JPH07133951A - Air-conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable resetting the microcomputer, relating to an airconditioning apparatus separated into a remote control, indoor apparatus, outdoor apparatus, etc., independent of the condition of the microcomputer having run out of control. CONSTITUTION:When the microcomputer has run out of control of the control program, by turning on a reset switch provided to any unit part of the apparatus a reset signal 9 is outputted from a reset signal-issuing circuit 5. This reset signal 9 is transmitted to each of the unit parts of the apparatus. In each of the unit parts the reset signal is detected by a reset-detecting circuit 7 and, upon detection, a reset detection signal is outputted and fed to a reset circuit 8. Upon receiving the reset detection signal, the reset circuit 8 gives the reset signal to reset input terminals of the related unit part to effect a forced reset of the microcomputer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner (air conditioner) and, more particularly, to a reset circuit for a controller in an air conditioner which is unitized by function units such as a remote controller, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit and arranged separately.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Control of an air conditioner is performed by a digital control method using a microcomputer. The microcomputer controls necessary elements in the air conditioner to form an optimum air-conditioned space according to a control program stored in a built-in memory (ROM). Therefore, if the control program runs out of control for some reason, it becomes impossible to continue the operation of the air conditioner. In such a case, the microcomputer must be forcibly reset and returned to the initial state.

Conventionally, as a method of resetting a microcomputer, there is a method in which a watchdog timer IC is used to monitor a clock signal output from the microcomputer. This method focuses on the phenomenon that the clock signal from the microcomputer stops when the control program runs out of control, generates a reset signal when the clock signal continues for a certain period of time, and gives the reset signal to the reset input terminal of the microcomputer. Is.

[0004]

However, the clock signal may not always be stopped depending on the runaway state of the control program. Such a case may be, for example, a runaway state in which the clock signal generation routine in the control program is repeated. Therefore, in such a case, the reset signal is not output from the watchdog timer, and the air conditioner remains in abnormal operation. In order to eliminate this condition, the breaker mounted on the switchboard of the power supply of the air conditioner must be cut off.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of resetting a microcomputer by a simple operation regardless of the runaway state of the microcomputer.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an air conditioner comprising a plurality of units each having a controller arranged separately from each other and connected to each other via a communication line. Each of the units is provided with a reset switch and a reset signal generation circuit that generates a reset signal by turning on the reset switch and supplies the reset signal to another unit via the communication line. A reset detection circuit that detects a reset signal transmitted via a wire and outputs a reset detection signal; and a reset circuit that receives the reset detection signal and applies a reset signal to a reset input terminal of the controller Is characterized by.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the reset signal is output from the reset signal generating circuit by turning on the reset switch provided in any unit when the control program of the microcomputer runs out of control. This reset signal is transmitted to each unit. On each unit side, the reset detection circuit detects the reset signal, and when detected, the reset detection signal is output and supplied to the reset circuit. The reset circuit receives the reset detection signal and supplies the reset signal to the reset input terminal of the unit to forcibly reset the microcomputer.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a main part of a control system for an air conditioner according to the present invention. Since the refrigerant piping system is not directly related to the present invention, its illustration and description are omitted.

The air conditioner has a remote control device 1 for each function.
The indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 are separately arranged. The remote control device 1, the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 are individually connected to the microcomputers 9, 13,
The communication data is sent and received by the communication lines L1 and L2 via the communication interfaces 6, 10, 14, and 15. Although the remote controller 1, the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 are connected in series by the communication lines L1 and L2, the remote controller 1, the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 may be connected in parallel.

The remote control device 1 is provided with a reset switch 4 which can be manually operated when the control program runs out of control, and a reset signal generation circuit 5 which resets the microcomputer 9 by turning on the reset switch 4. The reset switch 4 is preferably provided inside the remote control device 1. This is to prevent a general user from touching easily. The reset signal generating circuit 5 is composed of a digital pulse generating circuit such as a mono-multi valve or a one-shot multi-vibrator. The microcomputer 9 uses a signal having a pulse width that is sufficiently longer than the pulse width of communication data transmitted and received during normal control. This is to make it easy to identify that the signal is a reset signal and to prevent inadvertent resetting. The reset signal a is sent to the communication interface 6.

On the other hand, the remote control device 1, the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 are respectively provided with reset signal detection circuits 7, 11, 16 and reset circuits 8, 12, 17. That is, in the remote control device 1, the reset signal detection circuit 7 is connected to the output end of the reset signal generation circuit 5, the reset circuit 8 is connected to the output end of the reset signal detection circuit 7, and the output end of the reset circuit 8 is the microcomputer 9 Is connected to the reset input terminal RST.
Similarly, in the indoor unit 2, the reset signal detection circuit 11 is connected to the output terminal of the communication interface 10,
The reset circuit 1 is provided at the output end of the reset signal detection circuit 11.
2 is connected, and the output terminal of the reset circuit 12 is the microcomputer 1
3 reset input connected to Yasushi RST. Also,
The output terminal of the reset signal detection circuit 11 is connected to the communication interface 14 in order to transfer the reset detection signal b2 to the outdoor unit 3 side. Furthermore, in the outdoor unit 3, the reset circuit 17 is connected to the output end of the reset signal detection circuit 16 at the output end of the communication interface 15, and the output end of the reset circuit 17 is connected to the reset input terminal RST of the microcomputer 18.

The reset signal detection circuits 7, 11, 16 are
For example, when the preset counter circuit counts the time width (pulse width) of the input signal and counts up the preset value corresponding to the pulse width of the reset signal a having a larger pulse width than the normal communication data, the reset detection signal b1, It is configured to output b2 and b3.

The reset circuits 8, 12, 17 are, for example,
As shown in FIG. 2, it is composed of a transistor switch circuit, and the reset detection signal b1,
When b2 and b3 (logic H) are input, the transistor Q2 is turned on and the collector potential is substantially grounded (GN
D) Reset signals C1 and C of logic L which are pulled down to the potential
2, C3 is configured to be output.

Next, the reset operation in the above configuration will be described.

Now, any of the microcomputers 9, 13, 18
Consider a case where a control program runaway occurs and each microcomputer 9, 13, 18 is reset. When an operator such as a service person manually turns on the reset switch 4, the voltage Vcc is applied to the input terminal of the reset signal generating circuit 5.
Is added, the reset signal generating circuit 5 generates a reset signal. The reset signal a is sent to the communication line L1 through the reset detection signal b and is output to the reset signal detection circuit 7.

The reset signal detection circuit 7 has a reset signal a.
The reset detection signal b1 is output in response to the input of, and sent to the reset circuit 8. The reset circuit 8 receives the reset detection signal b1
And supplies the reset signal C1 to the reset input terminal RST of the microcomputer 9. The microcomputer 9 is reset by the input of the reset signal C1 and the control program is initialized.

On the other hand, the reset signal a sent on the communication line L1 is input to the reset signal detection circuit 11 via the communication interface 10 of the indoor unit 2. Similarly,
The reset signal detection circuit 11 outputs the reset detection signal b2, and the reset detection signal b2 causes the reset circuit 12 to output the reset signal C2 to the reset input terminal R of the microcomputer 13.
Supply to ST. This resets the microcomputer 13,
Return to the initial state.

On the other hand, the reset detection signal b2 output from the reset signal detection circuit 11 is the communication interface 14
It is sent to the reset line detection circuit 16 via the communication interface 15 via the communication interface 15. Similarly, the reset signal detection circuit 16 outputs the reset detection signal b3, and the reset circuit 17 supplies the reset signal C3 to the reset input terminal of the microcomputer 18, and the microcomputer 18 is reset and initialized.

In this way, the reset signal a generated by the reset switch 4 and the reset signal generating circuit 5 in the remote control device 1 is transmitted to the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 by sequential relay transmission in addition to the remote control device 1 and forced. The respective microcomputers 9, 13, 18 can be reset as desired.

The above-described embodiment discloses a method of generating the reset signal a from the remote control device 1 and transmitting the reset signal a to the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 in a sequential manner. Various modifications can be considered for the transmission method and the generation portion of the reset signal a. An example of the modification is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, model A corresponds to the embodiment described above. In the model B, the reset switch 4 and the reset signal generation circuit 5 are provided in the outdoor unit 3, and the model A
2 shows an example of a method of transmitting the reset signal a in the reverse direction in the forward direction. The connection mode of the reset switch 4 and the reset signal generation circuit 5 in this case is similar to that shown in the remote controller 1 of FIG. The model C includes the reset switch 4 and the reset signal generation circuit 5 in the remote control device 1.
Is provided and the reset signal a is transmitted in parallel to the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3, and is applicable to the case where the remote control device 1 is connected in parallel to the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, any unit is provided with a reset switch and a reset signal generating circuit, and the generated reset signal is supplied to the microcomputer of each unit through a communication line to reset the unit. Since each microcomputer is reset via the signal detection circuit and the reset circuit, the microcomputer can be reset and initialized by a simple operation regardless of the runaway state of the control program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a control system of an air conditioner of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a reset circuit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 remote control device 4 reset switch 5 reset signal generation circuit 7 reset signal detection circuit 8 reset circuit 9 microcomputer a reset signal L1, L2 communication line

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner comprising a plurality of units each having a controller separately arranged and connected to each other via a communication line, wherein a reset switch is provided in any one of the units, and the reset switch is turned on. And a reset signal generation circuit that supplies a reset signal to another unit via the communication line by means of a reset signal generation circuit that detects a reset signal transmitted via the communication line to each unit and outputs a reset detection signal. An air conditioner comprising: a reset detection circuit that outputs the reset detection signal; and a reset circuit that receives the reset detection signal and applies a reset signal to a reset input terminal of the controller. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1,
The air conditioner, wherein the reset switch and the reset signal generation circuit are provided in a remote control device, and the reset detection circuit and the reset circuit are provided in a remote control device, an indoor air conditioning unit, and an outdoor air conditioning unit.