JP3585304B2 - Automotive air conditioning system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for a vehicle using a plurality of actuators of the same type, and more particularly to a system for improving the responsiveness of each actuator during manual operation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to reduce the number of harnesses and reduce system costs as an actuator control system used in automotive air conditioners, all actuators that drive doors are integrated into PBR type actuators with built-in ICs, and these are controlled by auto amplifiers. Currently, a system for comprehensive control using serial communication via one communication line has been developed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above system, since the order of data transmission from the auto amplifier to each actuator is constant, the communication speed for each actuator decreases as the number of actuators used increases, especially during manual operation. Depending on the timing at which the manual switch is pressed, the response of each actuator may be deteriorated.
[0004]
For example, in the case of using three actuators, that is, a mode door actuator, an air mix door actuator, and an intake door actuator, the order of data transmission from the auto amplifier to each actuator is, for example, mode door actuator → air mix door The order of the actuator, the intake door actuator, and the mode door actuator is determined. If it takes 100 msec to communicate with each actuator, for example, it takes 100 msec × 3 = 300 msec as a whole. Therefore, for example, when the DEF switch is pressed immediately before data transmission to the intake door actuator, control data including the information is immediately transmitted to the intake door actuator, whereas when the DEF switch is pressed immediately after data transmission to the intake door actuator. When the information is transmitted, the transmission of the information to the intake door actuator must wait until the next transmission processing (after about 300 msec), and the response becomes poor. Such a decrease in the responsiveness of each actuator at the time of manual operation becomes more conspicuous as the number of actuators used increases.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system for automobiles in which the responsiveness of each actuator at the time of manual operation in the above-described actuator control system is improved.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an automotive air conditioning system according to the present invention outputs, to various doors disposed in an air conditioning unit, a motor that drives the door and a current position of the door as a voltage. A plurality of actuators of the same type including a position detection unit and a control circuit for controlling the motor based on the given target position data and the output of the position detection unit are provided. In the automotive air-conditioning system configured to perform comprehensive control by control means using serial communication, when the control means transmits control data to each of the plurality of actuators according to a predetermined transmission order, each transmission processing Each time the operation is completed, it is determined whether or not a manual selection unit for manually selecting a desired air conditioning state has been operated. If the-option means is judged to be operated is to send to the actuators corresponding control data including the selected content.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
This automotive air-conditioning system has an air-conditioning unit 1 similar to the conventional one, and this air-conditioning unit 1 includes an intake unit 2, a cooling unit 3, and a heater unit 4. The intake unit 2 is provided with an outside air intake 5 and an inside air intake 6, which are selectively opened and closed by an intake door 7. The ratio of the outside air and the inside air which the fan 8 draws in is adjusted by the intake door 7. An evaporator 9 is provided in the cooling unit 3. The air taken in by intake unit 2 is cooled by heat exchange with a refrigerant by evaporator 9 and sent to heater unit 4. A heater core 10 for heating air using warm water is provided upstream of the heater unit 4, and an air mix door 11 is rotatably mounted upstream of the heater core 10. The ratio of the cool air bypassing the heater core 10 and the warm air passing through the heater core 10 is adjusted by the air mix door 11, and the temperature of the air blown into the vehicle interior is adjusted. The air after the temperature adjustment is blown out from various outlets to a predetermined place in the vehicle compartment via a duct. Here, a differential air outlet 12 for blowing air toward the inner surface of the front window, a vent air outlet 13 for sending air toward the upper body of the occupant, and a foot for sending air toward the foot of the occupant. An outlet 14 is provided. Each of the outlets 12 to 14 is opened and closed by a differential door 15, a vent door 16, and a foot door 17 (collectively referred to as a mode door). The air outlets 12 to 14 are selected by these mode doors 15 to 17, and an air outlet mode corresponding to the combination is realized.
[0008]
The doors 7, 11, 15 to 17 described above are driven to open and close by links by actuators 18a, 18b, 18c, respectively. That is, the intake door 7 is opened and closed by the intake door actuator 18a, the air mix door 11 is opened and closed by the air mix door actuator 18b, and the mode doors 15 to 17 are opened and closed by the mode door actuator 18c.
[0009]
Each of the actuators 18a to 18c is composed of the same one type of actuator. The actuator 18 is a so-called PBR type motor actuator including a motor 19 for driving the door and a PBR (potentiometer balance register) 20 for detecting the current position of the door as a voltage. IC) 21 is built-in. The position detecting means is constituted by the PBR 20, and the control circuit is constituted by the custom IC 21. The PBR 20 is a variable resistor that moves in conjunction with the shaft of the actuator 18 and converts the motor rotation position corresponding to the door position into a voltage value and outputs it. The motor 19 and the PBR 20 are connected to a custom IC 21 respectively. The custom IC 21 has a built-in microcomputer, communicates with an auto amplifier described later, and determines whether to rotate the motor 19 forward, reverse, or stop based on the given target position data and the output of the PBR 20. It has a function of determining, and rotating the motor 19 forward, reverse, or stop according to the determination. That is, the custom IC 21 has a function of communicating with the outside, a function of generating a control signal of the motor 19, and a function of outputting a drive signal of the motor 19. With the custom IC 21, the actuator 18 can control the stop of the motor 19 by itself. The custom IC 21 is mounted on, for example, a circuit board (not shown) provided in the actuator 18.
[0010]
Each of the actuators 18a to 18c is comprehensively controlled by an auto amplifier 22 having a built-in microcomputer. The control means includes an auto amplifier 22. The auto amplifier 22 and each of the actuators 18a to 18c are connected by one power line 23 and one communication line 24. More specifically, one power supply line 23 and one communication line 24 are connected to the auto amplifier 22 for actuators, each of which is branched in the middle and connected to each of the actuators 18a to 18c. . The actuator 18 is provided with one ground wire 25. Therefore, each of the actuators 18a to 18c has one power line 23, one communication line 24, and one ground line 25, and the number of harnesses between the auto amplifier 22 and each of the actuators 18a to 18c. Are 9 lines in total, which is significantly reduced compared to the conventional general system.
[0011]
Here, a communication signal exchanged between the auto amplifier 22 and each of the actuators 18a to 18c is transmitted by only one communication line 24 (one-wire type), and bidirectional communication is performed. Since communication signals are transmitted and received using one communication line 24, the present system uses serial communication for transmitting information serially. That is, in this system, the auto amplifier 22 is configured to control each of the actuators 18a to 18c using serial communication.
[0012]
Communication signals (serial signals) transmitted and received between the auto amplifier 22 and each of the actuators 18a to 18c are configured, for example, as shown in FIG. The signal name SOM (Start Of Message) has a bit number of 8/3 bits and is a code indicating the start of transmission. ADR (address) is a 3-bit signal indicating the address of the actuator to be transmitted. That is, in the present system, since the common signal is simultaneously transmitted from the auto amplifier 22 to all the actuators 18a to 18c, the ADR signal indicates to which actuator the communication signal is directed. ENA (enable) is a 1-bit signal indicating whether motor driving is permitted or prohibited. This allows the motor to be forcibly stopped in the event of an abnormality. DATA (data) is a 7-bit control signal corresponding to each of the actuators 18a to 18c, that is, a signal representing a door target stop position as a calculation result of the auto amplifier 22. PRTY (parity) is a 1-bit signal representing odd parity for ADR, ENA, and DATA. If it is an odd number, it is determined that there is a normal. The above is the information sent from the auto amplifier 22 to the actuator 18. The POS (motor position) is a 1-bit transmission signal from the actuator, and is a signal indicating whether or not the motor has reached the target position as a target position arrival signal.
[0013]
That is, the communication signal (serial signal) transmitted and received on the communication line 17 is, as information from the auto amplifier 22 to each of the actuators 18a to 18c, identification information (address) (ADR) of the actuator, and a motor operation / stop signal ( ENA), target position stop signal (DATA), error detection information (PRTY), and target position arrival information as information from each of the actuators 18a to 18c to the auto amplifier 22.
[0014]
The communication signal (serial signal) configured as described above is basically transmitted from the auto amplifier 22 to each of the actuators 18a to 18c according to a predetermined transmission order. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, a signal to be transmitted to the mode door actuator 18c (data for air outlet control), a signal to be transmitted to the air mix door actuator 18b (data for air outlet temperature control), an intake Signals are exchanged between the auto amplifier 22 and each of the actuators 18a to 18c in the order of signals (suction port control data) to be transmitted to the door actuator 18a. At the time of automatic control in which a predetermined manual switch is not operated, signals are transmitted and received between the auto amplifier 22 and each of the actuators 18a to 18c in the above-described order. However, as described later, when a predetermined manual switch is pressed, Is configured to immediately transmit the contents to the corresponding actuators 18a to 18c.
[0015]
An operation / display unit 26 having switches and a display is connected to the auto amplifier 22. FIG. 4 is an external view illustrating an example of the operation / display unit 26. Here, the operation / display unit 26 includes, as manual switches, an air conditioner (A / C) switch 27 for turning on / off the compressor, a fan switch 28 for selecting the rotation speed of the fan 8, and an OFF for turning off the entire system. A switch 29, an automatic (AUTO) switch 30 for automatically turning on the compressor and automatically controlling the system, a mode switch 31 for selecting an outlet mode, temperature control switches 32a and 32b for setting a desired temperature (the switch 32a is for lowering, The switch 32b is used for ascending), a REC switch 33 for fixing the suction port to the inside air circulation, and a DEF switch 34 for fixing the air outlet to the DEF. The display section displays a fan speed, a set temperature, and the like. The unit 35 and the selected outlet mode are indicated by lighting of the indicator lamp. And a Shimesuru display unit 36. Each of the REC switch 33 and the DEF switch 34 has an indicator light that is turned on when it is turned on. The manual selection means includes a mode switch 31, temperature control switches 32a and 32b, a REC switch 33, and a DEF switch. When these switches 31, 32a, 32b, 33, 34 are operated, the selected air-conditioning contents are realized by the corresponding actuators 21a to 21c with priority. The auto amplifier 22 and the operation / display unit 26 are integrated, for example, to constitute one controller.
[0016]
A battery (not shown) is connected to the controller. Power is supplied to each of the actuators 18a to 18c from this battery via the auto amplifier 22 and the power supply line 23.
[0017]
Although not shown, the auto amplifier 22 is also connected to various sensors (such as an inside air sensor for detecting the temperature of the vehicle interior air, an outside air sensor for detecting the outside air temperature, and a solar radiation sensor for detecting the amount of solar radiation). The auto-amplifier 22 performs arithmetic processing on signals from these sensors and the above-mentioned switches 26 to 34, and outputs information (door target stop positions and the like) for operating the actuators 18a to 18c to one communication line 24. To send over. Each of the actuators 18a to 18c drives the motor 19 based on the data (target position) transmitted from the auto amplifier 22 while monitoring the output of the PBR 20 indicating the current position of the door by voltage, and rotates the door to reach the target position. Move closer to the stop position. Thereby, a desired air-conditioning state is automatically or manually set.
[0018]
At this time, data transmission from the auto amplifier 22 to each of the actuators 18a to 18c is basically performed in a predetermined transmission order (mode door actuator 18c → air mix door actuator 18b → intake door actuator 18a → mode door) as described above. The operation is performed in accordance with the actuator 18c) (see FIG. 3). Here, in order to increase the responsiveness of each of the actuators 18a to 18c at the time of manual operation, for example, a predetermined manual switch 31 after the transmission processing to each of the actuators 18a to 18c is completed A determination is made as to whether or not .about.34 has been pressed, and when it has been pressed, the content is immediately transmitted to the corresponding actuator 18a-18c.
[0019]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the data transmission process of the auto amplifier 22 for that purpose.
When the transmission processing program starts, the auto amplifier 22 first outputs a signal (air outlet control data) for the mode door actuator 18c as a transmission target in accordance with a predetermined transmission order (step S1). When the process is completed, it is determined whether or not any of the predetermined manuals 31 to 34 has been turned ON based on a signal from the operation / display unit 26 (step 2). A signal (blow-out temperature control data) for the door actuator 18b to be transmitted is output (step S3). When the transmission process is completed, it is determined whether any of the predetermined manuals 31 to 34 has been turned ON based on a signal from the operation / display unit 26 (step 4), as in step S2, and the result of this determination is NO. If so, a signal (suction port control data) for the transmission of the intake door actuator 18a is further output (step S5). It is determined whether any of them has been turned on (step S6). If the result of this determination is NO, processing returns to step S1. Therefore, as long as the predetermined manual switches 31 to 34 are not operated, the actuators 18a to 18d follow the predetermined transmission order (mode door actuator 18c → air mix door actuator 18b → intake door actuator 18a → mode door actuator 18c) as in the related art. Communication with 18c is performed.
[0020]
On the other hand, if the result of each determination in steps S2, S4, and S6 is YES, data reflecting the contents of the pressed manual switches 31 to 34 is transmitted to the corresponding actuators 18a to 18c. That is, when the mode switch 31 is turned on (step S7), the process immediately returns to step S1 irrespective of the transmission order and transmits control data for realizing the selected outlet mode to the mode door actuator 18c. I do. Similarly, when the DEF switch 34 is turned on (step S8), the process immediately returns to step S1 regardless of the transmission order and transmits control data for implementing the selected DEF mode to the mode door actuator 18c. I do. When the temperature control switches 32a and 32b are turned on (step S9), the process immediately returns to step S3 regardless of the transmission order, and sends control data for realizing the changed set temperature to the air-mix door actuator. 18b. When the REC switch 33 is turned on (step S10), the process immediately returns to step S5 regardless of the transmission order, and transmits control data for setting the suction port to the inside air circulation to the intake door actuator 18a. . In addition, the order of each process of step S7 to step S10 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 5 and can be appropriately changed.
[0021]
The configuration of the operation / display unit 26 is not limited to the above. For example, the temperature control switch may be of a lever type in addition to a push type. Further, when the DEF switch is functionally pressed, not only the outlet is fixed to the DEF, but also the suction port may be fixed to the outside air introduction. In this case, the intake is immediately performed when the DEF switch is pressed. Predetermined data is transmitted to the door actuator 18a and the mode door actuator 18c. Further, in a device provided with a fresh vent mechanism (a fresh vent duct, a fresh vent door, a fresh vent door actuator, etc.), a fresh vent switch for that purpose is provided. In this case, as soon as the fresh vent switch is pressed, predetermined data is transmitted to the fresh vent door actuator.
[0022]
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when a predetermined manual switch 31-34 is pressed, data relating to the content selected by the manual switch 31-34 is immediately prioritized regardless of the next transmission order. Since the signals are transmitted to the actuators 18a to 18c, the responsiveness of each actuator does not deteriorate due to the timing at which the manual switch is pressed as in the related art, and the responsiveness of each actuator at the time of manual operation is improved. This effect becomes more pronounced as the number of actuators used increases.
[0023]
Note that, in the above example, a system using three actuators of the mode door actuator 10a, the air mix door actuator 10b, and the intake door actuator 10c has been described, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the ADR (address) signal is 3 bits as in the present embodiment, a total of up to eight actuators can be connected to one auto amplifier 15. As described above, the present invention is particularly effective when a large number of actuators are used.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, each time data transmission processing to each actuator is completed, it is determined whether or not the manual selection unit has been operated, and if it is determined that the manual selection unit has been operated, the selection is made. When the manual selection means is operated, the selected data is immediately sent to the corresponding actuator regardless of the predetermined transmission order, and the manual operation is performed. The response of each actuator at the time is improved. This effect becomes more pronounced as the number of actuators used increases.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle air conditioning system of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication signal; FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a transmission order; FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a transmission process of an auto amplifier.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Air-conditioning unit 7 ... Intake door 11 ... Air mix doors 15, 16, 17 ... Mode doors 18a, 18b, 18c ... Actuator 19 ... Motor 20 ... PBR (Position detection means)
21a, 21b, 21c ... custom IC (control circuit)
22 ... Auto amplifier (control means)
23 power line 24 communication line 26 operation / display unit 31 mode switch (manual selection means)
32a, 32b: Temperature control switch (manual selection means)
33 REC switch (manual selection means)
34 DEF switch (manual selection means)

Claims (1)

A motor (19) for driving the doors (7, 11, 15 to 17) with respect to various doors (7, 11, 15 to 17) disposed in the air conditioning unit (1); , 11, 15 to 17) for outputting the current position as a voltage, and controlling the motor (19) based on the given target position data and the output of the position detecting means (20). And a plurality of actuators (18a to 18c) of the same type provided with a control circuit (21) for performing the total control of the actuators (18a to 18c) of the same type by the control means (22) using bidirectional serial communication. In an automotive air conditioning system,
When transmitting control data to each of the plurality of actuators (18a to 18c) in a predetermined transmission order, the control means (22) manually selects a desired air-conditioning state each time each transmission process is completed. It is determined whether or not the manual selection means (31, 32, 33, 34) has been operated, and if it is determined that the manual selection means (31, 32, 33, 34) has been operated, it is selected. An automotive air conditioning system characterized by transmitting control data including contents to corresponding actuators (18a to 18c).

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