JPH0788959B2 - Air conditioner inspection method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of inspecting a connection state of an indoor unit to a central control device when controlling the plurality of indoor units by the central control device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a technique has been used in which a plurality of indoor units are installed in each building in a building, and these are commonly controlled. That is, the indoor units installed in each room on each floor of the building are grouped for each floor, and the indoor units are controlled in a common manner within each group. A master unit to which the remote control device is connected is set for each group, and the remaining indoor units are set as slave units slave-connected to the master unit. If such groups are connected in parallel to the centralized control device, the centralized control device can control the air conditioning operation in a common manner in each group and in an individual manner in each group.

When such an air conditioner is installed in, for example, a building or a factory, a central monitoring device that centrally manages the air conditioner and disaster prevention equipment is often installed in such a facility. . Therefore, the central control device is managed by such a central monitoring device. In many cases, a complicated protocol is set between the central control device and the central monitoring device in order to prevent a transmission error in data transmission.
On the other hand, for indoor units, for example, DIP (Dual Inline Pacage)
An address is set by hardware using a switch or the like, and the central control device requests a response signal by designating the address when the entire system including the central monitoring device is activated, and connects / disconnects the indoor unit corresponding to the address. A distinction is made between the connection and whether or not the execution life of the air conditioning operation from the central control unit is accepted or not, whether communication is possible or not.

Since the centralized control unit does not have a means for displaying or printing whether the identified indoor units are connected or not connected, and whether communication is possible or not, data is transmitted from the centralized control unit to the central monitoring unit. Whether each indoor unit is connected / unconnected, whether communication is possible / not possible is displayed on a display device provided in the central monitoring device, or is printed on a printing device to indicate whether each indoor unit is connected / unconnected, I try to confirm whether communication is possible or not.

Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether each indoor unit is connected or not connected after starting the entire system including the central monitoring device.
There is a problem in that it is not possible to perform another confirmation work of whether communication is possible or not, and the work efficiency is not improved in the installation work of the air conditioner in which various wiring works are often used.

Further, since the above confirmation work is performed only once when the entire system including the central monitoring device is started, once the whole system is started once, the unconnected indoor units are connected or the indoor unit group is not connected. If you make a change or change the settings of the master unit / slave unit in the group, if you try to perform the above confirmation work again, it is necessary to shut down the entire power supply and then turn it on again. become.

The object of the present invention is to determine whether the indoor unit corresponding to the address is connected or disconnected when the air conditioner is installed, even after the entire system including the central monitoring device is not activated. It is possible to easily perform another confirmation work of whether communication is possible / not possible. After performing the above confirmation work once, change of the connection state to the central control unit of the indoor unit or change of the indoor unit group, or An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection method for an air conditioner that can automatically confirm a change in the settings of a master unit / slave unit in a group.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a plurality of indoor units (12) in which identification data for mutual identification are set, a centralized control device (21) for controlling each indoor unit (12), and a centralized control device. An inspection device (46) connected to (21) and a central monitoring device (22) for managing the centralized control device (21) are included. The indoor unit (12) is connected to the centralized control device (21). When a request for a response signal is received from the central control device (21) for checking the presence or absence of the state and the availability of the communication state of whether to accept the execution command of the air conditioning operation from the central control device (21), A master unit (19) that returns a response signal indicating that the connection status is available and the communication status is enabled, and a connection status is present and communication status is received when the request for the response signal is received from the centralized control device (21). A slave unit (20) subordinately connected to the master unit (19) by returning a response signal indicating that
The central control device (21) sequentially specifies the indoor units (12) based on the identification data when the power of the air conditioner is turned on, and outputs a response signal. Based on the response signal returned from each indoor unit (12), the indoor unit (12) is inspected for connection status and communication status, and inspection data is stored. After the inspection data is stored, the inspection is performed again and the operation of updating the storage of the inspection data is repeated, and the inspection device (46) is configured to store the inspection data at least when the centralized control device (21) stores the inspection data. When the memory is updated, the centralized control device (21) is requested to send inspection data, and when the centralized control device (21) receives a request for transmission of inspection data from the inspection device (46), the stored inspection data is stored. Read data and inspect Transmitted to the location (46) is an inspection method of an air conditioner which is characterized in that to be able to verify a data inspection apparatus (46).

Effect According to the present invention, the indoor unit (12) in which the identification data for mutual identification is set, the central control device (21) for controlling each indoor unit (12), and the central control device (21). The inspection device (46) to be connected and the central monitoring device (22) that manages the centralized control device (21) are included, and whether the indoor unit (12) has a connection state to the centralized control device (21). If a request for a response signal is received from the central control device (21) to check whether or not the communication condition for accepting an execution command of the air conditioning operation from the central control device (21) is received, the connection state is determined. When receiving a request for the response signal from the master unit (19) that returns a response signal indicating that the communication state is possible with the centralized control device (21), the connection state is available and the communication state is impossible. There is a slave unit (20) subordinately connected to the master unit (19) that returns a response signal to that effect. A harmony device is constructed.

The central control device (21) sequentially designates the indoor units (12) based on the identification data when the power of the air conditioner is turned on, requests a response signal, and returns a response signal from each indoor unit (12). Based on the above, the indoor unit (12) is inspected for the connection state and the communication state, and the inspection data is stored. The central control device (21) stores the inspection data and then performs the inspection again and performs the inspection. The inspection device (46) repeats the operation of updating the data storage, and the inspection device (46) inspects the central control device (21) at least when the central control device (21) stores the inspection data and when the inspection data storage is updated. When the centralized control device (21) receives a request for transmission of inspection data from the inspection device (46), the centralized control device (21) reads out the stored inspection data and transmits it to the inspection device (46).
Check the inspection data with the inspection device (46).

As a result, the presence or absence of connection of each indoor unit (12) and the availability of the communication state can be confirmed by the inspection device (46) without starting the entire system including the central monitoring device (22), and the indoor unit ( Even if a change in the connection state to the centralized control device (21) in 12), a change in the group of indoor units (12), or a change in the settings of the master / slave units within the group, etc. Such a state can be automatically confirmed by the inspection device (46), and the workability of the inspection in the field of the present invention is significantly improved.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the air conditioner (11) has a plurality (10 in this embodiment) of indoor units (12), and these indoor units (12) are, for example, 6, 3, Three groups (13a, 13b, 13c) of one unit (indicated by reference numeral 13 when collectively referred to)
It is divided into each. Remote control devices (hereinafter referred to as control devices) (16a, 16b, 16c) (generally denoted by reference numeral 16) are connected to a single indoor unit (12) in each group (13). . Operation means like this (16)
Hereinafter, the indoor unit (12) connected to will be referred to as a master unit (19). An indoor unit (12) that is different from the parent device (19) in each group (13) is called a child device (20).

A series of group numbers G0, G1, ..., G9, which are identification data, are assigned to each indoor unit (12). This allocation work is performed using, for example, a DIP switch or the like provided in each indoor unit (12). On the other hand, a series of unit numbers U0, Uj, ... Which identify each other in each group are given to the indoor units (12) divided into each group (13). In this embodiment, the unit number U0 is given to the parent machine (19) of each group (13). The method of giving the unit number to the remaining slave units (20) is arbitrary.

As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor units (12) in the same group (13) are connected to each other, for example, in a subordinate manner, and each group (1
The parent device (19) of 3) is individually connected to the centralized control device (21). When the air conditioner (11) including the centralized control device (21) and the indoor unit (12) is installed in, for example, a building or factory, a central monitoring room is installed and other devices such as a disaster prevention system are installed. In many cases, it is managed in a unified manner. That is, the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the central monitoring device (22) provided in the central monitoring room and also monitoring the disaster prevention system. Such a central monitoring device (22) includes a display device (23) such as a CRT (cathode ray tube), a printing device (24), a key input device (25), and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the centralized control device (21). Referring to FIG. 2, the centralized control device (21) is provided with a transmission control section (26) for transmitting and receiving data relating to air conditioning operation to the indoor unit (12), and the terminal block (2
7) and data is transmitted / received via the transmission / reception unit (28). Such a transmission control section (26) includes a central control section (2 including a microprocessor, for example.
9) controlled by.

The central control unit (29) is connected to a transmission control unit (30) for controlling data transmission / reception between the central control device (21) and the central monitoring device (22), and the central monitoring device (22) and the terminal block are connected. (31)
And transmitting / receiving data via the transmitting / receiving unit (32). Such a centralized control device (21) is provided with a complicated transmission control procedure in order to prevent the occurrence of an error in data transmission with the central monitoring device (22).

This central control unit (29) is used to individually perform air conditioning operations on the key input unit (33) such as various operation keys and the indoor unit (12) connected to the centralized control device (21). It is connected to the DIP switch input section (34) used for such purposes. In addition, the central control unit (29) is used to display various control data such as an LED control unit (35) that controls lighting (LED) used for various alarm operations, etc., and the group number. A liquid crystal display control unit (36, 37) for controlling display of a liquid crystal display device (not shown) is connected. Further, a storage unit (38) including an EEPROM (read / write freely readable / writable memory) for storing various operation data input from the key input unit (33) or the like is connected.

On the other hand, the indoor unit (12) connected to the centralized control device (21)
For example, a separate timer control unit (39) is provided for the function of starting / stopping on a weekly basis at the time set for each day of the week (this function is called the weekly timer function below). The timer control unit (39) also includes a key input unit (40) including various operation keys, and various time data and the like, and a storage unit (38) and, for example, a storage unit (41) having the same configuration. Connected.

Further, a liquid crystal display control unit (43), which is realized by a liquid crystal display device or the like, controls the display of a weekly timer display unit (42) that displays operation control data on a weekly basis regarding the weekly timer function. A clock signal generator (44) that generates a clock signal that regulates the operation of the timer controller (39) and an internal power supply that supplies backup power to the clock signal generator (44) in the event of a power failure. (45) and are connected.

As described above, the air conditioner (11) having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 has the central control device (21) and the central monitoring device (2).
2) A complicated control procedure associated with data transmission is set between and. That is, the "basic data transmission control procedure" as specified in JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) C6362 is set, and the centralized control device (21) transmits data with the central monitoring device (22) according to such control procedure. To prevent the occurrence of errors during transmission. However, such a data transmission control procedure is extremely complicated, and the central monitoring device (22), which generally uses a computer with a relatively large capacity, requires a relatively long time to start up. There were various problems as described in the item.

In the present invention, in solving such a problem, the centralized control device (21) is provided with a function as an inspection mode capable of inspecting the connection state and communication state of the indoor unit (12) by a relatively simple data transmission procedure. I did it. In addition, the centralized control device does not have a means for displaying or printing the inspection data of whether the indoor units identified as described above are connected or not connected, and whether communication is possible or not possible. In order to do so, an inspection device (46) having a relatively small capacity, such as a so-called handheld computer, is connected to the terminal block (31) of the centralized control device (21) so that inspection data can be confirmed by the inspection device (46). did.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the centralized control device (21) when the air conditioner (11) is powered on. Third
Referring to the figure, when the air conditioner (11) is turned on, the central control device (21) causes the inspection device (46) regardless of whether the central monitoring device (22) is turned on or not. )
Connect. At this time, the centralized control device (21) sequentially polls the connected indoor units (12) according to, for example, its group number Gi, requests a response signal, and uses the response signal returned from each indoor unit (12) as a response signal. Based on each indoor unit (12)
The presence / absence of the connection state and the availability of the communication state are inspected and the inspection data is stored.

That is, in step a1 of FIG. 3, the centralized control device (21) communicates with the indoor unit (12) of the group number G0, for example. At step a2, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the indoor unit (12) designated by the group number G0. Steps with and without this response signal
Corresponding contents are written in the table (38a) shown in the fourth diagram included in the storage unit (38) at a3 and a4.

The table (38a) has as many storage areas A0, A1, A2, ..., An as the number of indoor units (12) connectable to the centralized control device (21), and each storage area Ai (i = 0. To N), the connection state storage unit (47) for storing the presence / absence of connection of the indoor unit (12) for each group number Gi, the central control device (21) and these indoor units (12). A communication status storage unit (48) that records whether communication is possible or not is set.

Here, the connection state “present” means that a response signal comes from the indoor unit (12) designated by the group number Gi, that is, the indoor unit (12) with the group number Gi is connected, and the connection state Means that no response signal comes from the indoor unit (12) designated by the group number Gi, that is, the group number Gi
That is, the indoor unit (12) is not connected. on the other hand,
The communication status being acceptable means that the indoor unit (12) designated by the group number Gi receives the execution command of the air conditioning operation from the centralized control device (21), that is, the master unit (19). The state is not allowed: the indoor unit (12) specified by the group number Gi is not connected, or the indoor unit (12) specified by the group number Gi performs the air conditioning operation from the central control device (21). It does not accept orders, that is, it is a child device (20).

In step a5 following steps a3 and a4, it is determined whether the transmitted group number Gi is the last group number. If it is not the last group number, the group number Gi is incremented by 1 in step a6, and the above-described processing is performed. If the determination in step a5 is affirmative, this process ends.

FIG. 5 shows a centralized control device (2) which is connected to the terminal block (31) of the centralized control device (21) and has a relatively small capacity inspection device (46) such as a so-called handheld computer.
It is a flowchart explaining the control state of 1). Fifth
In step b1 in the figure, the centralized control device (21) turns the inspection device (4
6) Receive command from. In step b2, whether the received command is a command to cause the indoor unit (12) to perform an air conditioning operation, or the storage unit (3) of the central control device (21).
8) It is determined whether or not the command is a transmission request command of inspection data written in the table (38a) included in each indoor unit (12) regarding presence / absence of connection state and availability of communication state.

When this command is the command, control operation such as transmission of air conditioning operation data to the indoor unit (12) is performed in step b3, and when the command is the request command, the inspection device (46), Although the operation of transmitting the inspection data regarding the presence / absence of the connection state and the availability of the communication state of each indoor unit (12) is performed, in the present embodiment, the centralized control device (21) sends a request command from the inspection device (46). Suppose that you only receive. At this time, the process proceeds to step b4, and the centralized control device (21) refers to the table (38a) and selects a desired group number Gi.

In step b5, the presence / absence of connection of the indoor unit (12) is determined by referring to the connection state storage unit (47) for the selected group number Gi. Then, in step b6, it is determined by referring to the communication state storage section (48) whether communication is possible. After that, the process proceeds to step b7, and the data of the connection state storage unit (47) and the communication state storage unit (48) related to the group Gi is set in the transmission / reception unit (32), and step b8
And sends it to the inspection device (46). This operation is performed for all group numbers Gi. And inspection equipment (46)
The request to transmit the inspection data to the central control device (21) is performed at least when the central control device (21) stores the inspection data and when the storage of the inspection data is updated by the process shown in FIG. .

In FIG. 6, after the centralized control device (21) performs the processing shown in FIG. 3, the indoor units (12) are sequentially designated again based on the identification data, and response signals are requested. Indoor units (12)
9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the present embodiment that inspects whether or not each indoor unit (12) is in a connected state and whether or not a communication state is available, and updates the storage of inspection data based on a response signal returned from the device. Please also refer to FIG. In the description with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 3, the centralized control device (21) is to inspect the connection state and the communication state of the indoor unit (12) only when the power is turned on and store the inspection data. It was On the other hand, in the indoor unit (12) connected to the centralized control device (21), after the table (38a) as shown in FIG. 4 is formed in the centralized control device (21) due to a delay in installation work, etc. The communication status may change. In the above description, such a case cannot be inspected by the centralized control device (21), and therefore, in the present embodiment, the process shown in the sixth illustration below is also performed.

Here, the central control device (21) is connected to each indoor unit (1
2) is sequentially polled according to the group number Gi, for example. That is, in step c1 of FIG. 6, a response signal request command is transmitted to the indoor unit (12). In step c2, based on the presence or absence of the response signal, the indoor unit (1
2) Determine if is connected. Then, the process proceeds to step c3, and it is determined whether or not communication is possible based on the content of the response signal. Then, the table (38a) is updated based on the results of steps c2 and c3.

After this, the process proceeds to step c5, and the group number Gi
Is the last group number. If not the last, the group number Gi is incremented by +1 and the process returns to step c1. When the polling for all indoor units (12) is completed, all the processing is completed. And the sixth
The illustrated process is repeated, and the authentic state of each indoor unit (12) is written in the table (38a).

In this way, in this embodiment, when the air conditioner (11) is installed in, for example, a building as shown in the first drawing, it is determined whether the central monitoring device (22) is turned on or turned off. Regardless, the centralized control device (21) inspects whether or not each indoor unit (12) is connected and whether communication is possible when the air conditioner is powered on, stores the inspection data, and stores the inspection data. After that, the inspection is performed again and the operation of updating the storage of the inspection data is repeated so that the inspection data can be confirmed by the inspection device (46) connected to the centralized control device (21). This can significantly improve workability.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, the central control device (22) determines whether or not the indoor unit (12) in which the identification data is set is connected and the central control device (21). The connected indoor unit (12) is a master unit (19) whose direct air conditioning operation can be controlled by the centralized control device (21), or is connected to and is subordinate to the master unit (19) and subordinate to the master unit. (20) whose central control unit (21) cannot directly control the air conditioning operation.
It can be inspected even after the whole system including the central monitoring device (22) is started up, and the inspection data can be confirmed by the inspection device (46), and the indoor unit (12)
Of the connection state to the centralized control device (21) and the indoor unit (1
Even if the change of the group in 2) or the change of the master / slave settings in the group occurs, such a state can be automatically inspected by the central control unit (21) and the inspection data can be obtained. Can be confirmed by the inspection device (46), and the workability of the inspection in the field of the present invention is significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram for explaining a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a centralized control device 21, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the storage mode of the table 38a, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of this embodiment. 11 …… Air conditioner, 12 …… Indoor unit, 19 …… Parent unit, 20…
… Slave unit, 21 …… Centralized control device, 22 …… Central monitoring device, 2
6,30 …… Transmission control unit, 27,31 …… Terminal block, 28,32 …… Transceiver unit, 46 …… Inspection device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of indoor units (12) in which identification data for mutual identification are set, a central control device (21) for controlling each indoor unit (12), and a central control device (21) connected. The inspection device (46) and the central monitoring device (22) that manages the central control device (21) are included. The indoor unit (12) has a connection state to the central control device (21) and the central control. When the central control unit (21) receives a request for a response signal for checking whether the communication state is acceptable or not for receiving an air conditioning operation execution command from the unit (21), communication is performed with the connection state being present. A master unit (19) that returns a response signal indicating that the state is acceptable, and a request that the response signal is received from the central control device (21) indicates that the connection state is present and the communication state is not possible. A slave unit (20) subordinately connected to the master unit (19) that returns a response signal.
The central control device (21) sequentially specifies the indoor units (12) based on the identification data when the power of the air conditioner is turned on, and outputs a response signal. Based on the response signal returned from each indoor unit (12), the indoor unit (12) is inspected for connection status and communication status, and inspection data is stored. After the inspection data is stored, the inspection is performed again and the operation of updating the storage of the inspection data is repeated, and the inspection device (46) is configured to store the inspection data at least when the centralized control device (21) stores the inspection data. When the memory is updated, the centralized control device (21) is requested to send inspection data, and when the centralized control device (21) receives a request for transmission of inspection data from the inspection device (46), the stored inspection data is stored. Read data and inspect Transmitted to the location (46), the inspection method of an air conditioner which is characterized in that to be able to verify a data inspection apparatus (46).