Control device, refrigeration system for vehicle, and refrigeration vehicle

Abstract

A control device according to the present invention is provided in a refrigeration system for a vehicle having a refrigeration device, and performs supply control of electric power supplied to the refrigeration device from a power source device connected to the refrigeration device. The control device includes a main connection circuit that has a communication connection terminal according to a predetermined communication method, and that transmits and receives control signals related to supply control of electric power via the communication connection terminal when the power source device is connected to the communication connection terminal, a digital output terminal, and a digital input terminal. The control device also includes an ancillary connection circuit that, when the power source device is connected to the digital output terminal and the digital input terminal, outputs a digital signal indicating an operation state of the refrigeration device from the digital output terminal, and takes in a digital signal specifying the operation state of the refrigeration device via the digital input terminal.

Description

Control device, vehicle refrigeration system, and refrigerated vehicle

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-197403, filed on November 21, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] In a vehicle refrigeration system installed in a vehicle to freeze the cargo carried therein, a high-voltage power supply device is attached to the vehicle to supply power to the vehicle refrigeration system so as to ensure stable and sufficient cooling capacity. In recent years, electrification has been progressing in vehicles such as trucks equipped with vehicle refrigeration systems. In the case of electric vehicles, the power supply device for driving the vehicle installed in the electric vehicle is high-voltage, and therefore the power supply device can also be used as a power source for the vehicle refrigeration system.

[0003] While the types of power supply devices that can be used as a power source for a vehicle refrigeration system are becoming more diverse, there are cases where the communication method for the control signals sent and received by the power supply device to control the power supply does not match the communication method supported by the vehicle refrigeration system. As a means for dealing with such cases, for example, a pump device as disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be considered, in which the vehicle refrigeration system is provided with all communication interfaces that are compatible with the communication methods supported by each of the power supply devices that are expected to be connected to it.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-134606

[0005] However, providing multiple communication interfaces in a vehicle refrigeration system as described above increases the size of the communication circuitry in the control device for the vehicle refrigeration system, and also increases the size of the communication software required to generate each control signal and read the data included in the control signal, because the control signals sent and received by each of the multiple communication interfaces have different data formats.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a control device, a vehicle refrigeration system, and a refrigerated vehicle that enable many types of power supply devices to be used as power sources for refrigeration while minimizing increases in the size of the control device's communication circuit and the scale of the communication software.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the control device of the present disclosure is a control device that is provided in a vehicle refrigeration system having a refrigeration device, and that controls the supply of power supplied to the refrigeration device from a power supply device connected to the refrigeration device, and is equipped with a main connection circuit that has a communication connection terminal of a predetermined communication method and, when the power supply device is connected to the communication connection terminal, sends and receives control signals related to the power supply control via the communication connection terminal, and an auxiliary connection circuit that has a digital output terminal and a digital input terminal and, when the power supply device is connected to the digital output terminal and the digital input terminal, outputs a digital signal indicating the operating state of the refrigeration device from the digital output terminal and takes in a digital signal that specifies the operating state of the refrigeration device at the digital input terminal.

[0008] The vehicle refrigeration system according to the present disclosure is a vehicle refrigeration system comprising a refrigeration device and a control device, wherein the control device has a communication connection terminal of a predetermined communication method, and when a power supply device connected to the refrigeration device connects to the communication connection terminal, the control device comprises a main connection circuit that transmits and receives control signals related to supply control of power supplied from the power supply device to the refrigeration device via the communication connection terminal, and an auxiliary connection circuit that has a digital output terminal and a digital input terminal, and when the power supply device connects to the digital output terminal and the digital input terminal, outputs a digital signal indicating the operating state of the refrigeration device from the digital output terminal and takes in a digital signal specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device at the digital input terminal.

[0009] The refrigeration vehicle of the present disclosure is a refrigeration vehicle comprising a vehicle body equipped with a power supply unit and a vehicle refrigeration system, wherein the vehicle refrigeration system comprises a refrigeration unit connected to the power supply unit and a control device, the control device having a communication connection terminal of a predetermined communication method, and when the power supply unit is connected to the communication connection terminal, a main connection circuit which transmits and receives control signals related to supply control of power supplied from the power supply unit to the refrigeration unit via the communication connection terminal, a digital output terminal, and a digital input terminal, and when the power supply unit is connected to the digital output terminal and the digital input terminal, an auxiliary connection circuit which outputs a digital signal indicating the operating state of the refrigeration unit from the digital output terminal and takes in a digital signal specifying the operating state of the refrigeration unit at the digital input terminal.

[0010] The control device, vehicle refrigeration system, and refrigerated vehicle disclosed herein can utilize many types of power supply devices as power sources for refrigeration while minimizing increases in the size of the control device's communication circuit and the scale of the communication software.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a vehicle refrigeration system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration (part 1) between a vehicle refrigeration system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure and a power supply device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration (part 2) between a vehicle refrigeration system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure and a power supply device. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration (part 3) between a vehicle refrigeration system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure and a power supply device. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration between a vehicle refrigeration system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure and a power supply device. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration between a vehicle refrigeration system according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] Hereinafter, a control device, a vehicle refrigeration system, and a refrigerated vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or corresponding components in the drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0013] <First embodiment> (System configuration) Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system 1 according to a first embodiment. The refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system 1 includes a communication network 2, a remote monitoring device 3, and a refrigerated vehicle 4. The communication network 2 is, for example, a communication network operated by a telecommunications carrier, and is a communication network that can be connected by wire or wirelessly. The remote monitoring device 3 is connected to the communication network 2 by wire, for example, and monitors the operating state of a vehicle refrigeration system 20 provided in the refrigerated vehicle 4.

[0014] The refrigerated vehicle 4 includes a vehicle body 10 and a vehicle refrigeration system 20. The vehicle body 10 is, for example, a truck or a trailer, and may be an electric vehicle or an engine-driven vehicle such as a diesel vehicle. The vehicle body 10 includes a cabin 11 for a driver, a container 13 for carrying luggage, a chassis 12 supporting the cabin 11 and the container 13, and a power supply unit 500. If the vehicle body 10 is an electric vehicle, it further includes components that are included in a general electric vehicle, such as a motor for driving the vehicle (not shown). If the vehicle body 10 is an engine-driven vehicle, it further includes components that are included in a general engine-driven vehicle, such as an engine (not shown).

[0015] The power supply device 500 is attached to the chassis 12, for example. The power supply device 500 supplies high-voltage DC power and is capable of being charged by power supplied from a commercial power source. Here, high voltage refers to a voltage of 200 V to 400 V, for example. If the vehicle body 10 is an engine-driven vehicle, the power supply device 500 serves as a power supply that supplies power to the vehicle refrigeration system 20. If the vehicle body 10 is an electric vehicle, the power supply device 500 may be a power supply that mainly supplies power for driving the vehicle, or may be a power supply device that is provided separately from the power supply device that supplies power for driving the vehicle.

[0016] The vehicle refrigeration system 20 includes a control device main body 31, a cabin controller 32, a refrigeration device 40, and a communication device 50. The control device main body 31 is attached to the chassis 12, for example, and connected to a power supply device 500, and controls the supply of power from the power supply device 500 to the refrigeration device 40. The cabin controller 32 is provided in the cabin 11 and connected to the control device main body 31. The cabin controller 32 is operated by the driver and displays the temperature inside the container 13, etc. on a monitor.

[0017] The refrigeration system 40 includes, for example, an external unit 41 mounted on the outside of the container 13 above the cabin 11, and an internal unit 42 mounted on the inside of the container 13. The external unit 41 is connected to a power supply unit 500 and receives power from the power supply unit 500. The external unit 41 and the internal unit 42 are connected by piping through which a refrigerant circulates. The external unit 41 and the internal unit 42 exchange heat between the refrigerant and the air through a refrigeration cycle, cooling the air inside the container 13. This allows the container 13 to function as a freezer.

[0018] The communication device 50 is connected to the cabin controller 32 and wirelessly connected to the communication network 2. The communication device 50 relays control signals for remote monitoring transmitted and received between the control device main body 31 connected to the cabin controller 32 and the remote monitoring device 3.

[0019] (Configuration of Vehicle Refrigeration System) Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration and connection configuration of the vehicle refrigeration system 20. In Fig. 2, a configuration including a control device main body 31 and a cabin controller 32 is shown as a control device 30. In Fig. 2, solid lines indicate wiring through which electrical signals such as control signals and data and low-voltage power flow, dashed arrows indicate wiring through which high-voltage power flows, and dotted arrows indicate pipes through which a refrigerant flows.

[0020] (Configuration of refrigeration device) In the refrigeration device 40, the external unit 41 includes a power conversion unit 81, a compression unit 82, and a condensation unit 83. The internal unit 42 includes an evaporation unit 84. The compression unit 82 and the condensation unit 83, the condensation unit 83 and the evaporation unit 84, and the evaporation unit 84 and the compression unit 82 are connected by piping, and the piping is filled with refrigerant.

[0021] In the external unit 41, the power conversion unit 81 is equipped with an inverter that converts high-voltage DC power supplied from the power supply device 500 into three-phase AC power of a frequency corresponding to the control signal received from the control device main body 31 and supplies the power to the compression unit 82.

[0022] The compression unit 82 includes an accumulator, an electric compressor, and piping connecting the accumulator and the electric compressor. Vapor refrigerant flows into the accumulator via piping connected to the evaporation unit 84. The accumulator separates the vapor refrigerant into gas and liquid, and the separated gas refrigerant flows out to the electric compressor. The electric compressor is driven by three-phase AC power supplied from the power conversion unit 81. The electric compressor draws in the gas refrigerant flowing out of the accumulator, compresses the drawn gas refrigerant, and discharges it into piping connected to the condensation unit 83.

[0023] The condensing unit 83 includes a condenser, a fan, a receiver, piping connecting the condenser and the receiver, and a solenoid-type electronic valve inserted into the piping connecting the condenser and the receiver to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant. The opening of the electronic valve is adjusted in response to a control signal received from the control device main body 31. The condenser is connected via piping to the electric compressor of the compression unit 82. When high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the electric compressor flows into the condenser, the condenser cools the flowing gaseous refrigerant with outside air supplied by the fan and condenses it into liquid refrigerant. The receiver extracts the liquid refrigerant by removing water from the refrigerant condensed by the condenser and separating gas remaining in the flowing refrigerant.

[0024] The evaporation unit 84 includes an evaporator, a fan, an electronic expansion valve, and piping connecting the evaporator and the electronic expansion valve. The electronic expansion valve is connected to a receiver of the condensation unit 83 via piping, and sprays liquid refrigerant extracted by the receiver to reduce pressure and vaporize the refrigerant. The opening of the electronic expansion valve is adjusted in response to a control signal received from the control device main body 31. The evaporator cools the air inside the container 13 by exchanging heat between the refrigerant vaporized by the electronic expansion valve and the air inside the container 13 supplied by the fan. The refrigerant vaporized by heat exchange in the evaporator flows out to the accumulator of the compression unit 82 via piping.

[0025] That is, as shown by the dotted arrows in Figure 2, the compression section 82, the condensation section 83, and the evaporation section 84 form a refrigeration cycle in which the refrigerant circulates from the compression section 82 to the condensation section 83, from the condensation section 83 to the evaporation section 84, and from the evaporation section 84 to the compression section 82 in that order.

[0026] The compression section 82, the condensation section 83, and the evaporation section 84 are equipped with various sensors such as temperature sensors and pressure sensors, and these sensors output measurement data obtained by measurements to the control device main body 31.

[0027] The following electric power is applied as low-voltage DC power required for electrical equipment such as the control device 30 of the vehicle refrigeration system 20, the communication device 50, the motors that drive the fans of the condenser section 83 and the evaporator section 84, the electronic valve of the condenser section 83, the electronic expansion valve of the evaporator section 84, and the sensors attached to the compressor section 82, the condenser section 83, and the evaporator section 84. Here, the low voltage is, for example, 12 V or 24 V.

[0028] For example, the low-voltage DC power may be power supplied from a lead-acid battery provided in the vehicle body 10 and supplying power to lamps and the like of the vehicle body 10. Alternatively, the power conversion unit 81 may include a step-down converter, and the step-down converter may step down the high-voltage DC power supplied from the power supply device 500 to obtain low-voltage DC power. While the control device 30 and the communication device 50 are supplied with power directly from the lead-acid battery or the step-down converter, the electrical devices provided in the refrigeration device 40 are supplied with power from the lead-acid battery or the step-down converter via the control device body 31.

[0029] (Configuration of the Control Device) In the control device 30, the control device main body 31 includes a control circuit 71 and a communication circuit 72. The control circuit 71 and the communication circuit 72 may be constructed on the same printed circuit board, or may be constructed on different printed circuit boards.

[0030] For example, when the control circuit 71 receives a set temperature set by the driver operating the cabin controller 32 from the cabin controller 32 via the communication circuit 72, the control circuit 71 controls the operation of the refrigeration device 40 so that the temperature inside the container 13 approaches the set temperature. Specifically, the control circuit 71 generates a control signal for causing the temperature inside the container 13 to approach the set temperature based on measurement data acquired from the refrigeration device 40, and outputs the generated control signal to the inverter of the power conversion unit 81, the electronic valve of the condenser unit 83, the electronic expansion valve of the evaporator unit 84, etc. Based on the measurement data acquired from the refrigeration device 40, the control circuit 71 determines the rotation speeds of the fan motors of the condenser unit 83 and the evaporator unit 84 so that the temperature inside the container 13 approaches the set temperature, and supplies low-voltage power corresponding to the determined rotation speeds to the fan motors of the condenser unit 83 and the evaporator unit 84.

[0031] When the control circuit 71 receives a signal from the power supply device 500 via the communication circuit 72, it controls the supply of power from the power supply device 500 to the refrigeration device 40 in accordance with the information indicated by the received signal, for example, controls starting or stopping the operation of the refrigeration device 40, or controls reducing the power consumption of the refrigeration device 40. Based on measurement data acquired from the refrigeration device 40, the control circuit 71 determines whether the refrigeration device 40 is operating or stopped, as the operating state of the refrigeration device 40.

[0032] The communication circuit 72 includes a board connector 73 and a board connector 74. The board connector 73 is provided with, for example, two communication connection terminals 101A and 101B, two digital output terminals 111 and 112, and three digital input terminals 121, 122, and 123. The board connector 74 is provided with a connection terminal 130 used for connection with the cabin controller 32, and a connection wire connecting to the cabin controller 32 is connected to the connection terminal 130.

[0033] The communication connection terminal 101A is a communication interface for a Controller Area Network (CAN) communication system, which is widely used as a communication system for transmitting and receiving control signals between devices within a vehicle. A circuit that processes control signals of the CAN communication system and includes the communication connection terminal 101A is hereinafter referred to as a main connection circuit 100A.

[0034] The communication connection terminal 101B is a communication interface for the RS232C (Recommended Standard 232 version C) communication method, which is widely used as a communication method for transmitting and receiving control signals between a personal computer and peripheral devices. A circuit that processes control signals for the RS232C communication method and includes the communication connection terminal 101B will be referred to as the main connection circuit 100B hereinafter.

[0035] The two digital output terminals 111 and 112 output digital signals that indicate the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 using binary digital values, for example, High and Low. When the control circuit 71 determines that the refrigeration device 40 is operating, the digital output terminal 111 outputs a High digital signal, and the digital output terminal 112 outputs a Low digital signal. When the control circuit 71 determines that the refrigeration device 40 is stopped, the digital output terminal 111 outputs a Low digital signal, and the digital output terminal 112 outputs a High digital signal. When the control circuit 71 determines that the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 is neither operating nor stopped, the digital output terminals 111 and 112 output a Low digital signal.

[0036] The three digital input terminals 121, 122, and 123 receive digital signals that specify the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 using binary digital values, for example, High and Low. The digital input terminal 121 receives a digital signal that goes High when specifying permission to operate the refrigeration device 40 and goes Low when not specifying permission to operate the refrigeration device 40. The digital input terminal 122 receives a digital signal that goes High when specifying permission to stop operation of the refrigeration device 40 and goes Low when not specifying permission to stop operation of the refrigeration device 40. The digital input terminal 123 receives a digital signal that goes High when specifying a reduction in power consumption of the refrigeration device 40 and goes Low when not specifying permission to reduce power consumption of the refrigeration device 40.

[0037] A circuit including the digital output terminals 111 and 112 and the digital input terminals 121, 122, and 123 and performing processing related to digital signals input and output by the digital output terminals 111 and 112 and the digital input terminals 121, 122, and 123 will be referred to as an auxiliary connection circuit 110 hereinafter.

[0038] Incidentally, communication software corresponding to each signal is required to perform processing corresponding to the control signals transmitted and received in the CAN communication system by the main connection circuit 100A, the control signals transmitted and received in the main connection circuit 100B by the RS232C communication system, and the digital signals input and output by the auxiliary connection circuit 110. Here, processing corresponding to each signal is, for example, processing to generate a signal to be transmitted or to identify information indicated by a received signal.

[0039] These communication software programs are created in advance and written, for example, to a ROM (Read Only Memory) of a microcontroller (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) (not shown) provided in the control circuit 71. When the control device main body 31 starts up, the communication software programs stored in the ROM of the microcomputer are loaded into the RAM (Random Access Memory) of the microcomputer, and the CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the microcomputer performs processing corresponding to each of the control signals and digital signals in accordance with the programs loaded into the RAM.

[0040] The cabin controller 32 includes a connection line connected to the connection terminal 130 and an RS232C communication connection terminal 140. The communication device 50 includes an RS232C communication connection terminal 51. The communication connection terminal 140 and the communication connection terminal 51 are connected by an RS232C communication line.

[0041] 3 is a block diagram showing the connection configuration between the vehicle refrigeration system 20 and the power supply device 500 when the power supply device 500 has a communication connection terminal 201 that uses the CAN communication method. The power supply device 500 includes a battery management unit 501 and a battery 502. The battery 502 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery, and is connected to the power conversion unit 81 of the refrigeration device 40 to supply high-voltage DC power to the power conversion unit 81.

[0042] The battery management unit 501 is a so-called battery management system that manages the charging and discharging of the battery 502. The communication connection terminal 201 of the battery management unit 501 is connected to the communication connection terminal 101A of the main connection circuit 100A of the control device main body 31 by a communication connection line based on the CAN communication method. This enables transmission and reception of control signals based on the CAN communication method regarding power supply control via the main connection circuit 100A between the control circuit 71 and the battery management unit 501. This control signal based on the CAN communication method includes at least data indicating the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 and data specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device 40.

[0043] (Example of Power Supply Control by Control Device) For example, when the control circuit 71 determines that the refrigeration device 40 is operating based on measurement data acquired from the refrigeration device 40, the control circuit 71 generates a control signal including data indicating that the refrigeration device 40 is operating. The control circuit 71 transmits the generated control signal to the power supply device 500 via the main connection circuit 100A.

[0044] When the battery management unit 501 receives a control signal including data indicating that the refrigeration device 40 is operating via the communication connection terminal 201, it detects the state of the battery 502. When the battery management unit 501 detects that the amount of electric power stored in the battery 502 is sufficient and that there is no abnormality in the battery 502, it generates a control signal including data specifying permission to operate the refrigeration device 40. The battery management unit 501 transmits the generated control signal to the control device main body 31 via the communication connection terminal 201. When the control circuit 71 receives a control signal including data specifying permission to operate the refrigeration device 40 via the main connection circuit 100A, it continues control to bring the temperature inside the container 13 closer to a set temperature, for example, based on the measurement data acquired from the refrigeration device 40 described above.

[0045] In detecting the state of the battery 502, it is assumed that the battery management unit 501 detects an abnormality in the battery 502. In this case, the battery management unit 501 generates a control signal including data specifying the stopping of operation of the refrigeration device 40, for example. The battery management unit 501 transmits the generated control signal to the control device main body 31 via the communication connection terminal 201. When the control circuit 71 receives the control signal including data specifying the stopping of operation of the refrigeration device 40 via the main connection circuit 100A, it performs control to stop the refrigeration device 40.

[0046] Assume that, in detecting the state of the battery 502, the battery management unit 501 detects that the amount of power stored in the battery 502 is insufficient. In this case, the battery management unit 501 generates, for example, a control signal including data specifying a reduction in the power consumption of the refrigeration device 40. The battery management unit 501 transmits the generated control signal to the control device main body 31 via the communication connection terminal 201. When the control circuit 71 receives the control signal including data specifying a reduction in the power consumption of the refrigeration device 40 via the main connection circuit 100A, the control circuit 71 controls, for example, the inverter of the power conversion unit 81 to generate three-phase AC power with a reduced frequency. This reduces the rotation speed of the electric compressor of the compression unit 82, thereby reducing the power consumed by the refrigeration device 40.

[0047] For example, suppose that an abnormality occurs in refrigeration device 40, and control circuit 71 determines that refrigeration device 40 is in a stopped state based on measurement data acquired from refrigeration device 40. In this case, control circuit 71 generates a control signal including data indicating that refrigeration device 40 is stopped. Control circuit 71 transmits the generated control signal to power supply device 500 via main connection circuit 100A. When battery management unit 501 receives the control signal including data indicating that refrigeration device 40 is stopped via communication connection terminal 201, it controls battery 502 to stop supplying power to power conversion unit 81, for example.

[0048] The above processing is an example of processing by the control device 30 to control the supply of power from the power supply device 500 to the refrigeration device 40, and the control device main body 31 and the power supply device 500 may perform processing to control the power supply that is different from the processing described above.

[0049] (When the power supply device is equipped with a communication connection terminal for RS232C communication) It is assumed that the vehicle body 10 is equipped with a power supply device 500a having a communication connection terminal 202 for RS232C communication shown in Fig. 4 instead of the power supply device 500. Hereinafter, the vehicle body equipped with the power supply device 500a instead of the power supply device 500 will be referred to as the vehicle body 10a, the refrigerated vehicle equipped with the vehicle body 10a instead of the vehicle body 10 will be referred to as the refrigerated vehicle 4a, and the refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system equipped with the refrigerated vehicle 4a instead of the refrigerated vehicle 4 will be referred to as the refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system 1a.

[0050] The power supply device 500a includes a battery management unit 501a and a battery 502. The battery 502 is connected to the power conversion unit 81 of the refrigeration device 40, similarly to the power supply device 500.

[0051] The battery management unit 501a has a configuration in which, in the configuration of the battery management unit 501, the communication connection terminal 201 using the CAN communication method is replaced with a communication connection terminal 202 using the RS232C communication method. The communication connection terminal 202 of the battery management unit 501a is connected to the communication connection terminal 101B of the main connection circuit 100B of the control device main body 31 by a communication connection line using the RS232C communication method. This enables transmission and reception of control signals using the RS232C communication method related to power supply control via the main connection circuit 100B between the control circuit 71 and the battery management unit 501. This control signal using the RS232C communication method includes at least data indicating the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 and data specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device 40. Therefore, in the case of the power supply unit 500a, it is possible to perform control similar to the example of power supply control by the control unit 30 described above, in which the power supply unit 500 is supplied to the refrigeration unit 40, between the control unit main body 31 and the power supply unit 500a.

[0052] (When the power supply device has a digital input terminal and a digital output terminal) It is assumed that the vehicle body 10 is provided with a power supply device 500b having digital input terminals 211, 212 and digital output terminals 221, 222, 223 shown in Fig. 5 instead of the power supply device 500. Hereinafter, the vehicle body provided with the power supply device 500b instead of the power supply device 500 will be referred to as the vehicle body 10b, the refrigerated vehicle provided with the vehicle body 10b instead of the vehicle body 10 will be referred to as the refrigerated vehicle 4b, and the refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system provided with the refrigerated vehicle 4b instead of the refrigerated vehicle 4 will be referred to as the refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system 1b.

[0053] The power supply device 500a includes a battery management unit 501a and a battery 502. The battery 502 is connected to the power conversion unit 81 of the refrigeration device 40, similarly to the power supply device 500.

[0054] The battery management unit 501a has a configuration in which, instead of the communication connection terminal 201 for the CAN communication method in the configuration of the battery management unit 501, digital input terminals 211 and 212 and digital output terminals 221, 222, and 223 are provided. Between the auxiliary connection circuit 110 and the battery management unit 501b, the digital output terminal 111 and the digital input terminal 211, the digital output terminal 112 and the digital input terminal 212, the digital input terminal 121 and the digital output terminal 221, the digital input terminal 122 and the digital output terminal 222, and the digital input terminal 123 and the digital output terminal 223 are connected by, for example, connection lines for digital signals.

[0055] The battery management unit 501b receives a digital signal that indicates the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 using two digital values, High and Low, via two digital input terminals 211 and 212. The battery management unit 501b receives a digital signal that the control circuit 71 outputs from the digital output terminal 111 via the digital input terminal 211, and if the received digital signal is High, determines that the refrigeration device 40 is operating. The battery management unit 501b receives a digital signal that the control circuit 71 outputs from the digital output terminal 112 via the digital input terminal 212, and if the received digital signal is High, determines that the refrigeration device 40 is stopped.

[0056] The battery management unit 501b outputs digital signals specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 using binary digital values, High and Low, via three digital output terminals 221, 222, and 223. When specifying permission to operate the refrigeration device 40, the battery management unit 501b outputs a High digital signal from the digital output terminal 221 and a Low digital signal from the digital output terminals 222 and 223. When specifying stop of operation of the refrigeration device 40, the battery management unit 501b outputs a High digital signal from the digital output terminal 222 and a Low digital signal from the digital output terminals 221 and 223. When specifying reduction of power consumption of the refrigeration device 40, the battery management unit 501b outputs a High digital signal from the digital output terminal 223 and a Low digital signal from the digital output terminals 221 and 222. When the battery management unit 501b does not issue any of the instructions to permit operation, stop operation, or reduce power consumption, the battery management unit 501b outputs a Low digital signal from the digital output terminals 221, 222, and 223.

[0057] The power supply units 500, 500a and 500b differ in that the signals transmitted and received between the control device main body 31 are control signals or binary digital signals. However, the power supply units 500, 500a and 500b have in common the fact that the control device main body 31 outputs data indicating the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 to the power supply unit 500b, and the power supply unit 500b outputs data specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 to the control device main body 31. Therefore, in the case of the power supply unit 500b, it is possible to perform control between the control device main body 31 and the power supply unit 500b similar to the example of the control of power supply from the power supply unit 500 to the refrigeration device 40 by the control device 30 described above.

[0058] (Actions and effects of the first embodiment) The control device main body 31 provided in the control device 30 of the first embodiment includes, in the communication circuit 72, a main connection circuit 100A having a communication connection terminal 101A for the CAN communication method, a main connection circuit 100B having a communication connection terminal 101B for the RS232C communication method, and an auxiliary connection circuit 110 having digital output terminals 111, 112 and digital input terminals 121, 122, 123.

[0059] The CAN communication method and the RS232C communication method are generally widely used communication methods, and there are many power supply devices like the power supply devices 500 and 500a. Here, when the CAN communication method and the RS232C communication method are referred to as predetermined communication methods, for battery management units 501 and 501a having communication connection terminals 201 and 202 for the predetermined communication method, such as the power supply devices 500 and 500a, the control device main body 31 can be connected via main connection circuits 100A and 100B to send and receive control signals. The scale of the communication software corresponding to these control signals is a fixed scale determined by the CAN communication method and the RS232C communication method.

[0060] In contrast to this, there are also known power supply units such as power supply unit 500b that do not have communication connection terminals 201, 202 for a predetermined communication method, but that can handle general-purpose digital signals such as digital signals that indicate the operating state of a device connected to battery 502 and digital signals that specify the operating state of a device connected to battery 502. In such power supply unit 500b, control device main body 31 can be connected via digital output terminals 111, 112 and digital input terminals 121, 122, 123 of auxiliary connection circuit 110 to input and output digital signals.

[0061] Since the information that can be transmitted by digital signals depends on the number of terminals, many terminals are required to transmit a large amount of information, such as control signals for a predetermined communication method. However, by limiting the number of terminals to a number that can transmit the minimum amount of information necessary to control the device connected to battery 502, it is possible to prevent an increase in the size of communication circuit 72 and an increase in the scale of communication software that performs processing corresponding to each digital signal input / output to auxiliary connection circuit 110.

[0062] In the control device 30 of the first embodiment, information indicating the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 and information specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 are selected as the minimum necessary information, and the number of digital signal terminals required to transmit this information is limited to 5. Therefore, by using the control device 30 of the first embodiment, it is possible to use many types of power supply devices 500, 500a, 500b as power sources for refrigeration while suppressing increases in the size of the communication circuit 72 and the scale of the communication software.

[0063] Furthermore, the vehicle refrigeration system 20 has an improved selectivity for the power supply devices 500, 500a, 500b that can be connected, so it can be attached to a variety of vehicle bodies 10, regardless of whether they are engine-driven or electrically driven. In the vehicle refrigeration system 20, the improved selectivity for the power supply devices 500-500b that can be connected also facilitates the supply of power to the refrigeration device 40. Therefore, by using the vehicle refrigeration system 20, the environmental performance of the refrigerated vehicle 4 can be improved.

[0064] The control device 30 of the first embodiment includes a main connection circuit 100A and a main connection circuit 100B as main connection circuits corresponding to the predetermined communication method. However, the RS232C communication method may be excluded from the predetermined communication method, and the control device 30 may not include the main connection circuit 100B. In this way, the power supply device 500a cannot be connected, but the size of the communication circuit 72 and the scale of the communication software can be further reduced.

[0065] Conversely, the CAN communication method may be excluded from the predetermined communication methods, and the control device 30 may not include the main connection circuit 100A. In this case, the same effect as when the main connection circuit 100B is not included can be obtained, and the communication method between the communication connection terminal 101B of the control device main body 31 and the communication connection terminal 140 of the cabin controller 32 can be unified to the same communication method, the RS232C communication method. In other words, the communication method used when the control device main body 31 of the control device 30 transmits and receives control signals to the power supply device 500a can be unified with the communication method used when the cabin controller 32, which serves as an auxiliary control unit in the control device 30, connects to the communication device 50, thereby facilitating communication settings on the control device 30 side.

[0066] The control device main body 31 of the first embodiment is provided with three digital input terminals 121, 122, and 123, but if the digital signal that specifies a reduction in the power consumption of the refrigeration device 40, which is received at the digital input terminal 123, is not essential for controlling the refrigeration device 40, then the digital input terminal 123 may not be provided. This makes it possible to further reduce the size of the communication circuit 72 and the scale of the communication software.

[0067] Although the predetermined communication method may be either or both of the CAN communication method and the RS232C communication method in the above description, any number of any communication methods may be used as the predetermined communication method so that a greater variety of power supply devices can be used, as long as the size of the communication circuit 72 and the scale of the communication software remain within the allowable range. In this case, a main connection circuit such as main connection circuits 100A and 100B is constructed in the communication circuit 72 for each communication method included in the predetermined communication method.

[0068] Furthermore, as long as the size of the communication circuit 72 and the scale of the communication software remain within the allowable range, the number of digital output terminals 111 and 112 or the number of digital input terminals 121, 122, and 123 may be increased. This allows more information to be transmitted between the control circuit 71 and the battery management unit 501b.

[0069] Second Embodiment A vehicle refrigeration system 20a of a second embodiment has the same configuration as the vehicle refrigeration system 20 of the first embodiment, and further includes a conversion device 90 shown in Fig. 6. In the second embodiment, a vehicle body 10 includes a power supply device 500c shown in Fig. 6 instead of the power supply device 500. Hereinafter, a vehicle body including the power supply device 500c instead of the power supply device 500 will be referred to as a vehicle body 10c, a refrigerated vehicle including the vehicle body 10c instead of the vehicle body 10 and the vehicle refrigeration system 20a instead of the vehicle refrigeration system 20 will be referred to as a refrigerated vehicle 4c, and a refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system including the refrigerated vehicle 4c instead of the refrigerated vehicle 4 will be referred to as a refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system 1c.

[0070] The power supply device 500c includes a battery management unit 501c and a battery 502. The battery 502 is connected to the power conversion unit 81 of the refrigeration device 40, similarly to the power supply device 500.

[0071] The battery management unit 501c has a configuration in which a communication connection terminal 230 is provided instead of the communication connection terminal 201 of the CAN communication method in the configuration of the battery management unit 501. The communication method of the communication connection terminal 230 of the battery management unit 501c is a communication method different from the above-mentioned predetermined communication method. Here, as an example, the communication method of the communication connection terminal 230 is assumed to be the LIN (Local Interconnect Network) communication method.

[0072] In this case, the communication circuit 72 of the control device main body 31 does not have a communication connection terminal compatible with the LIN communication method, and therefore the battery management unit 501c and the control device main body 31 cannot be directly connected.

[0073] Therefore, in the second embodiment, the battery management unit 501c and the control device main body 31 are connected via a conversion device 90 including a communication connection terminal 91 for the LIN communication system, digital input terminals 211 and 212, and digital output terminals 221, 222, and 223. The communication connection terminal 91 for the LIN communication system of the conversion device 90 and the communication connection terminal 230 are connected by a communication connection line for the LIN communication system. The digital input terminals 211 and 212 and digital output terminals 221, 222, and 223 of the conversion device 90 are connected to the digital output terminals 111 and 112 and digital input terminals 121, 122, and 123 of the auxiliary connection circuit 110 of the communication circuit 72 so as to have the same connection configuration as the connection configuration between the battery management unit 501b and the auxiliary connection circuit 110 shown in FIG. 5.

[0074] When the digital signal received via digital input terminal 211 indicates High, conversion device 90 generates a control signal using the LIN communication method that includes data indicating that refrigeration device 40 is operating. When the digital signal received via digital input terminal 212 indicates High, conversion device 90 generates a control signal using the LIN communication method that includes data indicating that refrigeration device 40 is stopped. Conversion device 90 transmits the generated control signal to battery management unit 501c via communication connection terminal 91 for LIN communication.

[0075] When the conversion device 90 receives, via the communication connection terminal 91, a control signal of the LIN communication system output by the battery management unit 501c from the communication connection terminal 230, the conversion device 90 performs the following processing according to the data included in the received control signal. If the data included in the control signal indicates a command to permit operation of the refrigeration device 40, the conversion device 90 outputs a high digital signal from the digital output terminal 221 and a low digital signal from the digital output terminals 222 and 223. If the data included in the control signal indicates a command to stop operation of the refrigeration device 40, the conversion device 90 outputs a high digital signal from the digital output terminal 222 and a low digital signal from the digital output terminals 221 and 223. If the data included in the control signal indicates a command to reduce the power consumption of the refrigeration device 40, the conversion device 90 outputs a high digital signal from the digital output terminal 223 and a low digital signal from the digital output terminals 221 and 222.

[0076] If the data contained in the control signal does not indicate any of the following: permission to operate the refrigeration device 40, stopping the operation of the refrigeration device 40, or reducing the power consumption of the refrigeration device 40, the conversion device 90 outputs a low digital signal from the digital output terminals 221, 222, and 223.

[0077] Although the conversion device 90 cannot relay all of the information transmitted and received by the control circuit 71 and the battery management units 501 and 501a shown in Figures 3 and 4 via control signals, it can relay information input and output by digital signals between the battery management unit 501b shown in Figure 5 and the control circuit 71. Therefore, in the case of the power supply device 500c, it is possible to perform control between the control device main body 31 and the power supply device 500c similar to the example of power supply control by the control device 30 described in the first embodiment, where power is supplied from the power supply device 500 to the refrigeration device 40.

[0078] <Third embodiment> As shown in Fig. 7, the configuration of a vehicle refrigeration system 20b of the third embodiment is a configuration in which the communication device 50 in the configuration of the vehicle refrigeration system 20 of the first embodiment is replaced with a communication device 50a. In the third embodiment, the vehicle body 10 is equipped with a power supply device 500d shown in Fig. 7 instead of the power supply device 500. Hereinafter, a vehicle body equipped with the power supply device 500d instead of the power supply device 500 will be referred to as vehicle body 10d, a refrigerated vehicle equipped with the vehicle body 10d instead of the vehicle body 10 and the vehicle refrigeration system 20b instead of the vehicle refrigeration system 20 will be referred to as refrigerated vehicle 4d, and a refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system equipped with the refrigerated vehicle 4d instead of the refrigerated vehicle 4 will be referred to as refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system 1d.

[0079] The communication device 50a includes, in addition to the communication connection terminal 51, a communication connection terminal 52 for a specific communication method used for connection with the battery management unit 501d.

[0080] The power supply device 500d includes a battery management unit 501d and a battery 502. The battery 502 is connected to the power conversion unit 81 of the refrigeration device 40, similarly to the power supply device 500.

[0081] The battery management unit 501d has a configuration in which, in the configuration of the battery management unit 501, the communication connection terminal 201 of the CAN communication method is replaced with a communication connection terminal 240 of the same communication method as the communication connection terminal 52 of the communication device 50a. The communication connection terminal 240 and the communication connection terminal 52 are connected by a communication connection line of the communication method common to the communication connection terminal 240 and the communication connection terminal 52.

[0082] (When Transfer is Performed Within the Communication Device) In communication device 50a, for example, when a control signal having predetermined specific identification information attached thereto is received at communication connection terminals 51 and 52, the control signal is set to be transferred as follows: That is, when a control signal having specific identification information attached thereto is received at communication connection terminal 51, the received control signal is transmitted from communication connection terminal 52. When a control signal having specific identification information attached thereto is received at communication connection terminal 52, the transfer setting in communication device 50a is set to transmit the received control signal from communication connection terminal 51.

[0083] In this case, when the control circuit 71 generates a control signal to be transmitted to the battery management unit 501d, it assigns specific identification information to the generated control signal and outputs it to the cabin controller 32 via the communication circuit 72. When the cabin controller 32 receives the control signal with the specific identification information assigned to it, it transmits the acquired control signal to the communication device 50a. When the communication device 50a receives the control signal with the specific identification information assigned to it transmitted by the cabin controller 32 at the communication connection terminal 51, it transmits the received control signal from the communication connection terminal 52. The battery management unit 501d receives the control signal transmitted by the communication device 50a at the communication connection terminal 240. This allows the battery management unit 501d to acquire the control signal from the control circuit 71.

[0084] When the battery management unit 501d transmits a control signal to the control circuit 71, the control signal is transmitted via a path opposite to the path used when the control circuit 71 transmits the control signal to the battery management unit 501d.

[0085] (When Transfer Is Performed Via the Remote Monitoring Device) Instead of the communication device 50a relaying the control signal transmitted and received between the control circuit 71 and the battery management unit 501d as described above, the remote monitoring device 3 may relay the control signal. In this case, for example, the control signal is transmitted in the following procedure. The control circuit 71 transmits the control signal to the communication device 50a via the communication circuit 72 and the cabin controller 32. When the communication device 50a receives the control signal via the communication connection terminal 51, it generates transmission data including the received control signal, with identification information of the control device 30 as the source and identification information of the remote monitoring device 3 as the destination.

[0086] The communication device 50a sends the generated transmission data to the communication network 2 to which the remote monitoring device 3 is connected. The communication network 2 transfers the transmission data to the remote monitoring device 3 in accordance with the identification information of the destination of the sent transmission data. The remote monitoring device 3 receives the transmission data via the communication network 2.

[0087] A route table that associates, for example, the identification information of the control device 30 with the identification information of the power supply device 500d that supplies power to the refrigeration device 40 that is the control target of the control device 30 is pre-stored in an internal storage area of ​​the remote monitoring device 3. The remote monitoring device 3 detects the identification information of the power supply device 500d that is associated with the identification information of the control device 30 based on the identification information of the control device 30 that is indicated as the sender in the received transmission data and the route table.

[0088] The remote monitoring device 3 rewrites the sender of the received transmission data to the identification information of the remote monitoring device 3, rewrites the destination to the identification information of the power supply device 500d, and then sends the transmission data to the communication network 2. The communication network 2 transfers the transmission data to the communication device 50a in accordance with the identification information of the destination of the transmitted transmission data. The communication device 50a receives the transmission data via the communication network 2.

[0089] The communication device 50a transmits the control signal included in the received transmission data from the communication connection terminal 52 in accordance with the identification information of the power supply device 500d, which is the destination of the received transmission data. The battery management unit 501d receives the control signal transmitted by the communication device 50a at the communication connection terminal 240. This allows the battery management unit 501d to obtain the control signal from the control circuit 71.

[0090] When the battery management unit 501d transmits a control signal to the control circuit 71, the control signal is transmitted via a path opposite to the path used when the control circuit 71 transmits the control signal to the battery management unit 501d.

[0091] Therefore, control signals related to power supply control can be transmitted and received between the control circuit 71 and the battery management unit 501d via the communication device 50a or the remote monitoring device 3. These control signals include at least data indicating the operating state of the refrigeration device 40 and data specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device 40. Therefore, in the case of the power supply device 500d, it is also possible to perform control between the control device main body 31 and the power supply device 500d similar to the example of power supply control from the power supply device 500 to the refrigeration device 40 by the control device 30 described in the first embodiment.

[0092] In addition, the specific communication method that is the communication method between the communication connection terminal 52 provided in the communication device 50a and the communication connection terminal 240 provided in the battery management unit 501d may be a CAN communication method, an RS232C communication method, or a communication method different from the CAN communication method and the RS232C communication method.

[0093] (Actions and Effects of Second and Third Embodiments) As described above, in the vehicle refrigeration systems 20a, 20b of the second and third embodiments, even if the power supply units 500c, 500d do not have the communication connection terminals 201, 202, the digital input terminals 211, 212, and the digital output terminals 221, 222, 223 for a predetermined communication method, by using the conversion device 90 and the communication device 50a, it is possible to send and receive control signals between the power supply units 500c, 500d and the control unit 30. This makes it possible to connect more types of power supply units 500, 500a, 500b, 500c, 500d to the control unit 30 than in the vehicle refrigeration system 20 of the first embodiment. In other words, in the second and third embodiments as well, it is possible to use more types of power supply units 500, 500a, 500b, 500c, 500d as power sources for refrigeration while suppressing increases in the size of the communication circuit 72 and the scale of the communication software.

[0094] <Fourth embodiment> As shown in Fig. 8, the configuration of a vehicle refrigeration system 20c of the fourth embodiment is a configuration in which the refrigeration device 40 in the configuration of the vehicle refrigeration system 20 of the first embodiment is replaced with a refrigeration device 40a. In the fourth embodiment, the vehicle body 10 is equipped with a power supply device 500e shown in Fig. 8 instead of the power supply device 500. Hereinafter, a vehicle body equipped with the power supply device 500e instead of the power supply device 500 will be referred to as vehicle body 10e, a refrigerated vehicle equipped with the vehicle body 10e instead of the vehicle body 10 and the vehicle refrigeration system 20c instead of the vehicle refrigeration system 20 will be referred to as refrigerated vehicle 4e, and a refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system equipped with the refrigerated vehicle 4e instead of the refrigerated vehicle 4 will be referred to as refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system 1e.

[0095] The power supply device 500e includes a battery management unit 501e and a battery 502. The battery 502 is connected to the power conversion unit 81 of the refrigeration device 40, as in the case of the power supply device 500. The battery management unit 501e manages the charging and discharging of the battery 502, as with the battery management unit 501 of the first embodiment, but does not include the communication connection terminals 201, 202, 230, and 240, the digital input terminals 211 and 212, and the digital output terminals 221, 222, and 223 shown in the first to third embodiments. Therefore, the battery management unit 501e and the control circuit 71 cannot transmit and receive control signals or input and output digital signals, and therefore cannot control the supply of power from the power supply device 500e to the refrigeration device 40.

[0096] In the vehicle refrigeration system 20c, the refrigeration device 40a includes an external unit 41a and an internal unit 42. The configuration of the external unit 41a is the same as the configuration of the external unit 41 of the first embodiment, except that the power conversion unit 81 is replaced with a power conversion unit 81a. The power conversion unit 81a includes an inverter, similar to the power conversion unit 81 of the first embodiment. However, unlike the inverter of the power conversion unit 81, the inverter of the power conversion unit 81a operates as follows: When receiving a control signal from the control device main body 31, the inverter of the power conversion unit 81a, like the inverter of the power conversion unit 81, converts high-voltage DC power supplied from the battery 502 of the power supply device 500e into three-phase AC power having a frequency corresponding to the control signal and supplies the converted power to the compression unit 82.

[0097] The inverter of the power conversion unit 81 of the first embodiment does not convert high-voltage DC power into three-phase AC power even when it is supplied with DC power from the battery 502 of the power supply device 500e unless it receives a control signal from the control device main body 31. In contrast, the inverter of the power conversion unit 81a of the fourth embodiment converts the power into three-phase AC power of a predetermined frequency and supplies it to the compression unit 82 upon detecting that power is being supplied from the battery 502 of the power supply device 500e, even if it does not receive a control signal from the control device main body 31.

[0098] Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, although it is not possible to control the supply of power from the power supply unit 500e to the refrigeration unit 40a, the refrigeration cycle can be operated as long as power is supplied from the battery 502 of the power supply unit 500e.

[0099] (Functions and Effects of Fourth Embodiment) As described above, when the power conversion unit 81a of the external unit 41a of the refrigeration unit 40a included in the vehicle refrigeration system 20c of the fourth embodiment detects that power is being supplied from the battery 502, it converts the power into three-phase AC power of a predetermined frequency and supplies it to the compression unit 82, even if it does not receive a control signal from the control device main body 31. Therefore, even if the power supply unit 40a is a power supply unit that does not have the communication connection terminals 201, 202, 230, 240, the digital input terminals 211, 212, and the digital output terminals 221, 222, 223, like the power supply unit 500e, it can start operating independently. Therefore, even in the fourth embodiment, many types of power supply units 500, 500a, 500b, 500e can be used as power sources for refrigeration while suppressing increases in the size of the communication circuit 72 and the scale of the communication software.

[0100] (Other configuration examples of the embodiments) The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments and also include designs within the scope that do not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0101] (Other Configuration Examples of the Control Device Main Unit) In the vehicle refrigeration systems 20 to 20c of the first to fourth embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the refrigeration device 40, 40a and the control device main unit 31 are provided separately. In this case, for example, by storing the control device main unit 31 in a low-voltage electrical box separate from the refrigeration device 40, 40a, the control device main unit 31 can be installed in any location, including near a high-voltage portion of the vehicle main unit 10 to 10e. This improves connectivity with the power supply devices 500 to 500e and the communication devices 50, 50a. In addition, in the control device main body 31, the control circuit 71 and the communication circuit 72 are stored in a low-voltage electrical box, the communication connection terminal 101A and the communication connection terminal 101B are each made into separate harnesses that connect to the communication circuit 72, and the digital output terminals 111, 112 and the digital input terminals 121, 122, 123 are all made into a single harness that connects to the communication circuit 72, thereby further improving the connectivity with the power supply devices 500 to 500e.

[0102] (Other configuration examples related to control via driver of refrigerated vehicle) In the first to third embodiments, the control circuit 71 directly controls the refrigeration device 40 based on control signals or digital signals received from the battery management units 501 to 501d and internally incorporated processing. However, the control circuit 71 may control the refrigeration device 40 via the driver of the refrigerated vehicle 4 to 4d, rather than directly controlling the refrigeration device 40.

[0103] For example, the control circuit 71 converts information indicated by data included in the control signal received from the battery management units 501 to 501d or information indicated by a digital signal into text data indicating the content of the information, and displays the converted text data on the monitor of the cabin controller 32. The driver refers to the text displayed on the monitor of the cabin controller 32, and in accordance with the referenced text, for example, operates a button or the like provided on the cabin controller 32 to send a control signal indicating the next process to the control circuit 71. This eliminates the need to incorporate into the control circuit 71 the process to be performed when a control signal or digital signal is received, and the process can be determined by the driver.

[0104] (Another Configuration Example for Control of the Remote Monitoring Device Via an Operator) In the first to third embodiments, when the control circuit 71 or the battery management units 501 to 501d receive a control signal or a digital signal, the control circuit 71 or the battery management units 501 to 501d may transmit all of the received control signals or digital signals to the remote monitoring device 3 via the communication devices 50 and 50a. In this case, the remote monitoring device 3 converts, for example, information indicated by the data included in the control signal or the information indicated by the digital signal received from the control circuit 71 or the battery management units 501 to 501d into text data indicating the content of the information and displays the converted text data on its own monitor. The operator refers to the text displayed on the monitor of the remote monitoring device 3 and, in accordance with the referenced text, operates an input device such as a keyboard or mouse provided on the remote monitoring device 3 to send a control signal indicating the next process to the control circuit 71 or the battery management units 501 to 501d. This eliminates the need for the control circuit 71 or the battery management units 501 to 501d to incorporate processing to be performed when a control signal or digital signal is received, and the processing can be determined by the operator of the remote monitoring device 3.

[0105] In the third embodiment, the remote monitoring device 3 is configured to relay the received control signal. Alternatively, the remote monitoring device 3 may not relay the received control signal, but may instead convert the information indicated by the data included in the received control signal into text data indicating the content of the information and display the converted text data on its own monitor. In this case, the operator refers to the text displayed on the monitor of the remote monitoring device 3 and, in accordance with the text, operates an input device provided in the remote monitoring device 3 to send a control signal indicating the next process to be performed to, for example, the control circuit 71 or the battery management units 501 to 501d. This eliminates the need for a routing table in the remote monitoring device 3.

[0106] (Other Configuration Examples) The vehicle refrigeration system 20a of the second embodiment, the vehicle refrigeration system 20b of the third embodiment, and the vehicle refrigeration system 20c of the fourth embodiment may be combined in any manner.

[0107] In the first, second, and fourth embodiments, the control device 30 includes the cabin controller 32 , but the control device 30 does not necessarily have to include the cabin controller 32 .

[0108] In the first, second, and fourth embodiments, the configuration may not include remote monitoring, in which case the vehicle refrigeration systems 20, 20a, and 20c may not be equipped with a communication device 50, and the refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring systems 1 to 1e may not be equipped with a communication network 2 and a remote monitoring device 3.

[0109] <Additional Notes> The control device 30 and the vehicle refrigeration systems 20 to 20c described in the embodiment of the present disclosure can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0110] (1) The control device 30 according to the first aspect is provided in a vehicle refrigeration system 20a to 20c having a refrigeration device 40, 40a, and is a control device that controls the supply of power supplied to the refrigeration device from a power supply device 500 to 500e connected to the refrigeration device, and has communication connection terminals (e.g., communication connection terminals 101A, 101B) of a predetermined communication method (e.g., CAN communication method, RS232C communication method), and when the power supply device is connected to the communication connection terminals, sends a control signal related to the power supply control via the communication connection terminals. and an auxiliary connection circuit 110 having a main connection circuit (e.g., main connection circuits 100A and 100B) that receives a signal from the refrigeration unit, digital output terminals (e.g., digital output terminals 111 and 112), and digital input terminals (e.g., digital input terminals 121, 122, and 123), and when the power supply unit is connected to the digital output terminals and the digital input terminals, outputs a digital signal that indicates the operating state of the refrigeration unit from the digital output terminals and receives a digital signal that specifies the operating state of the refrigeration unit at the digital input terminals. According to this aspect and the following aspects, many types of power supply units 500 to 500e can be used as a power source for refrigeration while suppressing increases in the size of the communication circuit 72 of the control unit 30 and the scale of the communication software.

[0111] (2) A control device 30 according to a second aspect is the control device of (1), wherein the auxiliary connection circuit has first and second digital output terminals 111, 112 and first and second digital input terminals 121, 122, outputs a digital signal indicating that the refrigeration device is operating from the first digital output terminal, outputs a digital signal indicating that the refrigeration device is stopped from the second digital output terminal, receives a digital signal specifying permission to operate the refrigeration device at the first digital input terminal, and receives a digital signal specifying stop of operation of the refrigeration device at the second digital input terminal. According to this aspect, the control device 30 can notify the power supply units 500 to 500d whether the refrigeration device 40 is operating or stopped, and the power supply units 500 to 500d can instruct the control device 30 whether to operate or stop the refrigeration device 40.

[0112] (3) A control device 30 according to a third aspect is the control device of (2), wherein the auxiliary connection circuit further includes a third digital input terminal 123 that receives a digital signal that instructs the refrigeration device to reduce its power consumption. According to this aspect, the power supply devices 500 to 500d can instruct the control device 30 to reduce the power consumption of the refrigeration device 40.

[0113] (4) The control device 30 according to a fourth aspect is any of the control devices (1) to (3), and if there are multiple predetermined communication methods, the main connection circuits 100A, 100B are provided for each of the multiple predetermined communication methods. According to this aspect, the number of predetermined communication methods can be adjusted as long as the size of the communication circuit 72 and the scale of the communication software remain within an allowable range, thereby increasing or decreasing the number of types of power supply devices 500 to 500e that can be connected.

[0114] (5) The control device 30 according to a fifth aspect is any one of the control devices (1) to (4) and includes an auxiliary control unit (e.g., a cabin controller 32) having a communication connection terminal for the predetermined communication method that connects to the communication device 50, 50a provided in the vehicle refrigeration system. According to this aspect, the communication interfaces of devices connected to the control device 30 can be unified to the predetermined communication method, thereby facilitating communication settings on the control device 30 side.

[0115] (6) The control device 30 according to a sixth aspect is any one of the control devices (1) to (5), and is housed in a low-voltage electrical box separated from the refrigeration device. According to this aspect, the control device 30 can be attached to any location on the vehicle body 10 to 10e.

[0116] (7) A vehicle refrigeration system 20 to 20c according to a seventh aspect is a vehicle refrigeration system including a refrigeration device 40, 40a and a control device 30, wherein the control device has a communication connection terminal (e.g., communication connection terminals 101A, 101B) of a predetermined communication method (e.g., CAN communication method, RS232C communication method), and when a power supply device 500 to 500e connected to the refrigeration device is connected to the communication connection terminal, a control signal related to supply control of power supplied from the power supply device to the refrigeration device is transmitted and received via the communication connection terminal. and an auxiliary connection circuit 110 having a main connection circuit (e.g., main connection circuits 100A and 100B) for receiving signals from the power supply device, digital output terminals (e.g., digital output terminals 111 and 112), and digital input terminals (e.g., digital input terminals 121, 122, and 123), and when the power supply device is connected to the digital output terminals and the digital input terminals, the auxiliary connection circuit 110 outputs a digital signal indicating the operating state of the refrigeration device from the digital output terminals and receives a digital signal specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device at the digital input terminals.

[0117] (8) A vehicle refrigeration system (20a) according to an eighth aspect is the vehicle refrigeration system (20a) of (7), further comprising a converter (90) connected to a communication connection terminal (230) of the power supply device (500c) that has a communication connection terminal (230) of a communication method different from the predetermined communication method, the communication connection terminal (230) of the power supply device (500c), the digital output terminal (230) of the auxiliary connection circuit, the converter (90) converting a digital signal indicating the operating state of the refrigeration device output from the digital output terminal of the auxiliary connection circuit into a control signal of the communication method of the communication connection terminal (230) of the power supply device and outputting the control signal to the power supply device, and, if the control signal transmitted from the power supply device includes data specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device, converting the data specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal to the digital input terminal of the auxiliary connection circuit. According to this aspect, even if the power supply device (500c) cannot be connected to the communication connection terminals (101A, 101B), the digital output terminals (111, 112), and the digital input terminals (121, 122, 123), the converter (90) can transmit and receive control signals related to power supply control between the power supply device (500c) and the control device (30) via the converter (90).

[0118] (9) A vehicular refrigeration system 20b according to a ninth aspect is the vehicular refrigeration system of (7) or (8), further comprising a communication device 50a, wherein the power supply device and the control device are connected to the communication device, and the communication device either relays control signals related to the power supply control transmitted and received between the power supply device and the control device within the power supply device itself, or the communication device is connected to a remote monitoring device 3, and the power supply device and the control device transmit and receive control signals related to the power supply control via the remote monitoring device. According to this aspect, even a power supply device 500d that cannot be connected to the communication connection terminals 101A and 101B, the digital output terminals 111 and 112, and the digital input terminals 121, 122, and 123 can transmit and receive control signals related to the power supply control to and from the control device 30 via the communication device 50a or the remote monitoring device 3.

[0119] (10) A vehicle refrigeration system 20c according to a tenth aspect is the vehicle refrigeration system of any one of (7) to (9), wherein the refrigeration device 40a operates in accordance with the power supply control when the power supply control is performed by the control device, and when the refrigeration device 40a is not operated under the power supply control by the control device, the refrigeration device 40a operates using the power supplied when it detects power supplied from the power supply device. According to this aspect, even if a power supply device 500e cannot be connected to the communication connection terminals 101A, 101B, the digital output terminals 111, 112, and the digital input terminals 121, 122, 123, the refrigeration device 40a can use the power supply device 500e as a power source.

[0120] According to each embodiment of the present disclosure, many types of power supply devices can be used as a power source for refrigeration while suppressing increases in the size of the communication circuit of the control device and the scale of the communication software.

[0121] 1... Refrigerated vehicle remote monitoring system 2... Communication network 3... Remote monitoring device 4... Refrigerated vehicle 10... Vehicle body 11... Cabin 12... Chassis 13... Container 20... Vehicle refrigeration system 30... Control device 31... Control device main body 32... Cabin controller 40... Refrigeration device 41... External unit 42... Internal unit 50... Communication device 71... Control circuit 72... Communication circuit 73, 74... Board connector 81... Power conversion unit 82... Compression unit 83... Condenser unit 84... Evaporator unit 100A, 100B... Main connection circuit 51, 101A, 101B, 140, 201... Communication connection terminal 110... Auxiliary connection circuit 111, 112... Digital output terminal 121, 122, 123... Digital input terminal 130... Connection terminal 500... Power supply device 501... Battery management unit 502... Battery

Claims

1. A control device provided in a vehicle refrigeration system having a refrigeration unit, which controls the supply of power supplied to the refrigeration unit from a power supply unit connected to the refrigeration unit, comprising: a main connection circuit having a communication connection terminal of a predetermined communication method, and when the power supply unit is connected to the communication connection terminal, sending and receiving control signals related to the supply control of the power via the communication connection terminal; and an auxiliary connection circuit having a digital output terminal and a digital input terminal, and when the power supply unit is connected to the digital output terminal and the digital input terminal, outputting a digital signal indicating the operating state of the refrigeration unit from the digital output terminal, and taking in a digital signal specifying the operating state of the refrigeration unit at the digital input terminal.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary connection circuit has first and second digital output terminals and first and second digital input terminals, outputs a digital signal indicating that the refrigeration device is operating from the first digital output terminal, outputs a digital signal indicating that the refrigeration device is stopped from the second digital output terminal, takes in a digital signal designating permission to operate the refrigeration device at the first digital input terminal, and takes in a digital signal designating stop of operation of the refrigeration device at the second digital input terminal.

3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary connection circuit further comprises a third digital input terminal for receiving a digital signal that specifies a reduction in power consumption of said refrigeration device.

4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein, when there are a plurality of the predetermined communication methods, the main connection circuit is provided for each of the plurality of the predetermined communication methods.

5. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising: an auxiliary control unit having a communication connection terminal for the specified communication method that is connected to a communication device provided in the vehicle refrigeration system.

6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device itself is housed in a low-voltage electrical box separate from the refrigeration device.

7. A vehicular refrigeration system comprising a refrigeration unit and a control device, wherein the control device comprises: a main connection circuit having a communication connection terminal of a predetermined communication method, and when a power supply unit connected to the refrigeration unit connects to the communication connection terminal, transmitting and receiving control signals related to supply control of power supplied from the power supply unit to the refrigeration unit via the communication connection terminal; and an auxiliary connection circuit having a digital output terminal and a digital input terminal, and when the power supply unit connects to the digital output terminal and the digital input terminal, outputting a digital signal indicating the operating state of the refrigeration unit from the digital output terminal and taking in a digital signal specifying the operating state of the refrigeration unit at the digital input terminal.

8. A vehicle refrigeration system as described in claim 7, further comprising a conversion device which is connected to a communication connection terminal of the power supply device having a communication connection terminal of a communication method different from the specified communication method, and to a digital output terminal and a digital input terminal of the auxiliary connection circuit, converts a digital signal indicating the operating state of the refrigeration device output from the digital output terminal of the auxiliary connection circuit into a control signal of the communication method of the communication connection terminal of the power supply device and outputs it to the power supply device, and when the control signal transmitted by the power supply device includes data specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device, converts the data specifying the operating state of the refrigeration device into a digital signal and outputs it to the digital input terminal of the auxiliary connection circuit.

9. A vehicular refrigeration system as described in claim 7, further comprising a communication device, wherein the power supply device and the control device are connected to the communication device, and the communication device relays control signals relating to the power supply control transmitted and received between the power supply device and the control device within the device itself, or the communication device is connected to a remote monitoring device, and the power supply device and the control device transmit and receive control signals relating to the power supply control via the remote monitoring device.

10. The vehicle refrigeration system as described in claim 7, wherein, when the refrigeration device is under the control of the control device for the supply of power, it operates in accordance with the control of the supply of power, and when the refrigeration device is not under the control of the control device for the supply of power, it operates using the supplied power upon detecting power supplied from the power supply device.

11. A refrigeration vehicle comprising a vehicle body equipped with a power supply unit and a vehicle refrigeration system, wherein the vehicle refrigeration system comprises a refrigeration unit connected to the power supply unit, and a control device, wherein the control device comprises: a main connection circuit having a communication connection terminal of a predetermined communication method, and when the power supply unit is connected to the communication connection terminal, transmitting and receiving control signals related to the supply control of power supplied from the power supply unit to the refrigeration unit via the communication connection terminal; and an auxiliary connection circuit having a digital output terminal and a digital input terminal, and when the power supply unit is connected to the digital output terminal and the digital input terminal, outputting a digital signal indicating the operating state of the refrigeration unit from the digital output terminal and taking in a digital signal specifying the operating state of the refrigeration unit at the digital input terminal.

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