls sends a signal that the representative of the model group does not reply, When an error occurs in a different model, it has a means for returning an error to the remote controller that polls once every several times using a random number generation means and a counter means that a non-representative terminal has, and a counter that counts when an error is not received by the remote control. Hold and no abnormal number of replies
In this case, it has a function of canceling the abnormal display of the non-representative terminal.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, in the second aspect of the invention, the counter is counted especially when the remote controller does not receive an error, and the abnormal display of the non-representative terminal is canceled when the error is not returned for a predetermined number of times.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A load control device having the same form, and at the same time, having a plurality of terminal groups having a communication transmitting / receiving device and a plurality of remote controllers for remotely monitoring the terminal groups by communication. Each terminal group is connected to the remote controller in a multi-drop format, and one of the remote controllers performs polling selecting communication, and for the model group controlled by the polling remote controller, an attribute signal specific to that model In a communication system in which a batch operation command is issued to the model group by transmitting a communication signal to which is added, at the same time that only one representative of the model group constantly communicates with a remote controller that polls, When a remote controller that performs polling sends a signal that the model representative does not return, and a model that is not a representative of the model has an error, it is not a representative. A device abnormality detection device in a communication system, characterized in that it has a means for returning an abnormality to a remote controller that performs polling once a plurality of times by a random number generation means and a counter means included in a terminal. 2. The same type of load control is performed, and at the same time, a plurality of terminal groups having communication transmitting / receiving devices and a plurality of remote controllers for remotely monitoring the terminal groups by communication are provided. Each terminal group is connected to the remote controller in a multi-drop format, and one of the remote controllers performs polling selecting communication, and for the model group controlled by the polling remote controller, an attribute signal specific to that model In a communication system in which a batch operation command is issued to the model group by transmitting a communication signal to which is added, at the same time that only one representative of the model group constantly communicates with a remote controller that polls, When a remote controller that performs polling sends a signal that the model representative does not return, and a model that is not a representative of the model has an error, it is not a representative. The terminal has a random number generating means and a counter means for returning an abnormality to a remote controller that performs polling once a plurality of times, and the remote controller has a counter that counts when no abnormality is received.
A device abnormality detection device in a communication system, which has a function of canceling an abnormality display of a non-representative terminal when an error is returned a fixed number of times. 3. The random number generating means of a non-representative terminal operates each time an abnormality is returned when an abnormality occurs in a non-representative model among a group of devices. Abnormality detection device in the communication system of the above. 4. The random number generating means comprises a signal whose voltage level fluctuation fluctuates on average at each time interval, and an A / D converter. Abnormality detection device in the communication system of the above. 5. The device abnormality in the communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the random number generating means is composed of an output signal of a sensor that changes according to environmental conditions and an A / D converter. Detection device. 6. The random number generating means is composed of a first oscillator and a second oscillator having different oscillation frequencies, and a counter for counting based on the signals of the respective oscillators. An apparatus abnormality detection device in the communication system according to claim 2.