JP3301957B2 - Method and apparatus for controlling rotation of a wind direction member in a vehicle air outlet device using a stepping motor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling a rotational position of a rotary shaft of a stepping motor and a method of controlling a rotational position of a wind direction member in an air outlet device for a vehicle using the same. The rotation position of the rotation axis is recognized from the number of pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position and the excitation order of the plurality of coils of the stepping motor, and the rotation of the rotation axis is determined based on the recognized position. Method and apparatus for controlling the rotation of a rotation shaft of a stepping motor, and a method for controlling rotation of a wind direction member in a vehicle air outlet device for controlling rotation of a wind direction member connected to the rotation shaft. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a stepping motor has been used as a control motor or a drive motor in many devices such as OA equipment, FA equipment, terminal equipment of computer, peripheral equipment, and the like. However, because of the excellent responsiveness, durability, and controllability inherent to the stepping motor, as well as the high stopping accuracy and the holding torque at the time of stopping, various advantages can be obtained in the above-described various devices. .

In order to drive various devices using such a stepping motor more stably, the rotation position of the rotation shaft of the stepping motor is always recognized, and the rotation of the rotation shaft is determined based on the position. Accurate control is required.

For this reason, conventionally, generally, a pulse signal is input to each of a plurality of coils of a stepping motor, and the plurality of coils are sequentially excited to rotate the rotation shaft of the stepping motor. On the other hand, the rotation angle of the rotation shaft is determined by the number of pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft, and the rotation direction of the rotation shaft is determined by the excitation order of the plurality of coils. The rotation position of the rotation axis is recognized from the rotation angle and the rotation direction thereof,
The rotation of the rotation shaft is controlled based on the recognized rotation position.

However, in such a conventional method of controlling the rotation of a rotating shaft in a stepping motor, the rotating position of the rotating shaft is counted from the reference rotating position of the rotating shaft only when the stepping motor is driven. Since the determination is made only from the rotation angle and the rotation direction of the rotary shaft determined by the number of pulse signals and the excitation order of the coil, when the drive of the stepping motor is stopped (when the rotation of the rotary shaft is stopped), If the rotary shaft is forcibly rotated by an external force, a significant difference will occur between the actual rotational position of the rotary shaft and the rotational position of the rotary shaft recognized as described above. As a result, when the rotation of the rotary shaft is performed with such a difference occurring, the rotation of the rotary shaft cannot be accurately controlled, and thus the rotary shaft is moved to a predetermined rotation range or a desired rotation range. This has caused a problem that rotation cannot be performed within the rotation range.

On the other hand, the applicant of the present application pays attention to the excellent characteristics of the stepping motor as described above, and
No. 43630 has proposed an air outlet device for a vehicle in which a plurality of wind direction members arranged in an opening of a housing are rotated by a stepping motor.

[0007] In this vehicle air outlet device, the rotation of the wind direction member is controlled simply by controlling the rotation angle and rotation direction of the rotation shaft of the stepping motor without providing any special device or equipment. Can be easily controlled, so that air can be blown out very easily and efficiently in a desired range, but also in this case, the basis of the rotation control of the rotation shaft of the stepping motor. The rotation position of the rotation shaft is determined only from the rotation angle and rotation direction of the rotation shaft determined by the number of pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft and the excitation order of the coil, as in the related art. When the stepping motor stops driving, the wind direction member rotated integrally with the rotation shaft is forcibly rotated by an external force when the stepping motor is stopped. Rolling control is thus the problem that the accurate rotational control of the wind member becomes difficult had inherent.

However, in order to solve such a problem, a detecting device such as a rotary encoder or a rotary potentiometer capable of detecting the rotational position (angle) of the rotating shaft of the stepping motor is used. Based on the detection data obtained by the above, it is easily conceivable to recognize the rotational position of the rotary shaft, but then, with the arrangement of these detecting devices, for the rotation control of the rotary shaft, Not only does the added structure become very complex, but other problems, such as the increased costs involved, are inevitably raised.

[0009]

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and one of the problems to be solved is that the rotation position of the rotation shaft of a stepping motor is simplified and It is an object of the present invention to provide a method capable of recognizing with high accuracy by a feasible structure at as low a cost as possible and thereby controlling the rotation of the rotating shaft more accurately. A second object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of reliably realizing such a method of controlling the rotation of a rotating shaft of a stepping motor. Further, a third object of the present invention is to more accurately control the rotation of the wind direction member of a vehicle air outlet device using a stepping motor without incurring a complicated structure and a high cost. It is to provide a method that can do this.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a pulse signal is input to each of a plurality of coils of a stepping motor, and the plurality of coils are sequentially excited to solve the first of the problems. While rotating the rotation shaft of the stepping motor, the rotation position of the rotation shaft is recognized based on the number of the pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft and the excitation order of the plurality of coils. When controlling the rotation of the rotation shaft based on the recognized rotation position, the rotation of the rotation shaft is generated by each of the plurality of coils with the forced rotation of the rotation shaft by the external force under the drive stop state of the stepping motor. Detecting a pulse-like electric signal generated by the induced current, and generating the pulse-like electric signal between the plurality of coils; The number of coils is compared with the excitation order, and counting is performed until the rotation of the rotating shaft is stopped from the reference rotation position and stopped with the drive stop of the stepping motor, depending on whether the orders are the same or not. By adding or subtracting the number of pulse-like electric signals generated by the induced current to the number of pulse signals, the rotation position after forced rotation by an external force under the drive stop state of the stepping motor is recognized, It is characterized by a rotation control method of a stepping motor that controls the rotation of the rotation shaft based on the recognized rotation position.

In short, the method for controlling the rotation of a stepping motor according to the present invention is such that when the rotation shaft is forcibly rotated by an external force in a state where the driving of the stepping motor is stopped, the rotation of the stepping motor is stopped. At the time when the rotation of the rotating shaft is stopped, the number of pulse signals corresponding to the rotating amount from the reference rotating position of the rotating shaft is determined according to the forcible rotating amount of the rotating shaft due to the external force. The number of pulse-like electric signals is adjusted so that the number of pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position of the rotating shaft can be corrected by an amount corresponding to the amount of forced rotation of the rotating shaft. That's it.

Therefore, by adopting such a method of controlling the rotation of the stepping motor according to the present invention, the actual rotation position of the rotation shaft and the number of pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft can be reduced. The rotation position of the rotary shaft, which is determined from the rotation angle and the rotation direction of the rotary shaft determined by the excitation order of the coil, can always be accurately matched.

Moreover, in the method of the present invention, no special detecting device such as a rotary encoder or a rotary potentiometer is used in order to determine the accurate rotational position of the rotary shaft. This makes it possible to extremely advantageously avoid a complicated structure for recognizing the rotational position of the rotary shaft or an increase in cost associated with the addition of such a structure. .

Therefore, according to the rotation control method of the stepping motor according to the present invention, the rotation position of the rotation shaft of the stepping motor can be recognized with high accuracy by a structure that can be realized simply and at the lowest possible cost. Therefore, the rotation of the rotating shaft can be controlled more accurately. As a result, the rotating shaft can always be reliably rotated in a preset rotating range or a desired rotating range.

Further, according to the present invention, the vehicle is opened in the vehicle interior.
Parallel and in the same direction within the opening of the housing
A plurality of wind direction members rotatably arranged
Direction of the plurality of wind direction members connected to the wind direction member
The interlocking member that can be reciprocated
As well as multiple cores of the stepper motor.
Input a pulse signal to each
Are sequentially excited, and the interlocking member or the plurality of wind directions are excited.
Rotate the rotation axis of the stepping motor connected to the member
Rotating the plurality of wind direction members by the interlocking member.
In the air outlet device for a vehicle that is made to
From the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft of the stepping motor,
The number of the pulse signals to be transferred and the plurality of coils
Based on the rotational position of the rotating shaft recognized by
And controlling the rotation of the rotation shaft to
Of an apparatus for controlling the rotation of the wind direction member, the counting means and, (b) under drive stop state of the stepping motor for counting the number of signals (a) the pulse signal from the reference rotational position of said rotary shaft The number of pulse-like electric signals generated by the induced current generated in each of the plurality of coils due to the forced rotation of the rotating shaft due to the external force, and the plurality of coils of the pulse-like electric signals. Electrical signal detection means for detecting the order of occurrence between
(C) comparing the order of occurrence of the pulse-like electric signal detected by the detection means among the plurality of coils and the order of excitation of the plurality of coils, and determining whether the orders are the same. Depending on the number of pulses of the pulse signal counted by the counting means until the rotation of the rotating shaft is stopped from the reference rotation position with the stop of the driving of the stepping motor, by adjusting the number of signals of the electrical signals, said in the driving stopped state of a stepping motor, and rotational position recognition means for recognizing a rotational position after forced rotation due to the external force of the rotating shaft, (d) said plurality
When the wind direction member turns,
While the switch is operated, the rotation of the plurality of wind direction members is stopped.
Under the condition, the plurality of wind direction members are moved to the arbitrary rotation position.
Switch operation again to rotate it to the
(E) the stop position memory switch
Moly switch, any rotation of the plurality of wind direction members
When the switch is operated in the rotation position, the step
Excitation order of the plurality of coils of the driving motor and the reference rotation position
And the number of pulse signals counted from the memory
On the other hand, the plurality of wind direction portions of the stop position memory switch
When the switch is operated again while the material is not rotating,
For a plurality of coils, the excitation order stored previously is used.
And inputting pulse signals by the number of the signals,
Arbitrary rotation position to rotate the rotation axis of the stepping motor
Using a stepping motor including a storage / stop means
A rotation control device of a wind direction member in a vehicle air outlet device is characterized.

That is, the wind in the vehicle air outlet device using the stepping motor according to the present invention as described above.
In the rotation control device for the directional member, the pulse-like electric signal generated by the forced rotation by the external force of the rotating shaft under the drive stop state of the stepping motor, detected by the electric signal detection means, The order of occurrence among the plurality of coils is compared with the order of excitation of the plurality of coils under the driving state of the stepping motor by the rotational position recognition means. By counting the number of the pulse signals from the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft to the rotation stop position, the number of the pulse-like electric signals detected by the detection unit is adjusted, The rotation position after the forced rotation by the external force of the rotating shaft under the driving stop state of the stepping motor is determined. Without using Nanito special detection device such as encoder or rotary potentiometer, the rotational position of the rotary shaft is as it can be recognized by the consistently high accuracy.

Accordingly, the stepping motor according to the present invention
The rotation control device of the wind direction member in the vehicle air outlet device using the <br/> is simple and relatively low cost,
The rotation of the rotating shaft can be accurately controlled.

The wind direction section in the vehicle air outlet apparatus using such a stepping motor according to the present invention.
In the rotation control device for a material, the pulse-like electric signal generated by the induced current generated in each of the plurality of coils is preferably amplified by an amplifier that amplifies the pulse-like electric signal. , So as to be inputted to the electric signal detecting means. Thereby, the pulse-like electric signal can be reliably detected by the electric signal detection means, and the generation order of the pulse-like electric signal among the plurality of coils and the plurality And the number of pulse signals counted by the counting means, and the number of the pulse-like electric signals can be adjusted more accurately. As a result, the stepping motor The rotation control of the rotation axis
It can be done even more stably.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned third problem, in a housing opening in a vehicle cabin, a plurality of housings are disposed so as to be rotatable in parallel with each other in the same direction. The wind direction member is connected to the plurality of wind direction members, and is linked to each other by an interlocking member which is reciprocally movable in the direction in which the plurality of wind direction members are arranged. Respectively, and a plurality of coils are sequentially excited to rotate the rotating shaft of the stepping motor connected to the interlocking member or the plurality of airflow direction members, and the plurality of airflow direction members by the interlocking member. The number of the pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft of the stepping motor in the vehicle air outlet device configured to rotate When controlling the rotation of the plurality of wind direction members by controlling the rotation of the rotation shaft based on the rotation position of the rotation shaft recognized by the excitation order of the plurality of coils, the stepping motor Under the drive stop state, a pulse-like electric signal generated by an induced current generated in each of the plurality of coils with the forced rotation of the rotating shaft by an external force is detected, and the pulse-like electric signal is detected. Comparing the order of occurrence among the plurality of coils with the order of excitation of the plurality of coils, and, depending on whether or not the order is the same, the rotation of the rotary shaft is stepped from the reference rotational position. By adding or subtracting the number of pulse-like electric signals generated by the induced current to the number of pulse signals counted until the motor is stopped along with the drive stop, Under the drive stop state of the stepping motor, the rotational position of the rotary shaft after forcible rotation by external force is recognized, and based on the recognized rotational position, the rotation of the rotary shaft is controlled, and the plurality of wind direction members are controlled. While controlling the rotation of the plurality of wind direction members.
Stop position memory switch at any rotation position during rotation
Operation of the switch at that time
The excitation order of a plurality of coils of the
Stores the number of pulse signals counted from the shift position
And stopping the rotation of the plurality of wind direction members in a stopped state.
By operating the position memory switch again,
For the plurality of coils, the excitation order stored previously is used.
Input pulse signals as many as the number of signals,
Rotate the rotating shaft of the stepping motor to
Those of the wind member was by <br/> Unishi which can be rotated up to the arbitrary rotation position location, the rotation control method of the wind direction member in the vehicle air outlet device using a stepping motor, and its features It is.

In the method for controlling the rotation position of the wind direction member in the vehicle air outlet device using the stepping motor according to the present invention, the rotation position of the rotating shaft that is rotated integrally with the wind direction member is simplified. In addition, the structure that can be realized at a cost as low as possible can be recognized with high accuracy, and the rotation of the rotating shaft can be more accurately controlled.

Therefore, in the method of controlling the turning position of the wind direction member in the vehicle air outlet device using the stepping motor according to the present invention, the turning of the wind direction member complicates the structure and increases the cost. It can be controlled more precisely without inviting anything.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, in order to clarify the present invention more specifically, a method and a device for controlling the rotation of a stepping motor according to the present invention and the rotation of a wind direction member in a vehicle air outlet device using the same will be described. The configuration of the dynamic control method will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows an instrument panel of a vehicle as an example of a vehicle air outlet device configured to control the rotation of a stepping motor and, consequently, the rotation of a wind direction member according to the method of the present invention. The register arranged on the driver's side of the vehicle is schematically shown. As is clear from FIG. 1, the register of this example has a housing 10.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 10 constituting the register has a rectangular box shape as a whole, and an instrument (not shown) A front opening 12 that opens to the driver's seat side in the vehicle cabin is formed in a state of being disposed on the panel. The housing 10 is also provided with a rear opening 14 at the rear thereof, whereby the air conditioning device (not shown) introduced into the housing 10 through the rear opening 14 allows the rear opening 14 to be provided. The conditioned air or the like is blown from the front opening 12 to the driver's seat side in the vehicle compartment.

In the front opening 12 of the housing 10, a plurality of horizontal blades 16 each having a long flat plate shape and serving as a wind direction member are arranged parallel to each other in a horizontal direction and vertically. The horizontal blades 16 are arranged so as to overlap with each other at an interval, and each of the horizontal blades 16 is rotatable around a rotation shaft 18 extending in the left-right direction from both ends in the longitudinal direction. 10 are assembled. The plurality of horizontal blades 16 are connected to each other by a horizontal blade interlocking plate 20, which is an interlocking member, extending in the up-down direction and reciprocating in the same direction.

Further, a plurality of vertical blades 22 as a wind direction member different from the horizontal blades 16 having a substantially elongated flat plate shape are provided behind the position where the plurality of horizontal blades 16 are disposed in the housing 10. Are arranged in parallel with each other in the vertical direction and at predetermined intervals in the left and right direction.
2 are assembled to the housing 10 in such a manner as to be rotatable around rotation shafts 24, 24 extending vertically from both ends in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of vertical blades 22 are also connected to each other by a vertical blade interlocking plate 26 that is an interlocking member that extends in the left-right direction and that can reciprocate in the same direction.

Therefore, as is well known, any one of the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 22 has one of the rotating shafts 18, 18 and the rotating shafts 24, 24. By being turned around, all the objects are turned around the respective turning shafts 18 and 24 in conjunction with each other. FIG.
In FIG. 3 to FIG. 3, reference numeral 27 denotes an operation knob for manually rotating the plurality of vertical blades 22, respectively.

Here, among the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 22, the one positioned at the center of each of the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 22 faces one of the two side walls 28, 28 of the housing 10. And a rotating shaft 24 extending toward the upper wall 30 side of the housing 10 penetrates the one side wall 28 and the upper wall 30, respectively, and is projected outward. I have. Further, one stepping motor 32 is fixedly mounted on each of the upper surfaces of the one side wall 28 and the upper wall 30 (see FIG. 1). The rotation shafts 34 of the two stepping motors 32 penetrate the one side wall 28 and the upper wall 30 to rotate the rotation shaft 18 of the lateral blade 16 and the rotation of the vertical blade 22 projecting outward. Axis 2
4 are connected to each other via a joint 36 so as to be coaxial and integrally rotatable.

Thus, each stepping motor 32
Of the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 18 are transmitted to the horizontal blade 16 and the vertical blade 22 located at the center among the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 18 via the joint 36. And each of the blades 16 and 22 and the other plurality of blades 1
6 and 22, the horizontal blade interlocking plate 20
And the vertical blade interlocking plate 26. Then, as a result, the horizontal blade interlocking plate 20
And the vertical blade interlocking plate 26 are reciprocated in a direction and a distance corresponding to the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the respective rotation shafts 34 of the respective stepping motors 32, so that the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical All the blades 22 can be simultaneously rotated in a direction and an angle corresponding to the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the respective rotation shafts 34 of the respective stepping motors 32.

Then, such a plurality of horizontal blades 16
And the plurality of vertical blades 22 are simultaneously rotated by the housing 10.
The switch operation on the two operation switches 38, 38 provided on the front surface of each of the first and second operation switches is performed in a predetermined rotation range in which a constant rotation angle is set. 38, 38
When each of the blades is turned off, the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 22 have their respective tips directed toward the left and lower sides toward the vehicle interior.
The rotation of each of the blades 16 and 22 is stopped in a state where each of the blades 16 and 22 is positioned at one of the rotation limit positions in the rotation direction.

Here, in this specific example, the two stepping motors 32, 32 for rotating the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 22 are all A motors.
It has a well-known PM-type structure provided with four-phase coils of three phases, B phase, C phase, and D phase, and the four-phase coils are driven by being sequentially excited by a two-phase excitation method. Then, each rotation shaft 34 is rotated. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, here, in particular, such stepping motors 32, 32 are electrically connected to two controllers 40, 40 attached to the housing 10, respectively. The control signals output from the two controllers 40, 40 control the rotation axes 34 of the stepping motors 32, 32.
Can be rotated.

That is, the two controllers 4
Each of 0 and 40 has a microcomputer 42 as shown in FIG. The microcomputer 42 has a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM (none of which are shown).
In response to the input of the N signal, a pulse signal (excitation pulse) for driving the stepping motor 32 is output from the CPU. The pulse signal is amplified by the buffer 44 and output from the CPU of the microcomputer 42 in a waveform having a phase difference of 90 ° as shown in FIG. (A phase, B phase, C
, D-phase), so that the four-phase coils are sequentially excited, and the rotating shaft 34 of the stepping motor 32 is placed in the excitation order of the four-phase coils. It is designed to be rotated in an appropriate direction by an angle corresponding to the number of input pulse signals.

Here, the input of the pulse signal excites the four-phase coils in the order of A phase → B phase → C phase → D phase → A phase →. Is a clockwise direction (i.e., a direction in which the tips of the blades 16, 22 are turned rightward or upward toward the passenger compartment, and the blades 16, 22 are rotated in the clockwise direction). ). On the other hand, D-phase → C-phase →
By energizing the four-phase coils in the order of B-phase → A-phase → D-phase →..., The rotating shaft 34 is rotated in the direction opposite to the clockwise direction (that is, the rotation of the blades 16 and 22). The blades 16 and 22 are rotated in the direction of turning the blades 16 and 22 in the direction in which the tip is directed leftward or downward toward the vehicle interior (hereinafter abbreviated as CCW). When the rotation shaft 34 rotates in any of the CW rotation and the CCW rotation, the pulse signals are input to the four-phase coils by the preset number of signals, respectively.
The rotation shaft 34 is rotated by a certain angle,
The plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 22 can be rotated within a predetermined rotation range at a predetermined rotation angle.

In particular, in the controller 40 having such a microcomputer 42, when the stepping motor 32 stops driving, in other words, when the rotating shaft 34 stops rotating, each of the blades 16, 2
When the rotating shaft 34 is forcibly rotated by an external force, for example, when the rotating shaft 2 is moved artificially, among the pulse-like electric signals generated by the induced current generated in the four-phase coils, After the pulse-like electric signals generated in the predetermined phases, here the A-phase and the B-phase, are amplified by the amplifier circuits 46a and 46b, respectively, the microcomputer 42 has the waveform as shown in FIG.
To be entered. The phase difference between the output waveform from the phase A and the output waveform from the phase B of the pulse-like electric signal is determined by the CP of the microcomputer 42.
U detects it.

On the other hand, the RAM of the microcomputer 42 is provided with a first counter, a second counter and a third counter. In the first counter, among the pulse-like electric signals generated in the respective coils due to the forcible rotation of the rotating shaft 34 due to the external force under the state where the driving of the stepping motor 32 is stopped, a specific phase, The number of pulse-like electric signals generated in the A-phase is counted, and the count value: C is stored. In the second counter,
When the rotating shaft 34 is rotated CW, the CP
The number of pulse signals input to a specific phase of the four-phase coils from U to A, here the phase A, is counted from the reference rotation position of the rotary shaft 34, and the count value: R is stored. It has become so. Further, in the third counter, when the rotation shaft 34 is rotated in the CCW direction, the number of pulse signals input to the specific phase, here, the A phase, from the CPU is used as the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft 34. , And the count value: L is stored.

Here, the stepping motor 32
The reference rotation position at the time of CW rotation of the rotary shaft 34 is the rotation stop position of the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 22 at the time of the OFF operation of the operation switches 38, 38, that is, each blade 16. , 22 with CW
The rotation position is set at the rotation start point. In addition, the reference rotation position at the time of CCW rotation of the rotation shaft 34 is set to a rotation position at which each blade is positioned at the start point of CCW rotation (end point of CW rotation of each blade).

Further, in the RAM, the phase difference: θ between the output waveform from the phase A and the output waveform from the phase B of the pulse-like electric signal detected by the CPU is stored. Has become. Note that such a phase difference: θ is
When the driving of the stepping motor 32 is stopped, the rotating shaft 3
4 is forcibly rotated in the CW direction, the input waveform of the pulse signal input to the A phase when the rotating shaft 34 is rotated in the CW direction by the pulse signal from the CPU, and B
The phase difference between the pulse signal input to the phase and the input waveform is 90 °, and the rotating shaft 34 is forcibly moved in the CCW direction.
When rotated, the input waveform of the pulse signal input to the A phase and the input waveform of the pulse signal input to the B phase when the rotating shaft 34 is rotated CCW by the pulse signal from the CPU. 270 °, which is the same as the phase difference of

In the register according to this embodiment, the rotation control of the rotation shaft 34 of the stepping motor 32 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 and stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 42 provided in each controller 40 is performed. The rotation of the rotation shaft 34 of the stepping motor 32 is controlled based on the application program, so that the rotation of the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 22 connected to the rotation shaft 34 can be controlled. In other words, it is configured.

That is, when an ON signal is output from the operation switch 38, first, step 1 (hereinafter referred to as S
Abbreviated as 1. Same for other steps. ), Whether the count value of the first counter: C is 0, in other words, when the stepping motor 32 is stopped, the rotating shaft 34 is forcibly caused by the artificial forcible rotation of the blades 16 and 22 or the like. A determination is made as to whether or not the motor has been rotated. And if the count value: C is 0,
If the determination is YES, S5 and the subsequent steps are performed. On the other hand, if the count value: C is not 0, the determination is NO and S2
It is determined whether or not the phase difference θ between the output waveform from the A phase and the output waveform from the B phase is 90 °. That is, it is determined whether or not the forced rotation of the rotating shaft 34 is the CW rotation while the driving of the stepping motor 32 is stopped.

If the phase difference: θ is 90 °, the determination is YES, and the count value of the first counter: C is added to the count value of the second counter: R in S3. On the other hand, if the phase difference: θ is not 90 °, the judgment is NO, and in S4, the count value of the second counter: R from the count value of the first counter:
C is subtracted. Thus, from the values calculated in S3 and S4, the number of pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position of the CW rotation after the forcible rotation of the rotating shaft 34 while the driving of the stepping motor 32 is stopped is obtained, Thus, the rotational position after the forced rotation of the rotary shaft 34 while the driving of the stepping motor 32 is stopped is recognized.

Next, in S5, a pulse signal is input to each of the four-phase coils of the stepping motor 32, and these four-phase coils are switched from the A-phase to the B-phase to the C-phase.
Excitation is performed in the order of the D-phase, and the number of pulse signals input to the A-phase is increased by one, so that the count value R of the second counter is increased by one. Then, in S6, it is determined whether or not the count value: R matches n. The value of n is obtained by rotating the rotating shaft 34 of the stepping motor 32 in the CW direction and rotating the blades 16 and 22 in the same direction at a fixed rotation angle of 1 °.
This is the number of pulse signals required for rotation.

If the count value of the second counter: R does not coincide with n, the result is NO, and the process returns to S5. The program is executed until S5 and S6 until the count value: R coincides with the value of n. Is repeated in Thereafter, when the count value of the second counter: R coincides with the value of n, the determination is YES, and after the second counter is reset in S7, the stepping motor 32 is reset in S8.
The excitation order of the phase coils is switched in the order of D phase → C phase → B phase → A phase. Thereby, each blade 16, 2
2 is rotated once by a constant rotation angle in the CW direction.

Next, in S9, a pulse signal is input to each of the four-phase coils of the stepping motor 32, and these four-phase coils are switched from the D phase to the C phase to the B phase.
Excitation is performed in the order of the A-phase, and the number of pulse signals input to the A-phase is increased by one, so that the count value: L of the third counter is increased by one. Then, in S10, it is determined whether or not the count value: L matches n. The value of n is a pulse signal required for rotating the rotating shaft 34 of the stepping motor 32 in the CCW direction and rotating the blades 16 and 22 once in the same direction at a constant rotation angle. This is the number of signals, and has the same value as n in S6 described above.

If the count value of the third counter: L does not match n, the result is NO, and the process returns to S9. The program is executed in S9 and S10 until the count value: L matches the value of n. Repeated. Thereafter, when the count value of the third counter: L coincides with the value of n, the determination becomes YES, and after the second counter is reset in S11, the stepping motor 32 is reset in S12.
Are switched again in the order of the A-phase → B-phase → C-phase → D-phase. As a result, each of the blades 16 and 22 is rotated once by a constant rotation angle in the CCW direction.
22 is rotated one reciprocation at a preset rotation angle.

Thereafter, it is determined in S13 whether or not to end the execution of the program.
If so, the process returns to S5, where the CW rotation and the CCW rotation of the rotating shaft 34 are performed again, and the blades 16 and 22 are further rotated one reciprocation. This is repeated until the determination in S13 becomes YES, and each blade 1
6 and 22 are continuously reciprocated at a predetermined rotation angle. Further, when the determination in S13 is YES and the execution of the program is terminated, the rotation of the rotating shaft 34 becomes the reference value for the CW rotation of the rotating shaft 34 at which the count value of the second counter: R becomes 0. The rotation is stopped at the rotation position, whereby the rotation of each blade 16, 22 is stopped at the rotation position that is the starting point of the CW rotation.

As is apparent from the above description, in this specific example, a portion for executing S5 to S7 and S9 to S11 constitutes a counting means, and a portion for executing S1 and S2. , An electric signal detecting means is constituted, and a part for executing S3 and S4 constitutes a rotational position recognizing means.

As described above, in the register of this embodiment, when the rotating shaft 34 is forcibly rotated by an external force while the driving of the stepping motor 32 is stopped, the register is counted by the second counter. With respect to the number of pulses of the pulse signal, the number of pulse-like electric signals counted by the first counter is adjusted according to the order of generation of the electric signal, whereby the second counter adjusts the rotation axis 34 The number of pulses of the pulse signal counted from the reference rotation position to the rotation stop position is corrected, and as a result, the rotation after the forced rotation by the external force of the rotation shaft 34 under the drive stop state of the stepping motor 32 The position can be accurately recognized.

Moreover, in such a register, in order to determine such an accurate rotational position of the rotating shaft 34,
No special detecting device such as a rotary encoder or a rotary potentiometer is used, and therefore, the structure for recognizing the rotational position of the rotary shaft 34 becomes complicated, or such a structure is added. Such a rise in costs can be very advantageously avoided.

Therefore, in the register according to the present embodiment, the rotation control of the rotation shaft of the stepping motor, and the rotation control of the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 22, are simple and possible. It can be controlled precisely at a low cost and in a achievable structure, so that air from the front opening 12 of the housing 10
It is possible to reliably and stably blow out the air in a predetermined blow-out range.

In this register, of the four-phase coils of the stepping motor 32, the pulse-like electric signals generated in the A-phase and the B-phase are amplified by the amplifier circuits 46a and 46b, respectively. As a result, the pulse-like electric signal can be more reliably input to the microcomputer 42, whereby the CP of the microcomputer 42
U, the order of generation of the pulsed electric signals and 4
The comparison with the excitation order of the phase coils and the addition and subtraction of the number of pulses of the pulsed electric signal with respect to the number of pulses of the counted pulse signal can be performed more accurately. As a result, the rotation of the stepping motor 32 can be performed. Rotation control of the shaft 34,
As a result, the rotation control of each of the blades 16 and 22 can be performed even more stably.

Although the specific configuration of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited by the above description. Should be understood.

For example, in the above-described specific example, each of the two stepping motors 32 is electrically connected to a controller 40 as a control device, and each controller 40 controls the corresponding stepping motor 3.
2 are controlled separately, but a single controller 40 simply controls a plurality of stepping motors 32.
It does not matter what is controlled.

Further, in the above specific example, the pulse signal and the number of signals during the CW rotation of the rotating shaft 34 of the stepping motor 32 and the number of signals during the CCW rotation are separately counted. The reset is performed when the value reaches a preset value, and the excitation order of the four-phase coils of the stepping motor 32 is switched. The number of such pulse signals is changed by the CW rotation of the rotating shaft 34. The time and the CCW rotation may be counted without being divided at all. In addition,
At this time, each time the total count value becomes a multiple of the value corresponding to the amount of rotation of the rotating shaft 34 that rotates each blade one time in each of the two rotating directions, the excitation order of the four-phase coil is changed. Will be switched, and such a total count value will be reset at the end of the program.

Further, in the specific example, as described above, when the count value of the pulse signal reaches a preset value, the excitation order of the four-phase coils of the stepping motor 32 is switched, and the rotating shaft 34 is switched. Has been reversed so that the blades 16 and 22 can be reciprocated at a constant rotation angle in both the CW and CCW rotation directions. The count value of the pulse signal to be performed can be appropriately determined according to the counting method, the step angle of the stepping motor 32, or the like. Further, the count value may be changed over time, or the temperature attached to the vehicle interior. It can also be changed according to the vehicle interior environment detected by a detection sensor, a solar radiation detection sensor, or the like. Thereby, a more comfortable vehicle interior environment can be realized.

Further, in the specific example, of the four-phase coils of the stepping motor 32, only the number of pulse signals input to the A-phase is counted. As for the pulse-like electric signal generated in the coil, only the electric signal generated in the A-phase was counted. However, while counting the number of pulse signals input to each of the four-phase coils,
All the pulse-like electric signals generated in the four-phase coil may be counted. And
By adding or subtracting pulse-like electric signals to the number of pulse signals counted in this way,
The rotation position of the rotating shaft after being forcibly rotated by an external force under the driving stop state of the stepping motor,
It can be more accurately recognized.

Further, such a stepping motor 32
The number of coil phases and the excitation method for those coils are also
The present invention is not limited to the above specific examples.

Further, in the above-mentioned specific example, the stepping motor 32 has a PM type structure. However, when the drive shaft is stopped and the rotation shaft is forcedly rotated by an external force, the plurality of coils are driven. It is needless to say that any structure can be advantageously employed as long as an induced current is generated in each of them.

In the specific example, the reference rotation positions of the CW rotation and the CCW rotation of the rotation shaft 34 of the stepping motor 32 are such that the plurality of horizontal blades 16 and the plurality of vertical blades 22 are rotated by the CW rotation and the CCW rotation. Although the rotation position is set at the start point of each movement, the setting position of the reference rotation position is not limited to such a case, but is determined appropriately.

Further, in the specific example, the operation switch 3
8 and 38, the stepping motor 3 is turned off.
The rotation of the second rotation shaft 34 is stopped at the reference rotation position during the CW rotation, and the rotation of each of the blades 16 and 22 is stopped at the start point of the CW rotation. It is also possible to set the rotation stop positions of the blades 16 and 22 arbitrarily.

That is, for example, each of the blades 16 and 22
When the switch is operated at the arbitrary rotation position during the rotation, the excitation order of the four-phase coils of the stepping motor 32 and the number of pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft 34 are determined. Microcomputer 4
2, a stop position memory switch is stored in the microcomputer 4, and when the stop position memory switch is operated again under the rotation stop state of each of the blades 16 and 22, the microcomputer 4 is operated by the previous switch operation.
In order to be able to rotate the rotating shaft 34 to the stored rotational position, input the pulse signals to the four-phase coils according to the excitation order of the coil stored in 2 and the number of signals stored at the same time. You can do it. As a result, the blades 16 and 22 can be stopped at an arbitrary rotation position. Even when each of the blades 16 and 22 is stopped at an arbitrary rotation stop position by such a stop position memory switch, the blades 16 and 22 are forcibly forced by an external force from such a stopped state. When the rotating shaft 34 of the stepping motor 32 is forcibly rotated by being rotated, the rotating shaft 34 is rotated based on the excitation order of the coils and the number of pulse signals stored in the microcomputer 42. The rotational position can be accurately recognized.

In addition, in the above-mentioned specific example, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to the rotation control of the wind direction member of the register of the automobile. However, the present invention uses a stepping motor other than the automobile. The control of the rotation of the wind direction member of the vehicle air outlet device and the use of a member or part driven in conjunction with the rotation axis of the stepping motor in various devices using a stepping motor other than the vehicle air outlet device. Of course, any of them can be advantageously applied to the drive control or the rotation control itself of the rotation shaft of various stepping motors.

In addition, although not enumerated one by one, the present invention
Based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, various changes, modifications, improvements, and the like can be made, and any of such embodiments can be implemented in the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is to be understood that they are included within the scope of the invention.

[0063]

As is clear from the above description, according to the rotation control method of the stepping motor according to the present invention,
The rotational position of the rotary shaft of the stepping motor can be recognized with high accuracy by a feasible structure, simply and at the lowest possible cost, so that the rotation of the rotary shaft can be controlled more precisely. As a result, the rotating shaft can always be surely rotated in a preset rotating range or a desired rotating range.

Further, by using the rotation control device of the stepping motor according to the present invention, the rotation control method of the stepping motor having the above-mentioned excellent characteristics can be realized very advantageously and reliably.

Further, in the method for controlling the rotational position of the wind direction member in the vehicle air outlet device using the stepping motor according to the present invention, the rotation of the wind direction member may complicate the structure and increase the cost. It can be controlled more precisely without any inconvenience, so that the air can be blown out reliably and stably in the preset blowout range.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view showing an example of a vehicle air outlet device adopting a stepping motor rotation control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of the vehicle air outlet device shown in FIG. 1;

3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional explanatory view of the vehicle air outlet device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a rotation control device of a stepping motor provided in the vehicle air outlet device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an input waveform of a pulse signal input to each of a plurality of coils of a stepping motor provided in the vehicle air outlet device shown in FIG. 1;

6 is a time chart showing an output waveform of a pulsed electric signal output from a predetermined coil of a stepping motor provided in the vehicle air outlet device shown in FIG. 1 in an amplified state.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a rotation control program of a rotation shaft stored in a rotation control device of a stepping motor provided in the vehicle air outlet device illustrated in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Housing 16 Horizontal blade 20 Horizontal blade interlocking plate 22 Vertical blade 26 Vertical blade interlocking plate 32 Stepping motor 34 Rotation axis 38 Operation switch 40 Controller 42 Microcomputer 46 Amplification circuit

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H02P 8/00 F24F 13/15 B60H 1/34

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. Inside an opening of a housing that opens into a vehicle interior.
Are arranged so as to be rotatable in the same direction and in parallel with each other.
A plurality of wind direction members are connected to the plurality of wind direction members and
Reciprocally movable in the direction in which the plurality of wind direction members are disposed.
In addition to rotating in conjunction with the interlocking member,
Pulse signals are sent to multiple coils of the stepping motor.
Signal, and excite these coils sequentially.
A step connected to the interlocking member or the plurality of wind direction members.
The rotation axis of the motor is rotated, and the
The plurality of wind direction members are rotated.
In the vehicle air outlet device, the stepping motor
The pulse counted from the reference rotation position of the rotation axis of
Recognition based on the number of signals and the excitation order of the plurality of coils
Rotation of the rotation shaft based on the rotation position of the rotation shaft
Control means for controlling the rotation of the plurality of wind direction members, counting means for counting the number of signals of the pulse signal from the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft, the drive stop state of the stepping motor Below, the number of pulse-like electric signals generated by an induced current generated in each of the plurality of coils with the forced rotation by the external force of the rotating shaft, and the number of the pulse-like electric signals, An electrical signal detecting means for detecting an order of occurrence between the coils of the plurality of coils; an order of occurrence of the pulse-like electric signal detected by the detecting means between the plurality of coils; Compare the excitation order and determine whether or not the order is the same, until the rotation of the rotating shaft is stopped from the reference rotation position and stopped with the drive stop of the stepping motor. By adding or subtracting the number of pulses of the pulse-like electric signal to the number of pulses of the pulse signal counted by the counting means, the forcible rotation of the rotation shaft by the external force can be performed while the stepping motor is not driven. Rotation position recognizing means for recognizing the rotation position of the plurality of wind direction members;
While the switch is operated in the position, the plurality of wind direction members
When the rotation is stopped, the plurality of wind direction members are
Switch operation again to rotate to the turning position of
A stop position memory switch in which the operation is performed, and a rotation of the plurality of wind direction members of the stop position memory switch.
At the time of operating the switch at any rotational position when moving
Excitation order of a plurality of coils of the stepping motor
Number of pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position
And the stop position memory switch,
Switch operation again when the rotation of a plurality of wind direction members is stopped
By operation, previously stored for the plurality of coils
In the excitation order, input as many pulse signals as the number of signals.
Then, rotate the rotating shaft of the stepping motor.
Car using the stepping motor, characterized in that it comprises an optional rotational position storage / stop means that the
A rotation control device for a wind direction member in a dual-use air outlet device. 2. A pulse-like electric signal generated by an induced current generated in each of the plurality of coils,
2. A vehicle using a stepping motor according to claim 1 , wherein the pulse-like electric signal is amplified by an amplifier that amplifies the pulse-like electric signal and is input to the electric signal detecting means . Wind direction in air outlet device
Material rotation control device. 3. A plurality of wind direction members disposed in an opening of a housing opening into a vehicle interior in such a manner as to be rotatable in the same direction and in parallel with each other, and connected to the plurality of wind direction members and the plurality of wind direction members. Along with the interlocking member being reciprocally movable in the arrangement direction of the members, the interlocking member is rotated in conjunction with the member, and
A pulse signal is input to each of the plurality of coils of the stepping motor, and the plurality of coils are sequentially excited to rotate the rotating shaft of the stepping motor connected to the interlocking member or the plurality of wind direction members. In the vehicle air outlet device, the number of the pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position of the rotation shaft of the stepping motor and the excitation of the plurality of coils are performed. When controlling the rotation of the plurality of wind direction members by controlling the rotation of the rotation axis based on the rotation position of the rotation axis recognized by the order, the stepping motor is driven under a stopped state. , Due to an induced current generated in each of the plurality of coils with the forced rotation of the rotating shaft by an external force. A pulse-like electric signal is detected, and the generation order of the pulse-like electric signal among the plurality of coils is compared with the excitation order of the plurality of coils. Accordingly, the number of pulse signals counted from the reference rotation position until the rotation of the rotation shaft is stopped from the reference rotation position by the stop of the driving of the stepping motor is compared with the number of pulse signals generated by the induced current. By adjusting the number of signals, the rotation position of the rotation shaft after the forced rotation by the external force is recognized under the drive stop state of the stepping motor, and the rotation of the rotation shaft is determined based on the recognized rotation position. Controlling the rotation of the plurality of wind direction members, while controlling the rotation of the plurality of wind direction members at an arbitrary rotation position during the rotation of the plurality of wind direction members.
The stop position of the memory switch
At the time, the coils of the stepping motor
Pulse counted from the excitation order and the reference rotation position
Storing the number of signals and stopping rotation of the plurality of wind direction members.
In the stop state, switch the stop position memory switch again.
Operation, the plurality of coils can be
In the excitation order stored in
Input a signal to rotate the rotation axis of the stepping motor.
Roll the plurality of wind direction members to the arbitrary rotation position.
Rotation control method of the wind direction member at the air outlet device for a vehicle using a stepping motor, characterized in that as and which can be rotated up.