JP2000330650A - Temperature controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make components common and the constitution simple and to make the controller small-sized by shifting an upper- and a lower-limit temperature by a set temperature shift value, comparing a temperature detection value with the shift values, and controlling a switching element. SOLUTION: A temperature detection part 42 detects and writes the in- refrigerator temperature TP in a temperature data register 34 and sends it out by interface logic 31. A mode register 41 with an external instruction, control logic 37 sets the illumination point of a display unit 22 to a center value 8 deg.C of, for example, 16 deg.C by switches 23 and 24 when a temperature shift value TC in a nonvolatile memory 38 has a variation width of 16 deg.C. Consequently, the upper- and lower-limit temperatures 0 and 4 deg.C set initially in a thermostat register are varied to 8 and 12 deg.C. Then a comparator 33 compares the in- refrigerator temperature TP with the shifted upper- and lower-limit temperatures 8 and 12 deg.C to turn the switching element ON when the in-refrigerator temperature TP reaches 12 deg.C and OFF when the temperature falls to 8 deg.C.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a temperature control system used in, for example, commercial / home refrigerators, prefabricated refrigerators, low-temperature showcases, storage cabinets, frozen dessert production equipment, vending machines, air conditioners and the like. It concerns the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a commercial refrigerator, a low-temperature showcase, or a prefabricated refrigerator,
A compressor, a condenser, a cooler, etc. constituting the cooling device are built in, or the compressor and the condenser are separately installed as a refrigerator, and the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is condensed by the condenser, and the pressure is reduced by the decompression device. After the pressure is reduced, it is supplied to a cooler to exert a cooling effect, and the cool air cooled by the cooler is circulated in the refrigerator by a cooling fan.

Further, a condenser fan is installed around the compressor and the condenser, and the condenser and the compressor are air-cooled by the condenser fan. And
In recent years, the operation of these compressors, cooling fans, condenser fans, and the like has been controlled by a control device composed of an electronic circuit.

[0004] A temperature sensor for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerator is connected to the control device. The temperature of the refrigerator is compared with a temperature set by a switch or a variable resistor and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. Controls compressors, etc. That is, the set values are the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature in the normal refrigerator, and the control device starts the compressor when the refrigerator temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches the upper limit temperature, and when the temperature falls to the lower limit temperature, That is, the control for stopping the compressor is executed.

[0005]

By the way, as a method of setting the temperature, conventionally, a resistor bridge circuit and a negative feedback resistor are usually connected to an OP amplifier, and a variable resistor of the resistor bridge circuit is adjusted to adjust the temperature of the compressor. The upper limit temperature to be started and the lower limit temperature to be stopped were set, but these upper limit temperature and lower limit temperature depend on the model and specification of the refrigerator or low temperature showcase to be controlled by the control device. Comes very different. for that reason,
The control device has to be designed and manufactured with resistance components having different capacities for each model, and there has been a problem in that the cost of parts has increased in the case of small-scale production of other models.

Conventionally, a control device is constructed by complexly combining circuit components such as a variable resistor and a switch around a microcomputer, so that the board size of the control device is large and there is a problem in installation space. Was.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problem, and provides a temperature control device which can solve the cost and dimensional problems by commonization and simplification of the configuration. It is.

[0008]

The temperature control device according to the present invention comprises a temperature detecting means, a storage means for storing an upper limit temperature and / or a lower limit temperature, a setting means for setting a temperature shift value, and a switching element. And a comparing means for controlling, the comparing means shifting the upper limit temperature and / or the lower limit temperature in the storage means by the temperature shift value set by the setting means, and detecting the shifted value and the temperature detection. A control output of the switching element is generated by comparing the value with a value detected by the means.

According to the present invention, there are provided temperature detecting means, storage means for storing the upper limit temperature and / or lower limit temperature, setting means for setting the temperature shift value, and comparing means for controlling the switching element, The comparing means shifts the upper limit temperature and / or the lower limit temperature in the storage means by the temperature shift value set by the setting means, and compares the shifted value with the value detected by the temperature detecting means. Since the control output of the switching element is generated by changing the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature to be written in the storage means, it can be used for devices of various models and specifications.

Further, the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature are shifted by the setting means, and the switching element is controlled by the shifted value. Therefore, the control temperature can be appropriately adjusted according to the use condition, and the common component can be used. Can be achieved. Furthermore, since the configuration can be simplified, the cost can be significantly reduced and the control device can be downsized.

The temperature control device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes the transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the outside, and when the data relating to the upper limit temperature and / or the lower limit temperature is received from the outside, the value is written to the storage means. It is characterized by the following.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, a transmission / reception means for exchanging data with the outside is provided, and when data relating to the upper limit temperature and / or the lower limit temperature is received from the outside, the values are stored in the storage means. Because I tried to write to
The temperature setting can be changed from the outside by communication, so that the versatility can be further improved and the degree of freedom in control can be increased.

A temperature control device according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a shift width storage unit in which the change width of the temperature shift value is set, and the temperature control device determines the change width of the temperature shift value based on data received from the outside. It is characterized by changing.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, a storage means for a shift width in which a change width of the temperature shift value is set is provided, and the change width of the temperature shift value is determined based on data received from outside. Since the temperature shift value is changed, the change width of the temperature shift value can be corrected and changed from the outside by communication, and further versatility and controllability can be improved. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the value detected by the temperature detecting means is transmitted to the outside by the transmitting / receiving means based on an external request.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above inventions, the value detected by the temperature detecting means is transmitted to the outside by the transmitting / receiving means based on a request from the outside. The temperature can be collected by an external control device. This allows
It is possible to centrally manage a plurality of devices provided with the temperature control device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature control apparatus according to the above invention, wherein the temperature detecting means, the storing means, the setting means, the comparing means and the transmitting / receiving means are integrated in a chip.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the temperature detecting means, the storing means, the setting means, the comparing means, and the transmitting / receiving means are integrated into a chip in addition to the above-mentioned inventions, so that the wiring and assembling workability is improved. Thus, the installation space can be further reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature control apparatus according to the above invention, wherein the setting means includes a display for displaying the set temperature shift value.

According to the invention of claim 6, in addition to the above-mentioned inventions, the setting means is provided with a display for displaying the set temperature shift value. Can be set, and the operability is remarkably improved.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a commercial refrigerator 1 as an embodiment of a device to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of a temperature control device 9 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 has a main body 5 formed of a heat insulating box 2 opening to the front, and a storage room (inside the refrigerator) 3 is formed inside the heat insulating box 2. The front opening of the storage room 3 is closed by a door 4 so that it can be opened and closed.

In the storage room 3, a cooler 6 constituting a refrigeration cycle of the cooling device and a cooling fan 7 driven by a motor 7M are provided. A dew-proof heater 8 for preventing dew condensation is provided at the opening edge of the heat-insulating box 2,
An operation panel 11 of the temperature control device 9 is attached to a front surface of the door 4.

On the other hand, a machine room 12 is formed below the heat-insulating box 2, and in the machine room 12, the compressor 1 which forms a refrigerating cycle of a cooling device together with the cooler 6 is provided.
3, a condenser 14, a condenser fan 16, and the like.

When the compressor 13 is operated, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 13 radiates heat in the condenser 14 to be condensed, and is decompressed by a decompression device (not shown). Supplied. In the cooler 6, the refrigerant evaporates and exerts a cooling function. Thereafter, the low-temperature gas refrigerant returns to the compressor 13 again.

When the cooling fan 7 is operated, the cool air cooled by the cooler 6 is circulated into the storage room 3, whereby the storage room 3 is cooled. In addition, when the condenser fan 16 is operated, outside air flows through the condenser 14 and the compressor 13, so that these are air-cooled. Further, when the dew-proof heater 8 is energized, the opening edge of the heat insulating box 2 is heated to prevent dew condensation.

Next, in FIG. 2, the temperature control device 9 includes a thermostat chip 21 configured in a chip shape,
D, wiring the display 22, switches (constituting setting means) 23 and 24, a switching element 26 including a transistor and a thyristor, and a relay 27 including a photocoupler. It consists of. The display 22 and the switches 23 and 24 are arranged on the operation panel 11.

The thermostat chip 21 is provided in the storage room 3
Interface logic 31, a thermostat register (storage means) 32, a comparator (comparison means) 33, a temperature data register 34, a shift register 36, and a control logic (constituting setting means). 37, nonvolatile memory 38, volume (variable resistance) 39, operation mode (configuration) register (storage means) 4
1, a temperature detection unit (temperature detection means) 42, a conversion unit 43, and a measurement data storage unit 44, each of which is constituted by one chip.

The interface logic 31 has a serial communication function, a register, a protocol, and the like for exchanging data with an external host computer or the like.
Therefore, by being connected to the outside via the signal line, the function of receiving data from the outside and transmitting the data to the outside is achieved. The upper limit temperature TH and the lower limit temperature TL are written in the thermostat register 32.

The temperature data register 34 is written with a later-described internal temperature TP, and the interface logic 31
Is transmitted to the outside. Switches 23 and 24 are connected to the control logic 37.
24, the temperature shift value TC is set by the resistance value of the volume 39, and the set temperature shift value T
C is displayed with the display 22 turned on.

In the non-volatile memory 38, the change width of the temperature shift value TC is 6 by register bit shift.
Values of 4 ° C, 32 ° C, 16 ° C, 8 ° C, and 4 ° C can be set.
The shift register 36 is set to use several digits of the temperature shift value.

The temperature detecting section 42 is a thermostat chip 2
A temperature TP in the storage room 3 provided with 1 is detected and output to the conversion unit 43 as a count value. The conversion unit 43 converts the count value from the temperature detection unit 42 into a numerical value of the temperature, and the converted data of the inside temperature TP is stored in the measurement data storage unit 44. The internal temperature TP in the measurement data storage unit 44
Is sent to the temperature data register 34 and the comparator 33 as described above.

The upper limit temperature TH and the lower limit temperature TL in the thermostat register 32 are also sent to the comparator 33, and the temperature shift value TC is also sent to the comparator 33 via the shift register 36. The temperature shift value TC is sent from the shift register 36 to the interface logic 31 and is sent to the outside.

The output of the comparator 33 is connected to the gate of the switching element 26. The switching element 26 controls a relay 27,
Controls the power supply to the motor 7M of the compressor 13 and the cooling fan 7. The other electric components are continuously energized.

The operation mode of each function is determined by the operation mode register 41. The operation mode set by the operation mode register 41 can be externally changed by the interface logic 31. In particular, the change width of the temperature shift value TC in the non-volatile memory 38 is selected by the operation mode register 41 to any one of the above-mentioned 64 ° C., 32 ° C., 16 ° C., 8 ° C., and 4 ° C.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Now, the interface logic 31 causes the thermostat register 32 to store, for example, 4 ° C. as the upper limit temperature TH (00001100B as the content of the register) and 0 ° C. as the lower limit temperature TL (0000000 as the content of the register).
000B) is set from an external host computer or the like.

The operation mode register 41 sets the change range of the temperature shift value TC in the nonvolatile memory 38 to 16 ° C. based on an external instruction. In the operation mode register 41, a thermostat operation is set.
As a result, the thermostat chip 2 can be used even after the power is turned on.
1 starts the thermostat operation independently.

Next, the operation of setting the temperature shift value TC using the switches 23 and 24 will be described. Switch 2
When the switches 3 and 24 are pressed (the switch 23 is up and the switch 24 is down) (1 second + 32 × 0.1 seconds), the control logic 37 changes the temperature shift value TC within the change range of 16 ° C. At the same time, it is displayed at the lighting position of the display 22.

For example, when the lighting position of the display 22 is set at the center by the switches 23 and 24, the temperature shift value T
C is 8 ° C. (00001000B as the contents of the register) which is the median of the change width of 16 ° C.

Assuming that the temperature shift value TC is set as described above, the comparator 33 determines the upper limit temperature TH.
(4 ° C .: 00000100B) and the temperature shift value TC. Thus, the shifted upper limit temperature is 0000.
0100B + 00001000B = 0000100
B, that is, 12 ° C.

The comparator 33 determines the lower limit temperature T.
The temperature shift value TC is added to L (0 ° C .: 0000000000B). Thereby, the shifted lower limit temperature is 000
00000B + 00001000B = 00001000
B, that is, 8 ° C.

The comparator 33 compares the shifted upper limit temperature: 12 ° C., the lower limit temperature 8 ° C., and the internal temperature TP, and when the internal temperature TP reaches 12 ° C. (upper limit temperature), the switching element. 26 is turned ON and the internal temperature TP is set to 8
℃ (lower limit temperature) when the switching element 2
6 is turned off.

When the switching element 26 is turned on, the compressor 13 and the motor 7M are energized by the relay 27, and they are activated.
Is turned off, the relay 13 causes the compressor 13
And the power supply to the motor 7M is stopped. Thereby, the temperature in the storage room 3 is controlled between 12 ° C. and 8 ° C.

Next, FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2 have the same or similar functions. In this case, the control logic 37, the nonvolatile memory 38, and the volume 39 are not built in the thermostat chip 21, but an A / D converter 46 is built in. Further, a volume 47 is externally attached to the A / D converter 46.

The resistance value of the volume 47 is converted into a temperature shift value TC by the A / D converter 46 (64-position digital register). The A / D converter 46
Can be set to 64 ° C., 32 ° C., 16 ° C., 8 ° C., and 4 ° C., which are the change ranges of the temperature shift value TC by register bit shift.
Is set to either. Other operations are the same as described above.

In the embodiments, the present invention has been described using a commercial refrigerator. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various electric devices such as a home refrigerator, a low-temperature showcase, a prefabricated refrigerator, a vending machine, an air conditioner, and the like, The present invention is also effective for home automation in automobiles and houses.

[0046]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the temperature detecting means, the storage means for storing the upper limit temperature and / or the lower limit temperature, the setting means for setting the temperature shift value, and the control of the switching element And comparing means for shifting the upper limit temperature and / or the lower limit temperature in the storage means by the temperature shift value set by the setting means, and using the shifted value and the temperature detection means. Since the control output of the switching element is generated by comparing with the detected value, it can be used for devices of various models and specifications by changing the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature written in the storage means. become able to.

Further, the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature are shifted by the setting means, and the switching element is controlled by the shifted value. Therefore, the control temperature can be appropriately adjusted according to the use condition, and the common component can be used. Can be achieved. Furthermore, since the configuration can be simplified, the cost can be significantly reduced and the control device can be downsized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, a transmission / reception means for exchanging data with the outside is provided, and when data relating to the upper limit temperature and / or the lower limit temperature is received from the outside, the value is stored in the storage means. Because I tried to write to
The temperature setting can be changed from the outside by communication, so that the versatility can be further improved and the degree of freedom in control can be increased.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, a shift width storage means for setting a change width of the temperature shift value is provided, and the change width of the temperature shift value is determined based on data received from the outside. Since the temperature shift value is changed, the change width of the temperature shift value can be corrected and changed from the outside by communication, and further versatility and controllability can be improved. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above inventions, the value detected by the temperature detecting means is transmitted to the outside by the transmitting / receiving means based on an external request. The temperature can be collected by an external control device. This allows
It is possible to centrally manage a plurality of devices provided with the temperature control device.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above inventions, the temperature detecting means, the storing means, the setting means, the comparing means and the transmitting / receiving means are integrated into a chip, so that the workability of wiring and assembling can be improved. Thus, the installation space can be further reduced.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above inventions, the setting means is provided with a display for displaying the set temperature shift value. Can be set, and the operability is remarkably improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a commercial refrigerator according to an embodiment of a device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the temperature control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of another temperature control device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 6 Cooler 7 Cooling fan 7M motor 8 Dew prevention heater 9 Temperature control device 13 Compressor 14 Condenser 16 Condenser fan 21 Thermostat chip 22 Display 23, 24 Switch 26 Switching element 27 Relay 31 Interface logic 32 Thermostat register 33 Comparator 37 Control Logic 38 Non-Volatile Memory 41 Operation Mode Register 42 Temperature Detector 43 Converter 44 Measurement Data Storage 46 A / D Converter

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Katsumi Maekawa 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Kazuya Imamura 2--5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsutomu Ishikura 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 5H323 AA12 AA18 AA19 BB11 BB12 BB13 BB15 BB20 CB23 CB33 DA01 DB06 EE04 EE10 FF01 HH02 KK05 LL07 LL10 MM02 NN03 NN07 5H740 MM08

Claims (6)

[Claims] A temperature detecting means for storing data of an upper limit temperature and / or a lower limit temperature; a setting means for setting a temperature shift value; and a comparing means for controlling a switching element. The means shifts the upper limit temperature and / or the lower limit temperature in the storage means by the temperature shift value set by the setting means, and compares the shifted value with the value detected by the temperature detection means. A temperature control device for generating a control output of the switching element by comparison. 2. A temperature control system according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission / reception means for exchanging data with an external device, wherein when data relating to an upper limit temperature and / or a lower limit temperature is received from an external device, said value is written to a storage device. apparatus. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising storage means for a shift width in which a change width of the temperature shift value is set, wherein the change width of the temperature shift value is changed based on data received from the outside. Temperature control device. 4. The temperature control device according to claim 2, wherein a value detected by the temperature detection means is transmitted to the outside by a transmission / reception means based on a request from outside. 5. The temperature control device according to claim 2, wherein the temperature detection means, the storage means, the setting means, the comparison means and the transmission / reception means are integrated in a chip. 6. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the setting means includes a display for displaying the set temperature shift value.