WO2020165937A1 - Terminal resistance setting device and terminal resistance setting system - Google Patents

Terminal resistance setting device and terminal resistance setting system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020165937A1
WO2020165937A1 PCT/JP2019/004826 JP2019004826W WO2020165937A1 WO 2020165937 A1 WO2020165937 A1 WO 2020165937A1 JP 2019004826 W JP2019004826 W JP 2019004826W WO 2020165937 A1 WO2020165937 A1 WO 2020165937A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
communication
communication device
unit
setting
terminating
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PCT/JP2019/004826
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French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
中條　崇
Original Assignee
東芝キヤリア株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Application filed by 東芝キヤリア株式会社 filed Critical 東芝キヤリア株式会社
Priority to JP2020571936A priority Critical patent/JP7277488B2/en
Priority to PCT/JP2019/004826 priority patent/WO2020165937A1/en
Publication of WO2020165937A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020165937A1/en

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
    • H04B17/10—Monitoring; Testing of transmitters
    • H04B17/11—Monitoring; Testing of transmitters for calibration
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B3/00—Line transmission systems
    • H04B3/02—Details

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a termination resistance setting device and a termination resistance setting system.
  • a communication system in which a plurality of slave units are connected to one master unit (management device) by a communication line via a bus.
  • the indoor unit serves as a child device and the outdoor unit or a central management device serves as a parent device.
  • the management device sequentially acquires and collectively manages information regarding the operation of each connected indoor unit (for example, set temperature information and sensor information). Further, in such an air conditioning system, the operation of a plurality of indoor units can be collectively controlled by the management device.
  • the terminating resistances for the master unit and the slave unit at appropriate positions for setting the terminating resistors, generally both ends of the communication line.
  • the installer or administrator of the air conditioning system is located near the end of the communication line in order to set the termination resistance. It was necessary to find out the indoor unit that is the slave unit.
  • many indoor units are often connected to a long communication line. Therefore, it is not easy to manually find the indoor unit located at the end of the communication line from among many indoor units.
  • the terminating resistor is set once, the number of slave units connected to the communication line may change due to, for example, the addition or removal of indoor units, or the communication line may be replaced with a different length or type. is there. In this case, since the appropriate position of the terminating resistor may change, it is necessary to set the terminating resistor again each time.
  • the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a termination resistance setting device and a termination resistance setting system that can easily set the termination resistance of a communication line at an appropriate position.
  • the termination resistance setting device of the embodiment has a communication unit and a termination resistance setting command unit.
  • the communication unit performs test communication with a plurality of communication devices connected by communication.
  • the terminating resistance setting command unit causes a terminating resistance to be set for any communication device of the plurality of communication devices, and when the test communication is not established, sets the terminating resistance for the communication device.
  • the communication terminal is released and the terminating resistor is set for any communication device different from the communication device.
  • the whole air-conditioning system 100 lineblock diagram concerning a 1st embodiment.
  • the block diagram which shows the function structure of the communication apparatus 20 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication device 10 according to the first embodiment.
  • the schematic diagram for demonstrating the characteristic of the acquired pulse signal The schematic diagram for demonstrating the characteristic of the acquired pulse signal.
  • the schematic diagram for demonstrating the characteristic of the acquired pulse signal The figure which shows an example of the measurement result information collected by the communication apparatus 10 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioning system 100 according to the first embodiment.
  • the air conditioning system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an air conditioning system installed in, for example, an office building.
  • an air conditioning system 100 includes an outdoor unit 1 which is an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and an indoor unit of an air conditioner which is connected to the outdoor unit 1 by a communication line 30 and a refrigerant pipe.
  • the machine 2-1, the indoor unit 2-2, and the indoor unit 2-3 are included.
  • the indoor unit 2-1, the indoor unit 2-2, and the indoor unit 2-3 are simply referred to as "indoor unit 2" unless it is necessary to distinguish between them.
  • the outdoor unit 1 and each indoor unit 2 constitute a refrigeration cycle.
  • the air conditioning system 100 includes one outdoor unit 1 and a plurality of indoor units 2.
  • the outdoor unit 1 collectively controls the operations of the plurality of indoor units 2.
  • the number of indoor units 2 controlled by one outdoor unit 1 is set to three, but when the outdoor unit 1 having a large capacity is used, the number of indoor units is 10 or more. It is also possible to connect the indoor units 2, and actually, considerably more than three indoor units 2 are connected. Furthermore, different outdoor units 1 and a plurality of indoor units 2 connected to the outdoor unit 1 may be communicably connected.
  • the outdoor unit 1 includes a communication device 10 (terminating resistance setting device) that is a master device for communication.
  • Each of the indoor units 2-1 to 2-3 includes communication devices 20-1 to 20-3, which are slave units in communication.
  • the communication devices 20-1 to 20-3 are simply referred to as “communication device 20” unless it is necessary to distinguish between them.
  • the communication device 10 is provided in the outdoor unit 1.
  • the communication device 10 is not limited to this.
  • a centralized management device (not shown) that centrally manages the entire air conditioning system, etc. May be equipped with.
  • the outdoor unit 1 becomes the communication device 20 which is a slave unit.
  • the communication device 10 and the communication devices 20-1 to 20-3 are connected by a communication line 30 by a bus connection method. Since each indoor unit 2 is installed indoors and only the outdoor unit 1 is installed outdoors, the communication device 10 of the outdoor unit 1 is usually installed at one end position of the communication line 30. Even when the communication device 10 is used as the centralized management device, the centralized management device is often provided at the end of the building and is likely to be installed at one end position of the communication line 30.
  • the communication device 10 and the plurality of communication devices 20 have a communication function of communicating with each other.
  • the communication device 10 acquires, for example, the information indicating the operating status of the indoor unit 2 or the temperature and humidity information of the room in which the indoor unit 2 is installed by acquiring the signal output from the communication device 20.
  • the communication device 10 can control the operating state (for example, the operating state and the set temperature) of the indoor unit 2 by outputting a signal to the communication device 20.
  • the communication device 10 includes a terminating resistor 11 described later, and is always enabled. Therefore, the communication device 10 always has a function as a terminating device. Further, as will be described later, the communication device 10 also has a function of causing one communication device 20 at an appropriate position on the communication line 30 to set the other terminating resistance.
  • the communication device 20 includes a terminating resistance setting unit 21, which will be described later, including a terminating resistance.
  • the terminating resistance setting unit 21 sets or cancels the terminating resistance, that is, switches on/off based on the command output from the communication device 10. Therefore, the communication device 20 may or may not have a function as a terminating device.
  • the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 are both communication in a high-speed communication mode, which is a communication mode for performing high-speed communication, and in a low-speed communication mode, which is a communication mode for relatively low-speed communication. , And can be automatically switched to communicate (transmit and receive).
  • the termination resistors are released in the termination resistance setting units 21 of all the communication devices 20. Therefore, in the initial state, since all the communication devices 20 do not have the function as the terminating device, reflection of the signal transmitted by the communication line 30 is likely to occur at the end of the communication line 30, The signal waveform is easily disturbed. In particular, when communication is performed at high speed, each pulse signal becomes short, so that the influence of signal reflection becomes relatively large. To deal with this, in the initial state, both the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 operate in the low speed communication mode.
  • the communication device 10 performs control for suppressing reflection of a signal transmitted by the communication line 30 and enabling communication with the communication device 20 in the high-speed communication mode. Specifically, the communication device 10 operates as a terminating resistance setting device, and selects the communication device 20 at a position (mainly at the end of the communication line 30) suitable for providing a terminating resistance in the communication line 30. Then, the communication device 10 outputs, to the termination resistance setting unit 21 of the selected communication device 20, an instruction (hereinafter, referred to as “termination resistance setting instruction”) for switching the termination resistance setting unit 21 to the state in which the termination resistance is set. To do. As will be described later, the terminating resistance setting command is also used to search for the communication device 20 at a position suitable for providing the terminating resistance.
  • the termination resistance setting unit 21 of the selected communication device 20 switches to the state where the termination resistance is set according to the obtained termination resistance setting command.
  • the communication device 20 functions as a terminating device.
  • the terminal resistance is set in the specified communication device 20 so that signal reflection is suppressed and high-speed communication without disturbing the signal waveform. Will be able to do. By performing high-speed communication, it becomes possible to quickly transfer information required between the communication devices 10 and 20 during operation.
  • the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to any one communication device 20 in a low-speed communication mode in which communication is possible without setting a termination resistance.
  • the terminating resistance is set in the communication device 20 that has acquired the terminating resistance setting command.
  • the communication device 10 first causes the communication device 20-1 to set a terminating resistor.
  • the communication device 10 instructs all communication devices 20 to switch the communication mode from the low-speed communication mode to the high-speed communication mode in the low-speed communication mode in which the setting of the terminating resistor is unnecessary (hereinafter, “communication”). It is called "speed switching command”.). As a result, in all the communication devices 20, the communication mode is switched to the high speed communication mode.
  • the communication device 10 switches the communication mode of its own communication device 10 from the low speed communication mode to the high speed communication mode. Then, the communication device 10 sequentially tries to establish communication with each communication device 20 in the high-speed communication mode.
  • the communication device 10 is a communication device in which the communication device 20-1 having the terminating resistance is located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. Judge that there is. However, as shown in FIG. 1, since the communication device 20-1 is not a communication device located at the end of the communication line 30, it is highly likely that communication will not be established.
  • the communication device 10 When the communication is not established (for example, when a communication error occurs with any of the communication devices 20), the communication device 10 is configured such that the communication device 20-1 having the terminating resistance sets the terminating resistance. It is determined that the communication device 20 is not located at an appropriate position for setting. Then, the communication device 10 causes the communication device 20-1 in which the terminating resistance is set in the low-speed communication mode to cancel the setting of the terminating resistance (hereinafter, referred to as “terminating resistance setting cancellation command”). Is output. As a result, the setting of the terminating resistor in the communication device 20-1 is released.
  • the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to any one other communication device 20 (other than the communication device 20-1 which has already tried to set the termination resistance). For example, the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to the communication device 20-2 to set the termination resistance. Then, similarly to the above, the communication device 10 attempts to establish communication with each communication device 20.
  • the communication device 20-2 is also not a communication device located at the end of the communication line 30, it is generally highly likely that communication will not be established.
  • the communication device 10 determines that the communication device 20-2 with the terminating resistance set is not a communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. Then, the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting cancellation command to the communication device 20-2 in which the termination resistance has been set in the low speed communication mode.
  • the communication device 10 issues a termination resistance setting command to any one communication device 20 (other than the communication devices 20-1 and 20-2, which has already tried to set the termination resistance). Output.
  • the communication device 10 since only the communication device 20-3 remains in the remaining communication devices 20, the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to the communication device 20-3 to set the termination resistance.
  • the communication device 10 attempts to establish communication with each communication device 20. As shown in FIG. 1, since the communication device 20-3 is a communication device located at the end of the communication line 30, communication with all communication devices 20 is established.
  • the communication device 10 determines that the communication device 20-3 having the terminating resistance set therein is a communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. That is, the communication device 10 determines the communication device 20-3, to which the terminating resistor is set when the communication is established, as the terminating resistor setting target. As described above, the communication device 10 repeatedly attempts to establish communication while sequentially setting the terminating resistance for each communication device 20, and based on the establishment of the communication, the communication device 10 is set to an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. Identify the communication device located. After that, the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 communicate with each other in the high-speed communication mode. The system administrator sets the addresses of the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 in advance by using the low-speed communication mode as necessary.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the communication device 10 according to the first embodiment.
  • the communication device 10 serving as a master device includes a terminating resistor 11 and a signal transmitting/receiving circuit 12.
  • the internal terminating resistor 11 is always connected to the communication line 30, which is a two-wire communication line, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the communication device 10 always functions as a terminating device.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12 is a circuit that transmits/receives signals in communication with each communication device 20.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12 also operates as a termination resistance setting device.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12 identifies the communication device 20 located at an appropriate position (mainly the other end of the communication line 30) in setting the terminating resistance.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12 outputs a command to each communication device 20 to control the setting state of the terminating resistor in each communication device 20.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12 includes a control unit 120, a command unit 121, a communication unit 122, a clock unit 123, a storage unit 125, a determination unit 126, a communication speed switching unit 127, It is configured to include.
  • the control unit 120 controls processing by each functional block of the signal transmission/reception circuit 12. For example, the control unit 120 controls transmission/reception of signals in communication with each communication device 20. Further, for example, the control unit 120 controls the output of various commands from the command unit 121 to each communication device 20.
  • the control unit 120 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
  • the control unit 120 may be realized by using hardware such as an LSI (Large-scale Integrated Circuit; large-scale integrated circuit) and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Further, each functional block included in the signal transmission/reception circuit 12 may be realized by the control unit 120, which is a processor such as a CPU, executing a program stored in the storage unit 125.
  • the command unit 121 controls the output of various commands output to each communication device 20.
  • the command unit 121 outputs various commands to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122.
  • the command unit 121 includes a termination resistance setting command unit 121a and a communication speed switching command unit 121b.
  • the termination resistance setting instruction unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting instruction indicating an instruction for setting the termination resistance to any one communication device 20.
  • the termination resistance setting command unit 121a causes the communication device 20 that has output the termination resistance setting command to cancel the setting of the termination resistance.
  • a termination resistance setting cancellation command indicating a command for Then, the terminating resistance setting command unit 121a outputs the terminating resistance setting command to another arbitrary one communication device 20.
  • the termination resistance setting command unit 121a does not output the termination resistance setting cancellation command. That is, the terminating resistance setting command unit 121a determines the communication device 20 that has set the terminating resistance when the communication is established, as the terminating resistance setting target.
  • the terminating resistance setting command unit 121a sets the terminating resistance when at least one communication device 20 is added or removed when the terminating resistance is already set for the communication device 20 located at an appropriate position.
  • a cancellation command may be output. This is because the appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance may change due to the addition or removal of the communication device 20.
  • the signal transmitting/receiving circuit 12 is configured to newly identify the communication device 20 located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance, and set the terminating resistance for the identified communication device 20. Specifically, when the indoor unit 2 is added or removed, the power supplies of all the outdoor units 1 and the indoor units 2 are temporarily cut off. When the power is turned on again, the communication device 10 of the outdoor unit 1 performs the terminating resistor resetting operation, so that the above processing can be performed.
  • the communication speed switching command unit 121b when the terminating resistance setting command unit 121a outputs the terminating resistance setting command, the communication speed indicating a command for switching the communication mode in communication with the communication device 10 of its own to the high speed communication mode.
  • the switching instruction is output to each communication device 20.
  • the communication unit 122 is a communication interface for making a communication connection with each communication device 20.
  • the communication unit 122 may be a functional unit including a transmission unit and a reception unit, which are configured by separate hardware.
  • the communication unit 122 Under the control of the control unit 120, the communication unit 122 outputs various signals (for example, pulse signals) to each communication device 20 via the communication line 30. It should be noted that the various signals also include the signals output from the instruction unit 121 and indicating the above-mentioned termination resistance setting instruction and communication speed switching instruction.
  • the communication unit 122 also acquires various signals (for example, pulse signals) output from the communication devices 20 via the communication line 30.
  • the communication unit 122 detects that communication with the communication device 20 has been established, a communication error has occurred, and the like. In addition, during normal operation, when the content of communication with each communication device 20 is operation data, the data is sent to the control unit 120, and the control unit 120 performs necessary processing.
  • the clock unit 123 is a timer that measures the elapsed time after the communication unit 122 attempts to establish communication with the communication device 20. When a predetermined time has passed since the communication unit 122 tried to establish communication with the communication device 20, the time counting unit 123 notifies each functional unit that the predetermined time has passed.
  • the storage unit 125 stores various programs and data tables used in the signal transmitting/receiving circuit 12.
  • the storage unit 125 is a non-volatile recording medium (non-temporary recording medium) such as a flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).
  • the storage unit 125 may further include a volatile recording medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a register.
  • the storage unit 125 also stores the communication device information table t1.
  • the communication device information table t1 is two-dimensional tabular data composed of a column of two items of “identification number” and “address”.
  • the value stored in the item of the identification number is an identification number for identifying each communication device 20.
  • the identification numbers associated with the communication device 20-1, the communication device 20-2, and the communication device 20-3 are stored as “c1”, “c2”, and “c3” in the communication device information table t1. It
  • the communication device information table t1 is a table that associates the identification number assigned to each communication device 20 with the address of each communication device 20, which is necessary for the communication device 10 to communicate with each communication device 20. ..
  • the address of the communication device 20-1 assigned with the identification number “c1” is “aaa.bbb”.
  • the communication device 10 When the communication device 10 outputs a signal to a specific communication device 20, the communication device 10 refers to the communication device information table t1 and recognizes the address corresponding to the output communication device 20. Then, the communication device 10 outputs the signal by designating the recognized address as the output destination address. For example, the communication device 10 can output a signal to the communication device 20-1 assigned with the identification number “c1” by designating the address “aaa.bbb” and outputting the signal.
  • the determining unit 126 determines that the communication device 20 having the terminating resistance set at that time is located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. It is determined that the communication device is a communication device.
  • the determining unit 126 when the communication between the communication unit 122 and each of the communication devices 20 is not established at the time when the notification indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed is acquired from the time counting unit 123, the determining unit 126, for example, during communication.
  • the communication device 20 in which the terminating resistance is set at that time is determined not to be a communication device located at an appropriate position in setting the terminating resistance.
  • the communication speed switching unit 127 switches the communication mode to the high speed communication mode in which the communication speed in communication with each communication device 20 is high when the termination resistance setting command unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting command. In addition, when the communication speed switching unit 127 acquires a notification indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed from the timer unit 123, the communication speed switching unit 127 switches the communication mode to the low speed communication mode in which the communication speed in communication with each communication device 20 is low. ..
  • FIG. 3 illustrates only the communication devices 20-2 and 20-3 as an example.
  • the description of each functional unit included in the communication device 20-3 is omitted.
  • the functional configuration of the communication device 20 will be described below with reference to the communication device 20-2 shown in FIG.
  • the communication device 20 is configured to include a termination resistance setting unit 21 and a signal transmission/reception circuit 22.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 22 is a circuit that transmits/receives signals in communication with the communication device 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the signal transmission/reception circuit 22 includes a control unit 220, a communication unit 221, a communication speed switching unit 222, a clock unit 223, and a storage unit 224.
  • the termination resistance setting unit 21 is configured to include a termination resistance.
  • the termination resistance setting unit 21 is controlled by the control unit 220 to be in a state in which the termination resistance is set (ON state). Switch.
  • the terminating resistance setting unit 21 is in a state (OFF (OFF)) in which the terminating resistor is not set by the control of the control unit 220. State).
  • the control unit 220 controls various processes performed by each functional block of the signal transmitting/receiving circuit 22 and the operation of the terminating resistance setting unit 21. For example, the control unit 220 controls the transmission and reception of signals in the communication between the communication unit 221 and each communication device 20.
  • the control unit 220 is a processor such as a CPU. Further, each functional block included in the signal transmission/reception circuit 22 may be realized by the control unit 220 executing a program stored in the storage unit 224.
  • the communication unit 221 is a communication interface for communication connection with the communication device 10 and each of the other communication devices 20.
  • the communication unit 221 may be a functional unit including a transmission unit and a reception unit, which are configured by separate hardware.
  • the communication unit 221 acquires various signals (for example, pulse signals) output from the communication device 10 or each communication device 20 (including its own communication device 20). It should be noted that the various signals include signals indicating the termination resistance setting command and the communication speed switching command, which are output from the communication device 10 described above.
  • the communication speed switching unit 222 switches the communication with the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 to the high-speed communication mode. Further, the communication speed switching unit 222 switches the communication with the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 to the low speed communication mode when the communication unit 223 receives the notification indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed from the time counting unit 223.
  • the clock unit 223 is a timer that measures the elapsed time after the communication unit 221 acquires the signal indicating the termination resistance setting command output from the communication device 10. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the timer unit 223 notifies each functional unit that the predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the storage unit 224 stores various programs used in the signal transmission/reception circuit 22.
  • the storage unit 224 is a non-volatile recording medium (non-temporary recording medium) such as a flash memory or an HDD.
  • the storage unit 224 may further include a volatile recording medium such as a RAM or a register.
  • control unit 120 substitutes 1 into the value of “i” indicating the number of the communication device 20 (step S001).
  • step S*** is represented by “S***”.
  • control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “i”, and the processing is repeatedly executed.
  • the termination resistance setting command unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting command to the i-th communication device 20-i (S002). Further, the communication speed switching command unit 121b outputs the communication speed switching command to all the communication devices 20 (that is, the first communication device to the nth communication device) (S003). Further, the communication speed switching unit 127 switches the communication mode of its own communication device 10 to the high speed communication mode in which the communication speed in communication with each communication device 20 is high. The terminating resistance setting command and the communication speed switching command in S002 and S3 are communicated in the low speed communication mode in order to surely transfer them to each communication device 20.
  • the communication unit 122 performs communication (test communication) with each communication device 20 (S005).
  • the determination unit 126 determines that the i-th communication device is a communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance, and the determination unit 126 The i communication device is determined as the device for which the terminating resistor is set (S007). In this case, the process shown by the flowchart in FIG. 4 ends.
  • the determination unit 126 waits for establishment of communication between the communication unit 122 and each communication device 20.
  • the determination unit 126 determines that the i-th communication device is not a communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. Then, the communication speed switching unit 127 switches the communication mode of its own communication device 10 to the low speed communication mode in which the communication speed in communication with each communication device 20 is low (S009).
  • the communication device 20 acquires the termination resistance setting command via the communication unit 221 (YES in S101). Then, the terminating resistance setting unit 21 switches to the state in which the terminating resistance is set (ON state) (S102).
  • the communication device 20 determines whether or not the communication speed switching command is output from the communication device 10 (S105).
  • the communication speed switching unit 222 sets the communication speed switching command output from the communication device 10 to the communication unit.
  • the communication speed switching unit 222 switches the communication mode to the high speed communication mode in which the communication speed in the communication with the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 is high. (S106).
  • the communication speed switching unit 222 After that, the communication speed switching unit 222 has not passed the predetermined time since the communication mode was switched to the high-speed communication mode (that is, in the case where the timer 223 has not output the notification indicating the passage of the predetermined time). (No in S107), the communication speed is not switched. Then, when a predetermined time has passed since the communication mode was switched to the high-speed communication mode (that is, when a notification indicating that the predetermined time has passed is output from the time counting unit 223) (S107 Yes), the communication speed switching unit 222 determines The communication mode is switched to the low speed communication mode in which the communication speed in the communication with the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 is low. (S108). Although illustration is omitted, the communication device 10 and each of the communication devices 20 communicate with each other from S106 to YES in S107, and the communication device 10 determines whether the communication is finally established. To be done.
  • the termination resistance setting unit 21 acquires the termination resistance setting cancellation command output from the communication device 10 via the communication unit 221 (S103 YES), the termination resistance is not set (OFF state). (S104). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the communication speed switching command is acquired in S105. Since the communication speed switching command does not come after the termination resistance setting cancel command, the result in S105 is NO, the process ends, and the process returns to the beginning. By repeating the above process between the communication device 10 and the communication device 20, finally, the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 can smoothly communicate with each other in the high-speed communication mode.
  • the communication device 10 includes the communication unit 122 that performs communication (test communication) with the plurality of communication devices 20 that are communicatively connected, and the plurality of communication devices. If a terminating resistor is set for any communication device 20 of the 20 and communication (test communication) is not established, the setting of the terminating resistor is canceled for the communication device 20 and an arbitrary value different from the communication device is set. And a terminating resistance setting command unit 121a for setting a terminating resistance to the communication device. As a result, the communication device 10 (termination resistance setting device) according to the first embodiment can easily set the termination resistance in the communication line 30 to an appropriate position.
  • the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 transmit and receive pulse signals that are test signals to each other, and based on the pulse widths of the pulse signals respectively acquired in the communication device 10 and each communication device 20, The communication device 20 located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance is specified.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams for explaining the characteristics of the acquired pulse signal.
  • the pulse signal will be described with the LO (ground) side given priority.
  • the moving distance until the pulse signal B is transmitted from the communication device 20-1 to the communication device 10 is longer than the moving distance until the pulse signal A is transmitted from the communication device 20-1 to the communication device 10.
  • the pulse signal B reaches the communication device 10 slightly later than the pulse signal A.
  • the communication device 10 recognizes two pulse signals (pulse signal A and pulse signal B) that are superimposed in a state where there is a time lag as one pulse signal. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the communication device 10 recognizes that a pulse signal having one pulse width x (x>w) in which the pulse signal A and the pulse signal B are superimposed is acquired.
  • FIG. 7A shows a pulse signal recognized by the communication device 10 when a pulse signal having a pulse width w is output from the communication device 20-2.
  • the pulse signal B is transmitted from the communication device 20-1 to the communication device 10 as compared with the case where the pulse signal is output from the communication device 20-1.
  • the time difference between the two superimposed pulse signals (pulse signal A and pulse signal B) is smaller than that in the case of the pulse signal shown in FIG. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the communication device 10 recognizes that a pulse signal having one pulse width y (x>y>w) in which the pulse signal A and the pulse signal B are superimposed is acquired.
  • FIG. 7B shows a pulse signal recognized by the communication device 10 when a pulse signal having a pulse width w is output from the communication device 20-3.
  • the communication device 10 recognizes that the pulse signal having the pulse width z (x>y>w ⁇ z) has been acquired.
  • the reason why the pulse width shown in FIG. 7B is not the same as the pulse width w of the pulse signal at the time of being output from the communication device 20-3 is, for example, a cause other than reflection (for example, signal attenuation). This is because the pulse width may change slightly.
  • the pulse width of the pulse signal output from the communication device 20 closer to the communication device 10 is recognized by the communication device 10 as a longer pulse width.
  • the pulse width of the pulse signal output from the communication device 20-3 farthest from the communication device 10 is the shortest.
  • the pulse width is often recognized by the communication device 10.
  • the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to any one communication device 20 in a low-speed communication mode in which setting of a termination resistance is unnecessary.
  • the communication device 10 first causes the communication device 20-1 to set a terminating resistor.
  • the communication device 10 outputs a pulse signal (test signal) to each of the communication devices 20 and its own communication device 10. Then, each communication device 20 and the communication device 10 acquires the pulse signal output from the communication device 10. Then, each of the communication devices 20 and 10 measures and records the pulse width of the acquired pulse signal.
  • the communication device 10 outputs a pulse signal output command to the communication device 20-1.
  • the communication device 20-1 outputs pulse signals to all the communication devices 20 and its own communication device 10.
  • each of the communication devices 20 and 10 acquires the pulse signal output from the communication device 20-1.
  • each communication device 20 and communication device 10 measures and records the pulse width of the acquired pulse signal.
  • the communication device 10 sequentially outputs the pulse signal output command to the communication device 20-2 and the communication device 20-3.
  • the pulse widths of the pulse signals output from the communication devices 20-2 and 20-3 are measured and recorded in the communication devices 20 and 10 respectively.
  • the communication device 10 When the transmission and reception of the pulse signal and the measurement of the pulse width by the communication device 10 and all the communication devices 20 are completed, the communication device 10 outputs a measurement result output command to each communication device 20. As a result, the measurement result information indicating the measurement result of the pulse width recorded by each communication device 20 is output from each communication device 20 to the communication device 10. Thereby, the communication device 10 acquires the measurement result information output from each communication device 20.
  • FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an example of measurement result information collected by the communication device 10 according to the second embodiment.
  • the “communication device (outdoor unit)” is the communication device 10
  • the “first communication device” is the communication device 20-1
  • the “second communication device” is the communication device 20-2
  • the “third device” corresponds to the communication device 20-3, respectively. It is assumed here that the pulse width of the pulse signal output by the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 is “50 [us (microseconds)]”.
  • the pulse width measured when the own communication device 10 acquires the pulse signal output from the communication device 10 is “100 [us]”. It is shown. Since the pulse width of the output pulse signal is 50 [ ⁇ s], it is recognized as a pulse signal having a pulse width twice as long as the pulse signal actually output at the time of acquisition. .. Further, for example, in the measurement result information table tb1 illustrated in FIG. 8A, the pulse width measured when the communication device 20-2 acquires the pulse signal output from the communication device 20-1 is “90 [us]”. Is shown.
  • the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting cancellation command to the communication device 20-1 in which the termination resistance has been set. As a result, the setting of the terminating resistor in the communication device 20-1 is released. Then, the communication device 10 causes the communication device 20-2 to set the terminating resistance. Then, the communication device 10 acquires the measurement result information from each of the communication devices 20 by the same processing as described above.
  • the measurement result information collected by the communication device 10 is stored in the storage unit 125 as a measurement result information table tb2 as shown in FIG. 8B, for example.
  • the communication device 10 cancels the setting of the terminating resistor set in the communication device 20-2. Subsequently, the communication device 10 causes the communication device 20-3 to set the terminating resistance. Then, the communication device 10 acquires the measurement result information from each of the communication devices 20 by the same processing as described above.
  • the measurement result information collected by the communication device 10 is stored in the storage unit 125 as a measurement result information table tb3 as shown in FIG. 8C, for example.
  • the measurement result information table tb1 illustrated in FIG. 8A is a table in which the measurement results of the pulse width when the terminating resistance is set in the communication device 20-1 are collected.
  • the measurement result information table tb2 shown in FIG. 8B and the measurement result information table tb3 shown in FIG. 8C are set when a terminating resistor is set in the communication device 20-2 and when a terminating resistor is set in the communication device 20-3, respectively. It is a table in which the measurement results of the pulse width in the case of being performed are aggregated.
  • the communication device 10 specifies the maximum value of each pulse width when the terminating resistance is set in each communication device 20. That is, the communication device 10 detects the maximum value of the pulse width values included in the measurement result information table tb1, the maximum value of the pulse width values included in the measurement result information table tb2, and the pulse width values included in the measurement result information table tb3. Specify the maximum value.
  • the third communication device (communication device 20-3) outputs a pulse signal and the third communication device of its own acquires it.
  • the pulse width in the case is the maximum value, and the value is “110 [ ⁇ s]”.
  • the maximum value of the pulse width is “90 [ ⁇ s]” as shown in FIG. 8B.
  • the maximum pulse width is “55 [ ⁇ s]” as shown in FIG. 8C.
  • the communication device 10 specifies the communication device 20 to which the terminating resistance is set when the maximum value of these pulse widths is the minimum, as the communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. That is, in the example shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the minimum value among the maximum values of the pulse widths is “55 [ ⁇ s]”, so the communication device 10 sets the communication device 20-3 shown in FIG. It is specified as a communication device located at an appropriate position when setting the terminating resistance.
  • the measured pulse width itself is used as the measurement result, but the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the degree of delay in rising of the pulse signal that is, a value obtained by subtracting 50 ⁇ s, which is the pulse width of the output pulse signal, from the measured pulse width
  • the measurement result may be used as the measurement result.
  • all the communication devices 20 are sequentially set with terminating resistors, all the measurement result information is collected, and the terminating resistors are set based on the measurement result information.
  • the communication device 20 located at an appropriate position is specified above.
  • the terminating resistors are set to all the communication devices 20 sequentially (in a brute force manner) in this way, as the number of communication devices 20 increases, the measurement time exponentially increases and the system load increases. Is assumed. Therefore, for example, a threshold may be set in advance for the maximum value of the pulse width, and the processing may be terminated when the maximum value of the pulse width becomes less than the predetermined value.
  • the communication device 10 may specify the communication device 20 in which the terminating resistance is set at the time of ending the process, as the communication device positioned at an appropriate position in setting the terminating resistance.
  • the communication device 10 includes a terminating resistor 11 and a signal transmission/reception circuit 12s.
  • the terminating resistor 11 is always connected to the communication line 30, which is a two-wire communication line.
  • the communication device 10 functions as a terminating device.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s is a circuit that transmits/receives signals in communication with each communication device 20.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s also operates as a termination resistance setting device.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s is a signal transmission/reception circuit provided in the communication device 10 which is considered to be located closest to one end of the communication line 30 as described above.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s identifies the communication device 20 located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s outputs a command to each communication device 20 to control the setting state of the terminating resistor in each communication device 20.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s includes a control unit 120, a command unit 121s, a communication unit 122, a measurement result information collection unit 124, a storage unit 125, and a determination unit 126. To be done.
  • the control unit 120 controls processing by each functional block included in the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s. For example, the control unit 120 controls transmission/reception of signals in communication with each communication device 20. Further, for example, the control unit 120 controls the output of various commands to each communication device 20 by the command unit 121s.
  • the command unit 121s controls the output of various commands output to each communication device 20.
  • the command unit 121s outputs various commands to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122.
  • the command unit 121s includes a termination resistance setting command unit 121a, a measurement mode setting command unit 121c, a pulse signal output command unit 121d, and a measurement result output command unit 121e.
  • the termination resistance setting command unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting command indicating a command for setting the termination resistance to each communication device 20. Further, the terminating resistance setting command unit 121a outputs a terminating resistance setting cancel command indicating a command for canceling the setting of the terminating resistance to the communication device 20 which is the target of outputting the terminating resistance setting command. ..
  • the measurement mode setting command unit 121c indicates to each communication device 20 a command for switching to the measurement mode, which is an operation mode for measuring the pulse width of a pulse signal that is a test signal that is output on a trial basis. Output the measurement mode setting command.
  • the pulse signal output command unit 121d outputs a pulse signal output command to each communication device 20, which indicates a command for outputting a pulse signal to the communication device 10 of itself and each communication device 20.
  • the signal output from each communication device 20 in response to the pulse signal output command is a test signal (pulse signal) that is output on a trial basis.
  • the pulse signal output command may be transmitted by broadcast or multicast.
  • the measurement result output command unit 121e outputs a measurement result output command indicating a command for outputting measurement result information to each communication device 20.
  • the communication unit 122 is a communication interface for making a communication connection with each communication device 20.
  • the communication unit 122 may be a functional unit including a transmission unit and a reception unit, which are configured by separate hardware.
  • the communication unit 122 Under the control of the control unit 120, the communication unit 122 outputs various signals (for example, pulse signals) to each communication device 20 via the communication line 30. It should be noted that various signals also include signals output from the instruction unit 121 and indicating the above-mentioned termination resistance setting instruction, measurement mode setting instruction, pulse signal output instruction, and measurement result output instruction.
  • the communication unit 122 is preset so that when outputting a pulse signal (test signal) to each communication device 20, a pulse signal having a predetermined pulse width (for example, 50 ⁇ s) is output accurately. ing.
  • the communication unit 122 also acquires various signals (for example, pulse signals) output from each communication device 20.
  • the measurement result information collecting unit 124 acquires the pulse signal output from each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122.
  • the measurement result information collecting unit 124 measures the pulse width of the acquired pulse signal.
  • the measurement result information collecting unit 124 causes the storage unit 125 to store the measured value of the pulse width of the pulse signal output from each communication device 20.
  • the measurement result information collecting unit 124 stores the measurement value in the storage unit 125 by writing the measurement value in the above-described measurement result information table tb1 to measurement result information table tb3 stored in advance in the storage unit 125.
  • the above-mentioned measured value means each measured value included in the column of “communication device 10 (outdoor unit)” in the column of “reception” (that is, “100[ ⁇ s]”, “85 [ ⁇ s]”, “75 [ ⁇ s]”, and “55 [ ⁇ s]”).
  • the measurement result information collecting unit 124 acquires the measurement result information output from each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122.
  • the measurement result information collecting unit 124 stores the measurement result information output from each communication device 20 in the storage unit 125.
  • the measurement result information collecting unit 124 stores the measurement result information in the storage unit 125 by writing the measurement result information in the above-described measurement result information table tb1 to measurement result information table tb3 stored in advance in the storage unit 125.
  • the above-mentioned measurement result information is a measurement value group of each column included in the column of “reception” (that is, the column of “first communication device 20-1”). Measurement value group, the measurement value group in the “second communication device 20-2” column, and the measurement value group in the “third communication device 20-3” column).
  • the storage unit 125 stores various programs and data tables used in the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s.
  • the determination unit 126 determines which communication device 20 is located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance, based on the measurement result information collected by the measurement result information collection unit 124. Specifically, the determination unit 126 is suitable for setting the terminating resistance of the communication device 20 in which the terminating resistance is set when the maximum value of the pulse width is the minimum among the collected measurement result information. It is specified as the communication device at the position.
  • FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the communication device 20 according to the second embodiment.
  • the functional configurations of the communication devices 20 are the same, and FIG. 10 illustrates only the communication devices 20-2 and 20-3 as an example.
  • the communication device 20 is configured to include a termination resistance setting unit 21 and a signal transmission/reception circuit 22s.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 22s is a circuit that transmits/receives signals in communication with the communication device 10.
  • the signal transmission/reception circuit 22s includes a control unit 220, a communication unit 221, a storage unit 224, an operation mode switching unit 225, a measurement unit 226, and a measurement result output unit 227.
  • the termination resistance setting unit 21 is configured to include a termination resistance.
  • the termination resistance setting unit 21 switches to the state (ON state) in which the termination resistor is set under the control of the control unit 220. ..
  • the terminating resistance setting unit 21 is in a state (OFF (OFF)) in which the terminating resistor is not set by the control of the control unit 220. State).
  • the control unit 220 controls the processing by each functional block of the signal transmission/reception circuit 22 and the operation of the termination resistance setting unit 21. Thereby, for example, the control unit 220 controls transmission/reception of signals in communication between the communication device 10 and each of the other communication devices 20.
  • the communication unit 221 is a communication interface for communicatively connecting to the communication device 10 and each communication device 20.
  • the communication unit 221 may be a functional unit including a transmission unit and a reception unit, which are configured by separate hardware.
  • the communication unit 221 acquires various signals (for example, pulse signals) output from the communication device 10 or each communication device 20. It should be noted that the various signals also include signals that are output from the above-described communication device 10 and indicate the termination resistance setting command, the measurement mode setting command, the pulse signal output command, and the measurement result output command. The communication unit 221 also outputs various signals (for example, pulse signals) to the communication device 10 or each communication device 20. The communication unit 221 also outputs the measurement result information to the communication device 10.
  • various signals also include signals that are output from the above-described communication device 10 and indicate the termination resistance setting command, the measurement mode setting command, the pulse signal output command, and the measurement result output command.
  • the communication unit 221 also outputs various signals (for example, pulse signals) to the communication device 10 or each communication device 20.
  • the communication unit 221 also outputs the measurement result information to the communication device 10.
  • the storage unit 224 stores various programs used in the signal transmission/reception circuit 22s.
  • the storage unit 224 also stores measurement result information indicating the measurement result of the pulse width of the pulse signal measured by the communication unit 221.
  • the operation mode switching unit 225 switches the operation mode to the measurement mode when the measurement mode setting command output from the communication device 10 is acquired via the communication unit 221.
  • the measurement mode is an operation mode in which a pulse signal that is a test signal is transmitted and received between the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 and the pulse width of the acquired pulse signal is measured.
  • the measuring unit 226 acquires the pulse signals output from the communication device 10 and the communication devices 20 via the communication unit 221.
  • the measurement unit 226 measures the pulse width of the acquired pulse signal.
  • the measurement unit 226 stores the measured value of the pulse width of the pulse signal output from the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 in the storage unit 224 as the measurement result information.
  • the measurement result output unit 227 acquires the measurement result output command output from the communication device 10
  • the measurement result output unit 227 outputs the measurement result information stored in the storage unit 224 to the communication device 10 via the communication unit 221.
  • FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication device 10 according to the second embodiment.
  • the communication device 20-1 is the first communication device
  • the communication device 20-2 is the second communication device.
  • the control unit 120 substitutes 1 into the value of “i” indicating the number of the communication device 20 (S201).
  • the value of “i” is stored and updated in the storage unit 125, for example. Then, every time the following processing of S202 to S212 is executed, the control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “i”, and the repeated processing is executed.
  • the termination resistance setting instruction unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting instruction to the i-th communication device (S202).
  • the control unit 120 substitutes 0 into the value of “j” indicating the numbers of the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 (S203).
  • the value of “j” is stored and updated in the storage unit 125, for example. Then, each time the processing of S204 to S210 described below is executed, the control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “j” and the processing is repeated.
  • the measurement mode setting command unit 121c outputs a measurement mode setting command to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122 (S204).
  • the communication unit 122 When the value of “j” is 0 (S205 Yes), the communication unit 122 outputs a pulse signal (test signal) to each communication device 20 (S206).
  • the pulse signal output command unit 121d outputs the pulse signal output command to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122 (S207). ..
  • the measurement result information collection unit 124 measures the pulse width of each pulse signal acquired via the communication unit 122, and records the measured value in the measurement result information table stored in the storage unit 125 (S208).
  • the measurement result output command unit 121e outputs a measurement result output command to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122 (S209).
  • the measurement result information collection unit 124 acquires the measurement result information output from each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122 (S210).
  • the control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “j” and repeats the processing from S204 onward.
  • the determination unit 126 determines that the pulse width included in the acquired measurement result information. Of the measured values of 1, the maximum value is recorded in the storage unit 125 (S211). Then, the termination resistance setting instruction unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting cancellation instruction to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122 (S212).
  • the control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “i” and repeats the processing from S202 above.
  • the determination unit 126 determines the minimum value of the plurality of maximum values recorded in the storage unit 125. Identify. Then, the determining unit 126 identifies the communication device 20 (hereinafter, referred to as “i-best communication device”) for which the terminating resistance is set when the minimum value is obtained (S213).
  • the termination resistance setting command unit 121a outputs the termination resistance setting command to the specified i-best communication device via the communication unit 122 (S214). This is the end of the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
  • the operation of the communication device 20 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of the operation of the communication device 20 according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS.
  • the operation of the communication device 20 when the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to the communication device 20 and the operation of the communication device 20 when the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting cancellation command to the communication device 20.
  • the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the description is omitted.
  • FIG. 12 shows the operation of the communication device 20 when a measurement mode setting command is output from the communication device 10 to the communication device 20.
  • the operation mode switching unit 225 acquires the measurement mode setting command output from the communication device 10 via the communication unit 221 (S301).
  • the operation mode switching unit 225 switches the operation mode to the measurement mode (S302). This prepares the communication device 20 for measuring the pulse width.
  • the communication unit 221 When the communication unit 221 has not acquired at least one pulse signal of the pulse signals output from the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 (No in S303), the communication unit 221 has not acquired the pulse signal. Await. On the other hand, when the communication unit 221 acquires all pulse signals output from the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 (S303 Yes), the measurement unit 226 measures the pulse width of each acquired pulse signal, The measured value is recorded in the storage unit 224 as measurement result information (S304). Then, the operation mode switching unit 225 switches the operation mode from the measurement mode to the normal mode which is the normal mode (S305). This is the end of the process shown in FIG.
  • FIG. 13 shows the operation of the communication device 20 when a pulse signal output command is output from the communication device 10 to the communication device 20.
  • the communication unit 221 acquires the pulse signal output command output from the communication device 10 (S401).
  • the communication unit 221 outputs a pulse signal having a predetermined pulse width (for example, 50 [ ⁇ s]) to the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 (S402). This is the end of the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
  • FIG. 14 shows the operation of the communication device 20 when a measurement result output command is output from the communication device 10 to the communication device 20.
  • the measurement result output unit 227 acquires the measurement result output command output from the communication device 10 via the communication unit 221 (S501).
  • the measurement result output unit 227 outputs the measurement result information recorded in the storage unit 224 to the communication device 10 via the communication unit 221. (S502). This is the end of the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
  • the air conditioning system 100 determines the plurality of communication devices 20 that are communicatively connected, and the communication device 10 (setting device) that determines the communication device for setting the termination resistance. ), and have.
  • the communication device 20 includes a communication unit 221 that performs communication (test communication) with all of the plurality of communication devices (communication device 10 and communication device 20 ), and all of the plurality of communication devices (communication device 10 in communication (test communication)).
  • a measurement unit 226 that outputs the pulse width of the pulse signal (test signal) acquired from the communication device 20) and measurement result information indicating the pulse width measured by the measurement unit 226. Measurement result output unit 227 for outputting to a device).
  • the communication device 10 (setting device) has an instruction unit 121 for temporarily setting the terminating resistance for all of the plurality of communication devices 20, and each time the terminating resistance is provisionally set for each of the communication devices 20.
  • a measurement result information collecting unit 124 that collects measurement result information from all of the plurality of communication devices 20, and a communication device that sets a terminating resistance based on the plurality of measurement result information collected by the measurement result information collecting unit 124.
  • a determining unit 126 that determines 20.
  • the communication device 10 (master device) is installed at the end position of the communication line 30, and the communication device 10 (master device) always has a function as a terminating resistor in advance.
  • the configuration is not limited to this.
  • the communication devices installed at both ends of the communication line 30 are the communication devices 20 (slave devices), and one of the communication devices 20 (slave device) always has a function as a terminating resistor in advance. Even with such a configuration, the method of identifying the appropriate setting position of the terminating resistor according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above can be applied.
  • the termination according to the above-described first and second embodiments is performed. It is possible to apply a method of specifying an appropriate setting position of the resistance.
  • the communication device 10 collects the measurement result information while temporarily setting the terminating resistances for any two communication devices among the communication device 10 and each of the communication devices 20, and sets the terminating resistances. It suffices to identify two appropriate positions with.
  • FIG. 15 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioning system 200 according to a modified example of the embodiment.
  • the configuration of the air conditioning system 200 according to the modified example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 is different from the configuration of the air conditioning system 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 15 is that the communication device 10 is branched (at the position of the communication device 10) and that the communication device 20-4 and the communication device 20-5 are further provided.
  • the communication line 30 is branched as described above, the method of identifying the appropriate setting position of the terminating resistor according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above can be applied. ..
  • the signal reflection is targeted as a factor for changing the signal waveform of the pulse signal in order to simplify the description.
  • the signal waveform changes depending on the length of the communication line 30 and the number of intervening communication devices 20. For example, as the length of the communication line 30 increases, the resistance component may attenuate the amplitude of the pulse signal, or the capacitance component may change the gradient.
  • the pulse width becomes narrower so that the pulse width becomes narrower. Changes. As a result, the accuracy of identifying the appropriate setting position of the terminating resistor in the second embodiment described above becomes higher.
  • the signal used is a pulse signal having a value of 0 and 1, but the signal is not limited to this.
  • a pulse signal composed of values of 0 and 1 as described above. Then, the processing in each of the above-described embodiments may be executed.
  • the communication device 10 is configured to have both the function of setting the terminating resistance for the communication device 20 and the function similar to that of the communication device 20. This simplifies the circuit component for communication and the control process of communication.
  • the configuration is not limited to such a configuration, and, for example, by providing these two functions as separate devices, a device having only the function of setting the terminating resistance for the communication device 20 is separately provided. It may be configured.
  • a part or all of the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 in the above-described embodiment may be realized by a computer.
  • the program for realizing this function may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in this recording medium may be read by a computer system and executed.
  • the “computer system” mentioned here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.
  • the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system.
  • the "computer-readable recording medium” means that a program is dynamically held for a short time like a communication line when the program is transmitted through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line.
  • a volatile memory inside the computer system that serves as a server or a client in that case may hold the program for a certain period of time.
  • the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program that can realize the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, It may be realized by using hardware such as PLD (Programmable Logic Device) and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

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Abstract

A terminal resistance setting device according to the invention has a communication unit and a terminal resistance setting instruction unit. The communication unit carries out a test communication with a plurality of communication devices that are communicatively connected. When the terminal resistance setting instruction unit causes any one of the plurality of communication devices to set a terminal resistance and the test communication is not established, the terminal resistance setting instruction unit causes that communication device to cancel the setting of the terminal resistance and then causes any one of the other communication devices to set the terminal resistance.

Description

終端抵抗設定装置及び終端抵抗設定システムTerminal resistance setting device and terminal resistance setting system
　本発明は、終端抵抗設定装置及び終端抵抗設定システムに関する。 The present invention relates to a termination resistance setting device and a termination resistance setting system.
　従来、１台の親機（管理装置）に対して複数台の子機が通信線によってバス接続された通信システムがある。例えば大型の建物等に設置される空調システムの場合、室内機が子機となり、室外機又は例えば中央の管理装置等が親機となる。このような空調システムでは、管理装置において、接続された各室内機の稼働に関する情報（例えば、設定温度情報及びセンサ情報等）が逐次取得されて一括管理される。また、このような空調システムでは、複数の室内機の動作を管理装置によって一括制御することも可能である。この機能により、例えばオフィスビルにおいて、予め設定されたスケジュールに従い、労働者の出勤時間前にオフィスビル内のすべての室内機を一括で運転開始（ＯＮ）させ、退勤時間後にすべての室内機を一括で停止（ＯＦＦ）させることができる。これにより、空調システムの管理者にとっての利便性が向上する。 Conventionally, there is a communication system in which a plurality of slave units are connected to one master unit (management device) by a communication line via a bus. For example, in the case of an air conditioning system installed in a large building or the like, the indoor unit serves as a child device and the outdoor unit or a central management device serves as a parent device. In such an air conditioning system, the management device sequentially acquires and collectively manages information regarding the operation of each connected indoor unit (for example, set temperature information and sensor information). Further, in such an air conditioning system, the operation of a plurality of indoor units can be collectively controlled by the management device. With this function, for example, in an office building, in accordance with a preset schedule, all the indoor units in the office building are started up (ON) at one time before the workers go to work, and all the indoor units are collectively operated after leaving the office. Can be stopped (OFF) with. This improves convenience for the manager of the air conditioning system.
　ところで、上記のようなバス接続方式が採用された通信システムにおいて通信が高速化された場合、特に通信線の長さが長くなるほど、通信線の末端における通信信号の反射の影響が大きくなり、信号波形が乱れることがある。この場合、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置、一般的には通信線の両端、にある親機及び子機に対して、それぞれ終端抵抗が設定されることが好ましい。適切な位置に終端抵抗が設定されることにより信号の反射が抑えられ、信号波形が乱れることなく通信を行うことが可能になる。 By the way, when the communication speed is increased in the communication system adopting the bus connection method as described above, the influence of the reflection of the communication signal at the end of the communication line becomes larger as the length of the communication line becomes longer. The waveform may be disturbed. In this case, it is preferable to set the terminating resistances for the master unit and the slave unit at appropriate positions for setting the terminating resistors, generally both ends of the communication line. By setting the terminating resistor at an appropriate position, signal reflection is suppressed and communication can be performed without disturbing the signal waveform.
　このため、従来、例えば大型の建物等に設置される業務用の空調システム等においては、空調システムの設置業者や管理者等が、終端抵抗の設定を行うために通信線の末端近くに位置する子機である室内機を探し出す必要があった。しかしながら、このような空調システムでは、長い通信線に対して多数の室内機が接続されていることが多い。そのため、多数の室内機の中から、通信線の末端に位置する室内機を人手で探し出すことは容易ではない。さらに、終端抵抗が一度設定されたとしても、例えば室内機の増設又は撤去等によって通信線に接続された子機の台数が変わったり、長さ又は種類が異なる通信線に置き換えられたりする場合がある。この場合、終端抵抗の適切な位置は変わることがあるため、その都度、終端抵抗の設定をやりなおす必要が生じる。 For this reason, conventionally, for example, in a commercial air conditioning system installed in a large building or the like, the installer or administrator of the air conditioning system is located near the end of the communication line in order to set the termination resistance. It was necessary to find out the indoor unit that is the slave unit. However, in such an air conditioning system, many indoor units are often connected to a long communication line. Therefore, it is not easy to manually find the indoor unit located at the end of the communication line from among many indoor units. Further, even if the terminating resistor is set once, the number of slave units connected to the communication line may change due to, for example, the addition or removal of indoor units, or the communication line may be replaced with a different length or type. is there. In this case, since the appropriate position of the terminating resistor may change, it is necessary to set the terminating resistor again each time.
特開平０８－１１４３４９号公報Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 08-114349 特許第２７７６６２４号公報Japanese Patent No. 2776624 特許第３０６４１６８号公報Japanese Patent No. 3064168
　本発明が解決しようとする課題は、通信線の終端抵抗を適切な位置に容易に設定することができる、終端抵抗設定装置及び終端抵抗設定システムを提供することである。 The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a termination resistance setting device and a termination resistance setting system that can easily set the termination resistance of a communication line at an appropriate position.
　実施形態の終端抵抗設定装置は、通信部と、終端抵抗設定命令部と、を持つ。通信部は、通信接続された複数の通信装置との試験通信を行う。終端抵抗設定命令部は、前記複数の通信装置の中の任意の通信装置に対して終端抵抗を設定させ、前記試験通信が確立されなかった場合、前記通信装置に対して前記終端抵抗の設定を解除させ、前記通信装置とは異なる任意の通信装置に対して前記終端抵抗を設定させる。 The termination resistance setting device of the embodiment has a communication unit and a termination resistance setting command unit. The communication unit performs test communication with a plurality of communication devices connected by communication. The terminating resistance setting command unit causes a terminating resistance to be set for any communication device of the plurality of communication devices, and when the test communication is not established, sets the terminating resistance for the communication device. The communication terminal is released and the terminating resistor is set for any communication device different from the communication device.
第１の実施形態に係る空調システム１００の全体構成図。The whole air-conditioning system 100 lineblock diagram concerning a 1st embodiment. 第１の実施形態に係る通信装置１０の機能構成を示すブロック図。The block diagram which shows the function structure of the communication apparatus 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 第１の実施形態に係る通信装置２０の機能構成を示すブロック図。The block diagram which shows the function structure of the communication apparatus 20 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 第１の実施形態に係る通信装置１０の動作を示すフローチャート。3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication device 10 according to the first embodiment. 第１の実施形態に係る通信装置２０の動作を示すフローチャート。The flowchart which shows operation|movement of the communication apparatus 20 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 取得されるパルス信号の特徴を説明するための模式図。The schematic diagram for demonstrating the characteristic of the acquired pulse signal. 取得されるパルス信号の特徴を説明するための模式図。The schematic diagram for demonstrating the characteristic of the acquired pulse signal. 取得されるパルス信号の特徴を説明するための模式図。The schematic diagram for demonstrating the characteristic of the acquired pulse signal. 第２の実施形態に係る通信装置１０によって収集された測定結果情報の一例を示す図。The figure which shows an example of the measurement result information collected by the communication apparatus 10 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る通信装置１０によって収集された測定結果情報の一例を示す図。The figure which shows an example of the measurement result information collected by the communication apparatus 10 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る通信装置１０によって収集された測定結果情報の一例を示す図。The figure which shows an example of the measurement result information collected by the communication apparatus 10 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る通信装置１０の機能構成を示すブロック図。The block diagram which shows the function structure of the communication apparatus 10 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る通信装置２０の機能構成を示すブロック図。The block diagram which shows the function structure of the communication apparatus 20 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る通信装置１０の動作を示すフローチャート。The flowchart which shows operation|movement of the communication apparatus 10 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る通信装置２０の動作を示すフローチャート。The flowchart which shows operation|movement of the communication apparatus 20 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る通信装置２０の動作を示すフローチャート。The flowchart which shows operation|movement of the communication apparatus 20 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る通信装置２０の動作を示すフローチャート。The flowchart which shows operation|movement of the communication apparatus 20 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 実施形態の変形例に係る空調システム２００の全体構成図。The whole block diagram of the air conditioning system 200 which concerns on the modification of embodiment.
　以下、実施形態の終端抵抗設定装置及び終端抵抗設定システムを、図面を参照して説明する。 Hereinafter, the terminating resistance setting device and the terminating resistance setting system of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
　（第１の実施形態）
　以下、第１の実施形態に係る空調システム１００（終端抵抗設定システム）の構成について説明する。図１は、第１の実施形態に係る空調システム１００の全体構成図である。図１に示す空調システム１００は、例えばオフィスビルに設置された空調システムである。 (First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the configuration of the air conditioning system 100 (termination resistance setting system) according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioning system 100 according to the first embodiment. The air conditioning system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an air conditioning system installed in, for example, an office building.
　図１に示すように、空調システム１００は、空気調和機の室外機である室外機１と、この室外機１と通信線３０や冷媒配管によって接続される空気調和機の室内機である、室内機２－１と、室内機２－２と、室内機２－３と、を含んで構成される。なお、以下の説明において、室内機２－１と、室内機２－２と、室内機２－３と、を区別して説明する必要がない場合には、単に「室内機２」という。室外機１と各室内機２とで、冷凍サイクルが構成される。 As shown in FIG. 1, an air conditioning system 100 includes an outdoor unit 1 which is an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and an indoor unit of an air conditioner which is connected to the outdoor unit 1 by a communication line 30 and a refrigerant pipe. The machine 2-1, the indoor unit 2-2, and the indoor unit 2-3 are included. In the following description, the indoor unit 2-1, the indoor unit 2-2, and the indoor unit 2-3 are simply referred to as "indoor unit 2" unless it is necessary to distinguish between them. The outdoor unit 1 and each indoor unit 2 constitute a refrigeration cycle.
　このように、空調システム１００は、１台の室外機１と、複数の室内機２と、を含んでいる。室外機１は、複数の室内機２の動作を一括して制御する。ここでは、説明を簡単にするために、１台の室外機１によって制御される室内機２の台数を３台としたが、大能力の室外機１を用いた場合では、１０台以上の室内機２を接続することも可能であり、実際には３台よりもかなり多くの室内機２が接続される。さらには、異なる室外機１及びその室外機１に接続された複数の室内機２を通信可能に接続してもよい。 Thus, the air conditioning system 100 includes one outdoor unit 1 and a plurality of indoor units 2. The outdoor unit 1 collectively controls the operations of the plurality of indoor units 2. Here, in order to simplify the description, the number of indoor units 2 controlled by one outdoor unit 1 is set to three, but when the outdoor unit 1 having a large capacity is used, the number of indoor units is 10 or more. It is also possible to connect the indoor units 2, and actually, considerably more than three indoor units 2 are connected. Furthermore, different outdoor units 1 and a plurality of indoor units 2 connected to the outdoor unit 1 may be communicably connected.
　室外機１は、通信上の親機となる通信装置１０（終端抵抗設定装置）を備えている。また、室内機２－１～２－３は、それぞれ、通信上の子機となる通信装置２０－１～２０－３を備えている。なお、以下の説明において、通信装置２０－１～２０－３と、を区別して説明する必要がない場合には、単に「通信装置２０」という。 The outdoor unit 1 includes a communication device 10 (terminating resistance setting device) that is a master device for communication. Each of the indoor units 2-1 to 2-3 includes communication devices 20-1 to 20-3, which are slave units in communication. In the following description, the communication devices 20-1 to 20-3 are simply referred to as “communication device 20” unless it is necessary to distinguish between them.
　本実施形態においては、通信装置１０は、室外機１に備えられているものとしたが、これに限られるものではなく、例えば、空調システム全体を集中管理する集中管理装置（図示せず）等に備えられていてもよい。この場合、室外機１は、子機である通信装置２０となる。 In this embodiment, the communication device 10 is provided in the outdoor unit 1. However, the communication device 10 is not limited to this. For example, a centralized management device (not shown) that centrally manages the entire air conditioning system, etc. May be equipped with. In this case, the outdoor unit 1 becomes the communication device 20 which is a slave unit.
　図１に示すように、通信装置１０と、通信装置２０－１～２０－３とは、通信線３０によって、バス接続方式で接続されている。各室内機２は室内に設置され、室外機１のみが室外に配置されることから、室外機１の通信装置１０は、通常、通信線３０の一方の末端位置に設置される。また、集中管理装置を通信装置１０とした場合も、集中管理装置は、建物の端に設けられることが多く、通信線３０の一方の末端位置に設置される可能性が高い。 As shown in FIG. 1, the communication device 10 and the communication devices 20-1 to 20-3 are connected by a communication line 30 by a bus connection method. Since each indoor unit 2 is installed indoors and only the outdoor unit 1 is installed outdoors, the communication device 10 of the outdoor unit 1 is usually installed at one end position of the communication line 30. Even when the communication device 10 is used as the centralized management device, the centralized management device is often provided at the end of the building and is likely to be installed at one end position of the communication line 30.
　通信装置１０と複数の通信装置２０とは相互に通信を行う通信機能を有する。通信装置１０は、通信装置２０から出力された信号を取得することによって、例えば、室内機２の稼働状況を示す情報を取得したり、室内機２が設置された部屋の温度や湿度情報を取得したりする。また、通信装置１０は、通信装置２０に対して信号を出力することで、室内機２の稼働状態（例えば、運転状態及び設定温度等）を制御することができる。 The communication device 10 and the plurality of communication devices 20 have a communication function of communicating with each other. The communication device 10 acquires, for example, the information indicating the operating status of the indoor unit 2 or the temperature and humidity information of the room in which the indoor unit 2 is installed by acquiring the signal output from the communication device 20. To do In addition, the communication device 10 can control the operating state (for example, the operating state and the set temperature) of the indoor unit 2 by outputting a signal to the communication device 20.
　通信装置１０は、後述する終端抵抗１１を備え、常時有効化されている。したがって、通信装置１０は、常に終端装置としての機能を有している。また、後述するように、通信装置１０は、通信線３０における適切な位置にある１台の通信装置２０に、もう一方の終端抵抗を設定させるための機能も備えている。 The communication device 10 includes a terminating resistor 11 described later, and is always enabled. Therefore, the communication device 10 always has a function as a terminating device. Further, as will be described later, the communication device 10 also has a function of causing one communication device 20 at an appropriate position on the communication line 30 to set the other terminating resistance.
　通信装置２０は、終端抵抗を含む後述する終端抵抗設定部２１を備える。終端抵抗設定部２１は、通信装置１０から出力された命令に基づいて、終端抵抗の設定又は解除、すなわち入り／切りの切り替えを行う。したがって、通信装置２０は、終端装置としての機能を有する場合と、そうでない場合とがある。 The communication device 20 includes a terminating resistance setting unit 21, which will be described later, including a terminating resistance. The terminating resistance setting unit 21 sets or cancels the terminating resistance, that is, switches on/off based on the command output from the communication device 10. Therefore, the communication device 20 may or may not have a function as a terminating device.
　通信装置１０及び通信装置２０は、いずれも、高速で通信を行う通信モードである高速通信モードでの通信と、これに対し相対的に低速で通信を行う通信モードである低速通信モードでの通信と、を自動的に切り替えて通信（送受信）することができる。 The communication device 10 and the communication device 20 are both communication in a high-speed communication mode, which is a communication mode for performing high-speed communication, and in a low-speed communication mode, which is a communication mode for relatively low-speed communication. , And can be automatically switched to communicate (transmit and receive).
　空調システム１００が稼働する前の初期状態では、全ての通信装置２０の終端抵抗設定部２１において、終端抵抗が解除された状態である。したがって、初期状態では、全ての通信装置２０が終端装置としての機能を有していない状態であることから、通信線３０の末端部において通信線３０によって伝達される信号の反射が発生しやすく、信号波形が乱れやすい。とくに高速に通信が行われる場合、個々のパルス信号が短くなるため、相対的に信号の反射の影響が大きくなる。これに対処するため、初期状態においては、通信装置１０及び通信装置２０は、いずれも、低速通信モードで動作する。 In the initial state before the operation of the air conditioning system 100, the termination resistors are released in the termination resistance setting units 21 of all the communication devices 20. Therefore, in the initial state, since all the communication devices 20 do not have the function as the terminating device, reflection of the signal transmitted by the communication line 30 is likely to occur at the end of the communication line 30, The signal waveform is easily disturbed. In particular, when communication is performed at high speed, each pulse signal becomes short, so that the influence of signal reflection becomes relatively large. To deal with this, in the initial state, both the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 operate in the low speed communication mode.
　通信装置１０は、通信線３０によって伝達される信号の反射を抑えて、高速通信モードで通信装置２０との通信を行うことができるようにするための制御を行う。具体的には、通信装置１０は、終端抵抗設定装置として動作し、通信線３０において終端抵抗を設けるのに適切な位置（主に通信線３０の末端）にある通信装置２０を選定する。そして、通信装置１０は、選定された通信装置２０の終端抵抗設定部２１に対して、終端抵抗が設定された状態に切り替えさせるための命令（以下、「終端抵抗設定命令」という。）を出力する。なお、後述するように、終端抵抗設定命令は、終端抵抗を設けるのに適切な位置にある通信装置２０を探索するためにも利用される。 The communication device 10 performs control for suppressing reflection of a signal transmitted by the communication line 30 and enabling communication with the communication device 20 in the high-speed communication mode. Specifically, the communication device 10 operates as a terminating resistance setting device, and selects the communication device 20 at a position (mainly at the end of the communication line 30) suitable for providing a terminating resistance in the communication line 30. Then, the communication device 10 outputs, to the termination resistance setting unit 21 of the selected communication device 20, an instruction (hereinafter, referred to as “termination resistance setting instruction”) for switching the termination resistance setting unit 21 to the state in which the termination resistance is set. To do. As will be described later, the terminating resistance setting command is also used to search for the communication device 20 at a position suitable for providing the terminating resistance.
　上記選定された通信装置２０の終端抵抗設定部２１は、取得した終端抵抗設定命令に従って、終端抵抗が設定された状態への切り替えを行う。これにより、当該通信装置２０が終端装置として機能する。そして、予め終端装置としての機能を有する通信装置１０に加えて、上記特定された通信装置２０において終端抵抗が設定されることによって、信号の反射が抑えられ、信号波形が乱れることなく高速の通信を行うことが可能になる。高速の通信を行うことで、通信装置１０、２０間で運転中に必要な情報を迅速に転送できるようになる。 The termination resistance setting unit 21 of the selected communication device 20 switches to the state where the termination resistance is set according to the obtained termination resistance setting command. As a result, the communication device 20 functions as a terminating device. Then, in addition to the communication device 10 having a function as a terminating device in advance, the terminal resistance is set in the specified communication device 20 so that signal reflection is suppressed and high-speed communication without disturbing the signal waveform. Will be able to do. By performing high-speed communication, it becomes possible to quickly transfer information required between the communication devices 10 and 20 during operation.
　以下、通信装置１０の終端抵抗設定装置としての機能による、終端抵抗の適切な設定位置の特定方法について説明する。 Hereinafter, a method of identifying an appropriate setting position of the terminating resistor by the function of the terminating resistor setting device of the communication device 10 will be described.
　まず、通信装置１０は、任意の１つの通信装置２０に対して、終端抵抗を設定しなくても通信が可能な低速通信モードで終端抵抗設定命令を出力する。これにより、終端抵抗設定命令を取得した通信装置２０において終端抵抗が設定される。ここでは、例えば、通信装置１０は、まず通信装置２０－１に終端抵抗を設定させる。 First, the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to any one communication device 20 in a low-speed communication mode in which communication is possible without setting a termination resistance. As a result, the terminating resistance is set in the communication device 20 that has acquired the terminating resistance setting command. Here, for example, the communication device 10 first causes the communication device 20-1 to set a terminating resistor.
　次に、通信装置１０は、全ての通信装置２０に対して、終端抵抗の設定が不要な低速通信モードで、低速通信モードから高速通信モードへ通信モードを切り替えさせるための命令（以下、「通信速度切替命令」という。）を出力する。これにより、全ての通信装置２０において、通信モードが高速通信モードに切り替わる。 Next, the communication device 10 instructs all communication devices 20 to switch the communication mode from the low-speed communication mode to the high-speed communication mode in the low-speed communication mode in which the setting of the terminating resistor is unnecessary (hereinafter, “communication”). It is called "speed switching command".). As a result, in all the communication devices 20, the communication mode is switched to the high speed communication mode.
　続いて、通信装置１０は、自己の通信装置１０の通信モードを、低速通信モードから高速通信モードへ切り替える。そして、通信装置１０は、高速通信モードで各通信装置２０との通信の確立を順にそれぞれ試みる。全ての通信装置２０との通信がそれぞれ確立された場合、通信装置１０は、終端抵抗が設定された上記通信装置２０－１が、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置であると判定する。但し、図１に示すように、通信装置２０－１は通信線３０の末端に位置する通信装置ではないことから、一般的には、通信が確立しない可能性が高い。 Next, the communication device 10 switches the communication mode of its own communication device 10 from the low speed communication mode to the high speed communication mode. Then, the communication device 10 sequentially tries to establish communication with each communication device 20 in the high-speed communication mode. When communication with all of the communication devices 20 is established, the communication device 10 is a communication device in which the communication device 20-1 having the terminating resistance is located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. Judge that there is. However, as shown in FIG. 1, since the communication device 20-1 is not a communication device located at the end of the communication line 30, it is highly likely that communication will not be established.
　通信が確立しなかった場合（例えば、いずれかの通信装置２０との間で通信エラーが発生した場合）、通信装置１０は、終端抵抗が設定された上記通信装置２０－１が、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置２０ではないと判定する。そして、通信装置１０は、低速通信モードで終端抵抗が設定された上記通信装置２０－１に対して、終端抵抗の設定を解除させるための命令（以下、「終端抵抗設定解除命令」という。）を出力する。これにより、通信装置２０－１において終端抵抗の設定が解除される。 When the communication is not established (for example, when a communication error occurs with any of the communication devices 20), the communication device 10 is configured such that the communication device 20-1 having the terminating resistance sets the terminating resistance. It is determined that the communication device 20 is not located at an appropriate position for setting. Then, the communication device 10 causes the communication device 20-1 in which the terminating resistance is set in the low-speed communication mode to cancel the setting of the terminating resistance (hereinafter, referred to as “terminating resistance setting cancellation command”). Is output. As a result, the setting of the terminating resistor in the communication device 20-1 is released.
　続いて、通信装置１０は、他の（既に終端抵抗の設定を試行済みである、通信装置２０－１以外の）任意の１つの通信装置２０に対して、終端抵抗設定命令を出力する。例えば、通信装置１０は、通信装置２０－２に終端抵抗設定命令を出力し、終端抵抗を設定させる。そして、上記と同様に、通信装置１０は、各通信装置２０との通信の確立を試みる。ここでも、図１に示すように、通信装置２０－２も通信線３０の末端に位置する通信装置ではないことから、一般的には、通信が確立しない可能性が高い。 Subsequently, the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to any one other communication device 20 (other than the communication device 20-1 which has already tried to set the termination resistance). For example, the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to the communication device 20-2 to set the termination resistance. Then, similarly to the above, the communication device 10 attempts to establish communication with each communication device 20. Here again, as shown in FIG. 1, since the communication device 20-2 is also not a communication device located at the end of the communication line 30, it is generally highly likely that communication will not be established.
　通信が確立しなかった場合、通信装置１０は、終端抵抗が設定された上記通信装置２０－２が、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置ではないと判定する。そして、通信装置１０は、低速通信モードにて終端抵抗が設定された上記通信装置２０－２に対して、終端抵抗設定解除命令を出力する。 When the communication is not established, the communication device 10 determines that the communication device 20-2 with the terminating resistance set is not a communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. Then, the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting cancellation command to the communication device 20-2 in which the termination resistance has been set in the low speed communication mode.
　次に、通信装置１０は、他の（既に終端抵抗の設定を試行済みである、通信装置２０－１、２０－２以外の）任意の１つの通信装置２０に対して、終端抵抗設定命令を出力する。この実施形態では、残りの通信装置２０は、通信装置２０－３しか残っていないため、通信装置１０は、通信装置２０－３に終端抵抗設定命令を出力し、終端抵抗を設定させる。そして、上記と同様に、通信装置１０は、各通信装置２０との通信の確立を試みる。図１に示すように、通信装置２０－３は通信線３０の末端に位置する通信装置であることから、すべての通信装置２０との通信が確立する。 Next, the communication device 10 issues a termination resistance setting command to any one communication device 20 (other than the communication devices 20-1 and 20-2, which has already tried to set the termination resistance). Output. In this embodiment, since only the communication device 20-3 remains in the remaining communication devices 20, the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to the communication device 20-3 to set the termination resistance. Then, similarly to the above, the communication device 10 attempts to establish communication with each communication device 20. As shown in FIG. 1, since the communication device 20-3 is a communication device located at the end of the communication line 30, communication with all communication devices 20 is established.
　通信が確立した場合、通信装置１０は、終端抵抗が設定された上記通信装置２０－３が、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置であると判定する。すなわち、通信装置１０は、当該通信が確立した際に終端抵抗を設定させた通信装置２０－３を、終端抵抗の設定対象として決定する。このように、通信装置１０は、各通信装置２０に対して順に終端抵抗を設定させながら繰り返し通信の確立を試み、通信が確立したことに基づいて、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置を特定する。以後は、高速通信モードにて通信装置１０と各通信装置２０は通信を行う。なお、システム管理者は、必要に応じて低速通信モードを用いる等して、事前に通信装置１０と通信装置２０の各々のアドレス設定を行っておく。 When the communication is established, the communication device 10 determines that the communication device 20-3 having the terminating resistance set therein is a communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. That is, the communication device 10 determines the communication device 20-3, to which the terminating resistor is set when the communication is established, as the terminating resistor setting target. As described above, the communication device 10 repeatedly attempts to establish communication while sequentially setting the terminating resistance for each communication device 20, and based on the establishment of the communication, the communication device 10 is set to an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. Identify the communication device located. After that, the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 communicate with each other in the high-speed communication mode. The system administrator sets the addresses of the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 in advance by using the low-speed communication mode as necessary.
　以下、通信装置１０の機能構成について説明する。
　図２は、第１の実施形態に係る通信装置１０の機能構成を示すブロック図である。図２に示すように、親機となる通信装置１０は、終端抵抗１１と、信号送受信回路１２と、を含んで構成される。 The functional configuration of the communication device 10 will be described below.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the communication device 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication device 10 serving as a master device includes a terminating resistor 11 and a signal transmitting/receiving circuit 12.
　通信装置１０では、内部の終端抵抗１１は、図２に示すように、２線式の通信線である通信線３０に常時接続された状態である。したがって、通信装置１０は常時、終端装置として機能する。 In the communication device 10, the internal terminating resistor 11 is always connected to the communication line 30, which is a two-wire communication line, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the communication device 10 always functions as a terminating device.
　信号送受信回路１２は、各通信装置２０との間の通信における、信号の送受信を行う回路である。また、信号送受信回路１２は、終端抵抗設定装置としても動作する。信号送受信回路１２は、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置（主に、通信線３０のもう一方の末端）に位置する通信装置２０を特定する。信号送受信回路１２は、各通信装置２０に対して命令を出力することにより、各通信装置２０における終端抵抗の設定状態を制御する。 The signal transmission/reception circuit 12 is a circuit that transmits/receives signals in communication with each communication device 20. The signal transmission/reception circuit 12 also operates as a termination resistance setting device. The signal transmission/reception circuit 12 identifies the communication device 20 located at an appropriate position (mainly the other end of the communication line 30) in setting the terminating resistance. The signal transmission/reception circuit 12 outputs a command to each communication device 20 to control the setting state of the terminating resistor in each communication device 20.
　図２に示すように、信号送受信回路１２は、制御部１２０と、命令部１２１と、通信部１２２と、計時部１２３と、記憶部１２５と、決定部１２６と、通信速度切替部１２７と、を含んで構成される。 As shown in FIG. 2, the signal transmission/reception circuit 12 includes a control unit 120, a command unit 121, a communication unit 122, a clock unit 123, a storage unit 125, a determination unit 126, a communication speed switching unit 127, It is configured to include.
　制御部１２０は、信号送受信回路１２が有する各機能ブロックによる処理を制御する。例えば、制御部１２０は、各通信装置２０との間の通信における、信号の送受信を制御する。また、例えば制御部１２０は、命令部１２１による、各通信装置２０に対する各種命令の出力を制御する。 The control unit 120 controls processing by each functional block of the signal transmission/reception circuit 12. For example, the control unit 120 controls transmission/reception of signals in communication with each communication device 20. Further, for example, the control unit 120 controls the output of various commands from the command unit 121 to each communication device 20.
　制御部１２０は、例えばＣＰＵ（Central Processing Unit；中央演算処理装置）等のプロセッサである。なお、制御部１２０は、例えば、ＬＳＩ（Large-scale Integrated Circuit；大規模集積回路）やＡＳＩＣ（Application Specific Integrated Circuit；特定用途向け集積回路）等のハードウェアを用いて実現されてもよい。また、信号送受信回路１２が有する各機能ブロックは、例えばＣＰＵ等のプロセッサである制御部１２０によって、記憶部１２５に記憶されたプログラムが実行されることによって実現される構成であってもよい。 The control unit 120 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 120 may be realized by using hardware such as an LSI (Large-scale Integrated Circuit; large-scale integrated circuit) and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Further, each functional block included in the signal transmission/reception circuit 12 may be realized by the control unit 120, which is a processor such as a CPU, executing a program stored in the storage unit 125.
　命令部１２１は、各通信装置２０に対して出力される各種命令の出力を制御する。命令部１２１は、通信部１２２を介して各通信装置２０へ各種命令を出力する。図２に示すように、命令部１２１は、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａと、通信速度切替命令部１２１ｂと、を含む。 The command unit 121 controls the output of various commands output to each communication device 20. The command unit 121 outputs various commands to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122. As shown in FIG. 2, the command unit 121 includes a termination resistance setting command unit 121a and a communication speed switching command unit 121b.
　終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、終端抵抗を設定させるための命令を示す終端抵抗設定命令を、任意の１つの通信装置２０に対して出力する。また、通信部１２２による各通信装置２０との通信が確立しなかった場合、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、上記終端抵抗設定命令を出力した通信装置２０に対して、終端抵抗の設定を解除させるための命令を示す終端抵抗設定解除命令を出力する。そして、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、終端抵抗設定命令を、他の任意の１つの通信装置２０に対して出力する。また、通信部１２２による各通信装置２０との通信が確立した場合、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは終端抵抗設定解除命令を出力しない。すなわち、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、当該通信が確立した際に終端抵抗を設定させた通信装置２０を、終端抵抗の設定対象として決定する。 The termination resistance setting instruction unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting instruction indicating an instruction for setting the termination resistance to any one communication device 20. In addition, when the communication with the communication device 20 by the communication unit 122 is not established, the termination resistance setting command unit 121a causes the communication device 20 that has output the termination resistance setting command to cancel the setting of the termination resistance. A termination resistance setting cancellation command indicating a command for Then, the terminating resistance setting command unit 121a outputs the terminating resistance setting command to another arbitrary one communication device 20. Further, when the communication with the communication device 20 by the communication unit 122 is established, the termination resistance setting command unit 121a does not output the termination resistance setting cancellation command. That is, the terminating resistance setting command unit 121a determines the communication device 20 that has set the terminating resistance when the communication is established, as the terminating resistance setting target.
　なお、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、適切な位置に位置する通信装置２０に終端抵抗の設定が既になされていた場合において、少なくとも１つの通信装置２０が増設又は撤去された場合に、終端抵抗設定解除命令を出力するようにしてもよい。なぜならば、通信装置２０が増設又は撤去によって、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置が変わる場合があるからである。この場合、信号送受信回路１２が、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置２０をあらためて特定し、特定された通信装置２０に対して終端抵抗を設定させるような構成とする。具体的には、室内機２が増設又は撤去される場合には、すべての室外機１と室内機２の電源が一旦遮断される。この電源再投入を契機に、室外機１の通信装置１０が、終端抵抗の再設定動作を行うことで、上記の処理を実施できる。 The terminating resistance setting command unit 121a sets the terminating resistance when at least one communication device 20 is added or removed when the terminating resistance is already set for the communication device 20 located at an appropriate position. A cancellation command may be output. This is because the appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance may change due to the addition or removal of the communication device 20. In this case, the signal transmitting/receiving circuit 12 is configured to newly identify the communication device 20 located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance, and set the terminating resistance for the identified communication device 20. Specifically, when the indoor unit 2 is added or removed, the power supplies of all the outdoor units 1 and the indoor units 2 are temporarily cut off. When the power is turned on again, the communication device 10 of the outdoor unit 1 performs the terminating resistor resetting operation, so that the above processing can be performed.
　通信速度切替命令部１２１ｂは、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａによって終端抵抗設定命令が出力された場合、自己の通信装置１０との通信における通信モードを高速通信モードに切り替えさせるための命令を示す通信速度切替命令を、各通信装置２０に対してそれぞれ出力する。 The communication speed switching command unit 121b, when the terminating resistance setting command unit 121a outputs the terminating resistance setting command, the communication speed indicating a command for switching the communication mode in communication with the communication device 10 of its own to the high speed communication mode. The switching instruction is output to each communication device 20.
　通信部１２２は、各通信装置２０と通信接続するための通信インターフェースである。なお、通信部１２２は、別々のハードウェアによってそれぞれ構成される送信部及び受信部からなる機能部であってもよい。 The communication unit 122 is a communication interface for making a communication connection with each communication device 20. The communication unit 122 may be a functional unit including a transmission unit and a reception unit, which are configured by separate hardware.
　通信部１２２は、制御部１２０による制御のもとで、各種の信号（例えば、パルス信号）を、通信線３０を介して各通信装置２０へ出力する。なお、各種の信号には、命令部１２１から出力される、上記の、終端抵抗設定命令、及び通信速度切替命令を示す信号も含まれる。また、通信部１２２は、各通信装置２０から出力された各種の信号（例えば、パルス信号）を、通信線３０を介して取得する。通信部１２２は、通信装置２０との通信が確立したこと、及び通信エラーが生じたこと等を検知する。なお、通常運転中において、各通信装置２０との間の通信内容が運転データである場合には、そのデータを制御部１２０に送り、制御部１２０は必要な処理を行う。 Under the control of the control unit 120, the communication unit 122 outputs various signals (for example, pulse signals) to each communication device 20 via the communication line 30. It should be noted that the various signals also include the signals output from the instruction unit 121 and indicating the above-mentioned termination resistance setting instruction and communication speed switching instruction. The communication unit 122 also acquires various signals (for example, pulse signals) output from the communication devices 20 via the communication line 30. The communication unit 122 detects that communication with the communication device 20 has been established, a communication error has occurred, and the like. In addition, during normal operation, when the content of communication with each communication device 20 is operation data, the data is sent to the control unit 120, and the control unit 120 performs necessary processing.
　計時部１２３は、通信部１２２が、通信装置２０との通信の確立を試みてからの経過時間を計時するタイマーである。通信部１２２が通信装置２０との通信の確立を試みてから所定の時間が経過した場合、計時部１２３は、各機能部に対し、所定の時間が経過したこと示す通知を行う。 The clock unit 123 is a timer that measures the elapsed time after the communication unit 122 attempts to establish communication with the communication device 20. When a predetermined time has passed since the communication unit 122 tried to establish communication with the communication device 20, the time counting unit 123 notifies each functional unit that the predetermined time has passed.
　記憶部１２５は、信号送受信回路１２において用いられる、各種のプログラム及びデータテーブルを記憶する。記憶部１２５は、例えばフラッシュメモリ、ＨＤＤ（Hard Disk Drive）などの不揮発性の記録媒体（非一時的な記録媒体）である。また、記憶部１２５は、例えば、ＲＡＭ（Random Access Memory）やレジスタなどの揮発性の記録媒体をさらに有してもよい。 The storage unit 125 stores various programs and data tables used in the signal transmitting/receiving circuit 12. The storage unit 125 is a non-volatile recording medium (non-temporary recording medium) such as a flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 125 may further include a volatile recording medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a register.
　また、記憶部１２５は、通信装置情報テーブルｔ１を記憶する。 The storage unit 125 also stores the communication device information table t1.
　通信装置情報テーブルｔ１は、「識別番号」と「アドレス」との２つの項目の列からなる２次元の表形式のデータである。識別番号の項目に格納される値は、各通信装置２０を識別するための識別番号である。例えば、通信装置２０－１、通信装置２０－２、及び通信装置２０－３に対応付けられた識別番号が、通信装置情報テーブルｔ１では「ｃ１」、「ｃ２」、及び「ｃ３」と記憶される。 The communication device information table t1 is two-dimensional tabular data composed of a column of two items of “identification number” and “address”. The value stored in the item of the identification number is an identification number for identifying each communication device 20. For example, the identification numbers associated with the communication device 20-1, the communication device 20-2, and the communication device 20-3 are stored as “c1”, “c2”, and “c3” in the communication device information table t1. It
　通信装置情報テーブルｔ１は、各通信装置２０に付与された識別番号と、通信装置１０が各通信装置２０と通信を行うために必要となる、各通信装置２０のアドレスと、を対応付けるテーブルである。例えば、識別番号「ｃ１」が付与された通信装置２０－１のアドレスは、「ａａａ．ｂｂｂ」である。 The communication device information table t1 is a table that associates the identification number assigned to each communication device 20 with the address of each communication device 20, which is necessary for the communication device 10 to communicate with each communication device 20. .. For example, the address of the communication device 20-1 assigned with the identification number “c1” is “aaa.bbb”.
　通信装置１０は、特定の通信装置２０に対して信号を出力する場合、通信装置情報テーブルｔ１を参照し、出力先の通信装置２０に対応するアドレスを認識する。そして、通信装置１０は、認識したアドレスを出力先アドレスとして指定して信号を出力する。例えば、通信装置１０は、「ａａａ．ｂｂｂ」というアドレスを指定して信号を出力することによって、識別番号「ｃ１」が付与された通信装置２０－１に対して信号を出力することができる。 When the communication device 10 outputs a signal to a specific communication device 20, the communication device 10 refers to the communication device information table t1 and recognizes the address corresponding to the output communication device 20. Then, the communication device 10 outputs the signal by designating the recognized address as the output destination address. For example, the communication device 10 can output a signal to the communication device 20-1 assigned with the identification number “c1” by designating the address “aaa.bbb” and outputting the signal.
　決定部１２６は、通信部１２２と全ての通信装置２０との通信がそれぞれ確立した場合、その時点で終端抵抗が設定されている通信装置２０が、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置であると判定する。 When the communication between the communication unit 122 and all the communication devices 20 is established, the determining unit 126 determines that the communication device 20 having the terminating resistance set at that time is located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. It is determined that the communication device is a communication device.
　また、決定部１２６は、計時部１２３から所定の時間が経過したことを示す通知を取得した時点で、通信部１２２と各通信装置２０との通信が確立していない場合において、例えば通信の途中で通信エラーが発生した場合、その時点で終端抵抗が設定されている通信装置２０は、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置ではないと判定する。 Further, when the communication between the communication unit 122 and each of the communication devices 20 is not established at the time when the notification indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed is acquired from the time counting unit 123, the determining unit 126, for example, during communication. When a communication error occurs in the communication device 20, the communication device 20 in which the terminating resistance is set at that time is determined not to be a communication device located at an appropriate position in setting the terminating resistance.
　通信速度切替部１２７は、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａから終端抵抗設定命令が出力された場合、各通信装置２０との通信における通信速度を高速で行う高速通信モードへ通信モードを切り替える。また、通信速度切替部１２７は、計時部１２３から所定の時間が経過したことを示す通知を取得した場合、各通信装置２０との通信における通信速度を低速で行う低速通信モードへ通信モードを切り替える。 The communication speed switching unit 127 switches the communication mode to the high speed communication mode in which the communication speed in communication with each communication device 20 is high when the termination resistance setting command unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting command. In addition, when the communication speed switching unit 127 acquires a notification indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed from the timer unit 123, the communication speed switching unit 127 switches the communication mode to the low speed communication mode in which the communication speed in communication with each communication device 20 is low. ..
　以下、図３に基づき通信装置２０の機能構成について説明する。なお、各通信装置２０の機能構成は同一であり、図３には、通信装置２０－２及び２０－３のみを一例として示している。同図中、通信装置２０－３の信号送受信回路２２は、通信装置２０－２の信号送受信回路２２と同一であるため、通信装置２０－３が備える各機能部の記載を省略している。以下、図３に示す通信装置２０－２を参照しながら、通信装置２０の機能構成について説明する。 The functional configuration of the communication device 20 will be described below with reference to FIG. The functional configurations of the communication devices 20 are the same, and FIG. 3 illustrates only the communication devices 20-2 and 20-3 as an example. In the figure, since the signal transmission/reception circuit 22 of the communication device 20-3 is the same as the signal transmission/reception circuit 22 of the communication device 20-2, the description of each functional unit included in the communication device 20-3 is omitted. The functional configuration of the communication device 20 will be described below with reference to the communication device 20-2 shown in FIG.
　通信装置２０は、終端抵抗設定部２１と、信号送受信回路２２と、を含んで構成される。信号送受信回路２２は、通信装置１０との間の通信における、信号の送受信を行う回路である。図３に示すように、信号送受信回路２２は、制御部２２０と、通信部２２１と、通信速度切替部２２２と、計時部２２３と、記憶部２２４と、を含んで構成される。 The communication device 20 is configured to include a termination resistance setting unit 21 and a signal transmission/reception circuit 22. The signal transmission/reception circuit 22 is a circuit that transmits/receives signals in communication with the communication device 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the signal transmission/reception circuit 22 includes a control unit 220, a communication unit 221, a communication speed switching unit 222, a clock unit 223, and a storage unit 224.
　終端抵抗設定部２１は、終端抵抗を含んで構成される。終端抵抗設定部２１は、通信装置１０から出力された終端抵抗設定命令を通信部２２１が取得した場合、制御部２２０による制御により、終端抵抗が設定された状態（オン（ＯＮ）の状態）に切り替える。また、終端抵抗設定部２１は、計時部２２３から所定の時間が経過したことを示す通知が出力された場合、制御部２２０による制御により、終端抵抗が設定されていない状態（オフ（ＯＦＦ）の状態）に切り替える。 The termination resistance setting unit 21 is configured to include a termination resistance. When the communication unit 221 acquires the termination resistance setting command output from the communication device 10, the termination resistance setting unit 21 is controlled by the control unit 220 to be in a state in which the termination resistance is set (ON state). Switch. In addition, when the notification indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed is output from the time counting unit 223, the terminating resistance setting unit 21 is in a state (OFF (OFF)) in which the terminating resistor is not set by the control of the control unit 220. State).
　制御部２２０は、信号送受信回路２２が有する各機能ブロックによる各種処理、及び終端抵抗設定部２１の動作を制御する。例えば、制御部２２０は、通信部２２１と各通信装置２０との間の通信における、信号の送受信を制御する。 The control unit 220 controls various processes performed by each functional block of the signal transmitting/receiving circuit 22 and the operation of the terminating resistance setting unit 21. For example, the control unit 220 controls the transmission and reception of signals in the communication between the communication unit 221 and each communication device 20.
　制御部２２０は、例えばＣＰＵ等のプロセッサである。また、信号送受信回路２２が有する各機能ブロックは、制御部２２０によって、記憶部２２４に記憶されたプログラムが実行されることによって実現される構成であってもよい。 The control unit 220 is a processor such as a CPU. Further, each functional block included in the signal transmission/reception circuit 22 may be realized by the control unit 220 executing a program stored in the storage unit 224.
　通信部２２１は、通信装置１０及び他の各通信装置２０と通信接続するための通信インターフェースである。なお、通信部２２１は、別々のハードウェアによってそれぞれ構成される送信部及び受信部からなる機能部であってもよい。 The communication unit 221 is a communication interface for communication connection with the communication device 10 and each of the other communication devices 20. The communication unit 221 may be a functional unit including a transmission unit and a reception unit, which are configured by separate hardware.
　通信部２２１は、通信装置１０又は各通信装置２０（自己の通信装置２０を含む）から出力された、各種の信号（例えば、パルス信号）を取得する。なお、各種の信号には、上述した通信装置１０から出力される、終端抵抗設定命令、及び通信速度切替命令を示す信号も含まれる。 The communication unit 221 acquires various signals (for example, pulse signals) output from the communication device 10 or each communication device 20 (including its own communication device 20). It should be noted that the various signals include signals indicating the termination resistance setting command and the communication speed switching command, which are output from the communication device 10 described above.
　通信速度切替部２２２は、通信装置１０から出力された通信速度切替命令を通信部２２１が取得した場合、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０との通信を高速通信モードへ切り替える。また、通信速度切替部２２２は、計時部２２３から所定の時間が経過したことを示す通知を取得した場合、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０との通信を低速通信モードへ切り替える。 When the communication unit 221 acquires the communication speed switching command output from the communication device 10, the communication speed switching unit 222 switches the communication with the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 to the high-speed communication mode. Further, the communication speed switching unit 222 switches the communication with the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 to the low speed communication mode when the communication unit 223 receives the notification indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed from the time counting unit 223.
　計時部２２３は、通信装置１０から出力された終端抵抗設定命令を示す信号を通信部２２１が取得してからの経過時間を計時するタイマーである。計時部２２３は、当該所定の時間を経過した場合、各機能部に対して当該所定の時間を経過したことを示す通知を行う。 The clock unit 223 is a timer that measures the elapsed time after the communication unit 221 acquires the signal indicating the termination resistance setting command output from the communication device 10. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the timer unit 223 notifies each functional unit that the predetermined time has elapsed.
　記憶部２２４は、信号送受信回路２２において用いられる、各種のプログラム等を記憶する。記憶部２２４は、例えばフラッシュメモリ、ＨＤＤなどの不揮発性の記録媒体（非一時的な記録媒体）である。また、記憶部２２４は、例えば、ＲＡＭやレジスタなどの揮発性の記録媒体をさらに有してもよい。 The storage unit 224 stores various programs used in the signal transmission/reception circuit 22. The storage unit 224 is a non-volatile recording medium (non-temporary recording medium) such as a flash memory or an HDD. In addition, the storage unit 224 may further include a volatile recording medium such as a RAM or a register.
　以下、図４のフローチャートに基づき通信装置１０の動作について説明する。なお、以下の説明において、通信装置２０の台数はｎ［台］であるものとし、各通信装置２０をそれぞれ「第ｉ通信装置」（ｉ＝０～ｎ）という。例えば、図１に示した空調システム１００の場合、通信装置２０の台数は３台（すなわち、ｎ＝３）であり、通信装置２０－１～２０－３は、第１通信装置～第３通信装置にそれぞれ相当する。 The operation of the communication device 10 will be described below based on the flowchart of FIG. In the following description, the number of communication devices 20 is n [units], and each communication device 20 is referred to as an “i-th communication device” (i=0 to n). For example, in the case of the air conditioning system 100 shown in FIG. 1, the number of communication devices 20 is three (that is, n=3), and the communication devices 20-1 to 20-3 are the first communication device to the third communication device. Each corresponds to a device.
　まず、制御部１２０は、通信装置２０の番号を示す上記「ｉ」の値に１を代入する（ステップＳ００１）。以下、各ステップＳ＊＊＊を「Ｓ＊＊＊」で表す。そして、Ｓ００２～Ｓ０１０の処理が実行される度に、制御部１２０は、「ｉ」の値に対して１を加算し、繰り返し当該処理が実行される。 First, the control unit 120 substitutes 1 into the value of “i” indicating the number of the communication device 20 (step S001). Hereinafter, each step S*** is represented by “S***”. Then, every time the processing of S002 to S010 is executed, the control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “i”, and the processing is repeatedly executed.
　終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、第ｉ通信装置２０－ｉに対して、終端抵抗設定命令を出力する（Ｓ００２）。また、通信速度切替命令部１２１ｂは、全ての通信装置２０（すなわち、第１通信装置～第ｎ通信装置）に対して、通信速度切替命令を出力する（Ｓ００３）。また、通信速度切替部１２７は、各通信装置２０との通信における通信速度を高速で行う高速通信モードへ、自己の通信装置１０の通信モードを切り替える。なお、Ｓ００２，３における終端抵抗設定命令と通信速度切替命令は、確実に各通信装置２０に転送するために低速通信モードでの通信が行われる。 The termination resistance setting command unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting command to the i-th communication device 20-i (S002). Further, the communication speed switching command unit 121b outputs the communication speed switching command to all the communication devices 20 (that is, the first communication device to the nth communication device) (S003). Further, the communication speed switching unit 127 switches the communication mode of its own communication device 10 to the high speed communication mode in which the communication speed in communication with each communication device 20 is high. The terminating resistance setting command and the communication speed switching command in S002 and S3 are communicated in the low speed communication mode in order to surely transfer them to each communication device 20.
　通信部１２２は、各通信装置２０との間においてそれぞれ通信（試験通信）を行う（Ｓ００５）。全ての通信装置２０との通信がそれぞれ確立した場合（Ｓ００６Ｙｅｓ）、決定部１２６は、第ｉ通信装置が終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置であると判定し、当該第ｉ通信装置を終端抵抗の設定対象装置として決定する（Ｓ００７）。この場合、図４のフローチャートが示す処理が終了する。 The communication unit 122 performs communication (test communication) with each communication device 20 (S005). When the communication with all the communication devices 20 has been established (Yes in S006), the determination unit 126 determines that the i-th communication device is a communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance, and the determination unit 126 The i communication device is determined as the device for which the terminating resistor is set (S007). In this case, the process shown by the flowchart in FIG. 4 ends.
　一方、少なくとも１つの通信装置２０との通信が確立しておらず（Ｓ００６Ｎｏ）、かつ、所定の時間が経過していない場合（すなわち、計時部１２３から所定の時間の経過を示す通知が出力されていない場合）（Ｓ００８Ｎｏ）、決定部１２６は、通信部１２２と各通信装置２０との間の通信の確立を待つ。 On the other hand, when communication with at least one communication device 20 has not been established (No in S006), and the predetermined time has not elapsed (that is, the time counting unit 123 outputs a notification indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed). If not (S008 No), the determination unit 126 waits for establishment of communication between the communication unit 122 and each communication device 20.
　そして、少なくとも１つの通信装置２０との通信が確立しないまま（Ｓ００６Ｎｏ）、所定の時間が経過した場合（すなわち、計時部１２３から所定の時間の経過を示す通知が出力された場合）（Ｓ００８Ｙｅｓ）、決定部１２６は、第ｉ通信装置が終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置ではないと判定する。そして、通信速度切替部１２７は、各通信装置２０との通信における通信速度を低速で行う低速通信モードへ、自己の通信装置１０の通信モードを切り替える（Ｓ００９）。 Then, when a predetermined time has elapsed without establishing communication with at least one communication device 20 (No in S006) (that is, when a notification indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed is output from the timer unit 123) (S008Yes). The determination unit 126 determines that the i-th communication device is not a communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. Then, the communication speed switching unit 127 switches the communication mode of its own communication device 10 to the low speed communication mode in which the communication speed in communication with each communication device 20 is low (S009).
　そして、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、第ｉ通信装置に対して、終端抵抗設定解除命令を出力する（Ｓ０１０）。そして、制御部１２０は、上記「ｉ」値がｉ＜ｎを満たす場合、「ｉ」の値に１を加算して、上記Ｓ００２以降の処理を繰り返させる。一方、上記「ｉ」値がｉ＝ｎを満たす場合、図４のフローチャートが示す処理が終了する。なお、これによって処理が終了する場合とは、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置が特定されなかった場合であり、このような場合には通信線の誤配線の可能性が高く、配線接続の確認作業を行うことになる。このため、「ｉ」値がｉ＝ｎを満たす場合には、何らかの表示を行うことが望ましい。 Then, the termination resistance setting command unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting cancellation command to the i-th communication device (S010). Then, when the “i” value satisfies i<n, the control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “i” and repeats the processing of S002 and subsequent steps. On the other hand, when the above “i” value satisfies i=n, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 ends. Note that the case where the processing is ended by this is a case where the communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistor is not specified, and in such a case, there is a possibility of miswiring of the communication line. Is high, and the work of confirming the wiring connection will be carried out. Therefore, when the “i” value satisfies i=n, it is desirable to display something.
　以下、図５のフローチャートを用いて第１の実施形態に係る通信装置２０の終端抵抗設定動作を説明する。 Hereinafter, the terminating resistance setting operation of the communication device 20 according to the first embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG.
　通信装置１０から通信装置２０に終端抵抗設定命令が入力されると、通信装置２０は、この終端抵抗設定命令を、通信部２２１を介して取得する（Ｓ１０１ＹＥＳ）。そして、終端抵抗設定部２１は、終端抵抗が設定された状態（オン（ＯＮ）の状態）に切り替える（Ｓ１０２）。 When the termination resistance setting command is input from the communication device 10 to the communication device 20, the communication device 20 acquires the termination resistance setting command via the communication unit 221 (YES in S101). Then, the terminating resistance setting unit 21 switches to the state in which the terminating resistance is set (ON state) (S102).
　続いて、通信装置２０は、通信装置１０から通信速度切替命令が出力されたか否かを判定する（Ｓ１０５）通信速度切替部２２２は、通信装置１０から出力された通信速度切替命令を、通信部２２１を介して取得する（Ｓ１０５ＹＥＳ）と、通信速度切替部２２２は、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０との通信における通信速度を高速で行う高速通信モードへ通信モードを切り替える。（Ｓ１０６）。 Subsequently, the communication device 20 determines whether or not the communication speed switching command is output from the communication device 10 (S105). The communication speed switching unit 222 sets the communication speed switching command output from the communication device 10 to the communication unit. Upon acquisition via S221 (YES in S105), the communication speed switching unit 222 switches the communication mode to the high speed communication mode in which the communication speed in the communication with the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 is high. (S106).
　その後、通信速度切替部２２２は、通信モードを高速通信モードに切り替えてから所定の時間が経過していない場合（すなわち、計時部２２３から所定の時間の経過を示す通知が出力されていない場合）（Ｓ１０７Ｎｏ）、通信速度切替を行わない。そして、通信モードを高速通信モードに切り替えてから所定の時間が経過した場合（すなわち、計時部２２３から所定の時間の経過を示す通知が出力された場合）（Ｓ１０７Ｙｅｓ）、通信速度切替部２２２は、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０との通信における通信速度を低速で行う低速通信モードへ通信モードを切り替える。（Ｓ１０８）。図示を省略しているが、Ｓ１０６からＳ１０７のＹＥＳまでの間に、通信装置１０と各通信装置２０との間で通信が行われ、最終的に通信が確立できたかどうかが通信装置１０において判定される。 After that, the communication speed switching unit 222 has not passed the predetermined time since the communication mode was switched to the high-speed communication mode (that is, in the case where the timer 223 has not output the notification indicating the passage of the predetermined time). (No in S107), the communication speed is not switched. Then, when a predetermined time has passed since the communication mode was switched to the high-speed communication mode (that is, when a notification indicating that the predetermined time has passed is output from the time counting unit 223) (S107 Yes), the communication speed switching unit 222 determines The communication mode is switched to the low speed communication mode in which the communication speed in the communication with the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 is low. (S108). Although illustration is omitted, the communication device 10 and each of the communication devices 20 communicate with each other from S106 to YES in S107, and the communication device 10 determines whether the communication is finally established. To be done.
　Ｓ１０１でＮＯとなった場合、つづくＳ１０３において通信装置１０から通信装置２０へ終端抵抗設定解除命令が入力されたか否かが判定される。終端抵抗設定部２１は、通信装置１０から出力された終端抵抗設定解除命令を、通信部２２１を介して取得する（Ｓ１０３ＹＥＳ）と、終端抵抗が設定されていない状態（オフ（ＯＦＦ）の状態）に切り替える（Ｓ１０４）。続いて、Ｓ１０５で通信速度切替命令を取得したか否かが判定される。終端抵抗設定解除命令の後に通信速度切替命令が出てくることはないので、次のＳ１０５ではＮＯとなり、処理を終了し、最初に戻る。以上の処理を、通信装置１０と通信装置２０との間で繰り返すことで、最終的に高速通信モードにおいて通信装置１０と通信装置２０とが円滑に通信できるようになる。 If NO in S101, it is determined in the subsequent S103 whether or not a termination resistance setting cancellation command has been input from the communication device 10 to the communication device 20. When the termination resistance setting unit 21 acquires the termination resistance setting cancellation command output from the communication device 10 via the communication unit 221 (S103 YES), the termination resistance is not set (OFF state). (S104). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the communication speed switching command is acquired in S105. Since the communication speed switching command does not come after the termination resistance setting cancel command, the result in S105 is NO, the process ends, and the process returns to the beginning. By repeating the above process between the communication device 10 and the communication device 20, finally, the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 can smoothly communicate with each other in the high-speed communication mode.
　以上説明した第１の実施形態によれば、通信装置１０（終端抵抗設定装置）は、通信接続された複数の通信装置２０との通信（試験通信）を行う通信部１２２と、複数の通信装置２０の中の任意の通信装置２０に対して終端抵抗を設定させ、通信（試験通信）が確立されなかった場合、通信装置２０に対して終端抵抗の設定を解除させ、通信装置とは異なる任意の通信装置に対して終端抵抗を設定させる終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａと、を備える。これによって、第１の実施形態に係る通信装置１０（終端抵抗設定装置）は、通信線３０における終端抵抗を適切な位置に、容易に設定することができる。 According to the first embodiment described above, the communication device 10 (termination resistance setting device) includes the communication unit 122 that performs communication (test communication) with the plurality of communication devices 20 that are communicatively connected, and the plurality of communication devices. If a terminating resistor is set for any communication device 20 of the 20 and communication (test communication) is not established, the setting of the terminating resistor is canceled for the communication device 20 and an arbitrary value different from the communication device is set. And a terminating resistance setting command unit 121a for setting a terminating resistance to the communication device. As a result, the communication device 10 (termination resistance setting device) according to the first embodiment can easily set the termination resistance in the communication line 30 to an appropriate position.
（第２の実施形態）
　以下、第２の実施形態について説明する。第２の実施形態では、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０において互いに試験信号であるパルス信号の送受信を行い、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０においてそれぞれ取得されたパルス信号のパルス幅に基づいて、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置２０が特定される。 (Second embodiment)
The second embodiment will be described below. In the second embodiment, the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 transmit and receive pulse signals that are test signals to each other, and based on the pulse widths of the pulse signals respectively acquired in the communication device 10 and each communication device 20, The communication device 20 located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance is specified.
　まず、図６、７を参照して、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０において取得されるパルス信号の特徴について説明する。図６，７は、取得されるパルス信号の特徴を説明するための模式図である。ここでは、ＬＯ（グランド）側を優先としたパルス信号として説明する。 First, the characteristics of the pulse signals acquired by the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams for explaining the characteristics of the acquired pulse signal. Here, the pulse signal will be described with the LO (ground) side given priority.
　図６に示すように、例えば、通信装置２０－１から所定のパルス幅ｗのパルス信号が出力された場合、通信装置１０へ直接届くパルス信号Ａがある。また、図６に示すように、信号の反射によって、通信線３０の末端に位置する通信装置２０－３を反射して届くパルス信号Ｂがある。 As shown in FIG. 6, for example, when a pulse signal having a predetermined pulse width w is output from the communication device 20-1, there is a pulse signal A that directly reaches the communication device 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, there is a pulse signal B which reaches the communication device 20-3 located at the end of the communication line 30 by reflection of the signal.
　この場合、パルス信号Ｂが通信装置２０－１から通信装置１０へ伝送されるまでの移動距離は、パルス信号Ａが通信装置２０－１から通信装置１０へ伝送されるまでの移動距離よりも長くなる。そのため、パルス信号Ｂは、パルス信号Ａよりもわずかに遅れて通信装置１０に届く。これにより、通信装置１０は、時間的にずれがある状態で重畳した２つのパルス信号（パルス信号Ａとパルス信号Ｂ）を１つのパルス信号として認識する。すなわち、図６に示すように、通信装置１０は、パルス信号Ａとパルス信号Ｂとが重畳した、１つのパルス幅ｘ（ｘ＞ｗ）のパルス信号を取得したものとして認識する。 In this case, the moving distance until the pulse signal B is transmitted from the communication device 20-1 to the communication device 10 is longer than the moving distance until the pulse signal A is transmitted from the communication device 20-1 to the communication device 10. Become. Therefore, the pulse signal B reaches the communication device 10 slightly later than the pulse signal A. As a result, the communication device 10 recognizes two pulse signals (pulse signal A and pulse signal B) that are superimposed in a state where there is a time lag as one pulse signal. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the communication device 10 recognizes that a pulse signal having one pulse width x (x>w) in which the pulse signal A and the pulse signal B are superimposed is acquired.
　続いて図７Ａは、通信装置２０－２からパルス幅ｗのパルス信号が出力された場合に通信装置１０によって認識されるパルス信号を示している。通信装置２０－２からパルス信号が出力された場合、通信装置２０－１からパルス信号が出力された上記の場合と比べて、パルス信号Ｂが通信装置２０－１から通信装置１０へ伝送されるまでの移動距離と、パルス信号Ａが通信装置２０－１から通信装置１０へ伝送されるまでの移動距離との差は、より少ない。そのため、重畳した２つのパルス信号（パルス信号Ａとパルス信号Ｂ）の時間的なずれは、図６に示したパルス信号の場合と比べて、より少ない。そのため、通信装置１０は、図７Ａに示すように、パルス信号Ａとパルス信号Ｂとが重畳した、１つのパルス幅ｙ（ｘ＞ｙ＞ｗ）のパルス信号を取得したものとして認識する。 Subsequently, FIG. 7A shows a pulse signal recognized by the communication device 10 when a pulse signal having a pulse width w is output from the communication device 20-2. When the pulse signal is output from the communication device 20-2, the pulse signal B is transmitted from the communication device 20-1 to the communication device 10 as compared with the case where the pulse signal is output from the communication device 20-1. There is a smaller difference between the moving distance to and the moving distance until the pulse signal A is transmitted from the communication device 20-1 to the communication device 10. Therefore, the time difference between the two superimposed pulse signals (pulse signal A and pulse signal B) is smaller than that in the case of the pulse signal shown in FIG. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the communication device 10 recognizes that a pulse signal having one pulse width y (x>y>w) in which the pulse signal A and the pulse signal B are superimposed is acquired.
　図７Ｂは、通信装置２０－３からパルス幅ｗのパルス信号が出力された場合に通信装置１０によって認識されるパルス信号を示している。通信装置２０－３からパルス信号が出力された場合、通信装置２０－３は通信線３０の末端の最も近くに位置することから、信号の反射は生じない。すなわち、パルス信号Ａのみが通信装置１０へ届く。そのため、通信装置１０は、図７Ｂに示すように、パルス幅ｚ（ｘ＞ｙ＞ｗ≒ｚ）のパルス信号を取得したものとして認識する。なお、図７Ｂに示すパルス幅が、通信装置２０－３から出力された時点におけるパルス信号のパルス幅と同一のパルス幅ｗではない理由は、例えば反射以外の原因（例えば、信号減衰）等によって、パルス幅が若干変化する場合があるためである。 FIG. 7B shows a pulse signal recognized by the communication device 10 when a pulse signal having a pulse width w is output from the communication device 20-3. When the pulse signal is output from the communication device 20-3, since the communication device 20-3 is located closest to the end of the communication line 30, signal reflection does not occur. That is, only the pulse signal A reaches the communication device 10. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the communication device 10 recognizes that the pulse signal having the pulse width z (x>y>w≈z) has been acquired. The reason why the pulse width shown in FIG. 7B is not the same as the pulse width w of the pulse signal at the time of being output from the communication device 20-3 is, for example, a cause other than reflection (for example, signal attenuation). This is because the pulse width may change slightly.
　図６、７に示すように、通信装置１０により近い通信装置２０から出力されたパルス信号のパルス幅ほど、より長いパルス幅として通信装置１０によって認識される。一方、通信装置１０から最も遠い（すなわち、通信線３０において、通信装置１０とは逆側の末端の最も近くに位置する）通信装置２０－３から出力されたパルス信号のパルス幅が、最も短いパルス幅として通信装置１０によって認識される場合が多い。 As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pulse width of the pulse signal output from the communication device 20 closer to the communication device 10 is recognized by the communication device 10 as a longer pulse width. On the other hand, the pulse width of the pulse signal output from the communication device 20-3 farthest from the communication device 10 (that is, located closest to the end of the communication line 30 on the opposite side to the communication device 10) is the shortest. The pulse width is often recognized by the communication device 10.
　第２の実施形態では、まず、通信装置１０は、任意の１つの通信装置２０に対して、終端抵抗の設定が不要な低速通信モードで終端抵抗設定命令を出力する。ここでは、例えば、通信装置１０は、まず通信装置２０－１に終端抵抗を設定させる。 In the second embodiment, first, the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to any one communication device 20 in a low-speed communication mode in which setting of a termination resistance is unnecessary. Here, for example, the communication device 10 first causes the communication device 20-1 to set a terminating resistor.
　次に、通信装置１０は、全ての通信装置２０及び自己の通信装置１０に対して、それぞれパルス信号（試験信号）を出力する。そして、各通信装置２０及び通信装置１０は、通信装置１０から出力されたパルス信号を取得する。そして、各通信装置２０及び通信装置１０は、取得したパルス信号のパルス幅をそれぞれ測定し、記録する。 Next, the communication device 10 outputs a pulse signal (test signal) to each of the communication devices 20 and its own communication device 10. Then, each communication device 20 and the communication device 10 acquires the pulse signal output from the communication device 10. Then, each of the communication devices 20 and 10 measures and records the pulse width of the acquired pulse signal.
　次に、通信装置１０は、通信装置２０－１に対してパルス信号出力命令を出力する。これにより、通信装置２０－１は、全ての通信装置２０及び自己の通信装置１０に対して、それぞれパルス信号を出力する。そして、各通信装置２０及び通信装置１０は、通信装置２０－１から出力されたパルス信号を取得する。そして、各通信装置２０及び通信装置１０は、取得したパルス信号のパルス幅を測定し、記録する。 Next, the communication device 10 outputs a pulse signal output command to the communication device 20-1. As a result, the communication device 20-1 outputs pulse signals to all the communication devices 20 and its own communication device 10. Then, each of the communication devices 20 and 10 acquires the pulse signal output from the communication device 20-1. Then, each communication device 20 and communication device 10 measures and records the pulse width of the acquired pulse signal.
　次に、通信装置１０は、上記と同様に、通信装置２０－２、及び通信装置２０－３に対してパルス信号出力命令を順に出力する。これにより、上記と同様に、各通信装置２０及び通信装置１０において、通信装置２０－２及び通信装置２０－３から出力されたパルス信号のパルス幅がそれぞれ測定され、記録される。 Next, similarly to the above, the communication device 10 sequentially outputs the pulse signal output command to the communication device 20-2 and the communication device 20-3. Thereby, similarly to the above, the pulse widths of the pulse signals output from the communication devices 20-2 and 20-3 are measured and recorded in the communication devices 20 and 10 respectively.
　通信装置１０及び全ての通信装置２０による、パルス信号の送受信及びパルス幅の測定が完了すると、通信装置１０は、各通信装置２０に対して測定結果出力命令をそれぞれ出力する。これにより、各通信装置２０によって記録された、上記パルス幅の測定結果を示す測定結果情報が、各通信装置２０から通信装置１０へそれぞれ出力される。これにより、通信装置１０は、各通信装置２０からそれぞれ出力された測定結果情報を取得する。 When the transmission and reception of the pulse signal and the measurement of the pulse width by the communication device 10 and all the communication devices 20 are completed, the communication device 10 outputs a measurement result output command to each communication device 20. As a result, the measurement result information indicating the measurement result of the pulse width recorded by each communication device 20 is output from each communication device 20 to the communication device 10. Thereby, the communication device 10 acquires the measurement result information output from each communication device 20.
　通信装置１０によって収集された測定結果情報は、例えば図８Ａに示すような測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ１として記憶部１２５に記憶される。図８Ａは、第２の実施形態に係る通信装置１０によって収集された測定結果情報の一例を示す図である。図８Ａにおいて、「通信装置（室外機）」は通信装置１０に、「第１通信装置」は通信装置２０－１に、「第２通信装置」は通信装置２０－２に、及び「第３通信装置」は通信装置２０－３にそれぞれ相当する。なお、ここでは、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０によって出力されたパルス信号のパルス幅は「５０［ｕｓ（マイクロ秒）］」であるものとする。 The measurement result information collected by the communication device 10 is stored in the storage unit 125 as a measurement result information table tb1 as shown in FIG. 8A, for example. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an example of measurement result information collected by the communication device 10 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 8A, the “communication device (outdoor unit)” is the communication device 10, the “first communication device” is the communication device 20-1, the “second communication device” is the communication device 20-2, and the “third device”. The “communication device” corresponds to the communication device 20-3, respectively. It is assumed here that the pulse width of the pulse signal output by the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 is “50 [us (microseconds)]”.
　例えば、図８Ａに示す測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ１では、通信装置１０から出力されたパルス信号を自己の通信装置１０が取得した場合において測定されたパルス幅は、「１００［ｕｓ］」であることが示されている。なお、出力されたパルス信号のパルス幅は５０［μｓ］であることから、取得時には、実際に出力されたパルス信号の２倍の長さのパルス幅をもつパルス信号として認識されたことになる。また、例えば、図８Ａに示す測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ１では、通信装置２０－１から出力されたパルス信号を通信装置２０－２が取得した場合において測定されたパルス幅は、「９０［ｕｓ］」であることが示されている。 For example, in the measurement result information table tb1 illustrated in FIG. 8A, the pulse width measured when the own communication device 10 acquires the pulse signal output from the communication device 10 is “100 [us]”. It is shown. Since the pulse width of the output pulse signal is 50 [μs], it is recognized as a pulse signal having a pulse width twice as long as the pulse signal actually output at the time of acquisition. .. Further, for example, in the measurement result information table tb1 illustrated in FIG. 8A, the pulse width measured when the communication device 20-2 acquires the pulse signal output from the communication device 20-1 is “90 [us]”. Is shown.
　次に、通信装置１０は、終端抵抗を設定させた通信装置２０－１に対して終端抵抗設定解除命令を出力する。これにより、通信装置２０－１において終端抵抗の設定が解除される。そして、通信装置１０は、通信装置２０－２に終端抵抗を設定させる。そして上記と同様の処理によって、通信装置１０は、各通信装置２０からそれぞれ測定結果情報を取得する。通信装置１０によって収集された測定結果情報は、例えば図８Ｂに示すような測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ２として記憶部１２５に記憶される。 Next, the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting cancellation command to the communication device 20-1 in which the termination resistance has been set. As a result, the setting of the terminating resistor in the communication device 20-1 is released. Then, the communication device 10 causes the communication device 20-2 to set the terminating resistance. Then, the communication device 10 acquires the measurement result information from each of the communication devices 20 by the same processing as described above. The measurement result information collected by the communication device 10 is stored in the storage unit 125 as a measurement result information table tb2 as shown in FIG. 8B, for example.
　次に、通信装置１０は、通信装置２０－２に設定された終端抵抗の設定を解除させる。続いて、通信装置１０は、通信装置２０－３に終端抵抗を設定させる。そして上記と同様の処理によって、通信装置１０は、各通信装置２０からそれぞれ測定結果情報を取得する。通信装置１０によって収集された測定結果情報は、例えば図８Ｃに示すような測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ３として記憶部１２５に記憶される。 Next, the communication device 10 cancels the setting of the terminating resistor set in the communication device 20-2. Subsequently, the communication device 10 causes the communication device 20-3 to set the terminating resistance. Then, the communication device 10 acquires the measurement result information from each of the communication devices 20 by the same processing as described above. The measurement result information collected by the communication device 10 is stored in the storage unit 125 as a measurement result information table tb3 as shown in FIG. 8C, for example.
　このように、図８Ａに示す測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ１は、通信装置２０－１に終端抵抗が設定された場合における、パルス幅の測定結果が集約されたテーブルである。同様に、図８Ｂに示す測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ２及び図８Ｃに示す測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ３は、それぞれ、通信装置２０－２に終端抵抗が設定された場合及び通信装置２０－３に終端抵抗が設定された場合における、パルス幅の測定結果が集約されたテーブルである。 As described above, the measurement result information table tb1 illustrated in FIG. 8A is a table in which the measurement results of the pulse width when the terminating resistance is set in the communication device 20-1 are collected. Similarly, the measurement result information table tb2 shown in FIG. 8B and the measurement result information table tb3 shown in FIG. 8C are set when a terminating resistor is set in the communication device 20-2 and when a terminating resistor is set in the communication device 20-3, respectively. It is a table in which the measurement results of the pulse width in the case of being performed are aggregated.
　通信装置１０は、各通信装置２０に終端抵抗を設定させた場合における、それぞれのパルス幅の最大値を特定する。すなわち、通信装置１０は、測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ１に含まれるパルス幅の値の最大値、測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ２に含まれるパルス幅の最大値、及び、測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ３に含まれるパルス幅の値の最大値を特定する。 The communication device 10 specifies the maximum value of each pulse width when the terminating resistance is set in each communication device 20. That is, the communication device 10 detects the maximum value of the pulse width values included in the measurement result information table tb1, the maximum value of the pulse width values included in the measurement result information table tb2, and the pulse width values included in the measurement result information table tb3. Specify the maximum value.
　例えば、通信装置２０－１に終端抵抗を設定させた場合、図８Ａに示すように、第３通信装置（通信装置２０－３）がパルス信号を出力し、自己の第３通信装置が取得した場合におけるパルス幅が最大値であり、その値は「１１０［μｓ］」である。同様に、通信装置２０－２に終端抵抗を設定させた場合、図８Ｂに示すように、パルス幅の最大値は「９０［μｓ］」である。同様に、通信装置２０－３に終端抵抗を設定させた場合、図８Ｃに示すように、パルス幅の最大値は「５５［μｓ］」である。 For example, when a terminating resistor is set in the communication device 20-1, as shown in FIG. 8A, the third communication device (communication device 20-3) outputs a pulse signal and the third communication device of its own acquires it. The pulse width in the case is the maximum value, and the value is “110 [μs]”. Similarly, when the terminal resistance is set in the communication device 20-2, the maximum value of the pulse width is “90 [μs]” as shown in FIG. 8B. Similarly, when the terminal resistance is set in the communication device 20-3, the maximum pulse width is “55 [μs]” as shown in FIG. 8C.
　そして、通信装置１０は、これらのパルス幅の最大値が最小となる場合において終端抵抗が設定された通信装置２０を、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置として特定する。すなわち、図８Ａ～Ｃに示す例では、各パルス幅の最大値の中で最小の値は「５５［μｓ］」であるため、通信装置１０は、図８Ｃで示す通信装置２０－３を、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置として特定する。 Then, the communication device 10 specifies the communication device 20 to which the terminating resistance is set when the maximum value of these pulse widths is the minimum, as the communication device located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. That is, in the example shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the minimum value among the maximum values of the pulse widths is “55 [μs]”, so the communication device 10 sets the communication device 20-3 shown in FIG. It is specified as a communication device located at an appropriate position when setting the terminating resistance.
　なお、本実施形態では、測定したパルス幅そのものを測定結果とするものとしたが、これに限られるものではない。例えば、パルス信号の立ち上がりの遅れの度合い（すなわち、測定されたパルス幅から、出力されたパルス信号のパルス幅である５０μｓを差し引いた値）を測定結果とするようにしてもよい。 In this embodiment, the measured pulse width itself is used as the measurement result, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the degree of delay in rising of the pulse signal (that is, a value obtained by subtracting 50 μs, which is the pulse width of the output pulse signal, from the measured pulse width) may be used as the measurement result.
　なお、本実施形態においては、上述したように、全ての通信装置２０に対して順に終端抵抗を設定させて全ての測定結果情報を収集し、当該測定結果情報に基づいて、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置２０を特定するものとした。しかしながら、このように全ての通信装置２０に対して順に（総当たりで）終端抵抗を設定させる場合、通信装置２０の個数が多くなるほど、指数的に、測定時間が長くなり、システム負荷が高くなることが想定される。したがって、例えば、上記パルス幅の最大値に対して予め閾値を設けておき、パルス幅の最大値が所定値未満となった時点で処理を終了させるような構成にしてもよい。この場合、通信装置１０は、処理を終了させた時点において終端抵抗が設定されている通信装置２０を、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置として特定すればよい。 In addition, in this embodiment, as described above, all the communication devices 20 are sequentially set with terminating resistors, all the measurement result information is collected, and the terminating resistors are set based on the measurement result information. The communication device 20 located at an appropriate position is specified above. However, in the case where the terminating resistors are set to all the communication devices 20 sequentially (in a brute force manner) in this way, as the number of communication devices 20 increases, the measurement time exponentially increases and the system load increases. Is assumed. Therefore, for example, a threshold may be set in advance for the maximum value of the pulse width, and the processing may be terminated when the maximum value of the pulse width becomes less than the predetermined value. In this case, the communication device 10 may specify the communication device 20 in which the terminating resistance is set at the time of ending the process, as the communication device positioned at an appropriate position in setting the terminating resistance.
　以下、図９に示すブロック図に基づき、第２の実施形態に係る通信装置１０の機能構成を説明する。図９に示すように、通信装置１０は、終端抵抗１１と、信号送受信回路１２ｓと、を含んで構成される。 The functional configuration of the communication device 10 according to the second embodiment will be described below based on the block diagram shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the communication device 10 includes a terminating resistor 11 and a signal transmission/reception circuit 12s.
　終端抵抗１１は、図９に示すように、２線式の通信線である通信線３０に常時接続された状態である。これにより、通信装置１０は、終端装置として機能する。 As shown in FIG. 9, the terminating resistor 11 is always connected to the communication line 30, which is a two-wire communication line. Thereby, the communication device 10 functions as a terminating device.
　信号送受信回路１２ｓは、各通信装置２０との間の通信における、信号の送受信を行う回路である。また、信号送受信回路１２ｓは、終端抵抗設定装置としても動作する。信号送受信回路１２ｓは、上述したように通信線３０の一方の末端の最も近くに位置すると考えられる通信装置１０に備えられた信号送受信回路である。また、信号送受信回路１２ｓは、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置する通信装置２０を特定する。信号送受信回路１２ｓは、各通信装置２０に対して命令を出力することにより、各通信装置２０における終端抵抗の設定状態を制御する。 The signal transmission/reception circuit 12s is a circuit that transmits/receives signals in communication with each communication device 20. The signal transmission/reception circuit 12s also operates as a termination resistance setting device. The signal transmission/reception circuit 12s is a signal transmission/reception circuit provided in the communication device 10 which is considered to be located closest to one end of the communication line 30 as described above. In addition, the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s identifies the communication device 20 located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance. The signal transmission/reception circuit 12s outputs a command to each communication device 20 to control the setting state of the terminating resistor in each communication device 20.
　図９に示すように、信号送受信回路１２ｓは、制御部１２０と、命令部１２１ｓと、通信部１２２と、測定結果情報収集部１２４と、記憶部１２５と、決定部１２６と、を含んで構成される。 As shown in FIG. 9, the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s includes a control unit 120, a command unit 121s, a communication unit 122, a measurement result information collection unit 124, a storage unit 125, and a determination unit 126. To be done.
　制御部１２０は、信号送受信回路１２ｓが有する各機能ブロックによる処理を制御する。例えば、制御部１２０は、各通信装置２０との間の通信における、信号の送受信を制御する。また、例えば制御部１２０は、命令部１２１ｓによる、各通信装置２０に対する各種の命令の出力を制御する。 The control unit 120 controls processing by each functional block included in the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s. For example, the control unit 120 controls transmission/reception of signals in communication with each communication device 20. Further, for example, the control unit 120 controls the output of various commands to each communication device 20 by the command unit 121s.
　命令部１２１ｓは、各通信装置２０に対して出力される各種の命令の出力を制御する。命令部１２１ｓは、通信部１２２を介して各通信装置２０へ各種の命令を出力する。命令部１２１ｓは、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａと、測定モード設定命令部１２１ｃと、パルス信号出力命令部１２１ｄと、測定結果出力命令部１２１ｅと、を含む。 The command unit 121s controls the output of various commands output to each communication device 20. The command unit 121s outputs various commands to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122. The command unit 121s includes a termination resistance setting command unit 121a, a measurement mode setting command unit 121c, a pulse signal output command unit 121d, and a measurement result output command unit 121e.
　終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、各通信装置２０に対して、終端抵抗を設定させるための命令を示す終端抵抗設定命令を出力する。また、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、上記の終端抵抗設定命令を出力する対象となった通信装置２０に対して、終端抵抗の設定を解除させるための命令を示す終端抵抗設定解除命令を出力する。 The termination resistance setting command unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting command indicating a command for setting the termination resistance to each communication device 20. Further, the terminating resistance setting command unit 121a outputs a terminating resistance setting cancel command indicating a command for canceling the setting of the terminating resistance to the communication device 20 which is the target of outputting the terminating resistance setting command. ..
　測定モード設定命令部１２１ｃは、各通信装置２０に対して、試験的に出力される試験信号であるパルス信号のパルス幅の測定を行う動作モードである、測定モードに切り替えさせるための命令を示す測定モード設定命令を出力する。 The measurement mode setting command unit 121c indicates to each communication device 20 a command for switching to the measurement mode, which is an operation mode for measuring the pulse width of a pulse signal that is a test signal that is output on a trial basis. Output the measurement mode setting command.
　パルス信号出力命令部１２１ｄは、各通信装置２０に対して、自己の通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０に向けてパルス信号を出力させるための命令を示すパルス信号出力命令を出力する。なお、パルス信号出力命令に応じて各通信装置２０から出力される信号は、試験的に出力される試験信号（パルス信号）である。なお、パルス信号出力命令は、ブロードキャスト送信又はマルチキャスト送信される構成であっても構わない。 The pulse signal output command unit 121d outputs a pulse signal output command to each communication device 20, which indicates a command for outputting a pulse signal to the communication device 10 of itself and each communication device 20. The signal output from each communication device 20 in response to the pulse signal output command is a test signal (pulse signal) that is output on a trial basis. The pulse signal output command may be transmitted by broadcast or multicast.
　測定結果出力命令部１２１ｅは、各通信装置２０に対して、測定結果情報を出力させるための命令を示す測定結果出力命令を出力する。 The measurement result output command unit 121e outputs a measurement result output command indicating a command for outputting measurement result information to each communication device 20.
　通信部１２２は、各通信装置２０と通信接続するための通信インターフェースである。なお、通信部１２２は、別々のハードウェアによってそれぞれ構成される送信部及び受信部からなる機能部であってもよい。 The communication unit 122 is a communication interface for making a communication connection with each communication device 20. The communication unit 122 may be a functional unit including a transmission unit and a reception unit, which are configured by separate hardware.
　通信部１２２は、制御部１２０による制御のもとで、各種の信号（例えば、パルス信号）を、通信線３０を介して各通信装置２０へ出力する。なお、各種の信号には、命令部１２１から出力される、上記の、終端抵抗設定命令、測定モード設定命令、パルス信号出力命令、及び測定結果出力命令を示す信号も含まれる。また、通信部１２２は、各通信装置２０に対してパルス信号（試験信号）を出力する場合において、正確に所定のパルス幅の（例えば、５０μｓの）パルス信号が出力されるように予め設定されている。また、通信部１２２は、各通信装置２０から出力された各種の信号（例えば、パルス信号）を取得する。 Under the control of the control unit 120, the communication unit 122 outputs various signals (for example, pulse signals) to each communication device 20 via the communication line 30. It should be noted that various signals also include signals output from the instruction unit 121 and indicating the above-mentioned termination resistance setting instruction, measurement mode setting instruction, pulse signal output instruction, and measurement result output instruction. In addition, the communication unit 122 is preset so that when outputting a pulse signal (test signal) to each communication device 20, a pulse signal having a predetermined pulse width (for example, 50 μs) is output accurately. ing. The communication unit 122 also acquires various signals (for example, pulse signals) output from each communication device 20.
　測定結果情報収集部１２４は、各通信装置２０からそれぞれ出力されたパルス信号を通信部１２２を介して取得する。測定結果情報収集部１２４は、取得された当該パルス信号のパルス幅を測定する。測定結果情報収集部１２４は、各通信装置２０からそれぞれ出力されたパルス信号のパルス幅の測定値を、記憶部１２５に記憶させる。例えば、測定結果情報収集部１２４は、当該測定値を、記憶部１２５に予め記憶された、上記の測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ１～測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ３に書き込むことによって、記憶部１２５に記憶させる。例えば、上記の測定値とは、図８Ａに示す測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ１においては、「受信」の列の「通信装置１０（室外機）」の列に含まれる各測定値（すなわち、「１００［μｓ］」、「８５［μｓ］」、「７５［μｓ］」、及び「５５［μｓ］」）に相当する。 The measurement result information collecting unit 124 acquires the pulse signal output from each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122. The measurement result information collecting unit 124 measures the pulse width of the acquired pulse signal. The measurement result information collecting unit 124 causes the storage unit 125 to store the measured value of the pulse width of the pulse signal output from each communication device 20. For example, the measurement result information collecting unit 124 stores the measurement value in the storage unit 125 by writing the measurement value in the above-described measurement result information table tb1 to measurement result information table tb3 stored in advance in the storage unit 125. For example, in the measurement result information table tb1 shown in FIG. 8A, the above-mentioned measured value means each measured value included in the column of “communication device 10 (outdoor unit)” in the column of “reception” (that is, “100[ μs]”, “85 [μs]”, “75 [μs]”, and “55 [μs]”).
　また、測定結果情報収集部１２４は、各通信装置２０からそれぞれ出力された測定結果情報を通信部１２２を介して取得する。測定結果情報収集部１２４は、各通信装置２０からそれぞれ出力された測定結果情報を、記憶部１２５に記憶させる。例えば、測定結果情報収集部１２４は、当該測定結果情報を、記憶部１２５に予め記憶された、上記の測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ１～測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ３に書き込むことによって、記憶部１２５に記憶させる。例えば、上記の測定結果情報とは、図８Ａに示す測定結果情報テーブルｔｂ１においては、「受信」の列に含まれる各列の測定値群（すなわち、「第１通信装置２０－１」の列の測定値群、「第２通信装置２０－２」の列の測定値群、及び「第３通信装置２０－３」の列の測定値群）のそれぞれに相当する。 Further, the measurement result information collecting unit 124 acquires the measurement result information output from each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122. The measurement result information collecting unit 124 stores the measurement result information output from each communication device 20 in the storage unit 125. For example, the measurement result information collecting unit 124 stores the measurement result information in the storage unit 125 by writing the measurement result information in the above-described measurement result information table tb1 to measurement result information table tb3 stored in advance in the storage unit 125. For example, in the measurement result information table tb1 shown in FIG. 8A, the above-mentioned measurement result information is a measurement value group of each column included in the column of “reception” (that is, the column of “first communication device 20-1”). Measurement value group, the measurement value group in the “second communication device 20-2” column, and the measurement value group in the “third communication device 20-3” column).
　記憶部１２５は、信号送受信回路１２ｓにおいて用いられる、各種のプログラム及びデータテーブルを記憶する。 The storage unit 125 stores various programs and data tables used in the signal transmission/reception circuit 12s.
　決定部１２６は、測定結果情報収集部１２４によって収集された測定結果情報に基づいて、いずれの通信装置２０が、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置に位置するかを判定する。具体的には、決定部１２６は、収集された測定結果情報のうち、パルス幅の最大値が最小となる場合において終端抵抗が設定された通信装置２０を、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な位置にある通信装置として特定する。 The determination unit 126 determines which communication device 20 is located at an appropriate position for setting the terminating resistance, based on the measurement result information collected by the measurement result information collection unit 124. Specifically, the determination unit 126 is suitable for setting the terminating resistance of the communication device 20 in which the terminating resistance is set when the maximum value of the pulse width is the minimum among the collected measurement result information. It is specified as the communication device at the position.
　以下、通信装置２０の機能構成について説明する。図１０は、第２の実施形態に係る通信装置２０の機能構成を示すブロック図である。なお、各通信装置２０の機能構成は同一であり、図１０には、通信装置２０－２及び通信装置２０－３のみを一例として示している。 The functional configuration of the communication device 20 will be described below. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the communication device 20 according to the second embodiment. The functional configurations of the communication devices 20 are the same, and FIG. 10 illustrates only the communication devices 20-2 and 20-3 as an example.
　通信装置２０は、終端抵抗設定部２１と、信号送受信回路２２ｓと、を含んで構成される。信号送受信回路２２ｓは、通信装置１０との間の通信における、信号の送受信を行う回路である。信号送受信回路２２ｓは、制御部２２０と、通信部２２１と、記憶部２２４と、動作モード切替部２２５と、測定部２２６と、測定結果出力部２２７と、を含んで構成される。 The communication device 20 is configured to include a termination resistance setting unit 21 and a signal transmission/reception circuit 22s. The signal transmission/reception circuit 22s is a circuit that transmits/receives signals in communication with the communication device 10. The signal transmission/reception circuit 22s includes a control unit 220, a communication unit 221, a storage unit 224, an operation mode switching unit 225, a measurement unit 226, and a measurement result output unit 227.
　終端抵抗設定部２１は、終端抵抗を含んで構成される。終端抵抗設定部２１は、通信部２２１が通信装置１０から出力された終端抵抗設定命令を取得すると、制御部２２０による制御により、終端抵抗が設定された状態（オン（ＯＮ）の状態）に切り替える。また、終端抵抗設定部２１は、計時部２２３から所定の時間が経過したことを示す通知が出力された場合、制御部２２０による制御により、終端抵抗が設定されていない状態（オフ（ＯＦＦ）の状態）に切り替える。 The termination resistance setting unit 21 is configured to include a termination resistance. When the communication unit 221 acquires the termination resistance setting command output from the communication device 10, the termination resistance setting unit 21 switches to the state (ON state) in which the termination resistor is set under the control of the control unit 220. .. In addition, when the notification indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed is output from the time counting unit 223, the terminating resistance setting unit 21 is in a state (OFF (OFF)) in which the terminating resistor is not set by the control of the control unit 220. State).
　制御部２２０は、信号送受信回路２２が有する各機能ブロックによる処理及び終端抵抗設定部２１の動作を制御する。これにより、例えば制御部２２０は、通信装置１０及び他の各通信装置２０との間の通信における、信号の送受信を制御する。 The control unit 220 controls the processing by each functional block of the signal transmission/reception circuit 22 and the operation of the termination resistance setting unit 21. Thereby, for example, the control unit 220 controls transmission/reception of signals in communication between the communication device 10 and each of the other communication devices 20.
　通信部２２１は、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０と通信接続するための通信インターフェースである。なお、通信部２２１は、別々のハードウェアによってそれぞれ構成される送信部及び受信部からなる機能部であってもよい。 The communication unit 221 is a communication interface for communicatively connecting to the communication device 10 and each communication device 20. The communication unit 221 may be a functional unit including a transmission unit and a reception unit, which are configured by separate hardware.
　通信部２２１は、通信装置１０又は各通信装置２０から出力された、各種の信号（例えば、パルス信号）を取得する。なお、各種の信号には、上述した通信装置１０から出力される、終端抵抗設定命令、測定モード設定命令、パルス信号出力命令、及び測定結果出力命令を示す信号も含まれる。また、通信部２２１は、通信装置１０又は各通信装置２０に対して、各種の信号（例えば、パルス信号）を出力する。また、通信部２２１は、通信装置１０に対して、測定結果情報を出力する。 The communication unit 221 acquires various signals (for example, pulse signals) output from the communication device 10 or each communication device 20. It should be noted that the various signals also include signals that are output from the above-described communication device 10 and indicate the termination resistance setting command, the measurement mode setting command, the pulse signal output command, and the measurement result output command. The communication unit 221 also outputs various signals (for example, pulse signals) to the communication device 10 or each communication device 20. The communication unit 221 also outputs the measurement result information to the communication device 10.
　記憶部２２４は、信号送受信回路２２ｓにおいて用いられる、各種のプログラム等を記憶する。 The storage unit 224 stores various programs used in the signal transmission/reception circuit 22s.
　また、記憶部２２４は、通信部２２１によって測定されたパルス信号のパルス幅の測定結果を示す測定結果情報を記憶する。 The storage unit 224 also stores measurement result information indicating the measurement result of the pulse width of the pulse signal measured by the communication unit 221.
　動作モード切替部２２５は、通信装置１０から出力された測定モード設定命令を通信部２２１を介して取得した場合、動作モードを測定モードに切り替える。測定モードとは、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０との、試験信号であるパルス信号の送受信を行い、取得したパルス信号のパルス幅の測定を行う動作モードである。 The operation mode switching unit 225 switches the operation mode to the measurement mode when the measurement mode setting command output from the communication device 10 is acquired via the communication unit 221. The measurement mode is an operation mode in which a pulse signal that is a test signal is transmitted and received between the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 and the pulse width of the acquired pulse signal is measured.
　測定部２２６は、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０からそれぞれ出力されたパルス信号を通信部２２１を介して取得する。測定部２２６は、取得された当該パルス信号のパルス幅を測定する。測定部２２６は、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０からそれぞれ出力されたパルス信号のパルス幅の測定値を測定結果情報として、記憶部２２４に記憶させる。 The measuring unit 226 acquires the pulse signals output from the communication device 10 and the communication devices 20 via the communication unit 221. The measurement unit 226 measures the pulse width of the acquired pulse signal. The measurement unit 226 stores the measured value of the pulse width of the pulse signal output from the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 in the storage unit 224 as the measurement result information.
　測定結果出力部２２７は、通信装置１０から出力された測定結果出力命令を取得した場合、記憶部２２４に記憶された測定結果情報を、通信部２２１を介して通信装置１０へ出力する。 When the measurement result output unit 227 acquires the measurement result output command output from the communication device 10, the measurement result output unit 227 outputs the measurement result information stored in the storage unit 224 to the communication device 10 via the communication unit 221.
　以下、通信装置１０の動作について説明する。図１１は、第２の実施形態に係る通信装置１０の動作を示すフローチャートである。なお、以下の説明において、通信装置２０の台数はｎ［台］であるものとし、各通信装置２０をそれぞれ「第ｉ通信装置」（ｉ＝１～ｎ）及び「第ｊ通信装置」（ｊ＝０～ｎ）という。例えば、図１に示した空調システム１００では、通信装置２０の台数は３台（すなわち、ｎ＝３）であり、通信装置２０－１は第１通信装置に、通信装置２０－２は第２通信装置に、通信装置２０－３は第３通信装置に、及び第０通信装置（ｊ＝０）は通信装置１０にそれぞれ相当する。 The operation of the communication device 10 will be described below. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication device 10 according to the second embodiment. In the following description, it is assumed that the number of communication devices 20 is n [units], and each communication device 20 is referred to as an “i-th communication device” (i=1 to n) and a “j-th communication device” (j). =0 to n). For example, in the air conditioning system 100 shown in FIG. 1, the number of communication devices 20 is three (that is, n=3), the communication device 20-1 is the first communication device, and the communication device 20-2 is the second communication device. The communication device, the communication device 20-3, and the 0th communication device (j=0) correspond to the third communication device and the communication device 10, respectively.
　制御部１２０は、通信装置２０の番号を示す上記「ｉ」の値に１を代入する（Ｓ２０１）。なお、「ｉ」の値は、例えば記憶部１２５において記憶され、更新される。そして、下記のＳ２０２～Ｓ２１２の処理が実行される度に、制御部１２０は、「ｉ」の値に１を加算し、繰り返し処理が実行される。 The control unit 120 substitutes 1 into the value of “i” indicating the number of the communication device 20 (S201). The value of “i” is stored and updated in the storage unit 125, for example. Then, every time the following processing of S202 to S212 is executed, the control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “i”, and the repeated processing is executed.
　終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、第ｉ通信装置に対して、終端抵抗設定命令を出力する（Ｓ２０２）。 The termination resistance setting instruction unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting instruction to the i-th communication device (S202).
　制御部１２０は、通信装置１０及び通信装置２０の番号を示す上記「ｊ」の値に０を代入する（Ｓ２０３）。なお、「ｊ」の値は、例えば記憶部１２５において記憶され、更新される。そして、下記のＳ２０４～Ｓ２１０の処理が実行される度に、制御部１２０は、「ｊ」の値に１を加算し、繰り返し処理が実行される。 The control unit 120 substitutes 0 into the value of “j” indicating the numbers of the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 (S203). The value of “j” is stored and updated in the storage unit 125, for example. Then, each time the processing of S204 to S210 described below is executed, the control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “j” and the processing is repeated.
　測定モード設定命令部１２１ｃは、各通信装置２０に対して、測定モード設定命令をそれぞれ通信部１２２を介して出力する（Ｓ２０４）。そして、上記「ｊ」の値が０である場合（Ｓ２０５Ｙｅｓ）、通信部１２２は、各通信装置２０に対して、パルス信号（試験信号）をそれぞれ出力する（Ｓ２０６）。一方、上記「ｊ」の値が０ではない場合（Ｓ２０５Ｎｏ）、パルス信号出力命令部１２１ｄは、各通信装置２０に対して、パルス信号出力命令をそれぞれ通信部１２２を介して出力する（Ｓ２０７）。 The measurement mode setting command unit 121c outputs a measurement mode setting command to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122 (S204). When the value of “j” is 0 (S205 Yes), the communication unit 122 outputs a pulse signal (test signal) to each communication device 20 (S206). On the other hand, when the value of “j” is not 0 (No in S205), the pulse signal output command unit 121d outputs the pulse signal output command to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122 (S207). ..
　測定結果情報収集部１２４は、通信部１２２を介して取得した各パルス信号のパルス幅をそれぞれ測定し、記憶部１２５に記憶された測定結果情報テーブルに測定値を記録する（Ｓ２０８）。測定結果出力命令部１２１ｅは、通信部１２２を介して各通信装置２０に対して、測定結果出力命令を出力する（Ｓ２０９）。測定結果情報収集部１２４は、各通信装置２０からそれぞれ出力された測定結果情報を通信部１２２を介して取得する（Ｓ２１０）。 The measurement result information collection unit 124 measures the pulse width of each pulse signal acquired via the communication unit 122, and records the measured value in the measurement result information table stored in the storage unit 125 (S208). The measurement result output command unit 121e outputs a measurement result output command to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122 (S209). The measurement result information collection unit 124 acquires the measurement result information output from each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122 (S210).
　制御部１２０は、ｊ＞ｎである場合、「ｊ」の値に１を加算して、上記Ｓ２０４以降の処理を繰り返させる。一方、ｉ＝ｎである場合（すなわち、全ての通信装置２０及び通信装置１０からそれぞれ出力されたパルス信号の取得が完了した場合）、決定部１２６は、取得した測定結果情報に含まれるパルス幅の測定値のうち、最大値を記憶部１２５に記録する（Ｓ２１１）。そして、終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、各通信装置２０に対して、終端抵抗設定解除命令を通信部１２２を介して出力する（Ｓ２１２）。 When j>n, the control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “j” and repeats the processing from S204 onward. On the other hand, when i=n (that is, when the acquisition of the pulse signals output from all the communication devices 20 and 10 is completed), the determination unit 126 determines that the pulse width included in the acquired measurement result information. Of the measured values of 1, the maximum value is recorded in the storage unit 125 (S211). Then, the termination resistance setting instruction unit 121a outputs a termination resistance setting cancellation instruction to each communication device 20 via the communication unit 122 (S212).
　制御部１２０は、ｉ＞ｎである場合、「ｉ」の値に１を加算して、上記Ｓ２０２以降の処理を繰り返させる。一方、ｉ＝ｎである場合（すなわち、全ての通信装置２０に対し終端抵抗の設定が行われた場合）、決定部１２６は、記憶部１２５に記録された複数の最大値うち、最小の値を特定する。そして、決定部１２６は、当該最小の値となる場合において終端抵抗が設定されていた通信装置２０（以下、「第ｉ＿ｂｅｓｔ通信装置」という。）を特定する（Ｓ２１３）。終端抵抗設定命令部１２１ａは、特定された第ｉ＿ｂｅｓｔ通信装置へ、終端抵抗設定命令を通信部１２２を介して出力する（Ｓ２１４）。以上で、図１１のフローチャートが示す処理が終了する。 When i>n, the control unit 120 adds 1 to the value of “i” and repeats the processing from S202 above. On the other hand, when i=n (that is, when terminating resistors are set for all communication devices 20), the determination unit 126 determines the minimum value of the plurality of maximum values recorded in the storage unit 125. Identify. Then, the determining unit 126 identifies the communication device 20 (hereinafter, referred to as “i-best communication device”) for which the terminating resistance is set when the minimum value is obtained (S213). The termination resistance setting command unit 121a outputs the termination resistance setting command to the specified i-best communication device via the communication unit 122 (S214). This is the end of the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
　以下、図１２～１４に示す第２の実施形態に係る通信装置２０の動作を示すフローチャートを用いて通信装置２０の動作について説明する。なお、通信装置１０から通信装置２０へ終端抵抗設定命令が出力された場合における通信装置２０の動作、及び通信装置１０から通信装置２０へ終端抵抗設定解除命令が出力された場合における通信装置２０の動作は、第１の実施形態と同じであるため、説明を省略する。 The operation of the communication device 20 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of the operation of the communication device 20 according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. The operation of the communication device 20 when the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting command to the communication device 20, and the operation of the communication device 20 when the communication device 10 outputs a termination resistance setting cancellation command to the communication device 20. The operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the description is omitted.
　図１２は、通信装置１０から通信装置２０へ測定モード設定命令が出力された場合における、通信装置２０の動作を示す。動作モード切替部２２５は、通信装置１０から出力された測定モード設定命令を、通信部２２１を介して取得する（Ｓ３０１）。動作モード切替部２２５は、動作モードを測定モードに切り替える（Ｓ３０２）。これにより、通信装置２０においてパルス幅の測定のための準備がなされる。 FIG. 12 shows the operation of the communication device 20 when a measurement mode setting command is output from the communication device 10 to the communication device 20. The operation mode switching unit 225 acquires the measurement mode setting command output from the communication device 10 via the communication unit 221 (S301). The operation mode switching unit 225 switches the operation mode to the measurement mode (S302). This prepares the communication device 20 for measuring the pulse width.
　そして、通信部２２１が、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０からそれぞれ出力されたパルス信号のうち少なくとも１つのパルス信号を取得していない場合（Ｓ３０３Ｎｏ）、通信部２２１は、未取得であるパルス信号を待ち受ける。一方、通信部２２１が、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０かそれぞれ出力された全てのパルス信号を取得した場合（Ｓ３０３Ｙｅｓ）、測定部２２６は、取得した各パルス信号のパルス幅をそれぞれ測定し、測定された値を測定結果情報として記憶部２２４に記録する（Ｓ３０４）。そして、動作モード切替部２２５は、動作モードを、測定モードから通常のモードである通常モードに切り替える（Ｓ３０５）。以上で、図１２に示す処理が終了する。 When the communication unit 221 has not acquired at least one pulse signal of the pulse signals output from the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 (No in S303), the communication unit 221 has not acquired the pulse signal. Await. On the other hand, when the communication unit 221 acquires all pulse signals output from the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 (S303 Yes), the measurement unit 226 measures the pulse width of each acquired pulse signal, The measured value is recorded in the storage unit 224 as measurement result information (S304). Then, the operation mode switching unit 225 switches the operation mode from the measurement mode to the normal mode which is the normal mode (S305). This is the end of the process shown in FIG.
　図１３は、通信装置１０から通信装置２０へパルス信号出力命令が出力された場合における、通信装置２０の動作を示す。通信部２２１は、通信装置１０から出力されたパルス信号出力命令を取得する（Ｓ４０１）。通信部２２１は、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０に対して、所定のパルス幅の（例えば、５０［μｓ］の）パルス信号を出力する（Ｓ４０２）。以上で、図１３のフローチャートが示す処理が終了する。 FIG. 13 shows the operation of the communication device 20 when a pulse signal output command is output from the communication device 10 to the communication device 20. The communication unit 221 acquires the pulse signal output command output from the communication device 10 (S401). The communication unit 221 outputs a pulse signal having a predetermined pulse width (for example, 50 [μs]) to the communication device 10 and each communication device 20 (S402). This is the end of the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
　図１４は、通信装置１０から通信装置２０へ測定結果出力命令が出力された場合における、通信装置２０の動作を示す。測定結果出力部２２７は、通信装置１０から出力された測定結果出力命令を、通信部２２１を介して取得する（Ｓ５０１）。測定結果出力部２２７は、記憶部２２４に記録された測定結果情報を、通信装置１０へ通信部２２１を介して出力する。（Ｓ５０２）。以上で、図１４のフローチャートが示す処理が終了する。 FIG. 14 shows the operation of the communication device 20 when a measurement result output command is output from the communication device 10 to the communication device 20. The measurement result output unit 227 acquires the measurement result output command output from the communication device 10 via the communication unit 221 (S501). The measurement result output unit 227 outputs the measurement result information recorded in the storage unit 224 to the communication device 10 via the communication unit 221. (S502). This is the end of the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
　以上説明した第２の実施形態によれば、空調システム１００（終端抵抗設定システム）は、通信接続された複数の通信装置２０と、終端抵抗を設定させる通信装置を決定する通信装置１０（設定装置）と、を有する。通信装置２０は、全ての複数の通信装置（通信装置１０及び通信装置２０）とそれぞれ通信（試験通信）を行う通信部２２１と、通信（試験通信）において全ての複数の通信装置（通信装置１０及び通信装置２０）から出力され、それぞれ取得されたパルス信号（試験信号）のパルス幅を測定する測定部２２６と、測定部２２６によって測定されたパルス幅を示す測定結果情報を通信装置１０（設定装置）へ出力する測定結果出力部２２７と、を備える。また、通信装置１０（設定装置）は、全ての複数の通信装置２０に対して順に終端抵抗を仮設定させる命令部１２１と、それぞれの通信装置２０に対して終端抵抗が仮設定されるごとに、全ての複数の通信装置２０からそれぞれ測定結果情報を収集する測定結果情報収集部１２４と、測定結果情報収集部１２４によって収集された複数の測定結果情報に基づいて、終端抵抗を設定させる通信装置２０を決定する決定部１２６と、を備える。これによって、第２の実施形態係る空調システム１００（終端抵抗設定システム）は、通信線３０における終端抵抗を適切な位置に容易に設定することができる。 According to the second embodiment described above, the air conditioning system 100 (termination resistance setting system) determines the plurality of communication devices 20 that are communicatively connected, and the communication device 10 (setting device) that determines the communication device for setting the termination resistance. ), and have. The communication device 20 includes a communication unit 221 that performs communication (test communication) with all of the plurality of communication devices (communication device 10 and communication device 20 ), and all of the plurality of communication devices (communication device 10 in communication (test communication)). And a measurement unit 226 that outputs the pulse width of the pulse signal (test signal) acquired from the communication device 20) and measurement result information indicating the pulse width measured by the measurement unit 226. Measurement result output unit 227 for outputting to a device). In addition, the communication device 10 (setting device) has an instruction unit 121 for temporarily setting the terminating resistance for all of the plurality of communication devices 20, and each time the terminating resistance is provisionally set for each of the communication devices 20. , A measurement result information collecting unit 124 that collects measurement result information from all of the plurality of communication devices 20, and a communication device that sets a terminating resistance based on the plurality of measurement result information collected by the measurement result information collecting unit 124. And a determining unit 126 that determines 20. As a result, the air conditioning system 100 (termination resistance setting system) according to the second embodiment can easily set the termination resistance in the communication line 30 to an appropriate position.
　なお、上述した各実施形態では、通信装置１０（親機）は通信線３０の末端の位置に設置され、かつ、通信装置１０（親機）は終端抵抗としての機能を予め常時有しているものとしたが、この構成に限られるものではない。例えば、通信線３０の両端の位置に設置される通信装置がいずれも通信装置２０（子機）であり、そのうち一方の通信装置２０（子機）が、終端抵抗としての機能を予め常時有している構成であっても、上述した第１の実施形態及び第２の実施形態による、終端抵抗の適切な設定位置の特定方法の適用が可能である。 In each of the above-described embodiments, the communication device 10 (master device) is installed at the end position of the communication line 30, and the communication device 10 (master device) always has a function as a terminating resistor in advance. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the communication devices installed at both ends of the communication line 30 are the communication devices 20 (slave devices), and one of the communication devices 20 (slave device) always has a function as a terminating resistor in advance. Even with such a configuration, the method of identifying the appropriate setting position of the terminating resistor according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above can be applied.
　また、終端抵抗としての機能を常時有している通信装置（通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０）が存在しない場合であっても、上述した第１の実施形態及び第２の実施形態による、終端抵抗の適切な設定位置の特定方法の適用が可能である。この場合、通信装置１０は、通信装置１０及び各通信装置２０のうち任意の２つの通信装置に対して順に終端抵抗をそれぞれ仮設定させながら測定結果情報の収集を行い、終端抵抗を設定する上で適切な２つの位置を特定するようにすればよい。 Further, even when there is no communication device (communication device 10 and each communication device 20) that always has a function as a terminating resistor, the termination according to the above-described first and second embodiments is performed. It is possible to apply a method of specifying an appropriate setting position of the resistance. In this case, the communication device 10 collects the measurement result information while temporarily setting the terminating resistances for any two communication devices among the communication device 10 and each of the communication devices 20, and sets the terminating resistances. It suffices to identify two appropriate positions with.
（変形例）
　以下、実施形態の変形例に係る空調システム２００の構成について説明する。図１５は、実施形態の変形例に係る空調システム２００の全体構成図である。 (Modification)
Hereinafter, the configuration of the air conditioning system 200 according to the modified example of the embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioning system 200 according to a modified example of the embodiment.
　図１に示した第１の実施形態に係る空調システム１００の構成に対して、図１５に示す実施形態の変形例に係る空調システム２００の構成が異なる点は、通信線３０が途中で（図１５においては通信装置１０の位置で）分岐している点と、通信装置２０－４及び通信装置２０－５をさらに備えている点である。しかしながら、このように通信線３０が分岐している場合であっても、上述した第１の実施形態及び第２の実施形態による、終端抵抗の適切な設定位置の特定方法の適用が可能である。 The configuration of the air conditioning system 200 according to the modified example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 is different from the configuration of the air conditioning system 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 15 is that the communication device 10 is branched (at the position of the communication device 10) and that the communication device 20-4 and the communication device 20-5 are further provided. However, even when the communication line 30 is branched as described above, the method of identifying the appropriate setting position of the terminating resistor according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above can be applied. ..
　以上、各実施形態について説明してきたが、上述した各実施形態においては、説明を簡単にするため、パルス信号の信号波形を変化させる要因としては信号反射のみを対象とした。しかしながら、実際には、通信線３０の長さ及び介在する通信装置２０の台数等に応じて信号波形が変化する。例えば、通信線３０の長さの長さが長くなるほど、抵抗成分によってパルス信号の振幅が減衰したり、容量成分等によって勾配が変化したりすることがある。 Although the respective embodiments have been described above, in the above-described embodiments, only the signal reflection is targeted as a factor for changing the signal waveform of the pulse signal in order to simplify the description. However, in reality, the signal waveform changes depending on the length of the communication line 30 and the number of intervening communication devices 20. For example, as the length of the communication line 30 increases, the resistance component may attenuate the amplitude of the pulse signal, or the capacitance component may change the gradient.
　しかしながら、いずれにしても、通信線３０の長さの長さが長くなるほど（すなわち、通信装置２０の位置が通信装置１０からより遠方であるほど）、パルス幅が狭くなるようにパルス信号の波形が変化する。これにより、上述した第２の実施形態における終端抵抗の適切な設定位置の特定精度はより高くなる。 However, in any case, as the length of the communication line 30 becomes longer (that is, as the position of the communication device 20 becomes farther from the communication device 10), the pulse width becomes narrower so that the pulse width becomes narrower. Changes. As a result, the accuracy of identifying the appropriate setting position of the terminating resistor in the second embodiment described above becomes higher.
　なお、上述した各実施形態においては、用いられる信号が、０と１の値からなるパルス信号であるものとしたが、これに限られるものではない。例えば、ＨＢＳ規格（ホームバスシステム：ＥＩＡＪ（日本電子機械工業界）規格、ＥＴ－２１０１）に準拠した通信等における信号の場合であっても、上述したような０と１の値からなるパルス信号に変換した上で、上述した各実施形態における処理を実行すればよい。 In each of the above-described embodiments, the signal used is a pulse signal having a value of 0 and 1, but the signal is not limited to this. For example, even in the case of a signal in communication based on the HBS standard (home bus system: EIAJ (Japan Electronic Machinery Industry) standard, ET-2101), a pulse signal composed of values of 0 and 1 as described above. Then, the processing in each of the above-described embodiments may be executed.
　なお、上述した実施形態においては、通信装置１０とは、通信装置２０に対して終端抵抗を設定する機能と、通信装置２０と同様の機能と、を兼用させる構成とした。これにより、通信用の回路部品や通信の制御処理を簡略化される。但し、このような構成に限られるものではなく、例えば、これら２つの機能をそれぞれ別々の装置とすることで、通信装置２０に対して終端抵抗を設定する機能のみを備えた装置が別途設けられる構成にしてもよい。 In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the communication device 10 is configured to have both the function of setting the terminating resistance for the communication device 20 and the function similar to that of the communication device 20. This simplifies the circuit component for communication and the control process of communication. However, the configuration is not limited to such a configuration, and, for example, by providing these two functions as separate devices, a device having only the function of setting the terminating resistance for the communication device 20 is separately provided. It may be configured.
　上述した実施形態における通信装置１０及び通信装置２０の一部又は全部を、コンピュータで実現するようにしてもよい。その場合、この機能を実現するためのプログラムをコンピュータ読み取り可能な記録媒体に記録して、この記録媒体に記録されたプログラムをコンピュータシステムに読み込ませ、実行することによって実現してもよい。なお、ここでいう「コンピュータシステム」とは、ＯＳや周辺機器等のハードウェアを含むものとする。また、「コンピュータ読み取り可能な記録媒体」とは、フレキシブルディスク、光磁気ディスク、ＲＯＭ、ＣＤ－ＲＯＭ等の可搬媒体、コンピュータシステムに内蔵されるハードディスク等の記憶装置のことをいう。さらに「コンピュータ読み取り可能な記録媒体」とは、インターネット等のネットワークや電話回線等の通信回線を介してプログラムを送信する場合の通信線のように、短時間の間、動的にプログラムを保持するもの、その場合のサーバやクライアントとなるコンピュータシステム内部の揮発性メモリのように、一定時間プログラムを保持しているものも含んでもよい。また上記プログラムは、上述した機能の一部を実現するためのものであっても良く、さらに上述した機能をコンピュータシステムにすでに記録されているプログラムとの組み合わせで実現できるものであってもよく、ＰＬＤ（Programmable Logic Device）やＦＰＧＡ（Field Programmable Gate Array）等のハードウェアを用いて実現されるものであってもよい。 A part or all of the communication device 10 and the communication device 20 in the above-described embodiment may be realized by a computer. In that case, the program for realizing this function may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in this recording medium may be read by a computer system and executed. The “computer system” mentioned here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" means that a program is dynamically held for a short time like a communication line when the program is transmitted through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory inside the computer system that serves as a server or a client in that case may hold the program for a certain period of time. Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program that can realize the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, It may be realized by using hardware such as PLD (Programmable Logic Device) and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).
　本発明のいくつかの実施形態を説明したが、これらの実施形態は、例として提示したものであり、発明の範囲を限定することは意図していない。これら実施形態は、その他の様々な形態で実施されることが可能であり、発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲で、種々の省略、置き換え、変更を行うことができる。これら実施形態やその変形は、発明の範囲や要旨に含まれると同様に、特許請求の範囲に記載された発明とその均等の範囲に含まれるものである。 Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and the scope thereof, as well as in the invention described in the claims and the scope of equivalents thereof.
　１…室外機、２…室内機、１０…通信装置（終端抵抗設定装置）、１１…終端抵抗、　１２…信号送受信回路、２０…通信装置、２１…終端抵抗設定部、２２…信号送受信回路、３０…通信線、１００、２００…空調システム（終端抵抗設定システム）…１２０、制御部…１２１、終端抵抗設定命令部…１２１ｂ、通信速度切替命令部…１２１ｃ 1...Outdoor unit, 2...Indoor unit, 10...Communication device (termination resistance setting device), 11...Termination resistor, 12...Signal transmission/reception circuit, 20...Communication device, 21...Termination resistance setting unit, 22...Signal transmission/reception circuit, 30... Communication line, 100, 200... Air conditioning system (terminating resistance setting system)... 120, control part... 121, terminating resistance setting command part... 121b, communication speed switching command part... 121c

Claims (9)

  1. 　通信接続された複数の通信装置との試験通信を行う通信部と、
    　前記複数の通信装置の中の任意の通信装置に対して終端抵抗を設定させ、前記試験通信が確立されなかった場合、前記通信装置に対して前記終端抵抗の設定を解除させ、前記通信装置とは異なる任意の通信装置に対して前記終端抵抗を設定させる終端抵抗設定命令部と、
    　を備える終端抵抗設定装置。     A communication unit that performs test communication with a plurality of communication devices connected by communication,
    If a terminating resistor is set for any communication device of the plurality of communication devices, and if the test communication is not established, the setting of the terminating resistor is canceled for the communication device, Is a terminating resistance setting command unit for setting the terminating resistance for different arbitrary communication devices,
    Terminating resistance setting device.
  2. 　前記試験通信を行う場合、通信速度を低速から高速へ切り替える通信速度切替部と、
    　前記複数の通信装置に対して前記通信速度を前記低速から前記高速へ切り替えさせる通信速度切替命令部と、
    　をさらに備える請求項１に記載の終端抵抗設定装置。     When performing the test communication, a communication speed switching unit that switches the communication speed from low speed to high speed,
    A communication speed switching command unit that causes the plurality of communication devices to switch the communication speed from the low speed to the high speed,
    The termination resistance setting device according to claim 1, further comprising:
  3. 　前記終端抵抗設定命令部は、
    　前記試験通信が確立された場合、当該試験通信が確立した際に前記終端抵抗を設定させた前記通信装置を、前記終端抵抗の設定対象として決定する
    　請求項１又は請求項２に記載の終端抵抗設定装置。     The terminal resistance setting command section,
    When the test communication is established, the communication device that sets the terminating resistor when the test communication is established is determined as a setting target of the terminating resistor. Setting device.
  4. 　前記終端抵抗設定命令部は、
    　前記設定対象として決定した前記通信装置に対する前記終端抵抗の設定を解除させない
    　請求項３に記載の終端抵抗設定装置。     The terminal resistance setting command section,
    The termination resistance setting device according to claim 3, wherein the termination resistance setting for the communication device determined as the setting target is not canceled.
  5. 　前記通信装置を備えた室内機を有する、空気調和機の室外機又は前記空気調和機の管理装置に備えられる
    　請求項１から請求項４のうちいずれか一項に記載の終端抵抗設定装置。     The terminal resistance setting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is provided in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner or a management device of the air conditioner having an indoor unit including the communication device.
  6. 　通信接続された複数の通信装置と、終端抵抗を設定させる前記通信装置を決定する設定装置と、を有する終端抵抗設定システムであって、
    　前記通信装置は、
    　全ての前記複数の通信装置とそれぞれ試験通信を行う通信部と、
    　前記試験通信において全ての前記複数の通信装置から出力され、それぞれ取得された試験信号のパルス幅を測定する測定部と、
    　前記測定部によって測定された前記パルス幅を示す測定結果情報を前記設定装置へ出力する測定結果出力部と、
    　を備え、
    　前記設定装置は、
    　全ての前記複数の通信装置に対して順に前記終端抵抗を仮設定させる命令部と、
    　それぞれの前記通信装置に対して前記終端抵抗が仮設定されるごとに、全ての前記複数の通信装置からそれぞれ前記測定結果情報を収集する測定結果情報収集部と、
    　前記測定結果情報収集部によって収集された複数の前記測定結果情報に基づいて、前記終端抵抗を設定させる前記通信装置を決定する決定部と、
    　を備える終端抵抗設定システム。     A termination resistance setting system having a plurality of communication devices connected in communication and a setting device for determining the communication device for setting a termination resistance,
    The communication device is
    A communication unit that performs test communication with all of the plurality of communication devices,
    In the test communication, output from all of the plurality of communication devices, a measurement unit for measuring the pulse width of each acquired test signal,
    A measurement result output unit for outputting measurement result information indicating the pulse width measured by the measuring unit to the setting device,
    Equipped with
    The setting device,
    A command unit for temporarily setting the terminating resistors for all of the plurality of communication devices,
    A measurement result information collecting unit that collects the measurement result information from all of the plurality of communication devices each time the terminating resistance is provisionally set for each of the communication devices,
    Based on the plurality of measurement result information collected by the measurement result information collection unit, a determination unit that determines the communication device to set the termination resistance,
    A terminating resistance setting system equipped with.
  7. 　前記決定部は、
    　それぞれの前記通信装置に対して前記終端抵抗が仮設定されるごとに前記複数の測定結果情報に含まれる前記パルス幅のうち最大値を特定し、特定された前記最大値が最小となる場合において前記終端抵抗が仮設定されていた前記通信装置を、前記終端抵抗を設定させる前記通信装置として決定する
    　請求項６に記載の終端抵抗設定システム。     The determining unit is
    When the terminal resistance is provisionally set for each of the communication devices, the maximum value is specified among the pulse widths included in the plurality of measurement result information, and the specified maximum value becomes the minimum. The termination resistance setting system according to claim 6, wherein the communication apparatus in which the termination resistance is provisionally set is determined as the communication apparatus for setting the termination resistance.
  8. 　前記決定部は、
    　それぞれの前記通信装置に対して前記終端抵抗が仮設定されるごとに前記複数の測定結果情報に含まれる前記パルス幅のうち最大値を特定し、特定された前記最大値が所定値未満である場合、前記終端抵抗を設定させる前記通信装置を決定する
    　請求項６に記載の終端抵抗設定システム。     The determining unit is
    Each time the terminal resistance is provisionally set for each of the communication devices, the maximum value of the pulse widths included in the plurality of measurement result information is specified, and the specified maximum value is less than a predetermined value. In the case, the terminating resistance setting system according to claim 6, wherein the communication device for setting the terminating resistance is determined.
  9. 　前記通信装置は、
    　空気調和機の室内機に備えられ、
    　前記設定装置は、
    　前記空気調和機の室外機又は前記空気調和機の管理装置に備えられる
    　請求項６から請求項８のうちいずれか一項に記載の終端抵抗設定システム。     The communication device is
    Equipped in the indoor unit of the air conditioner,
    The setting device,
    The termination resistance setting system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, which is provided in an outdoor unit of the air conditioner or a management device of the air conditioner.
PCT/JP2019/004826 2019-02-12 2019-02-12 Terminal resistance setting device and terminal resistance setting system WO2020165937A1 (en)

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PCT/JP2019/004826 WO2020165937A1 (en) 2019-02-12 2019-02-12 Terminal resistance setting device and terminal resistance setting system

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EP4099576A4 (en) * 2020-01-30 2023-09-13 Toshiba Carrier Corporation Communication system, master device used in communication system, slave device, and communication method

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JP2015133554A (en) * 2014-01-10 2015-07-23 三菱電機株式会社 Wired transmission device and method of adjusting resistance of termination resistor
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JP2017188900A (en) * 2016-04-04 2017-10-12 エイ−デック インコーポレイテッドＡ−Ｄｅｃ， Ｉｎｃｏｒｐｏｒａｔｅｄ High-speed communication network in dental instrument

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JPH09162909A (en) * 1995-12-07 1997-06-20 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Line interruption detection method in branched line system
JPH09237116A (en) * 1996-03-01 1997-09-09 Omron Corp Network system
JP2015133554A (en) * 2014-01-10 2015-07-23 三菱電機株式会社 Wired transmission device and method of adjusting resistance of termination resistor
WO2015129795A1 (en) * 2014-02-27 2015-09-03 株式会社クボタ Electronic device, work machine, and management system for termination resistances
JP2017188900A (en) * 2016-04-04 2017-10-12 エイ−デック インコーポレイテッドＡ−Ｄｅｃ， Ｉｎｃｏｒｐｏｒａｔｅｄ High-speed communication network in dental instrument

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EP4099576A4 (en) * 2020-01-30 2023-09-13 Toshiba Carrier Corporation Communication system, master device used in communication system, slave device, and communication method

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