WO2007116930A1

WO2007116930A1 - Control process stop method

Info

Publication number: WO2007116930A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/057643
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yasuaki Miyaba; Sunao Ueda; Hisashi Sumida
Original assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-04-07
Filing date: 2007-04-05
Publication date: 2007-10-18
Also published as: JP2007280080A

Abstract

Provided is a control process stop method capable of preventing use of an unnecessary long time for a control process having an end judgment even if the end judgment based on time does not function normally. When a special control having an end judgment (S215) based on time (such as a defrost operation) is executed during a normal control of a cooling or a heating operation, the special control is started (S204) after the current time is clocked (S203). It is judged whether the special control has terminated normally or according to the end judgment based on time (S205). If the special control is not terminated, the current time is clocked and it is judged whether a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of the special control (S207). If the predetermined time has elapsed, it is judged that the special control is not operating normally and the special control is forcibly terminated to return to the normal operation (S208).

Description

Specification

How to stop control processing

Technical field

The present invention relates to a method for stopping control processing.

Background art

[0002] Normally, in an electronic control device equipped with a microcomputer, in order to prevent control processing (including processing executed by a computer based on a program) from becoming abnormal and taking an unnecessarily long time, A watchdog timer circuit is provided. The control process outputs a reset signal that initializes the watchdog timer at predetermined intervals.If the reset signal is not output due to an abnormality in the control process, the watchdog timer initializes the microcomputer and executes the control process. Stop forcibly.

[0003] Patent Documents 1 to 3 are disclosed as techniques related to the present case.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-196273

Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-267895

Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-176375

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] However, even if an abnormality occurs in the control process, for example, a reset signal may be output. In this case, the watchdog timer is periodically reset.

[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for stopping a control process including an end determination based on time.

Means for solving the problem

[0007] A first aspect of the control process stop method according to the present invention is such that the control process including the end determination based on time operates over a first predetermined time as a reference for the end determination. In addition, the operation of the control process is stopped in a process different from the end determination based on the time. More preferably, the end determination (S214, S215) is executed in a processing routine that executes the control process, and the processing routine is longer than the first predetermined time. When the predetermined time of 2 is being executed, the processing routine is forcibly stopped by the separate processing (S208).

[0008] A second aspect of the control processing stop method according to the present invention is a control processing stop method that is effective in the first aspect, and includes a step of starting a timer with the start of the control processing. (S102), a step (S103) for determining whether or not the second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time has elapsed, and the timer determines the second predetermined time. When it is determined that elapses, step (S106) of stopping the control process is executed.

The invention's effect

[0009] According to the first aspect of the control processing stop method that is effective in the present invention, it is possible to prevent the end judgment based on time from functioning normally, and to prevent the control processing including this from taking an unnecessarily long time. Can do.

[0010] According to the second aspect of the control processing stop method that is effective in the present invention, since the control processing can be stopped by software, for example, the entire microcomputer can be initialized like a watch dog timer. Absent.

[0011] The objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method for stopping control processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for stopping control processing according to a modification.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] Embodiment.

A control processing stop method according to the present invention will be described. A method of stopping the control process according to the present embodiment will be described using the air conditioner shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit 10 and indoor units 21 and 22. The outdoor unit 10 is connected to the indoor units 21 and 22 via the communication line 40 so that they can communicate with each other. Note that the number of indoor units is not limited to two, and may be three or more. [0014] The outdoor unit 10 supplies a heat source to the calculation unit 11, a communication unit 12 that transmits and receives signals exchanged with the indoor units 21 and 22, a compressor 14a that compresses refrigerant, and a heat exchanger (not shown). And a four-way valve 14d for switching the flow direction of the refrigerant, and an expansion valve 14c for adjusting the pressure of the refrigerant flowing in the outdoor unit 10. The communication unit 12 includes a receiving unit 12a and a transmitting unit 12b. The compressor 14a, the fan 14b, the expansion valve 14c, the four-way valve 14d, and the like are collectively referred to as a machine element unit 14.

The calculation unit 11 has various functions by executing a program stored in a memory (not shown). Specifically, the calculation unit 11 controls the mechanism of the mechanical element unit 14 (the rotation speed of the compressor 14a, the rotation speed of the fan 14b, the opening degree of the expansion valve 14c, the switching of the four-way valve 14d, etc.) and the control signal Is transmitted to the indoor units 21 and 22 (not shown), and a timer counting function (shown as the timer function unit 13) is provided. The timer function unit 13 can count a timer using a timer circuit (including a clock timer circuit) provided in a general-purpose microcomputer, and can also count the current time.

[0016] As with the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 21 includes a calculation unit 211, a communication unit 212, a fan 214a, and an expansion valve 214b. The calculation unit 211 receives a control signal from the outdoor unit 10 via the communication unit 212, and controls the rotational speed of the fan 214a, the opening degree of the expansion valve 214b, and the like based on the control signal. The fan 214a, the expansion valve 214b, and the like are collectively referred to as a machine element unit 214. Further, the internal configuration of the indoor unit 22 is the same as that of the indoor unit 21, so that the description thereof is omitted.

[0017] Arithmetic unit 11 controls machine element unit 14 and transmits a control signal to indoor units 21 and 22, and arithmetic units 211 and 221 that have received the control signal receive the control signal based on the control signal. The element parts 214 and 224 are controlled. In this way, normal operation such as cooling operation and heating operation and special operation such as defrosting operation are performed.

[0018] Special operation here is for normal or efficient normal operation. For example, a defrosting operation or an air conditioner that removes frost attached to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit 10 is used. There is a wake-up activation to cope with the stagnation phenomenon that occurs in the compressor 14a by stopping for a predetermined time. Hereinafter, the control process of the calculation unit 11 performed during normal operation is referred to as steady control, and the control process of the calculation unit 11 performed during special operation is referred to as special control. [0019] Next, a method for stopping the control process according to the present invention will be described using the operation of the calculation unit 11. The operation of the calculation unit 11 shown in FIG. 2 is an operation when performing special control (for example, defrosting operation) during steady control such as cooling operation and heating operation. The flow shown on the left side of FIG. A flowchart for forcibly stopping special control, and the flow shown on the right side of FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a subprogram for special control.

[0020] As shown on the left side of FIG. 2, in step S201, the calculation unit 11 performs steady control for performing normal operation (for example, heating operation). In step S202, the calculation unit 11 determines whether or not special control such as defrosting operation is required. For example, in order to determine the necessity of special control for defrosting operation, frost adhering to the heat exchanger ^^ of the outdoor unit 10 is detected, and the frost may be adhering beyond a predetermined amount. It is determined that special control needs to be executed.

If it is determined in step S202 that special control is not required, the routine returns to normal operation again in step S201. If it is determined that it is necessary, the operation unit 11 measures the current time tl in step S203, and then executes the special control subprogram shown on the right side of FIG. 2 in step S204. The current time can be obtained by the timer function unit 13.

[0022] The calculation unit 11 is substantially parallel by time-sharing processing in which the processing of subsequent steps S205 to S208 and the special control subprogram shown on the right side of Fig. 2 are executed alternately, for example, at regular intervals. To run. Here, for easy understanding, first, the operation of the special control subprogram shown on the right side of FIG. 2 will be described, and then the processing of steps S205 to S208 will be described.

[0023] As shown on the right side of FIG. 2, in step S211, the calculation unit 11 initializes the end flag fig to zero. The end flag fig is a flag that indicates whether or not the special control has ended based on the end judgment in the special control subprogram. When the end flag fig is 1, the end flag fig is displayed. Show.

In step S212, calculation unit 11 initializes a timer. The timer function unit 13 can count the timer. In step S213, the calculation unit 11 executes special control such as defrosting operation. In step S214, the calculation unit 11 performs special control correctly. Determine whether it has always finished. Step if special control ends normally

In S217, operation unit 11 writes 1 to end flag fig. If the special control has not ended normally, in step S215, the calculation unit 11 determines whether or not the timer has passed 1065 seconds. Note that 1065 seconds is sufficient for the special control of the defrosting operation to end normally. The time may vary depending on the contents of special control.

[0025] If 1065 seconds have not elapsed, step S213 is executed again. If the timer has passed 1065 seconds, the arithmetic unit 11 stops the special control in step S216, and writes 1 to the end flag fig in step S217.

[0026] As described above, the special control is usually provided with a time-based end determination (step S215). For example, due to disturbance due to external noise, the time-based end determination may not function normally.

Accordingly, the calculation unit 11 executes steps S 205 to S 208 substantially in parallel with the above-described special control program. In step S205, the arithmetic unit 11 determines whether or not the end flag fig is 1. When the end flag fig is 1, since the special control has ended in the processing routine shown on the right side of FIG. 2, the process returns to step S201 to perform normal operation. If the end flag fig is not 1, the calculation unit 11 measures the current time t2 in step S206.

In step S207, operation unit 11 determines whether t2−tl> 1125 seconds. In other words, the calculation unit 11 determines whether or not 1125 seconds have elapsed since the start of the special control. If 1125 seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to step S205 again to execute the processes of steps S205 and S206. If 1125 seconds have elapsed, in step S208, the calculation unit 11 determines that the special control having the termination determination by time (step S215) is not operating normally, and the special control subprogram Forcibly stop and return to step S201 to execute normal operation. In addition, without returning to the normal operation, it may be notified to the outside that the special control is abnormal and the air conditioner may be put into a standby state.

[0029] As described above, the end determination by time (step S215) is executed in the processing routine (the flow shown on the right side of FIG. 2) for executing the special control, and the processing routine is used as a criterion for the end determination. And running for a longer time (1125 seconds) than The processing routine is forcibly stopped by another process (the flow shown on the left side of Fig. 2). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the special control from requiring a long time even if the termination determination does not function normally due to disturbance due to external noise, for example.

[0030] Modification.

A method of stopping the control process according to a modification of the embodiment that is useful for the present invention will be described. As in the embodiment, this modification will be described using the air conditioner shown in FIG. In addition, since the description regarding the structure of an air conditioner is redundant, it abbreviate | omits in the following description.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air conditioner according to this modification. As in the embodiment, the special control is provided with an end determination based on time in the process of executing the special control.

[0032] First, in step S101, the calculation unit 11 starts special control such as defrosting operation. Subsequently, in step S102, the calculation unit 11 starts a timer when the special control is started. The timer function unit 13 can count the timer. Similarly to the embodiment, the arithmetic unit 11 executes the special control and the operation shown in FIG. 3 substantially in parallel by, for example, a time-sharing process in which the operation is repeatedly performed at regular intervals.

In step S103, calculation unit 11 determines whether or not the timer has passed, for example, 1125 seconds. If 1125 seconds have not elapsed, in step S104, the calculation unit 11 determines whether the special control has ended based on the end determination based on the time provided by the special control. For example, the time used as a criterion for the end determination is 1065 seconds, and this value is sufficient for the defrosting operation to end normally. Based on the end determination based on time, when the control process ends, this operation ends, and when it does not end, at step S105, the arithmetic unit 11 ends the special control normally. Determine if you are. When the special control has been completed normally, this operation is terminated. When the special control has not been completed, it is executed again from step S103.

[0034] As a result of the determination in step S103, if the timer has passed, for example, 1125 seconds, in step S106, operation unit 11 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the end determination of special control. Then, the special control is stopped and the air conditioner is put into a standby state.

[0035] Therefore, even if an abnormality has occurred in the end determination by time, special control including the abnormality It is possible to prevent an unnecessary long time.

For example, when a watchdog timer circuit is used, the calculation unit 11 is initialized and all operations up to that point are lost. However, in the present invention, only the special control with an abnormal end determination can be stopped. Don't lose your previous behavior.

[0037] Although the present invention has been described using an air conditioner, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to any electronic device including the calculation unit 11.

[0038] Although the present invention has been described in detail, the above description is illustrative in all aspects, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Innumerable variations not illustrated The power of the scope of the present invention It is understood that the power can be assumed without departing.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] When a control process having an end determination by time exceeds a first predetermined time as a reference for the end determination, the control process is performed separately from the end determination by the time. A method for stopping control processing that stops operation.

[2] The end determination (S215) is executed in a processing routine for executing the control process, and when the processing routine is executed by spending a second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time, 2. The control processing stop method according to claim 1, wherein the processing routine is forcibly stopped by the separate processing (S208).

[3] A step (S102) of starting a timer with the start of the control process;

Determining whether or not the timer has passed the second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time (S 103);

A step (S106) of stopping the control process when the timer determines that the second predetermined time has elapsed;

The method for stopping control processing according to claim 1, wherein: