JPH04281148A - Air conditioner reset device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a split type air conditioner that is divided into an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The present invention relates to a reset device for an air conditioner that resets a microcomputer to return to normal operation and eliminates operational stoppages.

0002

[Conventional example] Conventionally, in this type of split-type air conditioner, for example, if an abnormality occurs in the control device (microcomputer) of the outdoor unit (if the program goes out of control), the problem occurs in the outdoor unit. At the same time, this abnormality detection signal is sent to the indoor unit to stop the outdoor unit, while the indoor unit's control device detects an abnormality in the outdoor unit's control device. For example, an abnormality in an outdoor unit is notified and the operator of the air conditioner is notified.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned air conditioners, when an abnormality occurs in the outdoor unit, the operation is stopped and the abnormality is notified. You will need to turn off the power, in other words, reset the control device of the indoor unit, and then turn it back on and restart the operation, or call a service person and have them investigate.

[0004] For example, if an air conditioner is installed in a noisy location, the noise may cause the control device of the outdoor unit to frequently stop and an alarm to be issued. In this case, the power must be turned off at the indoor unit and then turned on again each time, which is troublesome, and the problem is that the air conditioner remains stopped while a service person is called. There was a point.

The present invention was made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to reset the outdoor unit before detecting the abnormality on the indoor unit side when an abnormality occurs in the control device of the outdoor unit. To provide a reset device for an air conditioner, which eliminates the troublesome operation of turning off the power and turning it on again, and prevents the operation from stopping while a service person is called. be.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is divided into an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and a first microcomputer that controls the indoor unit and a first microcomputer that controls the outdoor unit. In an air conditioner that maintains a predetermined indoor temperature by exchanging signals between the second microcomputer and the second microcomputer, the second microcomputer outputs a clock with a predetermined period, and is activated by this clock. is equipped with a watchdog timer that outputs a reset signal for the second microcomputer when the second microcomputer runs out, and the watchdog timer detects an abnormality in the second microcomputer that controls the outdoor unit, and The gist is that the microcomputer can be reset on the outdoor unit side to enable recovery.

[0007]

[Function] With the above configuration, if an abnormality occurs in the second microcomputer of the outdoor unit, for example, if the program goes out of control, the second microcomputer will issue a refresh pulse (a clock with a predetermined period) for the watchdog timer. It will no longer be output. Then, since no refresh pulse is input to the watchdog timer, a reset signal is output after a predetermined time. The second microcomputer is reset by this reset signal, and before the first microcomputer of the indoor unit detects the abnormality, the second microcomputer is reset on the outdoor unit side, It will be restored normally.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In FIG. 1, this air conditioner is divided into an indoor unit 1 and an outdoor unit 2, and the indoor unit 1 is equipped with a first microcomputer (
The main unit is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 3, which transmits signals from a remote controller, etc., and detected data such as room temperature and humidity to the outdoor unit 2 in serial signals, and also includes a control device 4 that controls an indoor fan and the like.

The outdoor unit 2 also includes a control device 6 mainly composed of a second microcomputer (CPU) 5;
It includes the second microcomputer 5 and a reset device based on the watchdog timer section 7, receives the signal from the indoor unit 1, and controls the outdoor fan, compressor, etc. in accordance with the received signal. In addition, the second microcomputer 5 of the outdoor unit 2 outputs a refresh pulse (a clock with a predetermined cycle) to the watchdog timer section 7, and when the refresh pulse runs out, the watchdog timer section 7 goes to "L" level. (a reset signal for the second microcomputer 5). In addition, the above indoor unit 1
Although not shown, the outdoor unit 2 has the same functions as the conventional one and is equipped with devices and the like.

Next, the operation of the reset device for the air conditioner having the above configuration will be explained based on the flow chart of FIG. 2 and the time chart of FIG. 3.

First, when the air conditioner is powered on, the outdoor unit 2 performs initial setting processing and signals are exchanged with the indoor unit 1 to control the outdoor unit 2. Necessary processing is performed (step ST1). At this time, also in the indoor unit 1,
Similar initial setting processing is performed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the I/O
A process of outputting a clock (refresh) of a predetermined period from the port is performed (step ST2), and then various control processes of the outdoor unit are performed, such as receiving signals from the indoor unit and driving the compressor at a target rotation speed. Processing and the like are performed (step ST3). If the second microcomputer 5 is normal, steps ST2 and S
Since T3 is repeated and a refresh pulse is constantly input to the watchdog timer section 7, the watchdog timer section 7 outputs an "H" level signal (as shown in FIG. 3(b)).

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, if some abnormality occurs in the second microcomputer 5 of the outdoor unit 2 due to, for example, ambient noise, and the program goes out of control, the above step ST2 is performed. No processing is executed, and the clock is no longer output from the I/O port of the second microcomputer 5, that is, the refresh pulse of the watchdog timer section 7 is no longer generated. If the refresh pulse does not continue for a predetermined period of time, the output signal of the watchdog timer section 7 becomes "L" level (as shown in FIG. 3(b)), and the above abnormality is detected.

Since the output signal of the watchdog timer section 7 is input to the reset terminal of the second microcomputer 5, the second microcomputer 5 is reset. Although not shown, after the reset, the second microcomputer 5 performs the process of step ST1, and then performs the processes of steps ST2 and ST3, thereby returning to the normal state.

At this time, the first microcomputer 3 of the indoor unit 1 determines that communication with the outdoor unit 2 is defective, and before detecting an abnormality in the outdoor unit 2, the second microcomputer 3 of the indoor unit 1 determines that the communication with the outdoor unit 2 is defective. Since the computer 5 is reset and returned to normal, the operation of the outdoor unit 2 does not stop, and the indoor environment does not deteriorate.

Note that the indoor unit 1 side detects the reset of the second microcomputer 5, notifies the outdoor unit 2 that an abnormality has occurred, and informs the operator of the air conditioner that there is an abnormality. You may want to let them know.

[0017]

As explained above, according to the air conditioner reset device of the present invention, a clock of a predetermined period is generated from the control device (second microcomputer) of the outdoor unit, and this clock is This is used as a refresh pulse for the watchdog timer, and when a clock with a predetermined period is no longer output due to an error in the second microcomputer, the watchdog timer outputs a reset signal for the second microcomputer, so that the surrounding environment When an abnormality occurs in the second microcomputer on the outdoor unit side due to noise etc., for example, when the program goes out of control, the second microcomputer on the outdoor unit side
Since the microcomputer of the air conditioner can be automatically reset and returned to normal, it is possible to prevent the air conditioner from stopping, which means that the indoor environment can be prevented from deteriorating. There is no need for the troublesome operation of turning off the power and turning it on again, and there is no need for the operation to remain stopped while a service person is called.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioner reset device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Flowchart diagram for explaining the operation of the air conditioner reset device shown in Fig. 1.

[Fig. 3] A time chart diagram for explaining the operation of the air conditioner reset device shown in Fig. 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Indoor unit 2 Outdoor unit 3 Microcomputer (first) 5 Microcomputer (CPU; second) 6 Control device (outdoor unit 2) 7 Watchdog timer section

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: The indoor unit is divided into an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and signals are exchanged between a first microcomputer that controls the indoor unit and a second microcomputer that controls the outdoor unit. In an air conditioner that maintains a predetermined temperature, the second microcomputer outputs a clock with a predetermined cycle, and is operated by this clock, and when the clock runs out, outputs a reset signal for the second microcomputer. A watchdog timer is provided to detect an abnormality in a second microcomputer that controls the outdoor unit, and the second microcomputer can be reset by the outdoor unit to recover. An air conditioner reset device characterized by: