JP7098879B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

Even when the operation is stopped, when the room temperature exceeds the threshold value, the user is alerted and the cooling operation is forcibly started.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-207867

Even if the operation is stopped, there is a possibility that an inappropriate operation may be performed by the operation terminal in a state where the automatic on operation that automatically starts the operation according to the room temperature is set. For example, there is a case where an operation of selecting a heating operation is performed even though the room temperature requires cooling, or an operation of selecting a cooling operation is performed even when the room temperature requires heating. In this case, even though the automatic on operation is set, improper operation will be started.
An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of suppressing the start of improper operation when automatic on operation is set.

The air conditioner according to one aspect of the present invention includes an air conditioner for air conditioning in a room and an operation terminal for remotely operating the air conditioner, and the air conditioner is not operated by the user. Automatic on operation is possible to automatically start the operation of the air conditioner according to the indoor environment, and the operation terminal acquires the operation information of the air conditioner when the air conditioner is remotely operated. To start an operation different from the operation of the air conditioner by the user while detecting that the air conditioner is performing automatic on operation based on the operation information acquired by the unit and the acquisition control unit. It is provided with a warning unit that alerts the user that the automatic on operation is being executed when the operation is performed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent inappropriate operation from being started when automatic on operation is being performed.

It is a block diagram of an air conditioner. It is a functional block diagram of an indoor unit and an operation terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the indoor unit control processing. It is a flowchart which shows operation terminal control processing. It is a figure which shows the display example of the operation terminal.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that each drawing is a schematic one and may differ from the actual one. In addition, the following embodiments exemplify devices and methods for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and do not specify the configuration to the following. That is, the technical idea of the present invention can be modified in various ways within the technical scope described in the claims.

"Constitution"
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner. The air conditioner 11 includes an indoor unit 13 mounted on the wall surface of the indoor 12 and an outdoor unit 14 installed outdoors. The air conditioner 11 is remotely controlled by the user by wireless communication via the operation terminal 15. The air conditioner 11 may be remotely controlled from an attached infrared remote controller (not shown). FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner. The indoor unit 13 can be automatically turned on (hereinafter referred to as “Random operation”) to automatically start the operation of the air conditioner 11 according to the indoor environment regardless of the user's operation, and the indoor unit control unit 22 can be operated. And a fan 23. The outdoor unit 14 is provided with an outside air temperature sensor 16, and the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 16 is input to the indoor unit control unit 22. The indoor unit 13 is provided with a wireless adapter 24, and communicates various signals with the operation terminal 15 via the wireless router 25. The indoor unit control unit 22 receives various signals from the operation terminal 15 and drives and controls the outdoor unit 14 and the fan 23.

The indoor unit 13 and the outdoor unit 14 form a refrigerant circuit, heat energy is exchanged between the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit and air, and cold air and warm air are supplied from the indoor unit 13 to the indoor unit 12. To. The indoor unit control unit 22 controls the switching between cooling / heating and the temperature of the cold air and warm air blown out from the indoor unit by driving and controlling the compressor and the four-way valve of the outdoor unit 14 (not shown). The operation terminal 15 is composed of a smart device such as a smartphone or a tablet, and an application for remotely controlling the indoor unit 13 is installed. By activating this application, it is possible to turn on / off the indoor unit 13 from outside, check the operating status, change the operating content, and check the electricity bill. The operation terminal 15 includes an operation terminal control unit 32 and a touch panel 33.

The operation terminal control unit 32 includes an acquisition control unit 51, a warning unit 52, a determination unit 53, and a display control unit 54. The acquisition control unit 51 acquires the operation information of the air conditioner 11 when the air conditioner 11 is remotely controlled. The alert unit 52 detects that the air conditioner 11 is performing the automatic operation, and when the user performs an operation for starting an operation different from the operation of the air conditioner 11. The user is alerted that the operation is being performed. The determination unit 53 determines whether or not the user's operation for turning on the operation of the indoor unit 13 is appropriate according to the outside air temperature. The display control unit 54 displays on the touch panel 33 a confirmation screen for confirming whether or not the user can execute the operation when it is determined that the operation of the user is inappropriate. The touch panel 33 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display and an operation input unit. The operation terminal 15 is not limited to a smart device, and may be any device that can perform bidirectional communication with the indoor unit control unit 22.

Next, the indoor unit control process executed by the indoor unit control unit 22 will be described.
Here, the processing according to the present invention will be mainly described, and general processing such as control of the refrigerant circuit will be omitted. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the indoor unit control process. The indoor unit control process is started when the user instructs the indoor unit 13 to start the operation, and thereafter, the operation is continued until the stop signal is received.
In step S101, it is determined whether or not an operation request is received from the operation terminal 15. When the operation request is not received (S101-No), it waits until the operation request is received. On the other hand, when the operation request is received (S101-Yes), the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, various data are transmitted to the operation terminal 15. For example, the operating status of the indoor unit 13, room temperature, outside air temperature, and the like. In step S103, the operation corresponding to the operation of the operation terminal 15 is executed, and the process returns to step S101. The above is the indoor unit control process.

Next, the operation terminal control process executed by the operation terminal 15 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation terminal control process. The operation terminal control process is started when the user starts an application for remotely controlling the indoor unit 13 on the operation terminal 15, and thereafter, the operation terminal control process is repeatedly executed according to a predetermined calculation cycle.
In step S111, an operation request is transmitted to the indoor unit 13. In step S112, various data are received from the indoor unit 13. For example, the operating status of the indoor unit 13, room temperature, outside air temperature, and the like. The processes of steps S111 and S112 are executed by the acquisition control unit 51. In step S113, the setting screen, which is the top screen, is displayed on the touch panel 33.

In step S114, it is determined whether or not the automatic operation (automatic on operation) is being executed. Omakase operation is a function that automatically starts the operation of the indoor unit 13 according to the temperature and humidity in the room, and is also called Mimamori operation. When the Omakase operation is not executed (S114-No), the process proceeds to step S115. On the other hand, when the Omakase operation is being executed (S114-Yes), the process proceeds to step S121.
In step S115, it is determined whether or not various setting operations have been performed via the touch panel 33. For example, it is an operation of turning on the cooling or turning on the heating, and when such a setting operation is not performed, the process returns to step S101 (S115-No). On the other hand, when the setting operation is performed (S115-Yes), the process proceeds to step S116.

In step S116, it is determined whether or not the operation of turning on the cooling or heating is inappropriate. Specifically, when the heating is turned on even though the outside air temperature is above the set value T1 (for example, 24 ° C.), or when the outside air temperature is below the set value T2 (for example, 18 ° C.), the air conditioner is turned on. When it is turned on, it is judged to be an inappropriate operation. On the other hand, it is inappropriate when the heating is turned on when the outside air temperature is below the set value T1 or when the cooling is turned on when the outside air temperature is above the set value T2. Judge that it is not an operation. The set value T1 is the lower limit of the outside air temperature that allows the cooling operation, and the set value T2 is the upper limit of the outside air temperature that allows the heating operation.
Here, when it is determined that the operation is not inappropriate, the process proceeds to step S120 (S116-No). On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation is inappropriate, the process proceeds to step S117 (S116-Yes). The process of step S116 is executed by the determination unit 53.

In step S117, a confirmation screen for confirming whether or not to execute is displayed on the touch panel 33. The confirmation screen displays two options, for example "permit" and "cancel", and "OK" and "Cancel".
In step S118, it is determined whether or not an operation for permitting execution or an operation for stopping execution has been performed via the touch panel 33. When no operation is performed (S118-No), it waits until any operation is performed. When any of the operations is performed (S118-Yes), the process proceeds to step S119.

In step S119, it is determined whether or not the performed operation is an operation that is permitted to be executed. When the operation performed is an operation for which execution is permitted (S119-Yes), the process proceeds to step S120. On the other hand, when the performed operation is an operation for stopping the execution (S119-No), the process returns to step S111. In step S120, the execution signal is transmitted to the indoor unit 13, and then the process returns to step S111. In step S121, it is determined whether or not the operation of turning on the cooling or heating is performed via the touch panel 33. When neither is operated, the process returns to step S111 (S121-No). On the other hand, when any of them is operated (S121-Yes), the process proceeds to step S122.

In step S122, it is determined whether or not the operation of turning on the cooling or heating is inappropriate. Specifically, two specific examples are shown below. As a first specific example, when the outside air temperature is set value T1 (for example, 24 ° C.) or more and the heating is turned on, or when the outside air temperature is set value T2 (for example, 18 ° C.) or less. When the operation to turn on the cooling is performed, it is determined that the operation is inappropriate. On the other hand, it is inappropriate when the heating is turned on when the outside air temperature is below the set value T1 or when the cooling is turned on when the outside air temperature is above the set value T2. Judge that it is not an operation. The set value T1 is the lower limit of the outside air temperature that allows the cooling operation, and the set value T2 is the upper limit of the outside air temperature that allows the heating operation.

As a second specific example, if an operation different from the operation content of the main body is instructed, it is determined that the operation is inappropriate, and if the same operation as the operation content of the main body is instructed, the operation is not inappropriate. judge.
Here, when it is determined that the operation is not inappropriate, the process proceeds to step S123 (S122-No). On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation is inappropriate, the process proceeds to step S124 (S122-Yes). The process of step S122 is executed by the determination unit 53.

In step S123, an execution signal is transmitted to the indoor unit 13 and the process returns to step S101 in order to stop the entrusted operation and execute the turned-on operation. In step S124, as a warning to the user, a warning screen indicating that the operation is being entrusted to the user is displayed on the touch panel 33. The process of step S124 is executed by the alerting unit 52. In step S125, a confirmation screen for confirming whether or not execution is possible is displayed on the touch panel 33. The confirmation screen displays two options, for example "permit" and "cancel", and "OK" and "Cancel". The process of step S125 is executed by the display control unit 54.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the operation terminal. As for the caution screen, the characters "Random operation is in progress" are displayed as indicated by the code 42. As for the confirmation screen, as indicated by the code of 41, the choices of "OK" and "Cancel" are displayed together with the characters "Do you want to change?".

In step S126, it is determined whether or not an operation for permitting execution or an operation for stopping execution has been performed via the touch panel 33. When no operation is performed (S126-No), it waits until any operation is performed. When any of the operations is performed (S126-Yes), the process proceeds to step S127. In step S127, it is determined whether or not the performed operation is an operation that is permitted to be executed. When the operation performed is an operation for which execution is permitted (S127-Yes), the process proceeds to step S128. On the other hand, when the performed operation is an operation for stopping the execution (S127-No), the process returns to step S111. In step S128, in order to stop the entrusted operation and execute the turned-on operation, an execution signal is transmitted to the indoor unit 13 and then the process returns to step S111. The above is the operation terminal control process.
As described above, the processing of steps S111 and S112 is executed by the acquisition control unit 51. The process of step S124 is executed by the alerting unit 52. The outside air temperature sensor 16 corresponds to the "outside air temperature detection unit". The processing of steps S116 and S122 is executed by the determination unit 53. The touch panel 33 corresponds to the "display unit". The process of step S125 is executed by the display control unit 54.

《Action》
Next, the main actions of the embodiments will be described.
Omakase operation is a function that automatically starts cooling operation and heating operation according to the temperature and humidity of the room 12, and cannot voluntarily operate the operation terminal 15 like, for example, elderly people and infants. Or, it is supposed to be used for those who are not good at it. There is a possibility that an improper operation is performed by the operation terminal 15 in a state where this automatic operation is being executed. For example, there is a case where an operation of selecting a heating operation is performed even though the room temperature requires cooling, or an operation of selecting a cooling operation is performed even when the room temperature requires heating. In this case, even though the automatic operation is being executed, the inappropriate operation is forcibly started.

Therefore, the operation terminal 15 first receives various data such as an operating status and an outside air temperature from the indoor unit 13 (S112). Then, if the operation of turning on the cooling or heating is performed (the determination of S121 is “Yes”) while the automatic operation is being executed (the determination of S114 is “Yes”), this operation is inappropriate. Whether or not it is judged according to the outside temperature. That is, when the heating is turned on even though the outside air temperature is high, or when the cooling is turned on even though the outside air temperature is low, it is determined that the operation is inappropriate (the determination of S122 is "". Yes "). Then, as shown in FIG. 5, as a reminder to the user, the touch panel 33 displays that the automatic operation is in progress (S124). As a result, it is possible to effectively make the user recognize that an operation that is originally unnecessary is performed during the automatic operation.

Further, when displaying the alert, as shown in FIG. 5, a confirmation screen for confirming whether or not the execution is possible is displayed on the touch panel 33 (S125). Thereby, for example, when the operation terminal 15 is operated by mistake, by selecting and executing the option of "Cancel" (the determination of S127 is "No"), it is possible to prevent improper operation from being executed. ..
In the case of the operation terminal 15, the operation for starting the application has already been performed. Therefore, when an inappropriate operation is input, the confirmation screen is displayed immediately, so that the operability is excellent and it is possible to suppress giving a feeling of complexity to the user.

On the other hand, the user's operation is not always wrong. For example, in winter, the room temperature may rise temporarily by using a heating facility (fireplace or stove) different from the indoor unit 13 or by using a cooking heater in the indoor unit 12. .. In this case, the user may temporarily turn on the cooling. Therefore, when the user who sees the confirmation screen selects and executes the “OK” option (the determination in S127 is “Yes”), the operation terminal 15 transmits an execution signal to the indoor unit 13 (S128). The indoor unit control unit 22 executes an operation according to the operation of the operation terminal 15 (S103). As a result, it is possible to carry out driving that respects the will of the user.
When the heating is turned on when the outside air temperature is low or when the cooling is turned on when the outside air temperature is high (the judgment of S122 is "No"), it is judged that the operation is not inappropriate and the indoor unit. An execution signal is transmitted to 13 (S123). As a result, it is possible to carry out driving that respects the will of the user.

<< Application example >>
In the embodiment, an improper operation is performed during the Omakase operation, and even if the confirmation screen is displayed, if the operation permitting the execution is performed, the Omakase operation is stopped, but the present invention is limited to this. It's not a thing. For example, the omakase operation may be resumed after a predetermined time (for example, about 2 to 3 hours) has elapsed. At this time, a confirmation screen may be displayed again to allow the user to select whether or not the Omakase operation may be resumed. In this way, the convenience is improved by returning the Omakase operation again when a certain amount of time has passed since the Omakase operation was stopped.

<< Modification example >>
In the embodiment, as a reminder to the user, the fact that the operation is entrusted to the user is displayed on the touch panel 33 of the operation terminal 15, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the fact that the operation is entrusted to you may be performed by turning on the lamp and outputting a sound effect or voice. Further, these do not have to be performed by the operation terminal 15, and may be performed by the indoor unit 13.
In the embodiment, whether or not the operation of turning on the cooling operation or the heating operation is inappropriate is determined by the operation terminal 15, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the indoor unit control unit 22 determines. You may.

Although the above description has been made with reference to a limited number of embodiments, the scope of rights is not limited thereto, and modifications of the embodiments based on the above disclosure are obvious to those skilled in the art.

11 Air conditioner 12 Indoor 13 Indoor unit 14 Outdoor unit 15 Operation terminal 16 Outdoor air temperature sensor 22 Indoor unit control unit 23 Fan 24 Wireless adapter 25 Wireless router 33 Touch panel 51 Acquisition control unit 52 Attention unit 53 Judgment unit 54 Display control unit

Claims (3)

An air conditioner that harmonizes the air in the room,
A user can select cooling operation or heating operation, and an operation terminal for remotely controlling the air conditioner according to the user's selection operation is provided.
The air conditioner can be automatically turned on to automatically start the cooling operation of the air conditioner regardless of the user's operation when the room temperature requires cooling.
The operation terminal is
An acquisition control unit that acquires operation information of the air conditioner when the air conditioner is remotely controlled.
Based on the operation information acquired by the acquisition control unit, the user starts an operation different from the operation of the air conditioner in a state of detecting that the air conditioner is performing the automatic on operation. As an operation for this purpose, when an operation of selecting a heating operation is performed even though cooling is required, a warning unit for alerting the user that the automatic on operation is being executed is provided. Characterized air conditioner. Equipped with an outside air temperature detector that detects the outside air temperature
The acquisition control unit
When the air conditioner is remotely controlled, the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detection unit is acquired.
The operation terminal is
A determination unit for determining whether or not the user's operation for turning on the operation of the air conditioner is appropriate according to the outside air temperature acquired by the acquisition control unit is provided.
The alert section is
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that the operation of the user is inappropriate, the user is alerted. The operation terminal is
Equipped with a display unit that displays the screen
It is characterized by including a display control unit that displays a confirmation screen on the display unit for confirming whether or not the user can execute the operation when the determination unit determines that the user's operation is inappropriate. The air conditioner according to claim 2.

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