JPH0777467B2 - Remote control device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a remote control device for operating the operating state of a device from a location remote from the device.

[Prior Art] In a water heater or the like, as a remote controller (operator) for setting a hot water temperature or instructing a hot water filling operation in a bathtub, electric power supplied from a control device for controlling the water heater is used. Some are equipped with a working microcomputer.

In such a device, information set by the remote controller is sent to the control device, and a display signal for displaying an operating state and set temperature associated with the control of the control device is sent from the control device to the remote controller.

As a signal used for communication between these control device and remote controller, a serial bit digital signal that is AM-modulated by a predetermined carrier wave is used because a microcomputer is mounted. Communication is performed via an electric wire that supplies electric power.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when communicating with an AM-modulated digital signal, external noise is superimposed on the received digital signal,
It is possible that a signal different from the transmitted digital signal is received.

Therefore, if the microcomputer of the remote controller malfunctions once due to external noise, it cannot be reset.For example, if repeatedly sending meaningless information signals, the control device can determine the correct control target value. No
Alternatively, there is a problem that the operation is hindered because the respective instructions such as the water filling operation are not given, or there is a problem that it is determined that the remote controller is not connected.

An object of the present invention is to quickly restore normal operation to a microcomputer mounted on an operating device such as a remote controller when an abnormality occurs.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The present invention comprises a control device main body for controlling a device and an operating device connected to the control device main body, and based on an operation target set by the operating device, In a remote control device for controlling equipment, the operating device is equipped with a microcomputer operated by electric power supplied from the control device body, and the microcomputer converts the operation target into a predetermined information signal. While repeatedly transmitting to the control device main body, the control device main body is provided with signal inspection means for determining whether or not the information signal can be received in a correct state, and the number of times the information signal cannot be continuously and correctly received is predetermined. When the number of times is exceeded, the power supply to the operation device is once stopped, then the power supply is restarted, and then
The technical means is not to stop the power supply based on the determination result of the signal inspecting means until a predetermined time has elapsed.

[Operation] In the present invention, the operation target set by the operating device is converted into a predetermined information signal and transmitted to the control device main body, and when the information signal is correctly received, the operation target operation is performed. If the device is controlled based on the target and the information signal cannot be received correctly, the control based on the signal is not performed.

As one of the cases where the information signal cannot be received correctly, there is a case where the information signal cannot be received correctly because external noise is mixed into the information signal even if the microcomputer of the operating unit operates normally. In such a case, the information signal is repeatedly transmitted, so even if the information signal cannot be received correctly, it can be received correctly during several subsequent transmissions, and the device is controlled based on the correctly received information signal. it can.

On the other hand, as another case where the information signal cannot be received correctly,
There is a possibility that the microcomputer of the operation unit malfunctions and cannot return to the normal operation. In that case, the correct information signal is not transmitted from the microcomputer of the operation unit or no information signal is transmitted.

In such a case, the control device body cannot continuously and correctly receive the information signal that should be repeatedly transmitted, and when the number of times exceeds a predetermined number, the power supply from the control device body to the operating device is temporarily stopped, After that, power supply is restarted.

As a result, the microcomputer of the operating unit temporarily stops its operation when the power supply is stopped, and when the power supply is restarted, it is reset and operates again.

Therefore, the operating device has a high possibility of returning to a normal operation at the time of operation, and can be separated from the malfunction state. Further, even if the information signal cannot be correctly received repeatedly after the power supply is once stopped, the power supply is not stopped again until the predetermined time elapses.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, when the correct information signal is not transmitted due to the malfunction of the microcomputer of the operating device, the microcomputer of the operating device is normally operated by stopping the power supply from the control device body to the operating device. It can be returned to operation.

Therefore, even if the microcomputer of the operation unit malfunctions, the device can be used without causing malfunction. In addition, once the power supply has been stopped, the power supply will not be stopped again until the predetermined time has elapsed, so power supply will be stopped many times if there is a connection failure during installation work, etc. Since the inspection cannot be stopped, the installation work can be completed promptly.

[Embodiment] Next, a remote control device of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment of the gas water heater 1 with a water filling function shown in FIG.

The gas water heater 1 with a hot water filling function shown in FIG. 2 performs hot water filling to some hot water inlets equipped with hot water taps and automatic hot water filling to the bathtub B, and is controlled by the controller 30. .

The control device 30 mutually communicates between the bath remote controller 41 and the main remote controller 42, and performs hot water supply operation, hot water filling operation, and high temperature hot water operation according to the operation of each remote controller.

The control device 30 determines the required heating amount in each operation based on the hot water supply temperature set by each remote controller and the detection signals of the thermistors 12, 13 and the flow rate sensor 14 provided in the water pipeline 11, and based on that. The amount of fuel supplied to the burner 3 is controlled.

Further, the water filling operation and the high-temperature hot water operation are performed in response to an instruction from the bath remote controller 41, and these operations are performed only when the flow sensor 14 detects that the hot water supply operation is not performed. Be seen.

Further, when the hot water filling operation or the high-temperature hot water operation is performed, the bypass valve 15 is opened, and when hot water is supplied during these operations, it is detected by the water flow switch 16, and the hot water filling operation is performed in a predetermined sequence. Solenoid valve 17 is closed,
Hot water operation or hot water operation is interrupted and hot water supply operation is switched to. When the flow sensor 14 detects that the hot water supply operation is completed, each operation is restarted.

In FIG. 2, 4 is a fuel supply path to the burner 3,
5 is a blower for supplying combustion air to the burner 3, 10
Is a heat exchanger heated by the burner 3, and 18 is a water line 11
It is a hot water servo for adjusting the flow rate passing through.

Next, regarding the relationship between the control device 30 and each remote controller,
It will be described with reference to the drawings.

Each remote controller 41, 42 is connected to the control device 30 by a two-core connecting wire 31, 32.

The controller 30 includes a microcomputer 33 for performing the above control and a gas water heater 1 with a water filling function.
A drive circuit 34 for driving each part of the remote controller is provided as a center, and a modulation / demodulation circuit 35 for performing communication with each remote controller is provided, and in the present embodiment, operation information including an operation target with each remote controller is provided. Since the connection lines 31 and 32 for transmitting the power supply also serve as power supply lines to each remote controller, a switching circuit 36 for controlling the power supply to the connection lines 31 and 32 is provided.

Power supply circuit for supplying power to each of these circuits 37
Supplies a predetermined voltage to each circuit when the power plug is connected to an outlet not shown.

When the microcomputer 33 moves with the rise of the power supply circuit 37, it controls the switching circuit 36 after 1.5 seconds (seconds),
Power supply to the remote controllers 41 and 42 is started via the connection lines 31 and 32.

Here, the DC power is used as the operating power for each remote controller 41, 42.
12V is supplied.

After 1.0 s after this power supply, the communication signal SG1 modulated into a predetermined carrier wave by the modulation / demodulation circuit 35 is transmitted from the control device 30 to each remote controller.

The communication signal may be transmitted from the control device 30 to each remote controller or may be transmitted from each remote controller to the control device 30, but here, in either case, Signal source, hot water supply temperature, hot water filling temperature, hot water filling amount, operation mode, remote control display data, other parity check data, etc. are arranged in a predetermined order and packetized as a 30 ms serial bit digital signal. The communication signal is used, and the connection lines 31 and 32 are transmitted by being superposed on the DC voltage of 12 V described above by a carrier wave of 400 KHz.

Each remote control is equipped with an operation switch for performing hot water supply operation, an operation switch for setting the hot water supply temperature, a liquid crystal display device for displaying the operating state and the setting state. Operation switch for operation or high-temperature hot water operation, operation switch for setting the filling temperature, amount of filling water, filling time, etc. and priority switch for preferentially operating the main remote controller 42 Each remote control is equipped with a microcomputer 41a, 42a, respectively, and converts the operation information corresponding to the operation of each switch described above into communication signals SG2, SG3 and transmits them to the control device 30. Controls the display of information.

When the control device 30 and each remote controller transmit the communication signals SG2 and SG3, when the communication signal SG1 is transmitted from the control device 30, the bath remote controller 41 and the main remote controller 42 are in order in response to the transmission of the communication signal SG1 after a predetermined time. The respective communication signals SG2 and SG3 are transmitted.

Here, if the control device 30 and each remote controller are operating normally, as shown in A of FIG. 3, the bath remote controller 41 is set 40 ms after the transmission of the communication signal SG1 by the control device 30 is started. The communication signal SG2 by is also 80ms
After that, the communication signal SG3 by the main remote controller 42 is transmitted.

That is, in the bath remote controller 41, when the communication signal SG1 from the control device 30 is received, it is determined whether or not the communication signal SG1 is transmitting each data in the correct state, and it is determined that the data is transmitted in the correct state. Then, the display is performed based on each data of the communication signal SG1, and 40 ms after the transmission of the communication signal SG1 is started, the data corresponding to the operation state of the switch is packetized for each operation and the communication signal SG2 is transmitted. To do.

Similarly, also in the main remote controller 42, when it is determined that the communication signal SG1 is transmitted in the correct state, the display is displayed and each operation switch is set 80 ms after the transmission of the communication signal SG1 is started. The data corresponding to the operation state of is packetized and the communication signal SG3 is transmitted.

When it is determined in each remote controller 41, 42 that the communication signal SG1 is not transmitted in the correct state, each data of the communication signal SG1 received at that time is ignored and based on each data received last time. The communication signals SG2 and SG3 are not transmitted and the communication signal SG of the control device 30
It will not respond to 1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3B, only the communication signal SG1 is superimposed on the connection lines 31 and 32, and the communication signals SG2 and SG3 after 40 ms or 80 ms are not superimposed.

The duration of each communication signal SG1, SG2, SG3 is 30 ms as described above, the cycle T of the communication signal SG1 repeated by the controller 30 is 0.2 s, and the connection line SG2 or SG3 is not used. It is always transmitted when power is supplied to 31 and 32.

Next, communication control regarding each remote controller by the control device 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

The control device 30 responds to the communication signal SG1 by the respective remote controllers 41, 42.
When receiving the communication signals SG2 and SG3 transmitted from the same, it is determined whether or not both the communication signals SG2 and SG3 have been transmitted in the correct state as in the case of each remote controller.

This determination is based on whether or not the parity incorporated as data is normal and whether or not the data indicating "1" or "0" as a fixed digital signal is irrespective of the data that changes depending on the operating state or the operating state. Whether the communication signal SG1 from the control device 30 is detected at a predetermined position in each communication signal or not
Is transmitted based on whether or not each communication signal SG2, SG3 is received within the time limit.

As a result of the above determination, when both communication signals SG2 and SG3 are not abnormal (NO in step 1), the control device 30 sets the priority switch of the bath remote controller 41 based on each data of the communication signals SG2 and SG3. If it is operated, the control target value is updated based on each data of the bath remote controller 41, and if the priority switch is not operated, the control target value is updated based on each data of the main remote controller 42 (switch 2) and is determined. The control target value is incorporated as display data for each remote controller, and the next communication signal SG1 is transmitted.

Therefore, when operating with each remote controller,
After the control signal 30 is changed by the controller 30 after 30 receives the communication signals SG2, SG3 from each remote controller, the changed data is transmitted to each remote controller again to control a new set value etc. The target value and the operating state will be displayed, but the time required to complete this process is
Since it is a very short time of 200 ms set as the repetition period of the communication signal SG1 in 30, it is actually
When an operation such as a setting change is performed on each remote controller, the display content of each remote controller is immediately changed accordingly, and a new operating state can be confirmed.

After updating the control target value in step 2, a 10-minute timer described later is cleared (step 3).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the communication signals SG2 and SG3 are transmitted in the correct state and the communication error is not in the correct state (YES in step 1), after the power supply is restarted, which will be described later, 10 Determines whether the timer that counts elapsed time is running.

If the 10-minute timer is operating (YES in step 4), it indicates that it is within 10 minutes after restarting power supply after temporarily stopping power supply in step 6 to be described later. In the subsequent 10 minutes, the power supply is not stopped even if the communication abnormality is repeatedly determined, so the following steps are omitted.

If the 10-minute timer has not started timing and is not operating (NO in step 4), the result of communication abnormality determination in step 1 may be received in the correct state by chance due to some influence of external noise. Since it is considered that there is no such change, the communication signal at that time is ignored and the control target value is not changed, and the process proceeds to step 5.

If the number of communication abnormalities is less than 16 consecutive times (NO in step 5), the process proceeds to step 1 to receive the communication signal corresponding to the next communication signal SG1 transmitted according to the repetition cycle. wait.

At this time, in the case of communication abnormality due to external noise or the like, normal reception can be performed during several receptions before the communication abnormality reaches 16 times in succession.

In step 4, if the 10-minute timer has timed out and is inoperative, the prohibition of power supply stop has been released, and the process proceeds to step 5.

On the other hand, if the communication signal from the remote control is repeatedly determined to be a communication error, it means that the remote control is not connected or the remote control is malfunctioning and does not return to normal operation. Conceivable.

In such a case, for example, when one remote controller is not actually connected, the communication signal regarding the remote controller not connected is not received, so it is determined that the remote controller is not connected, and the other remote controller connected is determined. The control is performed based on the communication signal.

If the communication signal from each remote controller cannot be received normally at all due to the connection failure of each remote controller or the malfunction of each remote controller, the control device 30 continuously determines that the communication is abnormal.

In such a case, if the remote controller is connected but the communication is abnormal, it is considered that the microcomputer of the remote controller cannot be separated from the malfunction.

Therefore, when the number of communication abnormalities reaches 16 times in succession (YES in step 5), the switching circuit 36 is once opened to restore the microcomputer of each remote controller to the normal operation. Power supply is stopped for 15 seconds (step 6).

This 15 seconds is the time required for the backup capacitor provided in each remote controller to be sufficiently discharged, and may be set according to the capacity of the backup capacitor.

While the power supply is stopped in step 6, the transmission of the communication signal SG1 from the control device 30 is also stopped.

After the power supply is stopped for 15 seconds, the power supply is restarted (step 7), and the time counting is started by the timer that measures the elapsed time after the power supply is restarted once the power supply is stopped (step 8). Go to step 1.

In the gas water heater 1 with a water filling function of the present embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, when the power supply plug 37 is inserted and the power supply circuit 37 of the control device 30 is activated and the microcomputer 33 is activated, 1.5 After a second, the switching circuit 36 starts power supply to each remote controller via the connection lines 31 and 32, and 1.0 second after that, the control device 30 starts transmitting the communication signal SG1 at 200 ms intervals.

If each remote controller is operating normally, the communication signals SG2 and SG3 corresponding to the communication signal SG1 are transmitted from the bath remote controller 41 and the main remote controller 42 40 ms and 80 ms after the transmission of the communication signal SG1 is started, respectively. .

When each remote controller does not operate normally for some reason, the control device 30 cannot receive the communication signals SG2 and SG3 in the correct state, so it is determined that the communication is abnormal, and the communication signal SG2 and the communication signal SG3, When the communication abnormality state is repeatedly determined 16 times in succession, the power supply to each remote controller is stopped and the communication signal SG1 is not transmitted 3.2 seconds after the communication signal SG1 is first transmitted.

When the power supply is restarted after 15 seconds of power supply stop, if the hardware is not abnormal, the microcomputer of each remote controller is reset and returns to normal operation.

As a result, the communication signals SG2 and SG3 are transmitted in response to the communication signal SG1, and the control device 30 controls based on each communication signal.

On the other hand, if the remote control is not properly connected when the installation work is performed, a communication error is repeatedly detected 16 times or more, and thus power supply to each remote control is stopped. Stopping power supply is 15
Since it is for a second, the power supply will be restarted soon, but if the connection is poor, the connection failure may not be recovered within this time, and the communication abnormality will be repeatedly determined again.

However, in the present embodiment, once the power supply is stopped,
Since the power supply is not stopped until the time elapses, even if there is a connection error in the construction, the normal operation can be immediately restored as soon as the connection error is resolved.

Therefore, the person in charge of installation work can promptly check the connection.

It should be noted that, when each remote controller is independently determined to have a communication error during operation, priority is moved to another remote controller that is not the abnormal remote controller, and operation is performed according to the operation of the remote controller.

However, when the bath remote controller 41 is used preferentially, the temperature set in the bath remote controller 41 is controlled in advance as the target temperature, and there is a high possibility that hot and cold water is being used in the bathroom. Since it is dangerous for the outflow temperature to change, the hot water supply temperature set by the bath remote controller 41, which is prioritized, is moved to the main remote controller 42 as the target temperature as it is and the control is continued.

As described above, in the present invention, even if the microcomputer mounted on each remote controller malfunctions, normal operation is automatically restored by stopping and restarting power supply from the control device.

Therefore, even if the operation is temporarily affected by external noise or the like, the effect can be promptly eliminated to perform the normal operation, and the operation of the water heater is not hindered.

In this embodiment, an example of a gas water heater with a water filling function is shown, but a water heater without a water filling function or a water heater provided with a heater for additional heating may be used, and the fuel is limited to gas. Instead, it may use petroleum.

Further, the equipment is not limited to the water heater, and may be an air conditioner such as a heater or an air conditioner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the relationship between a controller and a remote controller in a gas water heater with a water filling function according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a gas water heater with a water filling function according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram, FIG. 3 is a time chart showing a relative relationship between communication signals by the control device and a remote controller, FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining communication control of the control device, and FIG. 5 is an operation explanation regarding communication control of the control device. Is a time chart for. In the figure, 1 ... Gas water heater (equipment) with a water filling function, 30 ...
... Control device (control device main body), 33 ... Microcomputer (signal inspection means), 41 ... Bath remote control (operator), 42 ... Main remote control (operator), 41a ... Microcomputer, 42a ... Micro Computer, SG2
... communication signal (information signal), SG3 ... communication signal (information signal).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device comprising a control device body for controlling a device and an operating device connected to the control device body, the remote operating device controlling the device based on an operation target set by the operating device. The operation device is equipped with a microcomputer that operates by electric power supplied from the control device body, and the microcomputer converts the operation target into a predetermined information signal and repeatedly transmits it to the control device body. Together with the control device main body, a signal inspection means for determining whether or not the information signal could be received in a correct state is provided, and if the number of times that the information signal cannot be correctly received continuously exceeds a predetermined number of times, After the power supply to the operation device is once stopped, the power supply is restarted, and thereafter, until a predetermined time elapses, the power supply based on the determination result of the signal inspection means is performed. A remote control device characterized by not performing electrical stop.