JP2004291779A - Information collecting device of vehicular air-conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information collecting device of a vehicular air-conditioner to collect information to grasp the operational state of the air-conditioner. <P>SOLUTION: The data is collected for each predetermined time based on each input signal from an input connector 7, the frequency distribution data corresponding to each input signal is prepared for each unit time based on the collected data, and the prepared frequency distribution data is written in a memory 9. Therefore, information to grasp the operational state of an air-conditioner, in other words, when and how, and under which condition the air-conditioner is operated can be correctly collected. Since the frequency distribution data prepared based on the collection data per unit time is written in the memory 9, the data for a longer time is written in the memory 9 of the same capacity than a case in which the collected data is written in the memory 9 for each data collection, and the subsequent data analysis is easily performed based on the frequency distribution. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information collection device that collects information for grasping an operation state of an air conditioner mounted on a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An air conditioner mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile is composed of a refrigeration unit including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, expansion means, and an indoor heat exchanger, and its control unit. The operation of the compressor is controlled by the control unit so that the space is maintained at the set temperature. The information necessary for the operation of the air conditioner is obtained from a plurality of sensors provided in the refrigeration unit components and the like, and the information obtained through each sensor is taken into the control unit and used for operation control of the compressor and the like.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-248936
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The information obtained through each sensor in the air conditioner includes the inside air temperature and the outside air temperature, but these are all information necessary for the operation of the air conditioner, and the operation status of the air conditioner, that is, the air conditioner, It is not information for ascertaining when and under what conditions the apparatus is used and how.
[0005]
Air conditioners installed in vehicles such as automobiles operate in various ways depending on the type of vehicle, traveling environment, traveling purpose, etc. Therefore, in order to evaluate and improve the air conditioner, grasp the operation status of the air conditioner There is a need.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information collection device for a vehicle air conditioner that collects information for grasping the operation status of the air conditioner.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an information collection device for a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention includes: a signal input unit to which a plurality of signal lines for transmitting a signal necessary for grasping an operation state of the air conditioner can be connected; Data collection means for collecting data at predetermined time intervals based on each input signal from the means, and frequency distribution data creation means for creating frequency distribution data corresponding to each input signal based on the collected data per unit time; A memory for recording frequency distribution data, and frequency distribution data writing means for writing the generated frequency distribution data to the memory.
[0008]
According to this information collecting device, data is collected at predetermined time intervals based on each input signal from the signal input unit, and frequency distribution data corresponding to each input signal is created at unit time intervals based on the collected data, Since the created frequency distribution data is written in the memory, the operating status of the air conditioner, that is, information for grasping how and when the air conditioner is used under what conditions and how, etc. It can be collected accurately. In addition, since frequency distribution data created based on collected data per unit time is written in the memory, the same capacity of memory is compared to the case where collected data is written to the memory every time data is collected. Long-term data can be written, and subsequent data analysis can be easily performed based on the frequency distribution.
[0009]
The above and other objects, constitutional features, and operational effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a unit case of an automobile information collecting apparatus, 2 denotes a control unit having a microcomputer configuration, 3 denotes a clock signal generating unit for a clock, and 4 denotes a clock signal generating unit. A key switch having a plurality of operation keys, 5 is a liquid crystal display, 6 is an input connector, 7 is an output connector, 8 is a frequency distribution data creating section composed of a microprocessor, and 9 is a memory composed of an SRAM.
[0011]
The unit case 1 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a key switch 4 and a liquid crystal display 5 are arranged on an upper surface. An input connector 6 and an output connector 7 are arranged on a side surface of the unit case 1 so that a signal line or a cable from the outside can be connected and detached. Since the output connector 7 transmits data to a data receiving device (not shown) such as a personal computer, a connector conforming to a standard such as RS232C or USB is used.
[0012]
The clock signal generator 3 sends the clock signal to the controller 2. The controller 2 receives the clock signal and uses it as date and time data. The clock signal generation unit 3 may use a circuit that receives and outputs a standard frequency transmitted from JJY, in addition to a circuit that outputs a clock signal of a predetermined frequency.
[0013]
The frequency distribution data creating unit 8 creates frequency distribution data corresponding to each signal from the collected data for the unit time input from the control unit 2. The frequency distribution data created by the frequency distribution data creation unit 8 is written to the memory 9 via the control unit 2. The memory 9 plays a role of storing the frequency distribution data, and the memory 9 is backed up by a power source such as a battery so that the stored contents remain even when the power input to the apparatus is cut off.
[0014]
Although not shown, the unit case 1 is provided with a DC power supply input terminal and a power supply circuit for transforming the DC voltage and supplying it to the control unit 2, the clock signal generation unit 3, the frequency distribution data generation unit 8, and the like. ing.
[0015]
1, reference numeral 11 denotes a compressor suction pressure sensor, 12 denotes a compressor discharge pressure sensor, 13 denotes a compressor suction temperature sensor, 14 denotes a compressor discharge temperature sensor, 15 denotes an outside air temperature sensor, and 16 denotes a compressor. Is an inside air temperature sensor, 17 is an accumulator temperature sensor, 18 is an engine room temperature sensor, 19 is a compressor temperature sensor, 20 is a condenser temperature sensor, 21 to 30 are signal lines of the respective sensors 11 to 20, and 21 is a vehicle speed signal. , 22 is a signal line for transmitting an engine speed signal, 23 is a signal line for transmitting a compressor on / off signal, and each of the sensors 13 to 20 comprises a well-known temperature sensor or pressure sensor.
[0016]
When obtaining information for grasping the operation status of the air conditioner mounted on the vehicle, the unit case 1 is arranged in the vehicle interior of the vehicle, and the IGN power supply of the vehicle is connected to the DC power input terminal, and the input connector is connected. 6, the signal lines 21 to 33 are connected.
[0017]
Incidentally, the suction pressure sensor 11 is arranged at the suction port of the compressor, the discharge pressure sensor 12 is arranged at the suction port of the compressor, the suction temperature sensor 13 is arranged at the suction port of the compressor, and the discharge temperature sensor 14 is compressed. Located at the outlet of the machine. Further, the outside air temperature sensor 15 is arranged at a position other than the engine room where the outside air touches, and the inside air temperature sensor 16 is arranged inside the vehicle compartment. Further, the accumulator temperature sensor 17 is disposed on the surface of the accumulator, the engine room temperature sensor 18 is disposed in the engine room, the compressor temperature sensor 19 is disposed on the surface of the compressor, and the condenser temperature sensor 20 is disposed on the condenser. Placed on the surface. Further, the vehicle speed signal and the engine speed signal can be obtained from the signal lines to the speedometer and the tachometer of the vehicle, and the compressor on / off signal can be obtained from the control signal line of the control unit of the air conditioner.
[0018]
Hereinafter, an information collection method using the above-described device will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.
[0019]
Since the device uses an IGN power source of a vehicle as a power source, a program related to information collection starts when the IGN power source is turned on.
[0020]
After the start, first, a hardware test such as the liquid crystal display 5 is performed, and if an error is detected by the test, an error is notified by a buzzer, an LED, or the like (steps S1 to S3).
[0021]
If no error is detected in the test of the hardware such as the liquid crystal display 5, the process enters a data collection routine until the IGN power supply is turned off in step S9.
[0022]
This data collection routine basically collects data (step S6) and stores the collected data (step S7) every predetermined time, for example, every second. The presence / absence of input (step S4) and the presence / absence of power supply abnormality (step S5) are also checked.
[0023]
The data collection in step S6 is performed by A / D converting the signals input from the signal lines 21 to 33 through the input connector 7 by the control unit 2 as necessary. The data is stored by storing the collected data in the RAM of the control unit 2 together with the date and time data.
[0024]
Collected data is repeatedly stored in the RAM of the control unit 2 every time data is collected. Here, it is determined whether or not the stored collected data has reached a unit time, for example, 24 hours (one day). (Step S8) When the time reaches the unit time, the data is input to the frequency distribution data creation unit 8.
[0025]
The frequency distribution data creating unit 8 creates frequency distribution data conceptually shown in FIG. 3 corresponding to each input signal from the input collected data for the unit time (step S10). For example, when data collection is repeated every second for the unit time of 24 hours (1 day), the total frequency per one input signal is 86400, so this is set according to the input signal. By classifying the data into a plurality of classes (10 classes in FIG. 3), frequency distribution data on a predetermined date (Y / Z / X) is obtained. Incidentally, since the number of input signals is 13 in the illustrated device, thirteen frequency distribution data corresponding to each input signal is created every day.
[0026]
The frequency distribution data created as described above is written to the memory 9 via the control unit 2 (step S11). After the writing of the frequency distribution data into the memory 9 is completed, the process returns to the data collection routine described above.
[0027]
If there is an input from the key switch 4 during repeated data collection, the process selected by the key switch 4 is executed at that stage (steps S4 and S12). For example, when “display of current collected data” is selected with the key switch 4, the collected data at the time when the key switch 4 is operated is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. When “transmit the data stored in the memory to the outside” is selected by the key switch 4, the control unit 2 transmits all the frequency distribution data stored in the memory 9 at the time when the key switch 4 is operated. The output is sent to the output connector 7 via the output connector 7. Therefore, if a data receiving device such as a personal computer is connected to the output connector 7 via a cable, the frequency distribution data can be taken into the data transmitting device. After the process selected by the key switch 4 is completed, the process returns to the data collection routine described above.
[0028]
If an abnormality occurs in the power supply voltage during repeated data collection, the abnormality is notified by a buzzer, LED, or the like, and a process of waiting until the power supply is restored is performed (steps S5, S13, and S14). After the power is restored by inspection or repair, the process returns to the data collection routine described above.
[0029]
As described above, according to the information collecting apparatus described above, data is collected at predetermined time intervals based on each input signal from the input connector 7, and frequency distribution data corresponding to each input signal is collected at unit time intervals based on the collected data. And the created frequency distribution data is written in the memory 9, so that the operating condition of the air conditioner, that is, how and under what condition the air conditioner is used, and so on can be grasped. Information can be collected accurately.
[0030]
Further, since frequency distribution data created based on the collected data per unit time is written in the memory 9, the memory 9 has the same capacity as that of the memory 9 in which the collected data is written to the memory 9 every time data is collected. Can be written for a long period of time, and subsequent data analysis can be easily performed based on the frequency distribution.
[0031]
Further, since the frequency distribution data stored in the memory 9 is transmitted to the output connector 8 based on a data transmission command from the key switch 4, a data receiving device such as a personal computer is connected to the output connector 8 via a cable. If connected, frequency distribution data can be arbitrarily taken into the data receiving device.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, data collection is performed at predetermined time intervals based on each input signal from the signal input unit, and frequency distribution data corresponding to each input signal is stored in a unit time based on the collected data. Each time it is created and the created frequency distribution data is written to the memory, it is possible to grasp the operating status of the air conditioner, that is, how and when the air conditioner is used under what conditions Information can be collected accurately. In addition, since frequency distribution data created based on the collected data per unit time is written in the memory, the same capacity of memory is compared to writing the collected data to the memory every time data is collected. Long-term data can be written, and subsequent data analysis can be easily performed based on the frequency distribution.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information collecting apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart relating to information collection by the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. Conceptual diagram of distribution data [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Unit case, 2 ... Control part, 3 ... Clock signal generation part, 4 ... Key switch, 5 ... Liquid crystal display, 6 ... Input connector, 7 ... Output connector, 8 ... Frequency distribution creation part, 9 ... Memory, 11-11 20 ... sensors, 21 to 33 ... signal lines.

Claims (2)

Signal input means to which a plurality of signal lines for transmitting signals necessary for grasping the operation status of the air conditioner can be connected;
Data collection means for collecting data at predetermined time intervals based on each input signal from the signal input means,
Frequency distribution data generating means for generating frequency distribution data corresponding to each input signal per unit time based on the collected data,
A memory for recording frequency distribution data,
Frequency distribution data writing means for writing the generated frequency distribution data to the memory,
An information collection device for a vehicle air conditioner, comprising: Data output means to which a cable from the data receiving device can be connected,
Data transmission means for transmitting the frequency distribution data stored in the memory to the data output means based on the data transmission command,
The information collection device for a vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein:

Images