Control device, wind direction adjustment device, control method and program

Abstract

The present invention provides a control device, a wind direction adjustment device, a control method, and a program that can correct the control information of a stepping motor according to the rotation direction of the stepping motor. [Solution] The control device includes a control unit that controls the motor to be rotatable based on control information showing the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fin and the number of pulse signals used when rotating the fin, an acquisition unit that acquires the actual number of pulses, which is the number of pulse signals when the fin rotates by a predetermined amount, and a correction unit that corrects the control information based on the actual number of pulses.

Description

Technical Field

[0007]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device, a wind direction adjustment device, a control method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a wind direction adjustment device that can adjust the wind direction of an air passage to a desired direction by rotating fins.

[0003] For example, the wind direction adjustment device includes a stepping motor, and the driving force of the stepping motor is transmitted to the fins via a cam and a link, so that the fins rotate.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wind direction turning device that calculates the swing angle of fins based on the detection value of a potentiometer and controls the operation of a motor based on the calculated swing angle.

[0005] Also, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a vehicle air outlet device having a stepping motor and a wind direction member, and configured such that the driving force of the stepping motor is transmitted to the wind direction member so that the wind direction member rotates.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] By the way, in the case of a wind direction adjustment device that adjusts the airflow direction of an air passage by making multiple fins rotatable, two one-way clutches are used from a single stepping motor to extract separate driving forces for forward and reverse rotation, and the multiple fins are rotated by cams and links.

[0008] However, one-way clutches inherently have some play, and this play varies from unit to unit, resulting in a discrepancy between the cam's rotation angle and the actual amount of fin rotation.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a control device, a wind direction adjustment device, a control method, and a program that can correct the control information of a stepping motor according to the rotation direction of the stepping motor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the control device in the present invention is A control unit that controls the motor to be rotatable based on control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fins and the number of pulse signals used when rotating the fins, An acquisition unit that acquires the actual number of pulses, which is the number of pulse signals when the fin rotates by a predetermined amount of rotation, A correction unit that corrects the control information based on the actual number of pulses, It is equipped with.

[0011] The wind direction adjustment device in the present invention is Motor and, A control unit that controls the motor to be rotatable based on control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fins and the number of pulse signals used when rotating the fins, An acquisition unit that acquires the actual number of pulses, which is the number of pulse signals when the fin rotates by a predetermined amount of rotation, A correction unit that corrects the control information based on the actual number of pulses, It is equipped with.

[0012] The control method in the present invention is to rotatably control a motor based on control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fins and the number of pulse signals used when rotating the fins, to obtain the actual number of pulses, which is the number of pulse signals when the fins rotate by a predetermined amount of rotation, and to correct the control information based on the actual number of pulses.

[0013] The program in the present invention is to cause a computer to rotatably control a motor based on control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fins and the number of pulse signals used when rotating the fins; to obtain the actual number of pulses, which is the number of pulse signals when the fins rotate by a predetermined amount of rotation; and to correct the control information based on the actual number of pulses; and is a program for causing the above to be executed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, the control information of the stepping motor can be corrected according to the rotation direction of the stepping motor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] [Figure 1A] It is a perspective view of a wind direction adjusting device in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] It is a perspective view of an inner cylinder part of a wind direction adjusting device in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] It is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a wind direction adjusting device in one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing a state in which one of the first flow paths is open. [Figure 2B] It is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a wind direction adjusting device in one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing a state in which one of the first flow paths is closed. [Figure 3A]It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a wind direction adjusting device in an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing a state where one of the second flow paths is open. [Figure 3B] It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a wind direction adjusting device in an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing a state where one of the second flow paths is closed. [Figure 4A] It is a plan view showing a drive unit of a wind direction adjusting device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] It is a front view showing a drive unit of a wind direction adjusting device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4C] It is a side view showing a drive unit of a wind direction adjusting device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] It is a table showing an example of the correspondence between the rotation angle of a cam of a wind direction adjusting device in an embodiment of the present invention, the opening degree of each flow path by each fin, and the wind direction, and is a table showing one cam and the first flow path side. [Figure 5B] It is a table showing an example of the correspondence between the rotation angle of a cam of a wind direction adjusting device in an embodiment of the present invention, the opening degree of each flow path by each fin, and the wind direction, and is a table showing the other cam and the second flow path side. [Figure 6] It is a detection circuit diagram for detecting on / off of each contact of a wind direction adjusting device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a wind direction adjusting device in an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing a tact switch arranged in the first flow path. [Figure 8] It is a functional block diagram functionally showing the configuration of a control device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a control device in an embodiment of the present invention. <00001​​​​​​​​Figure 1A is a perspective view of an airflow adjustment device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1B is a perspective view of the inner cylinder portion of the airflow adjustment device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The airflow adjustment device 1 adjusts the direction of airflow from the air conditioning unit. The airflow adjustment device 1 is also called an air outlet, ventilator, register, etc.

[0017] The wind direction adjustment device 1 comprises a main body 3. The main body 3 is a case made of a material such as synthetic resin. The main body 3 has an outer cylinder 4 and an inner cylinder 5 located inside the outer cylinder 4.

[0018] The outer cylinder portion 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has openings 7 and 8 at both ends in the axial direction (FR direction, RR direction). The inner cylinder portion 5 shown in Figure 1B is formed in a cylindrical shape, with one end closed and the other end having an opening 10. Preferably, the opening 10 is closed so as to be openable and closable by a lid 11. As shown in Figure 1A, the inner cylinder portion 5 has a smaller outer shape than the outer cylinder portion 4, for example, having an outer shape similar to that of the outer cylinder portion 4. The inner cylinder portion 5 is arranged inside the outer cylinder portion 4, coaxially or substantially coaxially with the outer cylinder portion 4. Therefore, a ventilation portion 12 is formed in the main body portion 3 between the inner surface of the outer cylinder 4 and the outer surface of the inner cylinder portion 5, connecting the openings 7 and 8. In this embodiment, opening 7 is the upstream opening, i.e., the receiving inlet, that receives the conditioned air into the ventilation passage 12, and opening 8 is the downstream opening, i.e., the outlet, that blows out the conditioned air that has passed through the ventilation passage 12.

[0019] Figure 2A is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a wind direction adjustment device according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing one side of the first flow path open. Figure 2B is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a wind direction adjustment device according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing one side of the first flow path open. Figure 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a wind direction adjustment device according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing one side of the second flow path open. Figure 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a wind direction adjustment device according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing one side of the second flow path open. As shown in Figures 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, the ventilation passage 12 is inclined at least downstream toward the central part of the opening 8, i.e., toward the central axis of the main body 3 or outer cylinder 4, and its interior is divided into three or more flow paths 14. In addition, fins 15 for adjusting the amount of airflow are arranged in at least one of the flow paths 14. In this embodiment, fins 15 are installed in each flow path 14. The wind direction adjustment device 1 controls the direction of the air blown out from the opening 8 by adjusting the opening of the flow paths 14, i.e., the amount of airflow, using the fins 15.

[0020] To clarify the following explanation, the wind direction adjustment device 1 is defined as having the leeward side (the side from which the wind blows) as the front, front, or near side, and the opposite side, the windward side (the side that receives the wind) as the rear, back, or far side, defining the left-right direction (the width direction) and the up-down direction when viewed from the front. In this embodiment, the wind direction adjustment device 1 is applied to an air conditioning system for a vehicle such as an automobile. The wind direction adjustment device 1 may be placed in any position, but in the drawings, it is assumed that the arrow FR side is the front, the arrow RR side is the rear, the arrow L side is the left side, the arrow R side is the right side, the arrow U side is the top side, and the arrow D side is the bottom side. These directions are illustrated as examples only and may be changed as appropriate depending on the installation position and orientation of the wind direction adjustment device 1.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the outer cylinder portion 4 has an expanding portion 20 whose cross-sectional area gradually increases toward the front from the opening 7, a general portion 21 with a constant or approximately constant cross-sectional area that is connected to the front of the expanding portion 20, and a contracting portion 22 that is connected to the front of the general portion 21 and whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the opening 8, i.e., toward the front.

[0022] Similarly, the inner cylinder portion 5 has an expanding portion 25 whose cross-sectional area gradually increases from the closed rear end towards the front, a general portion 26 with a constant or approximately constant cross-sectional area that is connected to the front of the expanding portion 25, and a contracting portion 27 that is connected to the front of the general portion 26 and whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases towards the opening 10, i.e., towards the front. The rear end of the inner cylinder portion 5 is formed to be pointed toward the rear and serves as a branching portion that divides the air received from the opening 7 into each of the flow paths 14.

[0023] The enlarged portion 25 of the inner cylinder portion 5 is located inside the enlarged portion 20 of the outer cylinder portion 4, the general portion 26 of the inner cylinder portion 5 is located inside the general portion 21 of the outer cylinder portion 4, and the reduced portion 27 of the inner cylinder portion 5 is located inside the reduced portion 22 of the outer cylinder portion 4. Therefore, the ventilation passage 12 is inclined so that the upstream side widens from the opening 7 toward the downstream side, and the downstream side narrows toward the opening 8. Consequently, the flow path 14 is inclined so that the upstream side moves away from the opening 7, and the downstream side moves closer to the opening 8.

[0024] For example, the enlarged sections 20 and 25 have equal or approximately equal inclinations to each other. Similarly, the reduced sections 22 and 27 have equal or approximately equal inclinations to each other. Furthermore, the ventilation passage 12 and the flow path 14 are formed to have a constant or approximately constant cross-sectional area from the upstream end to the downstream end. Moreover, the enlarged sections 20 and 25 have equal or approximately equal inclination angles in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction, respectively. Likewise, the reduced sections 22 and 27 have equal or approximately equal inclination angles in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction, respectively.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2A to 3B, the outer cylinder 4 and inner cylinder 5 are each formed in a rectangular tubular shape with sides on the top, bottom, left, and right. The openings 7, 8, and 10 are each formed in a rectangular shape, for example, a square shape. The ventilation passage 12 has four flow paths 14 corresponding to each side of the outer cylinder 4 and inner cylinder 5. Specifically, the flow paths 14 are set to a pair of first flow paths 14a and 14b in a predetermined first direction, for example, in the vertical direction, which intersects or is perpendicular to the front-to-back direction, which is the ventilation direction of the ventilation passage 12, and second flow paths 14c and 14d in a predetermined second direction, in the left-to-right direction, which intersects or is perpendicular to the ventilation direction and the vertical direction. However, the outer cylinder 4 and inner cylinder 5 may be cylindrical or other shapes, the openings 7, 8, and 10 may be rectangular, circular, or other shapes, and there may be five or more flow paths 14.

[0026] Each fin 15 is formed in the shape of a plate or a flap. Each fin 15 is movably provided on, for example, the inner cylinder 5. For example, each fin 15 has its rear end rotatably supported on the inner cylinder 5 and its front end is a free end. Each fin 15 is an adjusting member or opening / closing member that can adjust the amount of airflow through the flow path 14 by adjusting the opening of the flow path 14 according to the amount of rotation. In this embodiment, each fin 15 can close the flow path 14 at its maximum rotation position. The fins 15 can be of any shape as long as they can increase or decrease the amount of airflow through the flow path 14, but in this embodiment they are formed in a rectangular shape.

[0027] For example, in this embodiment, each fin 15 is arranged on the general portion 26 of the inner cylinder 5, and in the illustrated example, it is arranged on each side of the general portion 26 of the inner cylinder 5. A fin 15 is set for each flow path 14. In this embodiment, the fin 15 is set to include first fins 15a and 15b for the first flow paths 14a and 14b, and second fins 15c and 15d for the second flow paths 14c and 14d.

[0028] The fins 15 are driven by the drive unit 30. At least a portion of the drive unit 30 is housed inside the inner cylinder 5, and in this embodiment, the entire drive unit 30 is housed inside the inner cylinder 5. Figure 4A is a plan view showing the drive unit of the wind direction adjustment device in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4B is a front view showing the drive unit of the wind direction adjustment device in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4C is a side view showing the drive unit of the wind direction adjustment device in one embodiment of the present invention. The drive unit 30 shown in Figures 2A, 3A, and 4A to 4C comprises a rotatable cam 32 and a link 33 connecting the cam 32 and the fin 15. The cam 32 is a circular plate-shaped cam plate. The cam 32 has a cam groove 34 formed therein for interlocking the link 33, and the link 33 reciprocates according to the shape of the cam groove 34 in response to the rotation of the cam 32, so that the fin 15 opens and closes the flow path 14.

[0029] As shown in Figures 4A to 4C, multiple cams 32 are provided. One or more cams 32 may be provided for each fin 15, but in this embodiment, at least one cam 32 is shared for the operation of multiple fins 15. In the illustrated example, for example, a pair of cams 32 are provided. That is, the cam 32 is provided with a first cam 32a and a second cam 32b. In this embodiment, the operation of the first fins 15a and 15b is controlled by the first cam 32a, and the operation of the second fins 15c and 15d is controlled by the second cam 32b. Therefore, the cam groove 34 is provided with first cam grooves 34a and 34b for operating the first fins 15a and 15b, and second cam grooves 34c and 34d for operating the second fins 15c and 15d. The link 33 is provided with first links 33a and 33b that connect the first fins 15a and 15b to the first cam grooves 34a and 34b, and second links 33c and 33d that connect the second fins 15c and 15d to the second cam grooves 34c and 34d.

[0030] In this embodiment, the first cam groove 34a is formed on one surface of the first cam 32a, and the first cam groove 34b is formed on the other surface of the first cam 32a. Also, the second cam groove 34c is formed on one surface of the second cam 32b, and the second cam groove 34d is formed on the other surface of the second cam 32b. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the first cam grooves 34a and 34b may be formed on one or the other surface of the first cam 32a, and the second cam grooves 34c and 34d may be formed on one or the other surface of the second cam 32b.

[0031] Figure 5A is a table showing an example of the correspondence between the rotation angle of the cam of the wind direction adjustment device in one embodiment of the present invention, the opening degree of each flow path by each fin, and the wind direction, and is the table corresponding to the first cam 32a and the first flow paths 34a and 34b. Figure 5B is a table showing an example of the correspondence between the rotation angle of the cam of the wind direction adjustment device in one embodiment of the present invention, the opening degree of each flow path by each fin, and the wind direction, and is the table corresponding to the second cam 32b and the second flow paths 34c and 34d. The shape of the cam groove 34 is determined according to the operation of the fin 15. In this embodiment, the fin 15 performs four operations: gradually closing the flow path 14 from an open state (first operation), maintaining the closed state (second operation), gradually opening the flow path 14 from a closed state (third operation), and maintaining the open state (fourth operation).

[0032] In other words, the cam groove 34 of this embodiment has a first section 41 corresponding to the first operation, a second section 42 corresponding to the second operation, a third section 43 corresponding to the third operation, and a fourth section 44 corresponding to the fourth operation. The first section 41 is formed in an arc shape that gradually moves away from the central part to the outer peripheral edge in the rotational direction of the cam 32, the second section 42 is formed in an arc shape along the circumferential direction at the outer peripheral edge of the cam 32, the third section 43 is formed in an arc shape that gradually approaches from the outer peripheral edge to the central part in the rotational direction of the cam 32, and the fourth section 44 is formed in an arc shape along the circumferential direction at the central part of the cam 32. The cam groove 34 is an annular groove in which these first section 41 to fourth section 44 are smoothly connected to each other. In the illustrated example, the cam groove 34 has first sections 41 to fourth sections 44 provided at 90° intervals in the circumferential direction of the cam 32, and the fins 15 sequentially perform the four operations described above each time the cam 32 rotates by 90°.

[0033] Furthermore, the timing of the operation of the first fins 15a and 15b, and the second fins 15c and 15d, must be staggered in order to enable control of the direction of airflow blown out from the opening 8. At the same time, it is preferable that the timing of opening or closing the flow path 14 is adjusted so that the airflow direction of the first fins 15a and 15b, and the second fins 15c and 15d, is set to a neutral direction so that the airflow moves straight forward without tilting in the up, down, left, or right directions, or to create a shutdown state by closing the ventilation passage 12. In this embodiment, the phase of the first cam groove 34a and the first cam groove 34b is shifted by 90° in the circumferential direction of the first cam 32a, and the phase of the second cam groove 34c and the second cam groove 34d is shifted by 90° in the circumferential direction of the second cam 32b. In the illustrated example, the starting point of the first section 41 of the first cam groove 34a corresponds to the opening degree of the starting point of the fourth section 44 of the first cam groove 34b, and the starting point of the first section 41 of the second cam groove 34c corresponds to the opening degree of the starting point of the fourth section 44 of the second cam groove 34d.

[0034] In Figure 4B, only the first section 41 to the fourth section 44 of the second cam groove 34c are shown. However, in this embodiment, the first cam grooves 34a, 34b and the second cam groove 34d are basically the same shape except for the circumferential phase and left / right orientation, so their illustration is omitted.

[0035] The drive unit 30 of this embodiment includes a drive device 46. The cam 32 is driven by the drive device 46. The drive device 46 uses a stepping motor that converts electricity into driving force. The stepping motor 46 is electrically connected to a control device 50 mounted on the vehicle, and its rotation direction and rotation angle are controlled.

[0036] The stepping motor 46 may be located outside the main body 3, but in this embodiment, one is located inside the inner cylinder 5. The stepping motor 46 is controlled by the control device 50 to be able to rotate both forward and backward. The stepping motor 46 is controlled based on control information that shows the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fin 15 and the number of pulse signals. When a predetermined number of pulses are input to the stepping motor 46, the fin 15 can be rotated by a predetermined amount. The predetermined amount of rotation is obtained by multiplying the number of pulse signals by the step angle. In this embodiment, the control device 50 is configured to selectively rotate the first cam 32a and the second cam 32b using the forward and reverse rotation of the stepping motor 46. Details of the control device 50 will be described later. Also, in the following description, "forward rotation" may be referred to as "rotation in one direction" and "reverse rotation" as "rotation in other directions".

[0037] A shaft 48 connected to the output shaft of the stepping motor 46 is inserted through the center of a first cam 32a and a second cam 32b, which are arranged coaxially. The first cam 32a is connected to the shaft 48 via a first transmission unit 49a, which is a one-way clutch, and the second cam 32b is connected to the shaft 48 via a second transmission unit 49b, which is also a one-way clutch. The first transmission unit 49a and the second transmission unit 49b are configured such that, of the rotation of the shaft 48 around its axis, only rotation in one direction is transmitted to the first cam 32a, and only rotation in the opposite direction is transmitted to the second cam 32b. In other words, when the shaft 48 rotates in one direction, only the first cam 32a rotates in that direction in conjunction, and when the shaft 48 rotates in another direction, only the second cam 32b rotates in the other direction in conjunction. The shaft 48 is arranged in the front-rear direction along the central axis of the inner cylinder 5.

[0038] The first transmission unit 49a is located on the opposite side of the first cam 32a from the second cam 32b, and the second transmission unit 49b is located on the opposite side of the second cam 32b from the first cam 32a. In other words, in this embodiment, the first transmission unit 49a and the second transmission unit 49b are one-way clutches having the same characteristics, and the direction of connection to the shaft 48 is opposite to the axial direction of the shaft 48, so that the first cam 32a and the second cam 32b are selectively linked to the rotation of the shaft 48 in one direction or the other.

[0039] When adjusting the wind direction in the vertical direction, the wind direction adjustment device 1 rotates the shaft 48 in one direction by the stepping motor 46, thereby rotating only the first cam 32a in one direction via the first transmission unit 49a. When adjusting the wind direction in the horizontal direction, the stepping motor 46 rotates the shaft 48 in another direction, thereby rotating only the second cam 32b in the other direction via the second transmission unit 49b.

[0040] For example, when the rotation angle of the first cam 32a in one direction is 0° (reference angle), one end of the first link 33a is at the starting point of the first section 41 of the first cam groove 34a, and one end of the first link 33b is at the starting point of the fourth section 44 of the first cam groove 3b. As a result, the first fins 15a and 15b, which are connected to the other ends of the first links 33a and 33b, are both in the state where the first passages 14a and 14b are fully open (maximum opening). Therefore, as shown in Figure 2A, the amount of air passing through the first passages 14a and 14b, which are separated in the vertical direction, is equal or approximately equal. The air passing through them merges at the opening 8 along the slope on the downstream side, causing their respective vertical components to cancel each other out, and the air blows out from the opening 8 in the forward direction without tilting vertically.

[0041] Furthermore, for example, when the rotation angle of the first cam 32a in one direction is between 0° and 90°, as shown in Figure 5A, the larger the rotation angle, the smaller the opening of the first channel 14a by the first fin 15a, and the less airflow through the first channel 14a, while the first fin 15b maintains the open state of the first channel 14b. Therefore, in the wind converging at the opening 8, the influence of the wind passing through the first channel 14b and moving upward becomes relatively larger as the rotation angle of the first cam 32a increases. Thus, the upward angle of the wind blowing out from the opening 8 is set according to the rotation angle of the first cam 32a, that is, the opening of the first channel 14a by the first fin 15a. When the rotation angle of the first cam 32a in one direction is 90°, one end of the first link 33a is at the end of the first section 41 of the first cam groove 34a, that is, at the start of the second section 42, so the first fin 15a connected to the other end of the first link 33a closes the first flow path 14a. When one end of the first link 33b is at the end of the fourth section 44 of the first cam groove 34b, that is, at the start of the first section 41, the first fin 15a connected to the other end of the first link 33b opens the first flow path 14b to its maximum extent (maximum opening). As shown in Figure 2B, in the vertical direction, the wind flows only through the first flow path 14b and blows upward from the opening 8 along the downstream slope, resulting in the maximum upward swing state.

[0042] Thus, in this embodiment, according to the rotation angle of the first cam 32a, the first fins 15a and 15b change the opening degree of the first flow channels 14a and 14b, respectively, according to the example in the table shown in Figure 5A. This changes the degree to which the vertical components of the airflow direction interfere with each other according to the amount of airflow through the first flow channels 14a and 14b, thereby adjusting the vertical airflow direction from the opening 8.

[0043] On the other hand, for example, when the rotation angle of the second cam 32b in the other direction is 0° (reference angle), one end of the second link 33c is at the starting point of the first section 41 of the second cam groove 34c, and one end of the second link 33d is at the starting point of the fourth section 44 of the second cam groove 34d. As a result, the second fins 15c and 15d, which are connected to the other ends of the second links 33c and 33d, are both in a state where the second passages 14c and 14d are fully open (maximum opening). Therefore, as shown in Figure 3A, the amount of air passing through the second passages 14c and 14d, which are separated in the left and right directions, is equal or approximately equal. The air passing through them merges at the opening 8 along the slope on the downstream side, causing their left and right components to cancel each other out, and the air blows out from the opening 8 in the forward direction without tilting in the left or right direction.

[0044] Furthermore, for example, when the rotation angle of the second cam 32b in the other direction is between 0° and 90°, as shown in Figure 5B, the larger the rotation angle, the smaller the opening of the second channel 14c by the second fin 15c, resulting in less airflow through the second channel 14c, while the second fin 15d maintains the open state of the second channel 14d. Therefore, in the wind converging at the opening 8, the influence of the wind passing through the second channel 14d and moving to the right becomes relatively larger as the rotation angle of the second cam 32b increases. Thus, the angle to the right of the wind direction blown out from the opening 8 is set according to the rotation angle of the second cam 32b, that is, the opening of the second channel 14c by the second fin 15c. When the rotation angle of the second cam 32b in the other direction is 90°, one end of the second link 33c is at the end of the first section 41 of the second cam groove 34c, that is, at the start of the second section 42, so the second fin 15c connected to the other end of the second link 33c closes the second flow path 14c, and one end of the second link 33d is at the end of the fourth section 44 of the second cam groove 34d, that is, at the start of the first section 41, so the second fin 15d connected to the other end of the second link 33d opens the second flow path 14d to its maximum extent (maximum opening), so as shown in Figure 3B, in the left-right direction, the wind flows only through the second flow path 14d and blows out to the left from the opening 8 along the downstream slope, resulting in a maximum leftward swing state.

[0045] Thus, in this embodiment, according to the rotation angle of the second cam 32b, the second fins 15c and 15d change the opening degree of the second flow channels 14c and 14d, respectively, according to the example in the table shown in Figure 5B. This changes the degree to which the left-right components of the wind interfere with each other according to the amount of airflow through the second flow channels 14c and 14d, thereby adjusting the left-right wind direction from the opening 8.

[0046] Therefore, the direction of the airflow from the opening 8 can be adjusted to any direction by combining the rotation angles of the first cam 32a and the second cam 32b.

[0047] In particular, in this embodiment, if the rotation angles of the first cam 32a and the second cam 32b are set to 180°, the first fins 15a and 15b will close the first passages 14a and 14b, and the second fins 15c and 15d will close the second passages 14c and 14d, so that no air blows out from the opening 8, and it is possible to create a closed state (shut state).

[0048] As described above, according to this embodiment, a one-way clutch 49a is connected to a stepping motor 46 that rotates in one direction, and the fins 15 are operated in accordance with the rotation of the cam 32 caused by this clutch. Specifically, the first fins 15a and 15b, which adjust the amount of airflow through the pair of first passages 14a and 14b that are arranged in the vertical direction, are operated in accordance with the rotation of the first cam 32a, which is one cam, in one direction. In addition, a one-way clutch 49b is connected to a stepping motor 46 that rotates in another direction, and the fins 15 are operated in accordance with the rotation of the cam 32 caused by this clutch. Specifically, the second fins 15c and 15d, which adjust the amount of airflow through the pair of second passages 14c and 14d that are arranged in the left-right direction, are operated in accordance with the rotation of the second cam 32b, which is another cam, in the other direction. In other words, the operation of the first cam 32a and the operation of the second cam 32b can be separated according to the rotation direction of the stepping motor 46, making it easier to control each fin 15 with a single stepping motor 46. Furthermore, by operating each fin 15 with a single stepping motor 46, the configuration can be simplified, leading to a reduction in system cost.

[0049] Incidentally, the one-way clutches 49a and 49b inherently have some play, and there are individual differences in this play, so there is a risk of discrepancy between the rotation angle of the cam 32 and the actual amount of rotation of the fin 15. Furthermore, since the one-way clutch 49a is connected to the stepping motor 46 that rotates in one direction, and the one-way clutch 49b is connected to the stepping motor 46 that rotates in the other direction, manufacturing tolerances between the one-way clutches 49a and 49b, or changes over time, may cause a discrepancy between the rotation angle of the cam 32 and the actual amount of rotation of the fin 15 due to the one-way clutches 49a and 49b connected to the stepping motor 46. In other words, depending on the direction of rotation of the stepping motor 46, there is a risk of discrepancy between the rotation angle of the cam 32 and the actual amount of rotation of the fin 15.

[0050] Therefore, the control device 50 in this embodiment corrects the control information of the stepping motor 46 according to the rotation direction of the stepping motor 46. In addition, this embodiment includes a detection unit 60 for detecting the rotation position of the fin 15. In the following description, forward rotation of the stepping motor 46 will be simply referred to as forward rotation, and reverse rotation of the stepping motor 46 will be simply referred to as reverse rotation.

[0051] Figure 6 is a detection circuit diagram showing an example of a detection unit that detects the on / off state of each contact for detecting the rotation angle of the fin 15 in a wind direction adjustment device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 6, the detection unit 60 includes a resistor 61, a resistor 62, a resistor 63, a power supply 64, and a tact switch 65. Resistor 61 has a resistance value R1. Resistor 62 has a resistance value R2. Resistor 63 has a resistance value R3. An input voltage Vi is applied between both terminals of the power supply 64.

[0052] The positive terminal (anode) of the power supply is electrically connected to one terminal of resistor 61. The negative terminal (cathode) of the power supply is grounded to the body.

[0053] The other terminal of resistor 61 is electrically connected to one terminal of resistor 62 and one terminal of resistor 63, respectively. The other terminal of resistor 62 is grounded to the body via tact switch 65. The other terminal of resistor 63 is grounded to the body via tact switch 65. Tact switch 65 has contacts 65a and 65b.

[0054] Figure 7 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of an airflow adjustment device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and shows a contact arranged in the first flow path. The contact 65a shown in Figure 7 is a contact that operates on / off when rotating in the forward direction, and is positioned corresponding to the position of the first fin 15a. When the first fin 15a rotates to a position along the general part 26 of the inner cylinder 5, the contact 65a is pressed down (on operation) and electrically energized. The contact 65a is returned to its original position when the first fin 15a moves away from the position along the general part 26 of the inner cylinder 5, and electrically disconnects (off operation). Although not shown in Figure 7, the contact 65b is a contact that operates on / off when rotating in the reverse direction, and is positioned corresponding to the position of the second fin 15c. When the second fin 15c rotates to a position along the general part 26 of the inner cylinder 5, the contact 65b is pressed down and electrically energized (on operation). The contact 65b is returned to its original position when the second fin 15c moves away from the position along the general part 26 of the inner cylinder 5, and electrically disconnects (off operation).

[0055] Next, the operation of the detection unit 60 will be described. The detection unit 60 can detect the on / off state of each contact 65a, 65b as a change in the voltage value of the divided voltage Vo by using contacts 65a, 65b, resistors 61, 62, and 63. Here, the divided voltage Vo is the voltage measured at the position between resistor 61 and resistor 62 (resistor 63).

[0056] For example, the fact that contact 65a is ON during forward rotation and contact 65b is OFF during reverse rotation can be detected by the voltage divider Vo becoming R2 / (R1+R2)*Vi.

[0057] Furthermore, for example, it is possible to detect that contact 65a is ON during forward rotation and contact 65b is ON during reverse rotation by determining that the voltage divider Vo is (R2+R3) / ((R2*R3)*R1+R2+R3)*Vi.

[0058] Furthermore, for example, it is possible to detect that contact 65a is off during forward rotation and contact 65b is on during reverse rotation by determining that the voltage divider Vo is R3 / (R1+R3)*Vi.

[0059] Furthermore, for example, the fact that contact 65a is off during forward rotation and contact 65b is off during reverse rotation can be detected by the voltage divider Vo being 0, that is, not conducting.

[0060] As a result, it becomes possible to determine the rotational position of each fin 15 based on the on / off information of each contact 65a, 65b.

[0061] Next, referring to Figure 5A, the relationship between the operation of the contacts and the opening of the flow path 14 when the stepping motor 46 rotates in one direction (forward rotation) will be explained. When the contact 65a turns from on to off, in other words, when the opening of the flow path 14 is no longer 100% (when the rotation angle of the first fin 15a shown in Figure 5A is no longer 0°), the pulse count, which is the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46, begins. Then, when the contact 65a turns from off to on, in other words, when the opening of the flow path 14 becomes 100% (when the rotation angle of the first fin 15a shown in Figure 5A is 270°), the pulse count ends. The number of pulses counted from the start to the end of the count is called the "first actual pulse count". In other words, the first actual pulse count is the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46 when the first fin 15a rotates from a rotation angle of 0° to a rotation angle of 270° (when it rotates by a predetermined amount).

[0062] Next, referring to Figure 5B, the relationship between the operation of the contacts and the opening of the flow path 14 when the stepping motor 46 rotates in the opposite direction (reverse rotation) will be explained. When contact 65b turns from on to off, in other words, when the opening of the flow path 14 is no longer 100% (when the rotation angle of the second fin 15c shown in Figure 5B is no longer 0°), the pulse count, which is the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46, begins. Then, when contact 65b turns from off to on, in other words, when the opening of the flow path 14 becomes 100% (when the rotation angle of the second fin 15c shown in Figure 5B is 270°), the pulse count ends. The number of pulses counted from the start to the end of the count is called the "second actual pulse count". In other words, the second actual pulse count is the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46 when the second fin 15c rotates from a rotation angle of 0° to a rotation angle of 270° (when it rotates by a predetermined amount).

[0063] Figure 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of a control device in one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 8, the control device 50 comprises a control unit 51 and a storage unit 52. The control device 50 also includes interfaces such as an AD (Analog-to-Digital) converter, a DA (Digital-to-Analog) converter, an I / O (Input / Output) port, and a CAN (Controller Area Network).

[0064] The memory unit 52 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the computer program that implements the control device 50, or a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as the working area for the control device 50. The ROM may be a flash memory that stores the OS (Operating System), application programs, and various information referenced when the application programs are executed, or it may be a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0065] The memory unit 52 stores control information for the stepping motor 46. The control information includes first control information showing the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the first fins 15a and 15b and the number of pulses, and second control information showing the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the second fins 15c and 15d and the number of pulses.

[0066] The control unit 51 is a processor such as the CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the control device 50, and functions as the acquisition unit 53, calculation unit 54, and correction unit 55 by executing the program stored in the storage unit 52.

[0067] The control unit 51 controls the stepping motor 46 to rotate in the forward direction based on the first control information, and to rotate in the reverse direction based on the second control information.

[0068] Figure 8 shows an example where the control device 50 is composed of a single device. However, the control device 50 may be implemented using, for example, multiple processors and memory or other computing resources. In this case, each part constituting the control unit 51 is implemented by executing programs on multiple different processors.

[0069] The acquisition unit 53 acquires on / off information of contact 65a from the detection unit 60. The timing when contact 65a changes from on to off, and the timing when contact 65a changes from off to on, are stored in the storage unit 52. The timing when contact 65a changes from on to off corresponds to the timing when the first fin 15a rotates from a rotation angle of 0° during forward rotation. The timing when contact 65a changes from off to on corresponds to the timing when the first fin 15a rotates to a rotation angle of 270° during forward rotation.

[0070] Furthermore, the acquisition unit 53 acquires on / off information of contact 65b from the detection unit 60. The timing when contact 65b changes from on to off, and the timing when contact 65b changes from off to on, are stored in the storage unit 52. Note that the timing when contact 65b changes from on to off corresponds to the timing when the second fin 15c is rotated from a rotation angle of 0° during reverse rotation. Also, the timing when contact 65b changes from off to on corresponds to the timing when the second fin 15c is rotated to a rotation angle of 270° during reverse rotation.

[0071] The calculation unit 54 calculates the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46 when the first fin 15a rotates from a rotation angle of 0° to a rotation angle of 270° during forward rotation (when it rotates by a predetermined amount). The calculated number of pulses is stored in the storage unit 52. The calculation unit 54 also calculates the number of pulses required for 1° of rotation during forward rotation.

[0072] Furthermore, the calculation unit 54 calculates the second actual pulse count, which is the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46 when the second fin 15c rotates from a rotation angle of 0° to a rotation angle of 270° during reverse rotation (when it rotates by a predetermined amount). The calculated second actual pulse count is stored in the storage unit 52. The calculation unit 54 also calculates the number of pulses required for 1° of rotation during reverse rotation.

[0073] The correction unit 55 corrects the first control information based on the first actual pulse count and corrects the second control information based on the second actual pulse count.

[0074] The control unit 51 controls the stepping motor 46 to rotate in the forward direction based on the corrected first control information. The control unit 51 also controls the stepping motor 46 to rotate in the reverse direction based on the corrected second control information.

[0075] Next, an example of the initialization operation of the control device in one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device in one embodiment of the present invention. This flow starts when the air conditioning system is activated.

[0076] First, in step S100, correction for forward rotation is initiated. As a result, the control device 50 receives on / off information for each contact 65a and 65b from the detection unit 60.

[0077] Next, in step S110, the control unit 51 records the timing when the contact 65a changed from ON to OFF in the storage unit 52. The calculation unit 54 also starts calculating the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46.

[0078] Next, in step S120, the control unit 51 stores the timing at which contact 65a changed from off to on in the storage unit 52. The calculation unit 54 also finishes calculating the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46.

[0079] Next, in step S130, the control unit 51 stores the first actual pulse count, which is the calculation result of the calculation unit 54, in the storage unit 52.

[0080] Next, in step S140, the calculation unit 54 calculates the number of pulses required for a 1° rotation during forward rotation based on the first actual pulse count.

[0081] Next, in step S150, the correction for reverse rotation is initiated.

[0082] Next, in step S160, the control unit 51 records the timing when the contact 65b changed from on to off in the storage unit 52. The calculation unit 54 also starts calculating the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46.

[0083] Next, in step S170, the control unit 51 stores the timing at which the contact 65b changed from off to on in the storage unit 52. The calculation unit 54 also finishes calculating the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46.

[0084] Next, in step S180, the control unit 51 stores the second actual pulse count, which is the calculation result of the calculation unit 54, in the storage unit 52.

[0085] Next, in step S190, the calculation unit 54 calculates the number of pulses required for a 1° rotation during reverse rotation based on the second actual pulse count. After that, the initialization operation is completed.

[0086] The control device 50 in the above embodiment includes a control unit 51 that controls the stepping motor 46 to rotate in the forward direction based on first control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the first fin 15a and the number of pulses, and controls the stepping motor 46 to rotate in the reverse direction based on second control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the second fin 15c and the number of pulses; an acquisition unit 53 that acquires a first actual pulse count, which is the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46 when the first fin 15a is rotated by a predetermined amount, and a second actual pulse count, which is the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46 when the second fin 15c is rotated by a predetermined amount; and a correction unit 55 that corrects the first control information based on the first actual pulse count and corrects the second control information based on the second actual pulse count.

[0087] With the above configuration, the first control information during forward rotation is corrected based on the first actual pulse count, and the second control information during reverse rotation is corrected based on the second pulse. This makes it possible to correct the control information of the stepping motor 46 according to the rotation direction of the stepping motor 46.

[0088] Furthermore, the wind direction adjustment device in the above embodiment is a wind direction adjustment device capable of adjusting the wind direction of the air passage 12 to a desired direction by rotating at least one of the first fins 15a, 15b and the second fins 15c, 15d, and comprises a stepping motor 46 capable of rotating the first fin 15a by rotating forward based on first control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the first fin 15a and the number of pulses, and rotating the second fin 15c by rotating backward based on second control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the second fin 15c and the number of pulses; a calculation unit 54 that calculates a first actual pulse count, which is the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46 when the first fin 15a is rotated by a predetermined amount, and a second actual pulse count, which is the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46 when the second fin 15c is rotated by a predetermined amount; and a correction unit 55 that corrects the first control information based on the calculated first actual pulse count and corrects the second control information based on the calculated second actual pulse count.

[0089] With the above configuration, a first pulse is calculated during forward rotation, and the first control information is corrected based on the first pulse. During reverse rotation, a second pulse is calculated, and the second control information is corrected based on the second pulse. This makes it possible to correct the control information of the stepping motor 46 according to the rotation direction of the stepping motor 46. As a result, it is possible to maintain an optimal wind direction.

[0090] Furthermore, the wind direction adjustment device in the above embodiment further includes a contact 65a (first detection unit) for detecting the first fin 15a rotated by a predetermined amount, and a contact 65b (second detection unit) for detecting the second fin 15c rotated by a predetermined amount. This makes it possible to detect when each of the first fin 15a and the second fin 15c has rotated to a reference angle, and also to detect when they have rotated to their maximum opening.

[0091] Furthermore, the wind direction adjustment device in the above embodiment includes a transmission mechanism comprising a first one-way clutch 49a connected to a stepping motor 46 that rotates in the forward direction so that the first fins 15a and 15b can rotate, and a second one-way clutch 49b connected to a stepping motor 46 that rotates in the reverse direction so that the second fins 15c and 15d can rotate. This makes it possible to transmit the forward rotational driving force of the stepping motor 46 to the first fins 15a and 15b. It also makes it possible to transmit the reverse rotational driving force of the stepping motor 46 to the second fins 15c and 15d.

[0092] Furthermore, in the wind direction adjustment device of the above embodiment, the transmission mechanism further includes a first cam 32a that is linked to the stepping motor 46 via a first one-way clutch 49a so that the first fins 15a and 15b can be rotated, and a second cam 32b that is linked to the stepping motor 46 via a second one-way clutch 49b so that the second fins 15c and 15d can be rotated. This makes it possible to change the direction of the forward rotation driving force of the stepping motor 46 to the direction of the force that opens and closes the first fins 15a and 15b. Also, it makes it possible to change the direction of the reverse rotation driving force of the stepping motor 46 to the direction of the force that opens and closes the second fins 15c and 15d.

[0093] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46 when the fin 15 is rotated by a predetermined amount is calculated as the first actual pulse count and the second actual pulse count, and the first control information and the second control information are corrected based on the first actual pulse count and the second actual pulse count. However, the number of steps of the stepping motor 46 when the fin 15 is rotated by a predetermined amount may also be calculated. In this case, the number of steps required for 1° of rotation of the fin 15 is calculated from the calculated number of steps, and the first control information and the second control information are corrected based on the calculated number of steps.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the operation of the first fins 15a, 15b and the second fins 15c, 15d is shown as being transmitted to the first fins 15a, 15b and the second fins 15c, 15d respectively via the forward / reverse rotation driving force of the stepping motor 46, and the transmission paths such as one-way clutches 49a, 49b. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may also be applied to an apparatus in which the operation of a single fin is transmitted to a single fin via the forward / reverse rotation driving force of the stepping motor 46, and the transmission paths such as one-way clutches 49a, 49b.

[0095] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a stepping motor 46 is used as the motor, and the number of pulse signals is the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor 46, and a control device 50 is shown that controls the stepping motor 46 to be rotatable based on control information that shows the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fin 15 and the number of pulse signals. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a DC motor may be used as the motor, and the number of pulse signals is the number of pulse signals detected by an encoder according to the amount of rotation of the DC motor, and a control device may be shown that controls the DC motor to be rotatable based on control information that shows the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fin 15 and the number of pulse signals.

[0096] Furthermore, the above embodiments are merely examples of how the present invention may be implemented, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited by them. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various ways without departing from its gist or its main features. [Industrial applicability]

[0097] The present invention can be suitably used, for example, as an airflow direction adjustment device for the air conditioning system of an automobile. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0098] 1 Wind direction adjustment device 4. Outer cylinder 5. Inner cylinder 7,8 Opening 12 Ventilation channels 14 channels 14a, 14b First channel 14c,14d Second flow path 15 fins 15a, 15b First fin 15c, 15d Second fin 32 Cam 46 Stepping motor 49a First one-way clutch 49b Second one-way clutch 50 Control device 60 Detection unit 65 Tactile switches 65a, 65b contacts

Claims

1. A control unit that controls the motor to be rotatable based on control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fins and the number of pulse signals used when rotating the fins, An acquisition unit that acquires the actual number of pulses, which is the number of pulse signals when the fin rotates by a predetermined amount of rotation, A correction unit that corrects the control information based on the actual number of pulses, A control device equipped with the following features.

2. The number of pulse signals is either the number of pulse signals input to the stepping motor, or the number of pulse signals detected according to the rotation amount of the DC motor. The control device according to claim 1.

3. The fins include a first fin and a second fin, and the motor that rotates forward so that the first fin can rotate is connected to a first one-way clutch and controls the motor based on first control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the first fin and the number of pulse signals used when rotating the first fin, and the motor that rotates backward so that the second fin can rotate is connected to a second one-way clutch and controls the motor based on second control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the second fin and the number of pulse signals used when rotating the second fin, An acquisition unit that acquires a first actual pulse count, which is the number of pulse signals used when rotating the first fin by a predetermined amount of rotation, and a second actual pulse count, which is the number of pulse signals used when rotating the second fin by a predetermined amount of rotation, A correction unit that corrects the first control information based on the first actual pulse count and corrects the second control information based on the second actual pulse count, The control device according to claim 1, comprising:

4. Motor and, A control unit that controls the motor to be rotatable based on control information indicating the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fins and the number of pulse signals used when rotating the fins, An acquisition unit that acquires the actual number of pulses, which is the number of pulse signals when the fin rotates by a predetermined amount of rotation, A correction unit that corrects the control information based on the actual number of pulses, A wind direction adjustment device equipped with the following features.

5. The wind direction adjustment device according to claim 4, further comprising a detection unit for detecting that the fin has been rotated by a predetermined amount.

6. The fin includes a first fin and a second fin. When the motor rotates in the forward direction, a first one-way clutch is connected to the motor so that the first fin can rotate, When the motor rotates in reverse, a second one-way clutch is connected to the motor so that the second fin can rotate, The wind direction adjustment device according to claim 4, comprising:

7. A first cam is connected to the motor via the first one-way clutch so that the first fin can be rotated, A second cam is connected to the motor via the second one-way clutch so that the second fin can be rotated, The wind direction adjustment device according to claim 6, further comprising:

8. The motor is controlled to rotate based on control information that shows the correspondence between the amount of rotation of the fin and the number of pulse signals used to rotate the fin. The actual number of pulses is obtained, which is the number of pulse signals when the fin rotates by a predetermined amount of rotation. The control information is corrected based on the actual number of pulses. Control method.

9. On the computer, A process of controlling a motor to be rotatable based on control information that shows the correspondence between the amount of rotation of a fin and the number of pulse signals used when rotating the fin, A step of obtaining the actual number of pulses, which is the number of pulse signals when the fin rotates by a predetermined amount of rotation, A step of correcting the control information based on the actual number of pulses, A program to execute.

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