JPH06213547A - Refrigerator controller - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The same 1-chip microcomputer controls refrigerators with different specifications, and specifications can be changed at low cost and in a short period of time. The amount of data is reduced to reduce the cost of the 1-chip microcomputer. [Structure] A part of the memory data in a one-chip microcomputer, in particular, data of control time and temperature value is stored in a separate memory IC, and is the same when changing specifications or controlling refrigerators having different specifications. The above items are realized by using a one-chip microcomputer and only changing the data in the memory IC. [Effect] By combining the 1-chip microcomputer and the memory IC, it is possible to reduce the cost required for changing the specifications and the change period, and it is possible to control refrigerators having different specifications with the same 1-chip microcomputer. Standardization of control devices can be performed. Also, 1 at the same time
The cost of the chip microcomputer can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for controlling basic functions (cooling operation, defrosting operation, etc.) and additional functions (quick freezing operation, defrosting operation, automatic ice making operation, etc.) of a refrigerator. The present invention relates to an invention in which a microcomputer and a memory IC on which data required for control are mounted are used, and the above-mentioned functions are controlled by a one-chip microcomputer based on the data from the memory IC.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the functions of refrigerators have been diversified and complicated. In order to cope with this, a microcomputer is used. In addition, the above-mentioned microcomputer is a dedicated one-chip microcomputer that is advantageous in terms of price (a program created to control the function of the refrigerator is stored in the internal memory, and the program is permanently immutable and external electricity It does not change even with a target signal, etc. These are configured on one chip and in one package.) Further, the amount of information data possessed by the microcomputer is increasing, and the memory capacity is large. . Considering these backgrounds, the following problems arise when trying to control all with a conventional one-chip microcomputer.

1. The control function is complicated and the specifications will change before the product is commercialized. At this time, in the one-chip microcomputer, it is necessary to change the program to match the specification change, and it is difficult to cope with the cost, schedule, etc. for that purpose.

2. If the control function becomes complicated, the control program capacity will increase. For this reason, it is necessary to select a one-chip microcomputer having a large memory capacity, which increases the price of the one-chip microcomputer.

3. When different refrigerators are controlled by the same control device, the control temperature value, control time, etc. may be slightly different depending on the refrigerator structure, each one-chip microcomputer is required, and each has a dedicated fixed program. Is expensive and becomes a bottleneck in the standardization of control devices. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-1
There is a publication No. 22478.

[0006]

The above-mentioned prior art uses a dedicated 1-chip microcomputer for controlling the refrigerator,
The control is performed by the memory data and the program data. In this case, the memory data and program data are fixed (cannot be changed by an external electrical signal, etc.), so when the control specifications change, the new memory data and program data are installed.
A chip microcomputer is required, and it is difficult to deal with the change cost and schedule.

Further, in the above control method, when the amount of memory data and program data is large, a one-chip microcomputer having a large memory capacity is required, and the price thereof is also high.

Further, when different refrigerators are controlled by the same control device, the control temperature value, control time, etc. may be slightly different depending on the structure. In this case, each one-chip microcomputer is required, and a fixed program dedicated to each is required. It is costly to install and is a bottleneck in standardizing control devices.

The present invention reduces the cost required for changing the control specifications and shortens the change period. Further, different refrigerators can be controlled by the same one-chip microcomputer, and a one-chip microcomputer is further provided. It is intended to reduce the amount of memory data and suppress the price increase of the one-chip microcomputer.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a part of memory data in a one-chip microcomputer, in particular, control time and temperature value data is stored in a separate memory IC (only a memory function is provided from outside). Data can be stored and erased by an electric signal, and the data can be accessed), and the data in the memory IC is supplied to the one-chip microcomputer by an access signal from the one-chip microcomputer. 1
By reducing the memory capacity in the chip microcomputer and reducing the price of the 1-chip microcomputer, it is possible to control refrigerators with different specifications by the same 1-chip microcomputer by changing the data in the IC memory. is there.

[0011]

By storing a part of the memory data in the one-chip microcomputer, especially the data of the control time and the temperature value in a separate memory IC, when the specification is changed (for example, the operating temperature value is 10 ° C to 15 ° C). Or change the time lag from 7 minutes to 5 minutes) without changing the program data of the 1-chip microcomputer.
The specifications can be easily changed only by changing the data value in C.

Further, as a means for realizing the above,
1-chip microcomputer allows program data and memory data to be written electrically only once 1
There are chip microcomputers, but they are expensive and lack mass productivity.

[0013]

The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a refrigerator control device of the present invention, and here, the cooling operation, the defrosting operation function, and the quick freezing operation function, which are additional functions, which are the basic functions of the refrigerator, will be described as representative functions.

Reference numeral 1 is a commercial power source, 2 is a relay for turning on and off a compressor and a cooling fan, and 3 is a compressor. 4 is a cooling fan installed in the freezer, which operates in synchronization with the compressor. Reference numeral 5 is a defrosting heater attached in the cooling period, and 6 is a relay for turning on / off the defrosting heater 5. 7 is a DC power supply for the control device, 8 is a one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer), which is a program created to control the functions of the refrigerator and a part of data necessary for the control is written in the internal memory. Therefore, the program is permanently invariant and does not change even by external electric signals.
These are configured on one chip and in one package.

Reference numeral 9 is a memory IC in which data excluding a part of data necessary for control is stored, and the data stored by the access signal from the microcomputer 8 is transferred to the microcomputer 8. Further, the data stored in the memory IC 9 can be easily erased by an electric signal from the outside and can be stored again. Reference numeral 10 is a data line connecting the memory IC 9 and the microcomputer 8, and is an access signal line from the microcomputer 8 and an output line for serially transferring data from the memory IC 9.

Reference numeral 11 is a fixed resistance, and 12 is a temperature detecting sensor (hereinafter referred to as F sensor) installed in the freezer, which is a temperature sensitive element having a negative characteristic. (If the temperature is low, the resistance value is large, and conversely, if the temperature is high, the resistance value is small.) The resistor 11 and the F sensor are connected in series, and are connected to the analog and digital inputs (A / D input) of the microcomputer 8. There is. This A /
The D input is for converting an analog voltage value into a digital value in the microcomputer 8, and this value turns on / off the relay 2 to operate and stop the compressor.

Reference numeral 13 is a temperature detecting sensor (hereinafter referred to as D sensor) attached to the cooler, which is different from the A sensor in the same manner as the F sensor 12.
It is connected to the / D input terminal and this value ends the defrosting operation. 14 is a driver for driving the relay 6,
A driver 15 drives the relay 2. Reference numeral 16 is a fixed resistance, and 17 is an LED for displaying the quick freezing operation.
The quick freeze operation is started by turning on the quick freeze operation "ON" and "OFF" switches 18 at the same time, and LED17
Turn on.

The operation of the control device configured as described above will be described with reference to the operation time charts shown in FIGS. When the DC power supply 7 is applied to the control device (power of the refrigerator is turned on), the program of the microcomputer 8 starts operating. Simultaneously with the start of the operation, the microcomputer 8 outputs a data access signal through the data bus line.

Therefore, the set voltage 1
The data of 2, 3 and the compressor stop time T1 and the compressor stop time T2 after the defrosting operation are input to the microcomputer 8. After this, data communication between the memory IC 9 and the microcomputer 8 is not performed. That is, it is performed only when the power is turned on, and thereafter this data does not change.

When the power is turned on, the compressor 3 is operated in parallel with the above operation.
Is forcibly stopped for T1 time. This is installed for the purpose of eliminating trouble of the compressor 3 when the power supply is unstable when the power is turned on, and for not operating immediately after the compressor 3 is stopped. If the freezer temperature is high and the F sensor temperature is still high after the elapse of T1 time, the potential at point a is lower than the set voltage 2 (compressor on), so the relay 2 of the microcomputer 8
The output becomes “H” level, the relay 2 is turned on via the driver 15, and the compressor 3 and the cooling fan 4 operate.

Next, since the compressor 3 and the cooling fan 4 are operating, the temperature of the F sensor 12 gradually decreases and the potential at point a exceeds the set voltage 1 (compressor off), and the output of the relay 2 of the microcomputer 8 is output. Becomes "L" level, the relay 2 is turned off, and the compressor 3 and the cooling fan 4 are stopped. Further, the T1 time is counted at the same time when the compressor 3 is stopped. This is provided in order to secure the stop time of the compressor 3 when a warm load or the like is applied to the freezer at the same time when the compressor 3 is stopped and the F sensor temperature rises. After the count-up for T1 time, when the potential at point a becomes equal to or lower than the set voltage 2 again, the compressor 3 and the cooling fan 4 operate. This is repeated thereafter for cooling operation.

Next, when the integrated operation time of the compressor 3 reaches a predetermined value (ΣTON) during the cooling operation, the temperature of the D sensor 13 is read. That is, if the potential at the point b is equal to or higher than the set voltage 3 which is the data from the memory IC 9, the output of the relay 6 of the microcomputer 8 becomes "H" level, and at the same time the output of the relay 2 becomes "L" level and the compressor 3 stops. , Defrost heater 5
The temperature of the D sensor 13 attached to the cooler gradually rises due to the energization of the chiller, and when the potential at the point b becomes equal to or lower than the set voltage 3, the output of the relay 6 of the microcomputer 8 becomes "L" level and the defrost heater 5 is turned on. Turns off.

Further, from the point when the defrosting heater 5 is turned off, T
After 2 hours, the output of relay 2 becomes "H" level,
The compressor 3 and the cooling fan 4 are operated, and the operation returns to the cooling operation. The compressor stop time T2 after the defrosting operation is provided to smoothly start up the compressor 3 after the defrosting operation is completed.

The operation of the basic functions of the refrigerator has been described above.
The same applies to the additional functions. FIG. 4 is an operation time chart of the quick freezing operation. Quick refrigeration operation "ON" during cooling operation
When the "off" switch 18 is pressed, the LED 1 of the microcomputer 8
7 lights up. At the same time, the relay 2 output holds the "H" level for the time T3 which is data from the memory IC 9 regardless of the F sensor 12. That is, the compressor 3, the cooling fan 4
Indicates continuous operation for T3 hours. Further, when T3 has elapsed, the LED output of the microcomputer 8 becomes "H" level, the rapid operation display LED goes out, and at the same time, the normal cooling operation is resumed.

[0025]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by excluding data that may be changed due to various factors from the memory of the one-chip microcomputer and storing it in a dedicated external memory IC.

1. Even if the specification is changed, it is only necessary to change the data in the memory IC, and the cost for the change and the change period can be shortened.

2. When controlling refrigerators with different specifications,
If the data in the memory IC is changed to the specifications according to the refrigerator, it can be controlled by the same one-chip microcomputer, and the standardization of the control device can be easily performed.

The memory capacity of the 3.1-chip microcomputer can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control device for a refrigerator in which a memory IC of the present invention and a one-chip microcomputer are combined.

[Fig. 2] Operation time chart of cooling operation

[Fig. 3] Operation time chart of defrosting operation

[Fig. 4] Operation time chart of quick freezing operation

FIG. 5: Conventional refrigerator control device

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Commercial power supply 2 ... Relay for turning on / off compressor 3 and cooling fan 4 3 ... Compressor 4 ... Cooling fan 5 ... Defrost heater 6 ... Defrost heater on / off Relay 7 ... DC power supply for control device 8 ... 1-chip microcomputer 9 ... Memory IC 10 ... Data bus line connecting memory IC and 1-chip microcomputer 11 ... Resistor 12 ... Freezer Temperature detector installed inside 13 ... Temperature detector installed in cooler 14 ... Relay 6 drive driver 15 ... Relay 2 drive driver 16 ... Resistance 17 ... Quick freezing operation display LED 18 ... Quick freezing operation "ON""OFF" switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerator having additional functions such as a quick freezing operation, a thawing operation, and an automatic ice making operation which are operated regardless of the basic functions of the refrigerator and the basic functions of the refrigerator such as a cooling operation and a defrosting operation and which are operated by the customer's will. And equipped with a program that enables control of the above functions based on the data required for control 1
A chip microcomputer and a memory IC equipped with data necessary for controlling the function are used, data from the memory IC is received by the one-chip microcomputer, and the function is controlled based on the data from the memory IC. Refrigerator control device characterized by the above.