JPS63195015A - Self-diagnostic method for automobile air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate necessity of indicators etc. displaying an operational normalness so that judgment of a functional normalness of individual failure symmetric parts is made by changing a blowoff position or a blowoff wind quantity of a blowoff air in a vehicle room. CONSTITUTION:When an auto-amp. 40 is set to a self-diagnosis mode, first a fan motor 12 is rotated in a low speed, also a shift actuator 42 is operated, and a mode of an air conditioner is changed in the order of VENTO-B/L- FOOT-D/F-DEF. And in each mode, terminal signals varied following operations of the shift actuator 42 are compared with terminal information prestored. If setting to a given mode is not judged at that time, the fan motor 12 is fastly rotated for a given time, and an abnormal state is displayed to an inspector. Then an air mix door 32 is operated and an judged result of the operation is displayed by a blowoff position of air.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is an automotive air conditioner that tests whether various sensors, various actuators, etc. that are components of an automotive air conditioner are operating normally. Concerning the self-diagnosis method of the harmonization device.

(Conventional technology) Modern automobiles are equipped with devices that automatically air condition the interior of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as auto air conditioners) using various sensors placed inside and outside the vehicle. .

This automatic air conditioner uses signals from various sensors installed inside and outside the conductor to comprehensively control the operation of the driven parts of the air conditioner using an auto amplifier mainly composed of a microcomputer. There is.

Since autoamplifiers play an important role in controlling air conditioners, they are usually equipped with a self-diagnosis function as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 61-215114. A self-diagnosis switch is provided as self-diagnosis starting means for starting a self-diagnosis program to check whether the operating condition of the air conditioner is good or not.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the control panel of this automatic air conditioner. The control panel 1 is disposed in an instrument panel (not shown) in a vehicle interior, and the self-diagnosis switch 2 is provided at the back of a hole opened in the control panel 1 at the position shown in the figure.

Further, the autoamplifier described above operates as follows, based on the operation flowchart shown in FIG. 8, for example.

First, when you turn on the ignition switch to start the engine, etc. (step 1), the auto amplifier resets.
Then, it is determined whether the self-diagnosis switch 2 shown in FIG. 7 is on (step 2). As a result of this determination, if the self-diagnosis switch 2 is on, a subroutine program for self-diagnosis processing is executed (step 3). On the other hand, if the self-diagnosis switch 2 is off as a result of the above judgment, a normal air conditioning control processing program is executed (step 4). Then, the auto amplifier determines whether the ignition switch is off, and if the ignition switch is not off, returns to step 2.
If the ignition switch is off, program processing is stopped.

Note that with the type of control panel shown in Figure 7, during the execution of the self-diagnosis processing program,
The display 3 displays whether or not the various sensors and actuators are in operation in various modes of the air conditioner. An indicator lamp 8 indicates the status.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such conventional automatic air conditioners, the operating states of various sensors and various actuators in various modes of the air conditioner that are inspected by self-diagnosis are Because this was done using the display 3 or indicator lamp 8, in the unlikely event that
If a failure occurs in the display 3 or the indicator lamp 8, it becomes impossible to perform a complete self-diagnosis. In other words, a prerequisite for self-diagnosis is that the display 3 or the indicator lamp 8 can perform normal display operations.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and provides an air conditioner for automobiles that can perform self-diagnosis without using a display or indicator when performing self-diagnosis of an air conditioner. The purpose is to provide a self-diagnosis method for devices.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides self-diagnosis for the control unit of the air conditioner to determine whether the function of the unit subject to failure determination is normal or not. mode, the fan is rotated to send air into the vehicle interior, and the control section changes the blowout position of the air in the vehicle interior or the blowout volume of the air. It is designed to determine whether the function is normal or not.

(Function) When the air conditioner is self-diagnosed by such a method, it becomes possible to perform the self-diagnosis without requiring the display 3 or the indicator lamp 8. In other words, it is possible to check whether the various sensors, actuators, etc. that are the components of the air conditioner are operating normally, from which outlet the air is being blown out, or whether the amount of air being blown out is large or small. This is because it can be determined by direct human inspection.

(Example) Below, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an automobile air conditioner equipped with a self-diagnosis function according to the present invention.

The air conditioner main body forming an air flow path is composed of an intake unit 10, a cooler unit 20, and a heater unit 30, and each of these units is connected in series.

The intake unit 10 includes an intake door 11 that adjusts the ratio of inside and outside air taken into the air conditioner, and a fan 13 driven by a fan motor 12. The cooler unit 20 includes an evaporator 2 that cools the air sent out by the fan 13.
1 is arranged.

Furthermore, the heater unit 30 includes a heater core 31 that heats the air that has passed through the evaporator 21, and adjusts the amount of air that has passed through the evaporator 21 that passes through the heater core 31 and the amount that bypasses the heater core 31, mixes the two, and raises the temperature. a mix door 32 for adjustment; a vent outlet 33 for blowing out the air adjusted by the mix door 32 into the vehicle interior;
A differential air outlet 34 and a foot air outlet 35 are provided, and the vent air outlet 33, the differential air outlet 34, and the foot air outlet 35 are provided with a vent door 36, a differential door 37, and a foot door 38 for opening and closing these air outlets. is provided.

Also, the intake door 11. The mix door 32 is operated by an intake door actuator 44 that is operated by the rotational force of the motor or the negative pressure of the engine. The vent door 36, the differential door 37, and the foot door 38 are operated by the mix door actuator 41, and the shift door actuator 4 operates these doors in conjunction with each other via a link mechanism (not shown) or the like.
2, its opening degree etc. are adjusted.

Note that this shift door actuator 42 is also driven by the power source described above. The mix door actuator 41, the shifter 1 to the door actuator 42, and the fan motor 12 are connected to various sensors 4 disposed to detect the temperature inside and outside the vehicle, the engine coolant temperature, the two-day tolerance level, etc.
3 and a control panel 1 disposed in the vehicle interior, and is connected to an autoamplifier 40 as a control unit that calculates control of these actuators based on signals output from the control panel 1.

Therefore, the intake door 11, mix door 32, vent door 36, differential door 37, and foot door 38 are controlled by the autoamp 40 based on signals from the various sensors 43 and the control panel 1.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the periphery of the automotive air conditioner control section according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in the figure, there are
Various sensors 43 such as a PBR that detect the outside air temperature, the temperature of the evaporator 21, the cooling water temperature, the amount of solar radiation, and the opening degree of the mix door 32 are connected to the I10 boat 50 provided in the auto amplifier 40 via the connector 5. It is connected.

Also, the intake door 11. mix door 32. Various actuators 60, such as each actuator 44, 41, 42 that drives each outlet door 36, 37, 38, a magnetic clutch that controls the operation of the compressor, and the fan motor 12, are connected to the I10 boat 50 via the connector 7. has been done. Further, the various setting switches 9 shown in FIG. 7 are directly connected to the I10 boat 50. Note that the various sensors 43 and the various actuators 60 form a failure determination target section.

This I10 port 50 has a ROM 51 that stores a self-diagnosis program and an air conditioning control program, and a RAM that stores necessary data etc. for executing the program.
A central processing unit (CPU) 53 to which 52 is connected is connected. , controls the operations of various actuators 60.

Below, the main routine of the operation flowchart according to the self-diagnosis method of the present invention shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Step 10 First, turn on the ignition switch that starts the engine, etc., and start the auto amplifier 40.

Step 11 The inspector operates the control panel 1 to start the fan motor 12. As a result, if the fan motor 12 rotates at low speed and high speed, the process proceeds to the next step. If the fan motor 12 does not rotate, an abnormality in the fan motor 12 is diagnosed at this point.

Step 12 Turn on the self-diagnosis switch 2 shown in FIG. , sets the auto amplifier 40 to self-diagnosis mode.

Step 13 When the auto amplifier 40 is set to self-diagnosis mode, C
The PU 53 rotates the fan motor 12 at low speed and operates the shift actuator 42 based on the self-diagnosis program stored in the ROM 51 to sequentially change the mode of the air conditioner and determine whether each mode is set or not. The determination result is displayed by the rotational speed (airflow) of the fan motor 12. This subroutine program will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.

Step 14: The CPU 53 operates the mix door 32 based on the self-diagnosis program stored in the ROM 51, and displays the result of determination as to whether the mix door 32 operates normally based on the air blowing position. This subroutine program will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.

Step 15 The CPU 53 sequentially inputs the resistance values, etc. of the various sensors 43 connected through the I10 port 50 according to the settings on the control panel 1 of the inspector, and determines whether the functions of the individual sensors are normal. For example, vent the resulting air outlet.

or the air outlet of a differential, etc.). This subroutine program will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.

Step 16: The CPU 53 determines whether the ignition switch is turned off. As a result, if the ignition switch is off, the program execution ends. On the other hand, if it is not off, step 16 is looped.

Next, the mode check subroutine program of step 13 in FIG. 3 shown in FIG. 4 will be explained.

Step 20 When the CPU 53 confirms that the self-diagnosis mode has been set, the CPU 53 starts the air conditioner ff1 (
7) Change the mode to VENT-B/L-FOOT-D/F-D
Signals to be changed in the order of EF are sequentially output according to external commands from the control panel 1 or the like or judgment by the CPU 53 itself.

Step 21 The CPU 53 operates the shift actuator 42 to set a predetermined mode. And CPU53
inputs a contact signal that changes in accordance with the operation of the shift actuator 42 through the I10 port 50, and temporarily stores this changing state in the RAM 52.

Step 22 The CPU 53 compares the change state of the contact signal of the shift actuator 42 stored in the RAM 52 based on the contact information of the shift actuator 42 stored in the ROM 51 in advance, and sets the air conditioner to a predetermined mode. Determine whether it is set to .

Step 23 In step 22, it is determined that the air conditioner is set to the predetermined mode, so the CPU 53 rotates the fan motor 12 at a low speed.

Step 24 In step 22, it was determined that the air conditioner was not set to the predetermined mode, so the CPU 53
The fan motor 12 is rotated at high speed.

Step 25 The CPU 53 determines whether diagnosis has been performed for all modes to be tested. If diagnosis has not been completed for all modes, the process returns to step 20 to determine the next mode setting. If it has finished, run the next program.

In the mode check subroutine program described above, a step may be provided in which the fan motor 12 is rotated for a predetermined period of time and then stopped.

Next, the mixed door check subroutine program of step 14 in FIG. 3 shown in FIG. 5 will be explained. Note that this subroutine program is executed either by an external command from the control panel 1 or the like, or by being automatically started after the mode actuator subroutine program ends.

Step 30 CP (J53) rotates the motor 12 at low speed.

Step 31 CP (J53 operates the mix door actuator 41 according to the mix door subroutine program stored in the ROM 51 to move the mix door 32 to the hot side.

Step 32 CPtJ53 sets the setting position of mix door 32 to 110.
This is confirmed based on the resistance value of PAR input via the boat 50, and as a result of this confirmation, it is determined whether the mix door 32 is at the full hot position (position C in FIG. 1).

Step 33 In step 32, when it is determined that the mix door 32 is at the full hot position, the CPU 53 operates the shift actuator 42 to open the vent (VENT) door 3.
6 is opened, and air is blown out from the vent outlet 33. The inspector confirms the normal operation of the mix door 32 based on this blowout.

Step 34 If it is determined in step 32 that the mix door 32 is at a position other than the full hot position, the CPU 53 operates the shift actuator 42 to
7 is opened, and air is blown out from the differential air outlet 34. The inspector confirms the malfunction of the mix door 32 based on this blowout.

Step 35 The CPLJ 53 operates the mix door actuator 41 according to the mix door subroutine program stored in the ROM 51 to move the mix door 32 to the cool side.

Step 36 The CPU 53 confirms the set position of the mix door 32 using the resistance value of the PBR input via the I10 boat 50, and as a result of this confirmation, the mix door 32 is at the full cool position (center position in Figure 1). determine whether or not it is.

Step 37 When it is determined in step 36 that the mix door 32 is in the full cool position, the CPU 53 operates the shift actuator 42 to open the vent (VENT) door 3.
Air is blown out from the vent outlet 33 with only 6 in between. The inspector confirms the normal operation of the mix door 32 based on this blowout.

Step 38 If it is determined in step 36 that the mix door 32 is at a position other than the full cool position, the CPU 53 operates the shift actuator 42 to
Only 7 is opened, and air is blown out from the differential 1 outlet 34. The inspector confirms that the mix door 32 is malfunctioning based on this blowout.

Step 39 The CPU 53 stops the fan motor 12.

In this case, the fan motor 12 does not need to be stopped.

Next, the sensor diagnosis subroutine program of step 15 in FIG. 3 shown in FIG. 6 will be explained.

Step 40 The CPU 53 rotates the fan motor 12 at a low speed.

Step 41 The examiner presses a predetermined mode switch 9 provided on the control panel (a sensor to be diagnosed is assigned depending on the type of mode switch 9. This sensor includes, for example, a daily sensor, Outside temperature sensor, inside temperature sensor,
There are water temperature sensors, etc.

Depending on the type of mode switch 9 pressed by the inspector, the CPU 53 inputs the resistance value of the sensor assigned to the mode switch 9 through the ■10 port 50, and temporarily stores this value in the RAM 52. Store.

Step 42 The CPU 53 compares the resistance value of the sensor stored in the RAM 52 with the change range of the resistance value of the sensor stored in advance in the ROM 51, and determines whether the sensor is normal.

Step 43 If it is determined in step 42 that the sensor is normal, the CPtJ53 controls the shift actuator 42.
is activated, only the vent door 36 is opened, and air is blown out from the vent outlet 33. The inspector is
Based on this blowout, it is determined whether the sensor is normal.

Step 44 If it is determined in step 42 that the sensor is abnormal, the CPU 53 controls the shift actuator 42.
is activated, only the door 37 is opened, and air is blown out from the differential outlet 34. The inspector determines whether there is an abnormality in the sensor based on this blowout.

Step 45 The CPU 53 determines whether the diagnosis has been performed for all the sensors to be inspected. If the diagnosis has not been completed for all the sensors, the process returns to step 41; if the diagnosis has been completed, the process proceeds to the next step. .

Step 46 The CPU 53 stops the motor 12.

In this way, in the present invention, it is possible to check whether the mode setting of the air conditioner is normal based on the rotation speed of the fan motor, and whether the mix door operation and sensor are normal or not can be confirmed based on the air blowing position. Therefore, self-diagnosis can be performed even without a display device. In addition, in this embodiment, self-diagnosis was performed using the rotational speed of the fan motor and the air blowing position, but self-diagnosis can be performed by changing only the rotational speed of the fan motor without changing the blowing position. It is possible to do so.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, in the present invention, whether or not the function of each failure determination target part is normal is diagnosed based on the air blowing position or blowing air volume in the vehicle interior. Self-diagnosis of the automobile air conditioner can be performed without requiring a display device or the like to display whether the function of the part to be determined is normal or not.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automobile air conditioner equipped with a self-diagnosis function according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram around the control section of the automobile air conditioner according to the present invention shown in FIG. 3 to 6 are operational flowcharts for self-diagnosis of the automotive air conditioner according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is a front view of a general control panel, and FIG. 8 is a conventional diagnostic method. It is an operation flowchart of the air conditioner H for an automobile equipped with the air conditioner H. 1... Control panel, 2... Self-diagnosis switch, 3... Display, 8...
...Indicator lamp, 9...Mode switch, 12...Fan motor, 1
3...Fan, 36...Vent door, 37
...Differential door, 38...Foot door, 40...
・Auto amplifier (control unit) a Patent applicant: Japan Radiator Co., Ltd. Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] The control unit of the air conditioner is set to a self-diagnosis mode that diagnoses whether the function of the part subject to failure determination is normal or not, and the fan is rotated to send air into the vehicle interior. A self-diagnosis method for an air conditioner for an automobile, which determines whether or not the functions of individual failure determination target parts are normal by changing the air blowing position or the air blowing volume.