Equipment sensing system and equipment control device

• US 6,742,349 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishii, Yutaka, Maekawa, Katsumi, Imamura, Kazuya, Kawai, Sigekazu, Ishikura, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William
• Application Number:
  US10/276,410
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 622/07, 621/75, 165/207, 165/205, 236/51, 700/278, 702/130, 340/517
• US Class Current: 62/207
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/026 arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing

Abstract

Data is transmitted to a main control device via sensing means such as temperature sensors, each having a memory means in which the ID code is stored, and via transmitting/receiving means such as switching elements. There is a stand-by period in the operation of the main control device after the main control device issues a command to start a sensing operation until the main control device issues a command to perform a read operation. The main control device receives power through a signal line the voltage of which is kept at a high level during the stand-by period. Thus, an equipment sensing system and an equipment control device which enable reliable and quick sensing, cost reduction, smooth control, and simplified wiring are provided.

Claims

1. A detection system comprising a main control device, sensors, and a signal line, the main control device and the sensors being connected to the signal line, characterized in

that each of the sensors comprises:

detection means;

storage means having its own ID code;

send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control device through the signal line; and

terminal-side control means which, upon the receipt of an instruction from the main control device through the send/receive means for the start of detection operation, allows the detection means to perform detection operation, and, upon the receipt of an instruction from the main control device for reading, sends data detected by the detection means to the main control device through the send/receive means, and

that the main control device gives an instruction for the start of operation of the detection to all the sensors from which data are to be collected, then provides a predetermined standby period, and, after the elapse of the standby period, gives an instruction for reading to the sensors while specifying the ID codes.

2. A detection system comprising a main control device, a plurality of sensors, and a signal line, the main control device and the sensors being connected to the signal line, characterized in

that each of the sensors comprises:

detection means;

storage means having its own ID code;

send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control device through the signal line; and

terminal-side control means which, upon the receipt of an instruction from the main control device through the send/receive means for the start of detection operation, allows the detection means to perform detection operation, and, upon the receipt of an instruction from the main control device for reading, sends data detected by the detection means to the main control device through the send/receive means, and

that the main control device gives an instruction for the start of operation of the detection to the plurality of sensors connected to the signal line, then provides a predetermined standby period, and, after the elapse of the standby period, gives an instruction for reading to the individual sensors while specifying the ID codes.

3. A control device for equipment, comprising a signal line distributed to said equipment, main control means connected to the signal line, and a switching device which is connected to the signal line and functions to control the operation of mounted parts, characterized in

that the switching device comprises switching means, storage means having its own ID code, send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line;

and sensor-side control means for controlling the switching means based on the data from the send/receive means.

4. The control device for equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that the sensor and/or the switching device comprise an accumulation device which is charged during a high potential period of the signal line while, during a low potential period of the signal line, electricity is discharged from the accumulation device to supply each means with electric power.

5. The control device for equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that the sensor or the switching device is built in a part mounted on equipment such as a cooling storeroom.

6. The control device for equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that the sensor or the switching device is built in a part mounted on equipment such as a cooling storeroom.

7. A control device for equipment, comprising a signal line distributed to said equipment, main control means connected to the signal line, a sensor connected to the signal line, and a switching device which is connected to the signal line and functions to control the operation of mounted parts, characterized in

that the sensor comprises:

a detection device;

storage means having its own ID code;

send/receiver means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line; and

sensor-side control means which receives data detected by the detection device, writes the received data in the storage means, and sends data stored in the storage means to the main control means through the send/receive means, and

that the switching device comprises switching means, storage means having its own ID code, send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line, and switching device-side control means for controlling the switching means based on the data from the send/receive means.

8. The control device for equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that the sensor and/or the switching device comprise an accumulation device which is charged during a high potential period of the signal line while, during a low potential period of the signal line, electricity is discharged from the accumulation device to supply each means with electric power.

9. The control device for equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that the sensor or the switching device is built in a part mounted on equipment such as a cooling storeroom.

10. A control device for equipment, comprising a signal line distributed to a cooling storeroom, main control means connected to the signal line, and a switching device which is connected to the signal line and functions to control the operation of mounted parts including a compressor and a fan, characterized in

that the switching device comprises switching means, storage means having its own ID code, send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line, and switching device-side control means for controlling the switching means based on the data from the send/receive means.

11. The control device for equipment according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor and/or the switching device comprise an accumulation device which is charged during a high potential period of the signal line while, during a low potential period of the signal line, electricity is discharged from the accumulation device to supply each means with electric power.

12. The control device for equipment according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor or the switching device is built in a part mounted on equipment such as a cooling storeroom.

13. A control device for equipment, comprising a signal line distributed to a cooling storeroom, main control means connected to the signal line, a temperature detection sensor connected to the signal line, and a switching device which is connected to the signal line and functions to control the operation of mounted parts including a compressor and a fan, characterized in

that the sensor comprises:

a temperature detection device;

storage means having its own ID code;

send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line; and

sensor-side control means which receives temperature data detected by the temperature detection device, writes the received data in the storage means, and sends data stored in the storage means to the main control means through the send/receive means, and

that the switching device comprises switching means, storage means having its own ID code, send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line, and switching device-side control means for controlling the switching means based on the data from the send/receive means.

14. The control device for equipment according to claim 13, characterized in that the sensor and/or the switching device comprise an accumulation device which is charged during a high potential period of the signal line while, during a low potential period of the signal line, electricity is discharged from the accumulation device to supply each means with electric power.

15. The control device for equipment according to claim 13, characterized in that the sensor or the switching device is built in a part mounted on equipment such as a cooling storeroom.

16. A control device for equipment, comprising:

a signal line distributed to said equipment;

main control means provided on the equipment;

a sensor or a switching device connected to the signal line, for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means;

storage device connected to the signal line; and

changeover means for enabling an external control device to be connected to the signal line, characterized in

that the storage unit stores a maintenance history data file containing maintenance history of the equipment and, in the state of the connection of the external control device to the signal line, permits data contained in the maintenance history data file to be read by the external control device and data to be written in the maintenance history data file.

17. The control device for equipment according to claim 16, characterized in that, when the sensor or the switching device has been replaced, the main control means searches out the new sensor or switching device and writes this data in the maintenance history data file within the storage unit.

18. The control device for equipment according to claim 16, characterized in that the storage unit comprises:

storage means containing data;

send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means and the external control device through the signal line;

storage unit-side control means for controlling, based on the data from the send/receive means, writing of data in or reading of data from the storage means; and

an accumulation device which is charged during a high potential period of the signal line while, during a low potential period of the signal line, electricity is discharged from the accumulation device to supply each means with electric power.

19. The control device for equipment according to claim 16, characterized in that the sensor comprises:

a detection device;

storage means having its own ID code;

send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line; and

sensor-side control means which receives data detected by the detection device, writes the received data in the storage means, and sends data stored in the storage means to the main control means through the send/receive means.

20. The control device for equipment according to claim 16, characterized in that the switching device comprises switching means, storage means having its own ID code, send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line, and switching device-side control means for controlling the switching means based on the data from the send/receive means.

21. A control device for equipment, comprising:

main control means provided on the equipment; and

a sensor or a switching device for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through a signal line, characterized in that the sensor or the switching device is divided into a plurality of systems, a changeover device is provided in a signal line between each of the systems and the main control means, and the changeover device opens/closes the signal system upon the receipt of data from the main control means through the signal line.

22. The control device for equipment according to claim 21, characterized in that the changeover device comprises:

opening/closing means for opening/closing the signal system;

storage means having its own ID code;

send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line; and

changeover device-side control means for controlling the opening/closing means based on the data sent from the send/receive means.

23. The control device for equipment according to claim 21, characterized in that the sensor comprises:

a detection device;

storage means having its own ID code;

send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line; and

sensor-side control means which receives data detected by the detection device, writes the received data in the storage means, and sends data stored in the storage means to the main control means through the send/receive means.

24. The control device for equipment according to claim 21, characterized in that the switching device comprises switching means, storage means having its own ID code, send/receive means for sending data to and receiving data from the main control means through the signal line, and switching device-side control means for controlling the switching means based on the data sent from the send/receive means.