JPH11249707A - Controller for equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain the miniaturization of a main body controller having a microcomputer for controlling the operation of equipment and cost-down by reducing the number of connecting parts to be provided at this main body controller. SOLUTION: A connecting part 13 for connecting an external controller 12 for communicating with a microcomputer 9 at a main body controller 5 of combustion equipment 1 and a gas pressure gauge 6 for inputting the detected data of gas pressure to the microcomputer 9 is composed of terminals 16-18. The terminal part 16 for receiving communication data from the microcomputer 9 to the external controller 12 and the detected data of the gas pressure gauge 6 is connected through a resistor 14 to a communication data output port Cout of the microcomputer 9 and connected to a detected data input port ADin of the microcomputer 9 from a position close to the side of the terminal 16 rather than the resistor 14. When fetching the detected data of gas pressure into the microcomputer 9, the level of the output port Cout is turned into low level (ground level).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a control device for a device such as a combustion device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in a device such as a combustion apparatus, various inspections and adjustments are performed at a product production factory or the like before the product is shipped.

[0003] For example, in the case of a microcomputer provided with a microcomputer for controlling the operation of a device (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer), various types of operations are performed between an external controller such as a sequencer and the microcomputer in order to confirm the operation of the device. Generally, data communication is performed.

For example, in a gas combustion device in which a microcomputer controls the amount of gas supplied to a gas burner (burning amount of the burner) via an electromagnetic proportional valve that generates a secondary pressure proportional to the amount of electricity supplied, In order to compensate for the effects of variations in the manufacturing accuracy or characteristics of the proportional solenoid valve, the secondary pressure of the solenoid proportional valve (the pressure of the gas supplied from the solenoid proportional valve to the burner) is detected for each combustion device. Means for controlling the amount of electricity supplied to the solenoid proportional valve by the main body controller (electronic unit having a microcomputer) provided in the combustion device so that the detected value coincides with a predetermined value. The data (more precisely, the control data of the main body controller that defines the amount of power supply) is stored and held in a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM provided in the main body controller. And are (for example, Patent No. 263,920
No. 1).

The predetermined value of the gas pressure (secondary pressure) includes a maximum value of the secondary pressure corresponding to the maximum combustion amount of the burner and a minimum value of the secondary pressure corresponding to the minimum combustion amount. The adjustment of the amount of current supply is performed for both of these. Then, the main controller storing the control data related to the adjusted energization amount in the non-volatile memory performs energization control of the electromagnetic proportional valve based on the stored control data during normal operation of the combustion device.

In the device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2639201, the above-mentioned adjustment is performed as follows using an external controller for communicating with a main controller and the gas pressure detecting means. Is going.

That is, an external controller is connected to the main controller of the combustion apparatus via a communication line, and gas pressure detecting means built in the external controller is connected to a secondary pressure detecting port of the electromagnetic proportional valve via a hose. Then, the external controller gives an adjustment start command to the microcomputer of the main body controller to start the adjustment processing of the energization amount of the electromagnetic proportional valve to the microcomputer, and the detection value of the secondary pressure by the gas pressure detection means is set in advance. The data is sequentially compared with a predetermined value (the maximum value or the minimum value of the secondary pressure), and data indicating the comparison result is communicated to the microcomputer of the main body controller. At this time, the microcomputer of the main controller gradually increases or decreases the energization amount of the electromagnetic proportional valve until receiving data indicating that the detected value of the secondary pressure matches the predetermined value from the external controller. Then, when receiving data indicating that the detection value matches the predetermined value,
The control data defining the amount of current at that time is stored and held in the EEPROM. Further, the microcomputer of the main body controller finally stores the control data in the EEPROM, and then communicates data indicating that the adjustment process has been completed to the external controller.

According to such a system, it is possible to automate the operation for adjusting the amount of current supplied to the electromagnetic proportional valve for each combustion device.

However, in the technique disclosed in the publication, the external controller compares the detected value of the secondary pressure with a predetermined value, and transmits data indicating the comparison result from the external controller to the microcomputer of the main controller. Therefore, the microcomputer takes a long time from changing the energization amount of the electromagnetic proportional valve to receiving data indicating the comparison result between the detected value of the secondary pressure and the predetermined value from the external controller. Had become something. For this reason, the microcomputer of the main body controller has to wait until data indicating the result is given from the external controller every time the energization amount of the electromagnetic proportional valve is changed. It was such a thing.

Therefore, the present inventors have attempted the following system.

That is, a connecting portion for connecting an external controller for communicating with the main body controller of the combustion apparatus is provided, and a gas pressure detecting means for detecting a secondary pressure of the electromagnetic proportional valve is connected to the connecting portion. And a connection unit for inputting the detection output to the microcomputer of the main body controller.

In this case, the connection unit for connecting the external controller includes an input terminal for providing communication data output from the external controller to a communication data input port of the microcomputer, and a communication terminal output from the communication data output port of the microcomputer. It comprises an output terminal for providing data to the external controller, and a ground terminal for grounding the external controller to the same potential as the ground potential of the microcomputer.

A connection unit for connecting the gas pressure detection means to an input terminal for applying detection data output from the gas pressure detection means to a detection data input port of the microcomputer;
The detection means is constituted by a ground terminal grounded to the same potential as the ground potential of the microcomputer.

When adjusting the energization amount of the electromagnetic proportional valve of the combustion device, an external controller sends an adjustment start command to the microcomputer of the main body controller while the external controller and the gas pressure detecting means are connected to the respective connection portions. give. At this time, the microcomputer compares the detected value of the secondary pressure given from the gas pressure detecting means with a predetermined value (the maximum value and the minimum value of the secondary pressure) stored and held in advance in the ROM or the like of the microcomputer. Then, the amount of current supplied to the solenoid proportional valve is adjusted so that the control data defining the amount of current supplied when they coincide with each other is stored in the EEPROM of the main controller.

According to such a system, the comparison between the detected value of the secondary pressure and the predetermined value and the adjustment of the energization amount of the electromagnetic proportional valve according to the comparison can be performed by the internal processing on the software of the microcomputer. Therefore, those processes can be performed quickly.

However, in such a system, since the main body controller is provided with a connecting portion for connecting the external controller and a connecting portion for connecting the gas pressure detecting means, an installation space for both connecting portions is required for the main body controller. This hindered miniaturization of the main body controller. In particular, since the connecting portion of the gas pressure detecting means is dedicated for the adjustment work as described above, it has hindered a reduction in the manufacturing cost of the main body controller and the manufacturing cost of the combustion device.

Incidentally, such inconvenience is not limited to the combustion apparatus, but also includes a connection section for connecting an external controller for communicating with the microcomputer, and some physical quantities (temperature, pressure, etc.) used when the microcomputer performs predetermined processing. , A voltage, a current, a speed, a distance, etc.), and a connection unit for connecting a detection unit for detecting the detection unit to the main body controller.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above background, the present invention reduces the number of connection parts provided in a main body controller having a microcomputer for controlling the operation of equipment, thereby reducing the size and cost of the main body controller. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device for a device that can perform the control.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object, a control apparatus for a device according to the present invention comprises a main body controller having a microcomputer for controlling operation of the device, and an external controller for performing data communication with the microcomputer. A first connection unit provided in the main body controller, which can be connected, and a second connection unit, provided in the main body controller, which can connect a detection means for detecting a physical quantity used when the microcomputer performs a predetermined process. A connection unit for connecting the external controller, the first connection unit for connecting communication data output from the external controller to a communication data input port of the microcomputer, and communication data of the microcomputer. The communication data output from the output port is attached to the external controller. And a ground terminal for grounding the external controller to the same potential as the ground potential of the microcomputer, and the second connection unit for connecting the detection means outputs the detection data output from the detection means to the second connection unit. In a control device for a device comprising an input terminal provided to a detection data input port of a microcomputer and a ground terminal for grounding the detection means to the same potential as the ground potential of the microcomputer, the output terminal of the first connection portion may be ,
The microcomputer is connected to a communication data output port of the microcomputer via a resistor and is connected to the detection data input port of the microcomputer from a position closer to the output terminal than the resistor, and is connected to an output terminal of the first connection unit and a ground. Terminals are used as an input terminal and a ground terminal of the second connection portion, respectively, and the second connection portion is constituted by an output terminal and a ground terminal of the first connection portion. The microcomputer performs the predetermined processing. Means for holding an output level of the communication data output port at a low level among high and low binary levels when grasping detection data of the detection means connected to an output terminal and a ground terminal of the first connection portion. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, the external controller that communicates with the microcomputer is connected to the first connection unit. At this time, communication data from the external controller to the microcomputer is transmitted to the input terminal of the first connection unit. Is provided to the communication data input port of the microcomputer. Similarly, communication data from the microcomputer to the external controller is provided from the communication data output port of the microcomputer to the external controller via the output terminal of the first connection unit. The communication data is data represented by a signal having a level based on the ground level of the microcomputer and the external controller which are set to the same potential via the ground terminal of the first connection unit.

On the other hand, the detecting means for detecting a physical quantity used when the microcomputer performs a predetermined process includes:
These terminals are connected to the second connection unit constituted by using the output terminal and the ground terminal of the first connection unit, in other words, the output terminal and the ground terminal of the first connection unit are used as common terminals with the external controller. Connected to. Therefore, in the present invention, the second connection unit for connecting the detection unit is included in the first connection unit for connecting the external controller, and there is no dedicated connection unit for the detection unit.

In this case, the detection data output from the detection means (a signal having a level based on the ground level of the ground terminal of the first connection unit) is output from the output terminal of the first connection unit (= the input terminal of the second connection unit). ) Is input to the detection data input port of the microcomputer, and is added to the communication data output port of the microcomputer via the resistor. However, since this output port is a port for the microcomputer to output communication data, By applying the detection data to the output port, the microcomputer does not operate unexpectedly.

Further, the microcomputer holds the communication data output port at a low level (ground level) when grasping (capturing) the detection data of the detection means inputted to the detection data input port (communication data input port). Since no output is performed), communication data is not added to the detection data input port. In addition, the resistor is interposed between the output terminal of the first connection portion and the communication data output port of the microcomputer, and the detection data of the detection means is input from the portion closer to the output terminal than the resistor to the detection data input of the microcomputer. Because the input is made to the port, even if the communication data output port is set to low level,
The detection data can be input to the detection data input port of the microcomputer without any trouble. Accordingly, the microcomputer can grasp the detection data output from the detection means without any trouble, and can use the detected data to perform the predetermined processing without any trouble.

As described above, according to the present invention, the communication between the microcomputer and the external controller is performed while the part of the first connection part connecting the external controller is also used as the connection part connecting the detection means. The input of the physical quantity detection data to the microcomputer can be performed without any trouble.

As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of connection parts provided in the main body controller having the microcomputer, and it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the main body controller.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a main part of a device control device of the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the control device of the apparatus according to the present embodiment is a control device of a combustion device 1 (more specifically, for example, a gas hot air heater). The apparatus includes an electromagnetic proportional valve 4 interposed in the supply path 3 and a main body controller 5 that controls the operation of the combustion device 1 and the like.

The combustion apparatus 1 has, in addition to these components, a blower fan for supplying combustion air to the burner 2, an electromagnetic valve for opening and closing the gas supply passage 3, and the like. And the description is omitted.

The electromagnetic proportional valve 4 controls the pressure of the gas flowing through the burner 2 on the downstream side, that is, the secondary pressure to a pressure proportional to the amount of current (current value) supplied to the electromagnetic proportional valve 4. It is. The gas supply amount to the burner 2 and the burner 2
Is determined by the magnitude of the secondary pressure generated by the electromagnetic proportional valve 4, and is proportional to the secondary pressure.

The electromagnetic proportional valve 4 is provided with a gas pressure gauge 6 (gas pressure detecting means) for detecting a secondary pressure generated by the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 at the time of inspection and adjustment work described later. Is provided so that the secondary pressure generated by the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 can be applied from the connection portion 8 to the gas pressure gauge 6 through the conduit 7. I have. Note that the connection portion 8 is normally closed by a member such as a screw.

The main body controller 5 has a CP (not shown).
A microcomputer 9 (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer 9) composed of a U, a RAM, a ROM, and the like;
Proportional valve drive circuit 10 for energizing the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 in accordance with a command from the CPU, and an EEPROM 11 for storing and holding control data necessary for energizing the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 by the microcomputer 9.
(Non-volatile storage means). The command given from the microcomputer 9 to the proportional valve drive circuit 10 when the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 is energized is a command value (more precisely, a pulse signal representing the command value) of the current supplied to the electromagnetic proportional valve 4.
The proportional valve drive circuit 10 is configured using a constant current circuit, and supplies a current of a command value given from the microcomputer 9 to the electromagnetic proportional valve 4.

Further, the main body controller 5 is provided with a connection portion 13 for connecting (electrically connecting) the external controller 12 for communicating with the microcomputer 9 and the gas pressure gauge 6 at the time of inspection and adjustment work described later. ing. Incidentally, the external controller 9 is an electronic circuit unit configured using a microcomputer or the like.

The connection portion 13 corresponds to a first connection portion and a second connection portion according to the configuration of the present invention, and is connected to the communication data output port Cout and the communication data input port Cin of the microcomputer 9 respectively. The first terminal 16 and the second terminal 17 connected via the terminals 14 and 15 and the ground level of the microcomputer 9 (the microcomputer 9
And the third terminal 18 grounded to the same potential. According to the configuration of the present invention, the first terminal 16 corresponds to the output terminal of the first connection unit and the input terminal of the second connection unit, and the second terminal 17 corresponds to the input terminal of the first connection unit. Things. Further, the third terminal 18 corresponds to a ground terminal of the first connection part and the second connection part.

In this case, the first terminal 16 is connected to the communication data output port Cout in the main body controller 5 as described above, and is located on the first terminal 16 side of the resistor 14 (the first terminal 16). From the same potential), the resistance 19
And a noise component removing filter 22 composed of capacitors 20 and 21 and a resistor 23 in order to a detection data input port ADin of the microcomputer 9 (a port for A / D converting and capturing analog signal detection data) of the microcomputer 9. It is connected.

In the inspection / adjustment work, the ground wire 24 derived from the external controller 12 and the ground wire 25 derived from the gas pressure gauge 6 are connected to the third terminal 18 of the connection part 13 and Communication data output port C
A communication line 26 for inputting communication data (high-low binary level digital data) output from out to the external controller 12 and gas pressure detection data (analog signal) by the gas pressure gauge 6 are input to a detection data input port of the microcomputer 9. AD
The signal line 27 for inputting to in is connected to the first terminal 16 of the connection unit 13. Further, a communication line 28 for inputting communication data (high-low binary level digital data) output from the external controller 12 to the communication data input port Cin of the microcomputer 9 is connected to the second terminal 17 of the connection unit 13. It has become.

The connection between the terminals 16 to 18 of the connection section 13 and the above-mentioned wires 24 to 28 is made via a connector (not shown).

The communication data output port Cout of the microcomputer 9 is connected via a pull-up resistor 29 to a power supply V that defines a high-level voltage of communication data output from this port. The communication data input port Cin is connected to the power supply V via a pull-up resistor 30.

Next, the operation of the combustion device 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

In the combustion apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the following inspection and adjustment work is performed for each combustion apparatus 1 in the production factory or the like.

That is, the communication lines 26 and 28 and the ground line 24 of the external controller 12 and the signal line 2 of the gas pressure gauge 6
7 and the ground wire 25 are connected to the required terminals 16 to 18 of the connection portion 13 of the main body controller 5 via a connector (not shown) as described above. Further, in order to detect the secondary pressure generated when the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 is energized, the conduction pipe 7 of the gas pressure gauge 6 is connected to the connection portion 8 of the electromagnetic proportional valve 4. Gas is supplied to the gas supply path 3 from the upstream side of the electromagnetic proportional valve 4. Note that the ground wires 24 and 25 are connected to the third terminals 17.
Connected to the microcomputer 9 and the external controller 1
2, and the ground level of the gas pressure gauge 6 are set to the same potential.

In such a state, the external controller 12
First, command data for starting adjustment of the energization amount of the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 is transmitted to the communication data input port Cin of the microcomputer 9 via the communication line 28 and the second terminal 17.

This command data is transferred to the communication data input port C
The microcomputer 9 received by the communication data output port Cou
The level of t is kept at a low level (ground level) to prevent communication with the external controller 12. At this time, the detection data of the secondary pressure of the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 (analog signal having a level corresponding to the secondary pressure) output from the gas pressure gauge 6 to the first terminal 16 via the signal line 27 is transmitted to the main controller 5.
Appears as a voltage signal between both ends of the resistor 14, and is input to a detection data input port ADin of the microcomputer 9 after a noise component is removed through a filter 19. Then, the microcomputer 9 sets the communication data output port C
While maintaining the out level at a low level, the secondary pressure detection data of the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 output from the gas pressure gauge 6 is sequentially A / D converted and taken in, and the secondary pressure represented by the detection data is acquired. The detection value of

At this time, the detection data output from the gas pressure gauge 6 is also input to the external controller 12 via the communication line 26. In the present embodiment, the microcomputer 9 sets the communication data output port Cout Is set to be sufficiently higher than the signal level of the detection data output by the gas pressure gauge 6 because the communication data output from the external controller 12 to the external controller 12 is high.
Does not erroneously recognize the detection data output by the gas pressure gauge 6 as communication data output from the microcomputer 9.

The microcomputer 9 grasps the detection value of the secondary pressure of the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 from the detection data output from the gas pressure gauge 6 as described above, and uses the detected value in advance by an RO (not shown).
M or a predetermined value stored in the EEPROM 11 and compares it with the predetermined value so that the value matches the predetermined value.
(This is the current value that the proportional valve drive circuit 10 actually supplies to the electromagnetic proportional valve 4).
Specifically, when the detected value of the secondary pressure is smaller than a predetermined value, the current command value given to the proportional valve drive circuit 10 is gradually increased, and the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 to increase the secondary pressure generated. Conversely, when the detected value of the secondary pressure is larger than the predetermined value, the current command value given to the proportional valve drive circuit 10 is gradually reduced, and the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 is turned on by the supplied current of the current command value. The generated secondary pressure is reduced.

By adjusting the current command value, when the detected value of the secondary pressure coincides with the predetermined value, the amount of current (current value) of the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 at that time, that is, the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 Is control data (for example, data of the current command value itself when the detected value of the secondary pressure and the above-mentioned predetermined value coincide with each other). Or deviation data of the current command value from a predetermined standard value) is stored in the EEPROM 1
1 is stored.

In this case, in the present embodiment, the predetermined value that the microcomputer 9 compares with the detected value of the secondary pressure is an electromagnetic proportional value corresponding to the maximum combustion amount of the burner 2 predetermined by the model of the combustion device 1 or the like. There is a maximum value of the secondary pressure of the valve 4 and a minimum value of the secondary pressure of the electromagnetic proportional valve 4 corresponding to the minimum combustion amount of the burner 2. EEP of control data based on adjustment result
The process of storing data in the ROM 11 is sequentially performed for each of the maximum value and the minimum value of the secondary pressure.

The control data stored and held in the EEPROM 11 in this manner is data used by the microcomputer 9 to control the combustion amount of the burner 2 during a normal operation (heating operation) of the combustion device 1. is there.

As described above, the microcomputer 9 adjusts the current command value to the proportional valve drive circuit 10 and stores the control data in the EEPROM 11 based on the adjustment result in the maximum and minimum values of the secondary pressure. When both of the values are completed, the microcomputer 9 finishes capturing the detection data of the secondary pressure input to the detection data input port ADin and releases the holding of the communication data output port Cout to the low level. Communication data indicating that the adjustment process has been completed is transmitted from the communication data output port Cout to the external controller 12 via the first terminal 16 and the communication line 26.

At this time, as described above, since the level of the communication data output from the communication data output port Cout by the microcomputer 9 is sufficiently higher than the level of the detection data output by the gas pressure gauge 6, the external controller 12 As described above, the communication data transmitted by the microcomputer 9 (communication data indicating that the adjustment processing has been completed) is correctly recognized.

In this manner, the communication data indicating that the above-described adjustment processing has been completed is transmitted from the microcomputer 9 to the external controller 1.
2, the external controller 12 performs various control processes on the microcomputer 9 while communicating with the microcomputer 9 in order to confirm the operation of the combustion device 1.
Various data (for example, rotation speed data of a blower fan (not shown), output data of a thermocouple for detecting the flame of the burner 2, etc.) are obtained from the microcomputer 9 and displayed on an appropriate display.

As described above, in the control device of the combustion apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the connection section 13 including the first to third terminals 16 to 18 is connected to the external controller 12 and the gas pressure gauge 6.
Of the main controller 5 and the communication between the microcomputer 9 and the external controller 12 and the gas pressure gauge 6
Can be input (taken) into the microcomputer 9 without any trouble.

The connection unit 13 is connected to the external controller 1
2 and the gas pressure gauge 6, the number of terminals provided on the main body controller 5 for connecting them is reduced, and the connecting portion 13 can be made compact.
As a result, the size of the main body controller 5 can be reduced. At the same time, since the number of terminals provided on the main body controller 5 is reduced, the manufacturing cost of the main body controller 5 is reduced.
As a result, the manufacturing cost of the combustion device 1 can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the control device of the combustion device 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a combustion device such as a gas water heater. A connection unit for connecting an external controller that communicates with a microcomputer when adjusting or inspecting equipment, and a connection unit for connecting a detection unit that detects some physical quantity used when the microcomputer performs predetermined processing. The present invention can be applied to various kinds of devices provided in the main body controller.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a main part of a control device of a combustion device which is an embodiment of a control device of a device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Combustion apparatus (equipment), 5 ... Main body controller, 6 ... Gas pressure gauge (detection means), 9 ... Microcomputer, 12
... external controller, 13 ... connection part (first connection part, second connection part)
14) resistance, 16-18 ... terminals.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A main body controller having a microcomputer for controlling operation of a device, a first connection portion provided in the main body controller for connecting an external controller for performing data communication with the microcomputer, and the microcomputer. A second connection unit provided in the main body controller, which is connectable to a detection unit that detects a physical quantity used when performing a predetermined process, wherein the first connection unit that connects the external controller is An input terminal for applying communication data output from an external controller to a communication data input port of the microcomputer; an output terminal for applying communication data output from a communication data output port of the microcomputer to the external controller; Connect the external controller to the microcomputer ground And a ground terminal grounded to the same potential, the second connection unit for connecting the detection means, an input terminal for applying detection data output from the detection means to a detection data input port of the microcomputer, In a control device for an apparatus, the detection means comprises: a ground potential of a microcomputer; and a ground terminal grounded to the same potential. The output terminal of the first connection unit is connected to a communication data output port of the microcomputer via a resistor. Connected to the detection data input port of the microcomputer from a position closer to the output terminal than the resistor, the output terminal and the ground terminal of the first connection unit are connected to the input terminal and the ground terminal of the second connection unit, respectively. The second
The connection unit includes an output terminal and a ground terminal of the first connection unit, and the microcomputer detects the detection unit connected to the output terminal and the ground terminal of the first connection unit in order to perform the predetermined processing. A device control device comprising means for holding an output level of the communication data output port at a low level among high and low binary levels when grasping data.