JPS6344570B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an air conditioning control device for an automobile (hereinafter also simply referred to as an air conditioner).

[Prior Art] As the functions of automotive air conditioning control devices have become more complex with the aim of realizing a more suitable interior environment, these control devices have recently been equipped with microcomputers and the like, as well as a large number of detection means such as temperature sensors. The structure has become such that the damper opening degree, air volume, etc. are controlled by inputting control information from the system and making precise condition judgments.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As these control devices that control the interior environment of vehicles, that is, automotive air conditioning control devices, become more sophisticated and complex, it becomes difficult to determine the internal operating state using input/output signals from the outside alone. It has become very difficult to check in detail, and a problem has arisen in that special large-scale inspection equipment must be used to analyze the internal operating state of the air conditioner, especially when an abnormality occurs. However, it is extremely difficult to install large inspection equipment at the many automobile service shops scattered throughout the country, and it is also impractical to bring such large equipment into the interior of a car for inspection. .

Furthermore, even if large-scale inspection equipment is used,
Since the control state of each actuator changes in response to ever-changing operating conditions even in the event of a failure, there is a drawback that the symptoms at the time of abnormality cannot be maintained as they are. On the other hand, it is possible to consider a method of switching the control state of each actuator to preset control conditions in the event of a failure, but this method has the problem of being impractical as the control becomes far removed from the operating conditions. .

Structure of the Invention [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the structure of the present invention is as illustrated in FIG. 6, and has a control variable display function of the present invention. The automotive air conditioning control device includes an input means M3 for inputting signals from at least a panel switch M1 for setting air conditioning conditions and various sensors M2 for detecting air conditioning conditions, and input means M3 for inputting signals from the input means M3. A control means M4 that calculates a control variable and outputs a control signal based on the control variable; and an output means M5 that includes a specific actuator that is not directly controlled in a closed loop and operates in response to the control signal to change the air conditioning state. , A mode switching means M6 is provided for shifting the control mode of the control means M4 from the normal operation mode to the monitor mode, and the control means M4 is configured to switch the control mode of the control means M4 from the normal operation mode to the monitor mode. When the mode is executed, the output holding means M7 maintains the operating state of a specific actuator of the output means M5 in the state immediately before shifting to the execution of the monitor mode; The control variable display means M8 selectively displays the control variables based on the operation of the panel switch M1, and is configured to display the control variables.

[Function] The automobile air conditioning control device having a control variable display function according to the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration has input means M that inputs the air conditioning conditions from the panel switch M1 and the air conditioning status from the various sensors M2.
3 to the control means M4, based on which a control variable is calculated and outputted to the output means M5 for changing the air conditioning state. Moreover, the mode switching means M6 switches the control mode of the control means M4 from the normal operation mode to the monitor mode, and the output holding means M7 changes the output of a specific actuator of the output means M5 immediately before shifting to the monitor mode. This state is maintained so that each control variable immediately before shifting to the monitor mode is displayed based on the operation of the panel switch M1.

[Embodiment] An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a generally widely used air mix type automobile air conditioning control device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows the entire air conditioning control system, in which an outside air suction port 2 and inside air suction ports 3a, 3b are provided on the upstream side of a ventilation duct 1. Outside air or inside air is selectively drawn into the ventilation duct 1. The inside/outside air switching dampers 4a, 4b are opened and closed by diaphragm actuators 6a, 6b controlled by electromagnetic valves 5a, 5b. Reference numeral 7 denotes an electric blower (blower mode) installed in the ventilation duct 1, which blows sucked air to the downstream side of the ventilation duct 1.

The refrigeration cycle uses a refrigerant evaporator (evaporator)
8, an expansion valve 9, a liquid receiver 10, a condenser 11, and a compressor 14, which are driven by an automobile engine 13 via an electromagnetic clutch 12, and are connected to a ventilation duct by the refrigerant evaporator 8. The air passing through 1 is cooled.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a heater (heater core) using the cooling water of the engine 13 as a heat source, which is installed in series downstream of the refrigerant evaporator 8 in the ventilation duct 1, and is controlled by a solenoid valve (wooota valve) 16. . Reference numeral 17 denotes a temperature adjustment damper (air mix damper), which is installed at the front of the heater 15 and controls the ratio between the amount of air passing through the heater 15 and heated and the amount of low-temperature air passing through the bias passage 18. The blowout temperature can be adjusted by adjusting the temperature, and the opening degree of the temperature adjustment damper 17 is adjusted by a diaphragm actuator 19. 20 is the diaphragm actuator 19
This is a negative pressure regulator that adjusts the negative pressure supplied to the
1 and 22 open and close the negative pressure pipe 23 and the atmosphere release port 24, respectively, and the negative pressure of the intake air of the engine 13 is applied to the negative pressure pipe 23, and the opening degree of the temperature adjustment damper 17 is can be detected by a potentiometer 25.

Reference numeral 26 indicates a heating outlet, which blows warm air to the passenger's feet in the vehicle interior, 27 indicates a differential outlet, which blows warm air toward the front window glass, and 28 indicates a cooling outlet, which blows warm air to the passenger's feet in the vehicle interior. It blows out cold air toward the upper body, and the switching of each outlet is performed by blowout mode switching dampers 29, 30, and 31, of which 29 is a heating switching damper, which is operated by a diaphragm controlled by a solenoid valve 32. Opened and closed by the container 33, 30, 31
is a switching damper for differential and cooling, and the solenoid valve 34
It is opened and closed by a diaphragm actuator 35 controlled by .

Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control circuit, in which the microcomputer 36 receives various information signals.
Based on this, calculations and other processes are performed according to a preset control program, and various actuators of the air conditioning control device, that is, solenoid valves 5a, 5b,
It electrically commands the operations of 16, 21, 22, 32, 34, etc., and controls the entire air conditioner, and is composed of the following parts.

37 is a panel switch for switching various operation modes; 38 is a selector for selecting the input of the panel switch 37; 39 is various sensors 40 including an inside air sensor, an outside air sensor, a solar radiation sensor, an after-evaporation sensor, a water temperature sensor, a potentiometer 25, etc. An analog switch 41 selects each input signal from the analog switch 39, an A/D conversion circuit 41 converts the analog signal from the analog switch 39 into a digital signal, and 42 a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as
43 is a CPU with a built-in output signal control program, 44 is a set temperature display that displays the set temperature, 45 is a lamp driver that drives the mode display lamp 46, 47 is various actuators 48, i.e. The solenoid valves 5a, 5b, 1
6, 21, 22, 32, 34 and an actuator driver that drives a heater relay and MgC relay (not shown), 49 a blower motor driver that drives the blower motor 7, 51 a lock detection circuit for the blower motor 7, and 52 the panel. A buzzer sounds when a valid input is received from the switch 37, 53 is a control circuit for backup and reset signals, and 54 is a constant voltage power supply circuit, which is connected to a battery 55 via an ignition switch of the engine. Further, a monitor mode signal line 56 is connected to the CPU 42, and a night light dimming circuit 57 for controlling night illumination and dimming is further connected to the mode display lamp 46.

Next, FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control performed in the control circuit, and the processing shown in each step will be explained below.

100 represents a step in which a reset signal is given to the CPUs 42 and 43 upon power-on, etc., and program execution is started.

101 represents a step of turning off the output of each lamp and actuator, restoring backup data such as set temperature, and performing initial settings such as setting built-in timers in the CPUs 42 and 43.

102 is based on the status of the monitor mode signal line 56,
This represents a step for determining whether the mode is a monitor mode or a normal operation mode, and this step 102 is constantly monitored by a timer interrupt.

103 changes the input of the panel switch 37 to the selector 3 when the normal operation mode is determined in step 102.
8, updates the set temperature, and determines automatic or manual control, etc., and sounds the buzzer 52 if a valid switch input is received.

104 is the sensor 40 for automatic control calculation.
This represents the step of inputting the value after A/D conversion through the analog switch 39 and the A/D converter 41.

105 represents a step for calculating the control output based on the information input in steps 103 and 104.

106 represents a step for displaying the calculation result in step 105 on the mode display lamp 46 and the set temperature display 44.

107 represents a step for outputting control signals for each actuator 48 and blower motor 7 based on the calculation result in step 105.

Reference numeral 108 represents a step for reading input from the panel switch 37 and specifying a control variable to be displayed when the monitor mode is determined in step 102.

109 represents a step in which a control variable to be displayed on the set temperature display 44 is determined in accordance with the switch input in step 108, and data for display is prepared by performing binary to decimal conversion and conversion.

110 represents a step in which the mode display lamp 46 corresponding to the switch input in step 108 is turned on, and the data prepared in step 109 is displayed on the set temperature display 44.

111 is the state in the CPU43 just before transitioning to monitor mode.
It represents the step of outputting specific actuator output data stored in RAM. Therefore, even if the mode is shifted to the monitor mode, the output state of a specific actuator does not change from immediately before the mode is shifted to the monitor mode. The specific actuators whose data is held in the RAM are limited to actuators that do not require direct closed-loop control, and in this embodiment, they are actuators such as an air outlet switch, an air inlet switch, a compressor output, a water valve output, and a blower motor. The data held in the RAM determines the output level of the actuator mentioned above. In particular, when controlling the air volume of a blower with many output levels under the action of the potentiometer 25, heat mode switch (not shown), etc. by changing the duty of pulses at a constant cycle, the duty pulses should be continued as they are. I am trying to output it as follows.

Therefore, when the monitor mode is determined in step 102, the output of a specific actuator is held as is in the RAM of the CPU 43, and while the monitor mode is being executed, the actuator maintains its operating state in the state immediately before transitioning to the monitor mode. Can be done.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an example of a display panel, and 71 is a set temperature display 44, 72 to 80.
is panel switch 37 and mode display lamp 4
It also serves as 6. In normal driving mode, 7
1 is a display for displaying the set temperature, 72 is an auto control switch, 73 is an auto control release switch, 74 and 75 are blower setting switches, 7
6, 77 are air conditioner setting switches, 78, 79,
80 is an air outlet changeover switch. On the other hand, in the monitor mode, 71 is a display for displaying the instructed control variable value, 72 is a switch for displaying the actuator output, 73 is a blower level display switch, 74 is a required blowout temperature display switch, 75 is a damper opening display switch, 76 is an inside air temperature display switch, 77 is an outside air temperature display switch, 78 is an evaporator temperature display switch, 79 is a radiator water temperature display switch, and 80 is a solar radiation equivalent temperature display switch. Work as.

Next, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing detailed control, and corresponds to the case where the panel switch shown in the display panel example (FIG. 4) is used.
Steps 200 to 202 are similar to steps 100 to 102 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
After determining whether the mode is monitor mode or normal operation mode, in the case of normal operation mode, steps 203 to 211 are executed, and in the case of monitor mode, the process moves from step 202 to step 212, and in steps 213 to 221, the panel switch 37 is turned on. If there is no input to any switch, the process moves to step 210, and if any switch has input, the control variable corresponding to the switch is displayed in steps 222 to 237. process and step
Step 238 provides an indication of the control variable, and step 239 provides output to a particular actuator, as described above.

Here, the control variable values to be displayed are inside temperature (TR), outside temperature (TAM), solar radiation (ST), evaporator temperature (TE), radiator water temperature (TW), required air temperature (TAO), and temperature adjustment damper. Opening degree (SW), blower air volume (BWR), 2 solenoid valves 2
1 and 22 output control amounts (MVH, MVC) and outputs of various actuators.

Also, (TR), (TAM), (TE), (TW), (ST)
The internal calculations of the computer use 8-bit binary numbers, for example, the value "00" is (TR),
-17.5℃ for (TAM), (TE), (TW)
(ST) indicates 22.5℃, and (ST) indicates that the amount of solar radiation is "0". Further, (TAO) uses a 16-bit binary number, and for example, the value "4000" corresponds to 0°C. (SW) is 8 bits 2
Using base numbers, for example, the value "29" corresponds to 0%,
Furthermore, (BWR) represents the air volume level using a 4-bit binary number.

Then, each control variable value (TR), (TAM), (TE), (TW), (ST),
(TAO) each displays the temperature in decimal. Also,
(SW) is the opening degree of the temperature adjustment damper 17 in hexadecimal 2
The output value of each actuator is expressed in digits, and the output value of each actuator is, for example, 8 types of output corresponding to each of the 8 bits, with the value "1" when on and the value "0" when off. Displayed in 2 digits (8 bits),
The decimal place on the set temperature display 71 on the panel is determined by the damper output control amount (MVH) and (MVC).
“5” if (MVH=ON) and (MVC=OFF),
“0” when (MVH=OFF) and (MVC=ON),
When (MVH=ON) and (MVC=ON), it is displayed as "8".

Therefore, according to this embodiment, if there is an input to the monitor mode signal line 56, the control mode of the air control device shifts from the normal operation mode to the monitor mode, and in the monitor mode, the panel switch 37
If the switches 72 to 80 are pressed and input in sequence, the corresponding control variable value will be displayed on the set temperature display 71, and specific actuators such as the air outlet switch and blower level will be maintained in the state immediately before the transition to monitor mode. . As a result, in monitor mode,
Air conditioning control is maintained using the control variables immediately before the control mode shifts to the monitor mode, and the control variables can be confirmed, making it easier to discover failures, etc., especially when an abnormality occurs.
In addition, even if you accidentally switch to monitor mode, the operating state immediately before switching to monitor mode remains the same both when you switch to monitor mode and when you return from monitor mode to normal operation mode, so the occupants will hardly feel any discomfort. This effect also occurs.

In this example, the present invention was applied to an air mix type automobile air conditioning control device, but
It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to reheating type automobile air conditioning control devices and the like.

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, according to the automobile air conditioning control device having a control variable display function of the present invention, when the control mode of the control means for controlling air conditioning is switched from the normal operation mode to the monitor mode, Specific actuators that are not directly controlled by the closed loop of the output means are held in the state immediately before entering the monitor mode, and control variables are selectively displayed based on the operation of the panel switch. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the air conditioning control device, etc., the control mode can be switched to the monitor mode, and in the monitor mode, the symptoms at the time of the abnormality can be maintained as they are, and the symptoms can be displayed. This provides an excellent effect in that failures can be easily discovered and adjustments can be made easily. It also has the advantage that no special equipment is required for this purpose, making repairs, adjustments, etc. easier.

Furthermore, when transitioning to monitor mode and returning from monitor mode to normal operation mode, the operating state immediately before transitioning to monitor mode remains, so even if you accidentally transition to monitor mode, passengers will not feel any discomfort in air conditioning control. This also has the effect of making it almost invisible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the entire air conditioning control device, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the control circuit, Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing an overview of control, Fig. 4 is a front view showing an example of the display panel, and Fig. 4 is a front view showing an example of the display panel. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the above control, and FIG. 6 is a basic configuration diagram of the present invention. 1... Ventilation duct, 4a, 4b... Inside/outside air switching damper, 7... Electric blower (blower motor), 8
... Refrigerant evaporator, 14 ... Compressor, 15 ... Heater, 17 ... Temperature adjustment damper, 25 ... Potentiometer, 5a, 5b, 16, 21, 22, 3
2, 34... Solenoid valve, 36... Microcomputer, 37... Panel switch, 40... Sensor, 42, 43... CPU, 44, 71... Set temperature display, 48... Actuator, 72-8
0...Panel switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Input means for inputting signals from at least a panel switch for setting air conditioning conditions and various sensors for detecting air conditioning conditions, and a control variable is calculated based on the signals input from the input means. and a control means that outputs a control signal based on a control variable; and an output means that includes a specific actuator that is not directly controlled in a closed loop and operates in response to the control signal to change the air conditioning state. In the air conditioning control device, mode switching means is provided for shifting the control mode of the control means from the normal operation mode to the monitor mode, and when the mode switching means executes the monitor mode, the control means controls the output of the control means when the monitor mode is executed by the mode switching means. output holding means for holding the operating state of a specific actuator in the state immediately before transitioning to execution of the monitor mode; and during execution of the monitor mode, control variables are controlled based on the operation of the panel switch An air conditioning control device for an automobile having a control variable display function, comprising a control variable display means for selectively displaying the control variable.