JPH04243781A - Elevator operation control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain a data reloading frequency for unvolatile memory (EEPROM) at minimum necessary by providing the first data transfer means for transferring data from EEPROM to RAM, upon operation or receipt of an instruction, and the second transfer means for transferring data from the RAM to the EEPROM. CONSTITUTION:After the installation of an elevator, the control data of EEPROM 4 storing minimum control data necessary for operation before shipment is transferred to an area 6 within RAM 5 via the first switch 8 to undertake elevator operation control. When original control data is updated for storing new data, in relation to the progress of an installation process, data in an area 6 within the RAM 5 is updated via a reloading device. When no error is found in reloading data to the RAM 5 after a trial operation, the second switch 9 is operated to transfer control data from the area 6 within the RAM 5 to EEPROM 6 for reloading new data. If the EEPROM 6 is out of order, elevator operation is controlled with the RAM 5, and control data can be completely restored after the exchange of the EEPROM 6.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an elevator control device, and more particularly to an elevator control device suitable for rewriting various control data and control programs during maintenance or remodeling.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when controlling an elevator using a microcomputer (hereinafter simply referred to as microcomputer), it is equipped with a ROM (read-only memory), and this ROM contains only operation control programs and fixed data. Without,
Specification data unique to the building (for example, the number of floors in the building, measured floor height data, door opening time, reference floor, service separation floor, etc.) was stored as control data. but,
In this case, if the purpose of the building changes after the elevator is delivered, or if it becomes necessary to change the above control data due to expansion or renovation or the user's request, the ROM must be replaced, and the change requires a large amount of effort. It takes time and effort.

[0003] For this reason, these data are stored in RAM (rewritable random access memory) and this RAM is backed up by a battery. If a power outage occurs while the battery is not fully charged, all data will be destroyed in an instant, so recently, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 111880/1980, electrical It has been proposed to provide a non-volatile memory (EEPROM) which can be read and written and whose contents will not be destroyed even if the power is cut off, and to store the above-mentioned control data therein.

0004

[Problem to be solved by the invention] By the way, this EEP
Although ROM has excellent features, it has the disadvantage that there is a limit to the number of times it can be rewritten, and the reliability of the element itself is inferior to other memory elements. For this reason, EEP
When using ROM, it is necessary to always check the data storage. For example, calculate the total sum (checksum) of the data in the relevant data area in advance, and periodically calculate the sum again to check the original data. The check is performed using the so-called sum check method, etc., which compares the results with the results of the above.

In this case, as mentioned above, the EEPROM has a limit on the number of times it can be rewritten, so the checksum is stored in the EEPROM.
It is not very desirable to write it to a part of the ROM (this is because the checksum must be updated each time the control data is repeatedly rewritten during adjustment during installation or subsequent specification changes, etc.) (This increases the number of times the checksum part is rewritten and deteriorates the element.) Therefore, the checksum is
I will write it in M.

Similarly, data that needs to be updated frequently, such as learning data for group management, cannot be stored in the EEPROM, but must be stored in the RAM within the same microcomputer system.

However, as mentioned above, even if the RAM is backed up by a battery, the data will be destroyed if the battery fails or is not sufficiently charged, so it is important to monitor EEPROM data and save learning data reliably. The problem was that I couldn't do it.

[0008] Furthermore, there are also the following problems in restoring control data when the EEPROM itself fails or is damaged and the control data is destroyed. That is, since the control data in the EEPROM differs for each elevator, it must be newly created at a factory or the like, and many steps and days are required to recreate it and transport it to the site. Moreover, in order to accurately restore data that has been rewritten due to changes in specifications after the elevator is installed, the data must be centrally managed at the factory or maintenance company in advance, and the centrally managed data is updated every time the data is rewritten on site. This requires extremely complicated management.

Furthermore, when maintenance personnel rewrite control data due to adjustments or specification changes in the field, the rewriting is generally done by specifying a memory address, but erroneous address specification inevitably occurs. In that case, it is best to notice it right away, but if data is rewritten without noticing the incorrect address specification, it may not be easy to identify which address's data has been rewritten and restore it to its original state. However, in the worst case, all the data must be read out and checked in sequence.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made to solve the various problems mentioned above, and its feature is that control information unique to a building is stored in memory as rewritable control data. The elevator control device stores the data and controls the operation of the elevator based on the data read out from the memory.
The present invention comprises a first transfer means for transferring control data in M to the RAM, and a second transfer means for transferring control data in the RAM to the EEPROM in response to an operation or command.

Furthermore, the data in the EEPROM and the R
It is equipped with means for monitoring the data in each AM, and means for issuing an alarm when an abnormality in the data is detected.
The elevator is controlled using the data in AM, but R
When the data in the AM is abnormal, the data in the EEPROM is used to control the elevator.

0012

[Operation] Normally, the control data in the RAM is used to control the elevator, and when it becomes necessary to rewrite the data due to a change in specifications, etc., the data in the RAM is first rewritten. Then, after confirming that there are no abnormalities in the operation of the elevator and completing all maintenance inspections and adjustment work, the second
When the transfer means is operated, the rewritten data in the RAM is transferred to the EEPROM, and the data in the EEPROM is also rewritten.

[0013] Furthermore, due to a failure of the RAM or a power outage when the battery is not sufficiently charged, the RAM
If the data in M is lost, operate the first transfer means after replacing it with a new RAM or after recovering from a power outage, the data in the EEPROM will be transferred to the RAM, and the data will be transferred to the RAM.
The data within will be restored. While the data in the RAM is unavailable, the elevator can continue operating by using the data in the EEPROM. On the contrary, EEPRO
In the case of failure of M, the elevator can continue to operate normally even though a warning is issued, during which time the EEPROM can be replaced with a new one and restoration can be performed using the second transfer means.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an elevator control device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a microcomputer for controlling the elevator, 2 is a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the whole and executes a given job, and 3 is a program and fixed data for controlling the elevator. 4 is an EEPROM that stores control data such as building-specific option programs, number of stops, floor height measurement data, etc. 5 is a temporary saver for data necessary for executing control programs on the CPU This RAM is backed up by a battery (not shown) and is an EEPROM.
It has area 6 corresponding to .

Reference numeral 7 denotes an input interface, 8 a first switch provided on an elevator control panel, etc., for giving a command to transfer the control data in the EEPROM 4 to an area 6 in the RAM 5, and 9 an area 6 in the RAM 5. 10 is an output interface, 11 is a warning display device provided in a control panel or a manager's room, etc., to notify of abnormality detection in EEPROM 4; 12 is also a second switch for giving a command to transfer the data to EEPROM 4; This is a warning display device for notifying the detection of an abnormality in the RAM 5.

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a flowchart for explaining a portion of the processing program of the microcomputer 1 related to the present invention. Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained with reference to this flowchart.

First, after installing the elevator at the site, the program starts when the power to the control device is turned on. In step 21, the EEPROM is checked for abnormality, and if there is no abnormality, the process proceeds from step 22 to step 24. At this time, when the operator first turns on the first switch 8, the control data in the EEPROM 4 is transferred to the RAM in step 25.
It is transferred to area 6 within 5.

The EEPROM 4 stores the minimum control data necessary for initial operation at the time of shipment from the factory, and this data is transferred to the RAM 5. Of course, it is possible to store the control data in the RAM from the beginning, but since the battery for backing up the RAM data may be discharged between factory shipment and installation, this is the first option.
The control data in the EEPROM 4 is transferred to the area 6 in the RAM 5 by operating the switch 8 . After the transfer, the first switch 8 is returned to its original state.

In step 26, a RAM abnormality check is performed, and if there is no abnormality, the process proceeds to step 28, where the elevator operation is controlled using the RAM data. In step 31, it is determined whether or not there is a RAM rewrite request command, but if it is assumed that there is no rewrite request yet and the second switch 9 has not been operated, steps 33 to 3
5, the same procedure is repeated and the elevator is operated according to the data in the RAM.

Next, the installation process proceeds, and the interfloor distance measurement operation and speed control adjustment are performed. When rewriting the original control data and saving new data, first rewrite the data in area 6 in RAM 5. . That is, when a portable rewriting device (not shown) or the like is connected to the microcomputer 1, an address is specified along with a rewriting request command, and new data is input.
The process advances from step 31 to step 32, and the data in the RAM 5 is rewritten. Thereafter, the operation is performed using new data in the RAM 5, but if other data is to be rewritten, the same procedure is repeated to rewrite the data in the RAM 5 one after another.

[0022] If, as a result of the test run at this stage, there is an abnormality in the operation of the elevator and it is found that there was a mistake in rewriting the RAM data, and even if you do not know which data was written incorrectly, the first switch When step 8 is operated, the data in the EEPROM 4 is transferred to the RAM 5 again through steps 24 and 25, and the data in the RAM can be restored to the state immediately before being rewritten.

[0023] As a result of rewriting the RAM data and performing a trial run, the results of the measurement or adjustment were valid, and the RAM
If it is determined that there is no mistake in rewriting the M data, the operator operates the second switch 9 to proceed from step 33 to step 34, and the data in area 6 in RAM 5 is transferred to EEPROM, and the data in area 6 in RAM 5 is transferred to EEPROM 4. The control data within is rewritten with new data.

[0024] The above is a case when an elevator is installed, but the same applies when the control data needs to be rewritten due to changes in building specifications after the installation is completed. That is, in steps 31 and 32, all data that needs to be rewritten in the RAM area 6 is first rewritten, and after confirming that the elevator is operating normally based on the rewritten data, the second switch 9 is operated. and save the data in RAM.
Transfer to EPROM.

[0025] Furthermore, even when storing data that needs to be updated frequently, such as learning data on elevator usage status in group control elevators, the RAM data is first rewritten each time the learning data is updated, and then during periodic inspections, etc. When a maintenance person visits the site, he operates the second switch 9 to periodically transfer the data in the RAM to the EEPROM. In this way, in the present invention, all direct rewriting of control data is performed in RAM, and EEP
Since the data in the ROM is rewritten all at once only when the second switch is operated, the number of times the EEPROM is rewritten can be minimized.

Next, the operation when the EEPROM is damaged will be explained. An abnormality in the EEPROM is discovered by the sum check automatically performed from time to time by the microcomputer as described above. With the configuration of the present invention, the number of times the EEPROM is rewritten can be minimized, so the checksum can be stored in the EEPROM. EEPROM
If an abnormality is detected in the data, the process proceeds from step 22 to step 23, and the occurrence of the abnormality is indicated on a warning display device (lamp, etc.) provided on a control panel or the like.

At this time, since the operation of the elevator is controlled using the data in the RAM as described above, the operation of the elevator can be continued without any trouble at all. When a maintenance worker who comes to the site for a periodic inspection notices this display, replaces the EEPROM with a new one, and operates the second switch 9, the latest control data in the RAM is transferred to the EEPROM and stored in the EEPROM. control data is completely restored.

On the other hand, the occurrence of an abnormality in the RAM is similarly monitored by a sum check, but if an abnormality occurs in the RAM, it will be impossible to continue the normal operation of the elevator, so steps from step 27 are performed. At step 29, the warning display device 12 is operated to notify the occurrence of an abnormality, and at step 30, the RAM data is switched to EEPROM data, so that the elevator operation can be continued using the EEPROM data. During this time, I replaced the RAM with a new one, and then
When the switch 8 is operated, the control data in the EEPROM is transferred to the RAM, the data in the RAM is restored, and thereafter the operation is continued using the RAM data again.

In the above embodiment, data is transferred by operating a switch, but data can be transferred by connecting a computer for maintenance and inspection to the microcomputer 1 and inputting specific commands from the computer. A transfer command may also be given.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an area corresponding to the EEPROM is provided in a part of the battery-backed RAM, but only the RAM corresponding to the EEPROM is battery-backed, and when executing a program Data that requires temporary maintenance may be written to a separately installed RAM. Also, EEP
It is not necessary to have an amount of RAM that corresponds to all of the control data in the ROM, but it is also possible to have a RAM that corresponds to some particularly important control data.

[0031]

According to the present invention, since means are provided for mutually transferring EEPROM data and RAM data, and the RAM data is normally used for operation, the number of times the EEPROM data is rewritten can be reduced. Not only can it be kept to the necessary minimum, but even if an error occurs in EEPROM data, it can be repaired while operation continues, and even if the contents of RAM are written incorrectly, it can be easily restored. Demonstrates various excellent effects.

[0032] Furthermore, since the number of times the EEPROM is rewritten is very small, not only can a checksum for checking the EEPROM data be stored in the EEPROM, but it can also be updated frequently like learning data in group management. Data can also be stored in the EEPROM.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an elevator control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a program of the elevator control device in this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Microcomputer for elevator control 2
CPU 3 ROM 4 EEPROM 5 RAM 6 Area 7 corresponding to EEPROM Input interface 8, 9 Switch 10 Output interface 11, 12 Warning display device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An elevator control device that stores control information unique to a building as rewritable control data in a memory, and controls the operation of an elevator using the data read from the memory, wherein the memory is an EEPROM. and battery backed R
AM, and the EE according to an operation or command.
A first step for transferring control data in the PROM to the RAM.
1. A control device for an elevator, comprising: a transfer means; and a second transfer means for transferring control data in the RAM to the EEPROM in response to an operation or command. 2. The elevator control device according to claim 1, wherein the elevator is controlled by control data read from the RAM during normal operation. 3. The elevator control device according to claim 1, wherein the control data in the EEPROM is not rewritten by means other than the second transfer means. 4. An elevator control system according to claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring control data in said EEPROM, and means for issuing a warning when an abnormality in said data is detected. 5. Means for monitoring the control data in the RAM, and means for issuing a warning when an abnormality is detected in the data, and when an abnormality is detected in the data, the EEP
5. An elevator control device according to claim 1, wherein the elevator is controlled using control data in a ROM.