JPS6327140A - Checking device for equipment mounted with microcomputer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To check the runaway of a microcomputer even if a microcomputer mount equipment is installed at a location not accessible by a personnel by providing a reset line between two equipments in addition to a communication cable. CONSTITUTION:A line check message is sent to a transmission/reception equipment unit 12 from a check message generating means 111 of a user unit 11 at a prescribed time interval through a communication cable 14. In detecting the unarrival of a reply message for a prescribed time or over after the check message is sent, a reply message decode means 112 outputs a reset signal. The said reset signal is fed to a reset terminal of a microcomputer of the unit 12 to reset it. In case of the reset operation, a check message generating means 111 sends a line check message to the unit 12 again to recheck whether or not the microcomputer is in the normal operation. Then the check operation is repeated at a prescribed time interval.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a device for checking runaway of a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as microcomputer) in a device equipped with the microcomputer.

[Summary of the invention]

When attempting to communicate between two devices each equipped with a microcomputer, this invention supplies a line check message from one device to the other device, and determines whether or not there is a response message from the other device. This system checks the status of the microcontrollers in the devices, and if there is no response message, sends a reset signal from one device to the other, making it possible to stop the microcontroller from running out of control each time the microcontroller is reset. .

[Conventional technology]

A communication system is being considered that uses geostationary satellites to perform two-way communication between mobile objects, such as aircraft, ships, and automobiles, and a communication center on the ground (U.S. Patent No. 4, 3).
59,733 Nov. 16.1982)
.

Figure 4 gives an overview of this i&Hoshi communication system.
tl) is the ground communication center, F2) F3) and (4)
1 is a geostationary satellite, and (5) and (6) are aircraft and automobiles as examples of mobile objects equipped with communication terminals.

In this communication system, it is possible to inform the mobile bodies (5) and (6) of their positions from a communication center, and to send and receive specific messages.

For example, information on the location of a mobile object is communicated as follows.

That is, first, from the 1ff1x center (1) on the ground, 3
This satellite (2) via two geostationary satellites (2) to (4)
The interrogation signal is transmitted to the entire area that can be covered by (4).

The mobile units (5) and (61) that have received this interrogation signal transmit signals unique to the mobile unit to the communication center (1) via the satellites (2) to (4). The positions of the mobile bodies (5) and (6) are determined by triangulation using a computer.Then, the position information of the mobile bodies (5) and (6) is transmitted from the communication center ('') to each of the mobile bodies (5) and (6). (
6) is transmitted to mobile bodies (5) and (6) via satellites (2) to (4). Mobile body (5) and (
In step 6), detect the identification signal and obtain your own location information.

In this case, the communication center (1) and the satellites (2) to (4) are energized at 5 to IGHz, while the mobile unit (5)
Transmission from and (6) is 1.6GHz, reception is 2.5GHz
done at GHz.

By the way, a terminal system provided in a mobile body includes a user unit including a keyboard and a display, and a transmitter/receiver unit, and both units are each equipped with a microcomputer.

FIG. 5 shows an installation example of this terminal system installed in a truck, where the user unit (7) is placed near the driver's seat for the user to operate the keys and view the display. On the other hand, the transmitter/receiver unit (8) has a transmitting/receiving antenna (
9) is connected and installed at a location exposed to the outside, for example on the roof.

The user unit (7) and the transceiver unit (8) are connected by a communication cable (10) made of, for example, an R3-232G cable.

The reason why the terminal system is divided into two units in this way is that the antenna (9) needs to be installed in an exposed position to the outside so that it can be directed toward the satellite, and it also requires a relatively high output power to transmit to the satellite. If the antenna (9) and the transmitter/receiver unit (8) are far apart, the transmission output will be attenuated accordingly, resulting in insufficient output, so it is necessary to place the transmitter/receiver unit and the antenna as close as possible. Because there is. Incidentally, the length of the cable between the antenna and the transceiver unit must be within 3 to 4 meters in practical terms.

Due to these circumstances, the transmitter/receiver unit is often installed in a position close to the antenna that cannot be operated by humans.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, when the terminal system is mounted outdoors or on a moving body, a wide range of operating temperatures must be guaranteed.

However, in the scorching sun of midsummer, the car'a equipment has a temperature of 70°C to 8°C.
The temperature can reach as low as 0℃, and even as low as -40"C during the coldest months, so there is a possibility that the microcontroller will go out of control during operation.Also, even if the operating temperature returns, the microcontroller that has run out of control will not function properly. There is no guarantee that it will return to operation.

To stop the microcomputer from running out of control, you can reset the microcomputer (or install a reset switch on the device equipped with the microcomputer. However, in that case, humans have to check the device frequently, which can be troublesome. Furthermore, if the transceiver unit described above is installed on the roof of a truck and cannot be turned on by a human, it is meaningless to provide a reset switch.

The purpose of this invention is to make it possible to check for runaway of the microcomputer even when the microcomputer is installed in a position where humans cannot turn on electricity as described above.

[Failure to solve the problem]

In this invention, between the first and second devices (11) (12) equipped with microcomputers and the first and second devices (11) (12), a A second communication pull (14) and a first and second device (11) (12) are provided.
) between the first and second devices (11) (
12) from one side to the other side of the communication cable (
14), and when there is no response message from the other device for a certain period of time, a reset signal is sent from one device to the microcomputer of the other device via the transmission line (15), and the microcomputer Make sure to reset your computer.

[Effect]

For example, a line check signal is sent from one device to the other at predetermined time intervals, and the presence or absence of a response message is used to check for runaway of the microcomputer.

If there is no response message for a certain period of time, it is considered to be out of control, and a reset signal is sent to the microcontroller to reset it.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a terminal system provided on the mobile side of the above-mentioned satellite J-fold system.

In the figure, (11) is a user unit having a keyboard and a display, (12) is a transceiver unit, and (13) is a transmitting/receiving antenna.

Further, (14) is a communication cable for communication between the microcomputer of the user unit (11) and the microcomputer of the transceiver unit (12), and in this example, R3-
It is a 232C cable.

In this invention, a reset line (15) is provided between the microcomputer of the user unit (11) and the microcomputer of the transceiver unit 1-(12), and the reset line (15) is provided between the microcomputer of the user unit (11) and the microcomputer of the transceiver unit 1-(12). ) to the microcomputer's reset terminal so that reset [No. 8] can be supplied.

For example, if the microcomputer is a 280 microcomputer, the microcomputer is reset by setting the reset terminal to a low level for a period of about 4 clocks.

Checking for runaway of the microcomputer in the transmitter/receiver unit 1-(12) and resetting are performed as follows.

That is, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the microcontroller of the user unit (11) and the transceiver unit (12), and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart of the program executed by the microcomputer on the user unit (11) side at that time.

To explain the function block diagram of FIG. 2, the check message generation hand 1i (11) of the user unit (11)
1), the line check message is sent to the transceiver unit (12) via the communication cable (14).
) will be sent to. In this example, the check message generating means (111) has a timer and outputs a line check message at regular time intervals.

In the transmitter/receiver unit (12), if the microcomputer is not running out of control, check the message decoding unit (12).
1), this line check message is decoded, and based on the decoded output, a response message generating means (1) is decoded.
22), the response message is sent to the response message decoding means (1) of the user unit (11) through the communication cable (14).
12). Response message decoding means (1
In step 12), when it is detected that no response message has arrived for a certain period of time after the check message is sent from the generating means (111), a reset signal is output, and this reset signal is sent to the transmitter/receiver via the reset line (15). unit(
12) to the reset terminal of the microcomputer to reset the microcomputer.

After resetting, change the angle, check message generation means (
111) sends a line check message to the sending/receiving fH machine unit (12), and a recheck is made to see if the microcomputer is operating normally. After that, the check operation is repeated at regular intervals.

Next, a flowchart of the operation of the microcomputer of the unskilled user unit 1-(11) will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, in step (101), it is determined whether or not it is time to check. Then, when it is time to check, proceed to step (102) and send a line check message. Next, proceed to step [103], It is determined whether there is a response message or not. If there is a response message, normal operation is occurring and the process returns to step (Loll).

If there is no response message, the process proceeds to step (104), where it is determined whether the state in which there is no response message continues for a certain period of time or more. If within a certain period of time, step (10
3'l, and waits for the response message to arrive within that certain period of time. If no response message is received for a certain period of time, the process proceeds to step (105), and the transmitter/receiver unit (12)
The microcontroller outputs a reset signal because it is out of control.

Next, return to step (102), send a line check message, and reset the transceiver unit (12).
It is checked in steps (102) to (104) whether or not the microcomputer has returned to the main power station for the third time (summer return). If it has not returned, it outputs the reset node signal again in step C105 and transmits/receives (M Reset the microcomputer of the machine unit (12).If it returns to upper seat operation (H), step (103)
The process returns to step (101) and the above checking operation is repeated at predetermined time intervals.

In this way, runaway of the microcomputer in the transceiver unit (12) is checked and reset to stop the runaway.

Note that the microcomputer of the transmitter/receiver unit (12) may check the microcomputer of the user unit (11) in the same way, so that they can check each other.

Furthermore, the present invention is applicable not only to the above-mentioned special systems but also to all systems in which two microcomputer-equipped devices are connected by a communication cable.

In addition, communication cables are not limited to R3-232C cables, but also R3-422 and other communication ink cables.
Of course, it is possible to use a face.

(Effect of the invention) According to this invention, ii! between two devices! l By providing a reset line in addition to the reliable communication cable, the communication cable can be used to check the other party's microcontroller, and if it is determined that the microcontroller is out of control, a reset signal can be sent via the reset line. can be reset automatically.

Therefore, in particular, the runaway check operation and microcomputer reset can be performed without the user having to take the trouble to perform a check operation or operate a reset switch or the like.

1! ! ! Brief explanation of the song Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of this invention device, Fig. 2tXl is its functional block diagram, Fig. 3 is a flowchart of its operation, and Fig. 4 shows an overview of the satellite communication system. , 5th
The figure is a configuration diagram of the user terminal system.

(11) Honey f: 1----/to, (12)
(14) is a communication cable, (15) is a reset line.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (a) first and second devices equipped with a microcomputer; (b) a communication cable provided between the first and second devices for communication between both devices; (c) a microcomputer reset signal transmission line provided between the first and second devices separately from the communication cable, and (d) one of the first and second devices connects the second device to the other. A line check message is sent via the communication cable, and when there is no response message from the other device for a certain period of time, a reset signal is sent from the one device to the microcomputer of the other device via the transmission line. A check device for equipment equipped with a microcomputer that resets the computer.