Microcomputer-based control device

• US 5,236,477 A
• Filed: 10/23/1992
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Koketsu, Tadaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/965,744
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 236/94, 55/271, 55/274, 364/569, 165/11.1
• US Class Current: 96/417
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/46 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states

Abstract

A microcomputer-based control device for an air conditioner to which a replaceable air filter is attached includes a DC power supply section for converting an AC voltage to a DC voltage, an air-conditioning control unit connected to the DC power supply and including a microcomputer, a control unit resetting circuit for delivering an initial reset signal to the control unit when a voltage to be supplied to the control unit from the DC power supply section has risen to a value at which the control unit is operable, an operation section connected to the air-conditioning control unit for setting an operating condition of the control unit, a non-volatile memory connected to the control unit so that data of a cumulative air-conditioning operation time period stored in the control unit is written into and read out of the non-volatile memory, a display for displaying an image indicative of a replacing time of the air filter when the cumulated airconditioning operation time period has reached a predetermined time period, and a voltage drop detector connected between the control unit and the DC power supply section for detecting the output voltage of the DC power supply section dropped to a predetermined level or below to deliver a data write command signal to the control unit so that it is operated in response to the data write command signal to write the data into the non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. A microcomputer-based control device comprising:

a) a DC power supply section connected to an AC power supply section for converting an AC voltage from the AC power supply section to a DC voltage;

b) a control unit connected to the DC power supply and including a microcomputer;

c) a control unit resetting circuit provided between the control unit and the DC power supply for delivering an initial reset signal to the control unit when a voltage to be supplied to the control unit from the DC power supply section has risen to a value at which the control unit is operable;

d) an operation section connected to the control unit for setting an operating condition of the control unit;

e) a non-volatile memory connected to the control unit so that data stored in the control unit is written into and read out of the non-volatile memory; and

f) voltage drop detecting means provided between the control unit and the DC power supply section for detecting the output voltage of the DC power supply section dropped to a predetermined level or below to thereby deliver a data write command signal to the control unit so that the control unit is operated in response to the data write command signal to write the data into the non-volatile memory.

2. A microcomputer-based control device incorporated in an air conditioning equipment to which a replaceable air filter is attached, the device comprising:

a) a DC power supply section connected to an AC power supply section for converting an AC voltage from the AC power supply section to a DC voltage;

b) an air-conditioning control unit connected to the DC power supply and including a microcomputer;

c) a control unit resetting circuit provided between the air-conditioning control unit and the DC power supply for delivering an initial reset signal to the air-conditioning control unit when a voltage to be supplied to the air-conditioning control unit from the DC power supply section has risen to a value at which the control unit is operable;

d) an operation section connected to the air-conditioning control unit for setting an operating condition of the control unit;

e) a non-volatile memory connected to the air-conditioning control unit so that data of a cumulative air conditioning operation time period stored in the air-conditioning control unit is written into and read out of the non-volatile memory;

f) display means provided in the air-conditioning control unit for cumulating an air-conditioning operation time period and displaying an image indicative of a replacing time of the air filter when the cumulated air-conditioning operation time period has reached a predetermined time period; and

g) voltage drop detecting means provided between the air-conditioning control unit and the DC power supply section for detecting the output voltage of the DC power supply section dropped to a predetermined level or below to thereby deliver a data write command signal to the air-conditioning control unit so that the air-conditioning control unit is operated in response to the data write command signal to write the data into the non-volatile memory.