JPH09150623A - Stepping motor controller for car air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an aiming opening by correcting the deviation even if a door driven by a stepping motor is caught while moving and a deviation is produced between the number of steps and the aiming opening, and quickly obtain an aiming mode just after a car is driven without initializing of the stepping motor when an ignition is on. SOLUTION: When ECU 13 is connected to a battery 15, a stepping motor 12 is set at an initial value. If a deviation is produced between the number of steps of the stepping motor 12 and an aiming opening of a door 6 when an air conditioner is operated, the deviation is detected and corrected by the output of a potentiometer built-in the stepping motor 12. If the deviation is produced like this, the stepping motor 12 is initialized when an ignition switch 18 is off.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for controlling a door mounted on an automobile air conditioner by a step motor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a technique for controlling a door mounted on an air conditioner for an automobile by a step motor, Japanese Patent Publication No. 968
The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5 is known. This technology generates a drive pulse to the step motor for a certain period of time each time the ignition switch is turned on, intentionally causing a step-out phenomenon to set the initial value, and then stepping the initially set step motor. It controls the opening of the door.

[0003]

The technique disclosed in the above publication is an open control in which the opening of the door is controlled only by the number of steps of the step motor. Therefore, for example, the door is a peripheral member (for example, a case). If the door opening cannot be adjusted to the number of steps (that is, if a step-out phenomenon occurs), such as when the door is caught on the door or the operating resistance of the door becomes excessive, the door is misaligned with respect to the predetermined position. Stop at position.

The deviation of the opening degree causes a problem that the door is always controlled while being deviated unless the initial value is set again (that is, until the ignition switch is turned on next time). Also, when the power supply voltage drops sharply, the memory voltage that stores the current stop position of the step motor decreases, the stop position of the step motor is unknown or changes, and when the door is driven by the step motor thereafter, After that, there will be a problem that the opening of the door will deviate.

Further, in the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, every time the ignition switch is turned on, the step motor intentionally causes a step-out phenomenon to set the initial value. Therefore, after the ignition switch is turned on, the occupant can be swiftly turned on. In addition to the problem that the desired mode is not obtained, an operating sound for setting the initial value is generated each time the ignition switch is turned on, which causes a problem that gives an occupant an unpleasant sensation due to an abnormal sound.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to always set a door opening with high accuracy by a step motor, and to give an uncomfortable feeling due to an abnormal sound for setting an initial value. The present invention is to provide a step motor control device for an air conditioner for an automobile, which does not give the passenger to the passenger.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

[Means for Claim 1] By adopting claim 1, the following effects are obtained. The first initial value setting means of the control device operates when the battery is connected to the control device, such as when the vehicle is new, or when the battery is connected to the control device by transshipping the batteries. That is, the control device drives the step motor in a predetermined direction until the door stops, and sets the initial value of the step motor with the stop position as a reference.

During operation of the vehicle air conditioner, if a deviation occurs between the number of steps of the step motor and the signal from the potentiometer, the correction means of the control device operates. That is, the control device corrects the number of steps of the step motor based on the signal from the potentiometer and controls the opening of the door to a target opening.

When the number of steps of the step motor and the signal from the potentiometer deviate from each other and the switch is turned off or on, the second initial value setting means of the control device operates. That is, the control device drives the step motor in a predetermined direction until the door stops, and sets the initial value of the step motor with the stop position as a reference.

[0010] The following effects are achieved by exhibiting the above operation. With the step motor, the door opening can always be set with high accuracy. Immediately after the ignition switch is turned on, the mode desired by the occupant can be quickly obtained (even if the switch of claim 1 is used as the ignition switch and the second initial value setting is activated when the ignition switch is turned on). , Since the initial value is set only when there is a deviation during the previous operation, usually the occupant can quickly obtain the desired mode).

There is no problem that an operating sound for setting an initial value is generated every time the ignition switch is turned on (note that the switch of claim 1 is an ignition switch, and when the ignition switch is turned on, the second initial value setting is Even when installed so that the initial value is set only when a deviation occurs during the previous operation, the operating sound for setting the initial value does not normally occur when the ignition switch is turned on. ).

[Means of Claim 2] According to claim 2, when a deviation occurs between the number of steps of the step motor and the signal from the potentiometer, when the ignition switch is turned off, the control device The second initial value setting means operates to set the initial value of the step motor.

As described above, when the deviation occurs, the initial value is set when the operation of the vehicle is finished, so that the mode desired by the occupant can be quickly obtained at the start of the next operation, and the initial value is set when the operation of the vehicle is finished. The operating noise is generated so that the occupant does not feel uncomfortable due to the operating noise.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, a step motor control device for an automobile air conditioner according to the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. [Structure of Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment adopting the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioner for an automobile.

The air conditioner for an automobile is provided with a blower 1 for generating an air flow and a duct 2 for blowing the air flow generated by the blower 1 toward the passenger compartment. This duct 2
On the windward side of the evaporator 3 for cooling the passing air.
Is disposed, and a heater core 4 that heats passing air is disposed on the leeward side thereof. A bypass passage 5 that bypasses the heater core 4 is provided in the duct 2, and the ratio of the warm air passing through the heater core 4 and the cold air passing through the bypass passage 5 is adjusted by the opening degree of the air mix door 6. To be done.

A first passage 8 communicating with the face outlet 7 and a second passage 11 communicating with the defroster outlet 9 and the foot outlet 10 are provided leeward of the duct 2, and the air passing through the first passage 8 is provided. And the ratio of the air passing through the second passage 11 is adjusted by the opening degree of the first mode switching door 6. Further, the ratio of the air passing through the defroster outlet 9 and the air passing through the foot outlet 10 is the second
It is adjusted by the opening of the mode switching door 6.

The opening degree of each door 6 for the air mix, the first mode switching, and the second mode switching described above is set by the step motors 12 which are separately connected. The respective step motors 12 are connected to the control device 1
It is rotationally driven by a pulse signal output from the ECU 3 (hereinafter, ECU), and the opening degree of the door 6 corresponding to the number of steps can be obtained.

Each step motor 12 has a plurality of gear trains (not shown), and is provided so as to increase and output the rotational torque. Further, each step motor 12 has a potentiometer 14 incorporated therein for detecting the output rotation amount of the step motor 12. The potentiometer 14 generates a signal according to the number of steps of the step motor 12, and as shown by the solid line A in FIG. 2, the output voltage increases in proportion to the increase in the number of steps of the step motor 12. It is a thing. That is, the number of steps of the step motor 12 can be grasped from the output of the potentiometer 14, and the opening degree of the door 6 (the air mix door 6, the first blowout door 6 or the second blowout door 6) driven by the step motor 12 can be grasped. it can.

The ECU 13 is a circuit which operates by receiving electric power from the on-vehicle battery 15, and gives an instruction signal to the operation panel 16 operated by a passenger (for example, ON-O of an air conditioner).
FF signal, signal regarding opening degree of air mix door 6 such as set temperature, signal regarding outlet mode, etc.), signal from various sensors 17 (including each potentiometer 14 built in each step motor 12) Alternatively, each step motor 12 is independently controlled based on a signal from the ignition switch 18 (corresponding to the switch of claim 1).

[Operation of Embodiment] Next, the control operation of the step motor 12 by the ECU 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the battery 15 is connected to the ECU 13 (step S1), such as when a new vehicle is used or when the battery 15 is transshipped, a pulse signal is output to each step motor 12 until each door 6 hits the duct 2 and stops. The initial value of the step motor 12 is set at the stop position, that is, the stop position of each step motor 12 (step S2). The operation of steps S1 and S2 corresponds to the operation of the first initial value setting means.

When the air conditioner is operating, for air mixing, based on the instruction signal from the operation panel 16, the signals from various sensors 17 and the program in the ECU 13,
The opening of each door 6 for switching the first mode and switching the second mode is calculated (step S3). Next, each step motor 12 for obtaining the opening degree of each door 6
The number of steps SW is calculated (step S4). Then, a pulse signal is output to the step motor 12 (step S5), and the step number SP of the step motor 12 and the calculated step number SW are matched (step S6),
When the step number SP of the step motor 12 matches the calculated step number SW, the power supply to the step motor 12 is stopped (step S7).

Next, the number of steps TP of the step motor 12 is calculated from the voltage value obtained from the potentiometer 14 (step S8). And the potentiometer 14
The number of steps TP calculated from the output of the above step is compared with the number of steps SP of the step motor 12 to determine whether or not the difference is within a predetermined variation allowable number of steps A (step S9). If the difference is within the allowable step number A, it is determined that the target opening degree of the door 6 has been obtained, that is, no deviation has occurred, and the process returns (returns to step S3).

However, if the above difference does not fall within the allowable step number A, it is judged that the opening of the door 6 is deviated and a pulse signal is output to the step motor 12 (step S10). The number of steps TP calculated from the output of the potentiometer 14 and the number of steps SW calculated in step S3 are made coincident with each other to tentatively correct the deviation (step S11).

When the opening of the door 6 is corrected, a flag indicating that a deviation has occurred is set (step S12),
Stop energizing the step motor 12 (step S1
3) and then return (return to step S3). The operation of steps S10, S11, and S13 corresponds to the operation of the correction means.

When there is a flag when the ignition switch 18 is turned off, a pulse signal is output to the step motor 12 until the door 6 hits the duct 2 and stops.
At the stop position of the door 6, that is, the stop position of the step motor 12, the initial value of the step motor 12 is set, the flag is cleared, and the process returns (step S14). Step S above
The operations of 12 and S14 correspond to the operation of the second initial value setting means.

[Effects of Embodiment] In this embodiment, as described above, the number of steps SP of the step motor 12 is
It is controlled so as to match the step number SW calculated by the ECU 13, and the opening degree of the door 6 is set with high accuracy. Further, when the door 6 is caught in the duct 2 or the like while the door 6 is being driven, or the operating resistance of the door 6 is excessive, the opening degree of the door 6 commensurate with the calculated step number SW cannot be obtained (step out). When a phenomenon occurs), the number of steps TP calculated from the output of the potentiometer 14 and the calculated number of steps SW are made to coincide with each other, and a temporary deviation is corrected. As described above, even when the step-out phenomenon occurs, the deviation is corrected, so that the desired opening can be obtained by the door 6.

If a step-out phenomenon occurs during the previous operation of the air conditioner, the initial value of the step motor 12 has already been set when the ignition switch 18 was turned off last time. For this reason, turn on the ignition switch 18 this time.
Immediately after that, the passenger's desired mode can be quickly obtained.

After the battery 15 is connected, the initial value is set only when the step-out phenomenon occurs due to the operation of the air conditioner. Therefore, the initial value is set every time the ignition switch 18 is turned on as in the prior art. There is no problem that the operation sound for is generated.

Even if a step-out phenomenon occurs during the operation of the air conditioner, the initial value of the step motor 12 is set when the ignition switch 18 is turned off, that is, when the operation of the vehicle is finished. As described above, the operation sound for setting the initial value is generated when the operation of the automobile is finished, and the occupant is not further discomforted by the operation sound.

[Modification] In the above embodiment, the ignition switch 18 is shown as an example of the switch, but other switches such as an air conditioner ON-OFF switch may be used. In the above embodiment, the switch is turned off.
Although the example in which the second initial value setting means is activated when the time difference is generated has been described, the second initial value setting means may be activated when the time difference is generated when the switch is turned on.

Although the air mix door 6 and the blowout mode door 6 are shown as an example of the door 6, the present invention is applied to the control of the step motor 12 that drives another door 6, such as the inside / outside air switching door 6. Is also good. Further, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the door 6, an example in which the plate-shaped door 6 is rotated and the opening degree is set is shown. However, the film (film-shaped member) is slid and provided on the film. It may be used for other doors 6, such as the door 6 whose opening is set by sliding the opening.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the potentiometer 14 is incorporated in the step motor 12 is shown, but the potentiometer 14 is attached outside the step motor 12 to detect the number of steps from the output rotation of the step motor 12, The opening of the door 6 may be read by the potentiometer 14 and the number of steps of the step motor 12 may be detected from the read opening signal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automobile air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of steps of a step motor and the output voltage of a potentiometer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control of a step motor by an ECU.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Door 12 Step Motor 13 ECU (Control Unit) 14 Potentiometer 15 Battery 18 Ignition Switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A battery for supplying power to an automobile, (b) a switch that can be turned on and off, (c) a door mounted in an automobile air conditioner, and (d) a drive for this door. A step motor for driving the step motor, (e) a control device for giving a pulse signal for driving the step motor, and (f) a potentiometer for generating a signal according to the number of steps of the step motor. -1) A first initial value setting means that, when connected to the battery, drives the door in a predetermined direction by the step motor until the door stops, and sets an initial value of the step motor based on a stop position. (E-2) When a deviation occurs between the number of steps of the step motor and the signal from the potentiometer, the signal from the potentiometer is used as a basis. A correction means for correcting the number of steps of the step motor, (e-
3) When a deviation occurs between the number of steps of the step motor and the signal from the potentiometer, when the switch is turned off or on, the step motor drives the door in a predetermined direction until the door stops, A step motor control device for an automobile air conditioner, comprising: a second initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the step motor based on a stop position. 2. The step motor control device for an automobile air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the switch is an ignition switch, and the second initial value setting means of the control device is configured to operate the ignition switch when the deviation occurs. When turned off,
A step motor control device for an automobile air conditioner, wherein an initial value of the step motor is set.