KR20120033746A - Air conditioner and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An air conditioner and a control method thereof are provided to save and manage cycle data so that data is easily collected and utilized. CONSTITUTION: An air conditioner comprises an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a remote controller(10). The remote controller is connected to the indoor and outdoor units, thereby controlling an operation of the indoor and outdoor units and monitoring. The remote controller distinguishes cycle data related to the indoor and outdoor units among the data received from the indoor and outdoor units, thereby accruing and saving the distinguished data in a cycle data unit separately equipped.

Description

Air conditioner and control method

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an air conditioner and a control method for storing and managing cycle data during operation of an indoor unit and an indoor unit.

The air conditioner is installed to provide a more comfortable indoor environment for humans by discharging cold air into the room to adjust the indoor temperature and purifying the indoor air to create a comfortable indoor environment. In general, an air conditioner includes an indoor unit which is configured as a heat exchanger and installed indoors, and an outdoor unit which is configured as a compressor and a heat exchanger and supplies refrigerant to the indoor unit.

The air conditioner is separated and controlled by an indoor unit composed of a heat exchanger and an outdoor unit composed of a compressor and a heat exchanger, and is operated by controlling power supplied to the compressor or the heat exchanger. In addition, the air conditioner may be connected to at least one indoor unit to the outdoor unit, the refrigerant is supplied to the indoor unit according to the requested operating state, the operation is operated in the cooling or heating mode.

Such air conditioners operate according to refrigerant cycles based on various data. In the air conditioner, various data are used for each component of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and a lot of data is generated during operation and measured and stored by a sensor or the like.

However, in addition to the basic data for driving the air conditioner, data generated during operation is mostly deleted when the operation ends, and new data is generated during the next operation. Such data may be stored in an air conditioner, but there is a limit in storage capacity and thus it may not store much data.

Accordingly, when collecting such data to check the operating condition of the air conditioner, it is possible to connect the terminal directly to the indoor unit or the outdoor unit to store the data, but it is difficult to process this in a cumbersome and large-scale system because it requires direct access to each indoor unit and the outdoor unit. There is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and control method for separately collecting and storing cycle data generated during the operation of the air conditioner, and manages the stored data.

An air conditioner according to the present invention includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit; It is connected to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to control and monitor its operation, and to divide the cycle data for the indoor unit and the outdoor unit among the data received from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and includes a remote controller accumulatively stored in the cycle data unit provided separately do.

In addition, the control method of the air conditioner of the present invention comprises the steps of temporarily storing the cycle data of the data received from the connected indoor unit and outdoor unit in the data unit; Detecting a connection state of the cycle data unit if the size of the cycle data temporarily stored in the data unit is greater than or equal to a preset reference size; Accumulating and storing the cycle data in the cycle data unit when the connection state of the cycle data unit is normal; And outputting a guide for an abnormality of the cycle data unit if the connection state of the cycle data unit is abnormal.

Since the air conditioner and the control method according to the present invention configured as described above are separately stored and managed for cycle data, data collection is easy and can be immediately used when necessary, and the data can be easily moved. In addition, it is possible to check the operation state of the air conditioner and determine whether or not there is an effect that the efficiency according to the control and management of the air conditioner is improved.

1 is a view showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote controller in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote controller and a cycle data unit thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart referred to for explaining a data storage method of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view showing an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with an example of the ceiling type shown in the drawings, but is applicable to an air conditioner including at least one unit, and the form thereof is not limited to the drawings. .

In addition, the air conditioner is described with an example including an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, but may further include a unit such as a ventilation unit, an air cleaning unit, a humidification unit, a dehumidification unit, and a heater. In addition, the air conditioner may be connected to the lighting unit or the alarm unit to operate in conjunction with each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner includes at least one indoor unit 31 to 39 and outdoor units 21, 22, and 23 connected to the indoor unit.

In addition, the air conditioner includes at least one remote controller 11 to 13 connected to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to control its operation. In this case, the remote controller may be connected to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, or may communicate with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit through a remote controller connected to another remote controller.

The air conditioner further includes a local controller connected to the indoor unit to output state information of the indoor unit and transmitting the input data to the indoor unit to set the operation of the indoor unit.

The indoor units 31 to 39 and the outdoor units 21, 22, and 23 are connected to the refrigerant pipes, respectively, and discharge cold air from the indoor unit to the room as the refrigerant circulates. The indoor unit may be connected in plurality to one outdoor unit. The indoor unit and the outdoor unit may be connected to a refrigerant pipe as well as connected to a communication line to transmit and receive a control command according to a predetermined communication method.

For example, the first outdoor unit 21 is connected to the first to third indoor units 31 to 33, and the second outdoor unit 22 is connected to the fourth to sixth indoor units 34 to 36. In addition, the third outdoor unit 23 is connected to the seventh to ninth indoor units 37 to 39.

At this time, the indoor unit (31 to 39) is an expansion valve (not shown) for expanding the refrigerant supplied from the connected outdoor unit, the indoor heat exchanger for heat exchange of the refrigerant, the indoor air flows into the indoor heat exchanger, the heat exchanged air is exposed to the room An indoor unit fan (not shown), a plurality of sensors (not shown), and a control means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the indoor unit.

In addition, the indoor units (I1 to I6) includes a discharge port for discharging the heat-exchanged air, the discharge port is provided with a wind direction control means for opening and closing the discharge port, and controls the direction of the discharged air. The indoor unit controls the air volume by controlling the air sucked in and the air discharged by controlling the rotation speed of the indoor fan. In addition, the indoor unit may further include a human body detecting means for detecting a human body existing in the indoor space in some cases. In addition, the indoor units I1 to I6 further include a display unit for displaying the operating state and setting information of the indoor unit, and an input unit for inputting setting data.

The outdoor units 21 to 23 operate in a cooling mode or a heating mode in response to a request of a connected indoor unit or an external control command, and supply refrigerant to a plurality of indoor units.

The outdoor units 21 to 23 compress at least one compressor (not shown) which compresses the refrigerant flowing therein and discharges the high-pressure gas refrigerant, and separates the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant so that the unvaporized liquid refrigerant flows into the compressor. Accumulator (not shown), oil separator for recovering oil from refrigerant discharged from the compressor, outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) for condensing or evaporating refrigerant by heat exchange with outside air, In order to make the air flow more smoothly, an outdoor fan (not shown) for introducing air to the outdoor heat exchanger and discharging the heat-exchanged air to the outside, a four-way valve (not shown) for changing the refrigerant flow path according to the operation mode of the outdoor unit, and for measuring the pressure At least one pressure sensor (not shown), at least one temperature sensor (not shown) that measures temperature, controls the operation of the outdoor unit and It includes a control configuration that performs communication. The outdoor unit further includes a number of other sensors, valves, subcooling devices, etc., and a description thereof will be omitted below.

 The remote controllers 11 to 13 are connected to indoor units, outdoor units, and other units to monitor the operation of each unit, and generate and transmit control commands to each unit in response to an input user command or a specified schedule or setting. Control to perform a predetermined operation.

Here, the remote controllers 11 to 13 may include a converter or a gateway for converting data of different protocols. The remote controllers 11 to 13 include communication modules corresponding to each communication method when the communication method between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit and the communication method with the other units are different, and convert and process data in some cases.

The first outdoor unit 21 and the second outdoor unit 22 are connected to the second remote controller 12, and the third outdoor unit 23 is connected to the third remote controller 13.

The second remote controller 12 may communicate with the first and second outdoor units 21 and 22 and the first to sixth indoor units 31 to 36 to control the operation and monitor the operation state. In addition, the third remote controller 13 communicates with the third outdoor unit 23 and the seventh to ninth indoor units 37 to 39 to control and monitor the operation.

In this case, the first remote controller 11 is connected to the second remote controller 12 and the third remote controller 13 to monitor the operation of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit according to the data transmitted and received through the second and third remote controllers. Can be controlled.

The first remote controller 11, the second remote controller 12, and the third remote controller 13 may be connected through a hub according to the characteristics of the connected network. In addition, the first remote controller 11, the second remote controller 12 and the third remote controller 13 includes a server function, the first remote controller 11, the second remote controller 12 via the Internet And an air conditioner control and monitoring function through a terminal connected to any one of the third remote controllers 13.

Here, the remote controllers 11 to 13 may control the indoor units and the outdoor units, respectively, in units of individual units, or may divide the at least one unit into a predetermined group or zone and control its operation in units of groups or zones. .

In addition, the remote controllers 11 to 13 store and manage cycle data received from the connected indoor units and the outdoor units, respectively, and share data according to the operation status and control of the indoor units and the outdoor units through mutual data communication.

When the cycle data is requested from the outside through a predetermined network, the remote controllers 11 to 13 may provide the stored cycle data upon completion of authentication after performing a predetermined authentication procedure.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote controller in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the remote controllers 11 to 13 control the input unit 140, the output unit 150, the data unit 120, the signal converter 180, the communication unit 160, and the overall operation of the remote controller. It includes a control unit 110.

In addition, the remote controller includes a cycle data unit 130. At this time, the cycle data unit 130 is provided in a form that can be attached and detached to the remote controller.

The input unit 140 may include at least one button or touch input means, and may include both buttons and touch input means in some cases. The input unit 140 applies a user command input according to an operation of the input unit provided as described above to the controller 110.

The output unit 150 includes a predetermined display means for outputting numbers, letters, special characters or images. In addition, the output unit further includes a sound output means for outputting sound effects, warning sounds, voice guidance, lamps that are lit or flashed to output warning light status lights.

The output unit 150 outputs a user command input through the input unit 140 on a screen, or outputs a predetermined screen corresponding to the input user command.

In addition, the output unit 150 displays operation state data for the indoor units 31 to 39 and the outdoor units 21 to 23 received through the communication unit 160, and displays a control menu for controlling the indoor unit and the outdoor unit on the screen. Display.

The data unit 120 stores data for operating the remote controller and control data for controlling the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. In addition, data input through the input unit 140 is stored, and temporary data generated during operation, control records for indoor units and outdoor units, and access information for terminals accessing the remote controller are stored.

In addition, the data unit 120 stores data transmitted and received to the indoor units 31 to 39 and the outdoor units 21 to 23.

The data of the indoor units 31 to 39 and the outdoor units 21 to 23 are stored in the cycle data unit 130. The data of the air conditioning cycle generated during operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit according to the setting is included in the cycle data unit 130. Is stored, and the data measured by the sensor is also stored.

In this case, data of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is also stored in the data unit 130, but cycle data among data received from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is accumulated and stored separately in the cycle data unit 130.

Since the cycle data unit 130 accumulates and stores cycle data of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, it is preferable to use a storage device having a larger capacity than the data unit 120.

The communication unit 160 includes a plurality of communication modules for transmitting and receiving data according to a wired or wireless communication method, and transmits and receives data to and from the outdoor unit and the indoor unit 20 in a predetermined communication method, and applies it to the controller 110.

In addition, the communication unit 160 transmits and receives data to and from another connected remote controller 19, provides data for control and monitoring to a terminal 50 remotely connected through a predetermined network such as the Internet, and receives data from the terminal. do. In this case, when the terminal 50 is connected, data transmission and reception are performed through the communication unit 160 after performing a predetermined authentication procedure.

The signal converter 180 determines the characteristics of the data received through the communication unit 160 and the communication method to convert the data when communicating using different data formats or different protocols.

The controller 110 controls the data transmitted and received through the communication unit 160, and controls the data input and output by causing the data input through the input unit 140 to display the display unit 150. At this time, the controller 110 generates a control command for controlling the operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit in response to the user command input from the input unit 140 to be transmitted through the communication unit 160.

In particular, the controller 110 controls the indoor unit and the outdoor unit when the remote controller is connected to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, outputs the operation state of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and transmits the data of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to another connected remote controller, The indoor unit and the outdoor unit are controlled in response to data received from another remote controller.

Meanwhile, when the remote controller is not directly connected to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the controller 110 may request data of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit from the connected remote controller and operate the indoor unit and the outdoor unit in response to the data received through the other remote controller. Output the status.

In addition, the control unit 110 distinguishes whether the data received from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit 20 through the communication unit 160, whether the normal data or cycle data so that the cycle data is stored separately in the cycle data unit 130.

At this time, the controller 110 stores all the received data in the data unit 120, but the data stored in the data unit 120 is deleted after a predetermined period, so that the cycle data is separately divided and stored in the cycle data unit 130. do.

When the cycle data unit 130 stores the cycle data, the controller 110 first checks the connection state of the cycle data unit 130 and stores the cycle data when the cycle data is normally connected.

The controller 110 temporarily stores the cycle data in the data unit 120 when the cycle data unit 130 is not normally connected, and outputs a connection error of the cycle data unit 130 through the output unit 150.

In addition, when the detachable cycle data unit 130 is detachably connected and is not connected, the controller 110 indicates that the cycle data unit 130 is not connected to the controller 110 through the output unit 150. It is in at least one form.

When the cycle data unit 130 is normally connected, the controller 110 stores the temporarily stored cycle data in the cycle data unit 130.

When the cycle data unit 130 is connected in plural, the controller 110 checks the connection state of each cycle data unit 130, classifies and stores the data according to the type of data, or stores the data sequentially. .

In addition, the controller 110 checks the storage capacity of the cycle data unit 130 and organizes the data in predetermined time units. At this time, the controller 110 deletes the data in the order of old data, but excludes the data that is separately locked. In some cases, the controller 110 may compress and back up the data instead of immediately deleting the data.

The controller 110 may change the deletion order based on the time at which the data is stored, in response to the frequency of use of the data. In other words, data with a frequency of use is treated as an exception and data is not deleted.

The controller 110 checks the storage capacity of the cycle data unit 130, and if the data can no longer be stored, outputs an error through the output unit 150 before deleting and organizing the data as described above. Allow the user to recognize this.

When the plurality of cycle data units 130 are connected as described above, the controller 110 stores the data in the next cycle data unit 130 when there is insufficient storage space in one cycle data unit 130.

In some cases, the controller 110 may display the storage capacity of the cycle data unit 130, the amount of stored data, and the remaining capacity through the output unit 150, and separately divide the cycle data unit 130 when there are a plurality of cycle data units 130. To be displayed.

In addition, when the control unit 110 receives a request for cycle data from any one of the terminal 50 connected to one remote controller and the other remote controller 19 connected through the communication unit 160, After performing the authentication procedure, the data stored in the cycle data unit 130 is transmitted according to the request.

3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote controller and a cycle data unit thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the remote controller 10 includes an output unit 150 and an input unit 140.

In addition, the remote controller 10 is provided with a plurality of connection terminals, the cycle data unit 130 is configured to be removable.

The remote controller 10 may be wired to another unit via a plurality of connection terminals, and in addition to the air conditioner unit, the remote controller 10 is configured to operate in connection with an illumination unit, an alarm unit, and the like.

The cycle data unit 130 is a storage device for storing cycle data. The cycle data unit 130 may store data over a predetermined capacity and accumulate and store cycle data of the remote controller 10 for a predetermined period of time.

The cycle data unit 130 may be connected to the remote controller 10 through a connection terminal or may be provided inside the remote controller 10.

In this case, the cycle data unit 130 may use not only a card-type data storage device 131 such as a CF card or an SD card, but also a USB-type memory device 132 and an internal hard disk 133. .

In addition, the cycle data unit 130 is not limited thereto, and a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, or the like may be used, and also in the form of a carrier wave such as a transmission through the Internet. It includes what is implemented. The cycle data unit 130 includes a remote controller 10 and all kinds of recording devices for storing data that can be read by the processor of the terminal.

The controller 110 detects when the cycle data unit 130 is connected to or removed from the remote controller 10 and controls data input / output to the cycle data unit 130.

4 is a flowchart referred to for explaining a data storage method of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the remote controller 10 receives data from an indoor unit and an outdoor unit (S310). The remote controller 10 monitors the operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit according to data received from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and transmits a control command correspondingly.

The remote controller 10 stores the data received from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit in the data unit 120. In this case, the controller 110 extracts cycle data of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit separately from the received data and temporarily stores the cycle data in the data unit 120 (S320). In addition, the remote controller 10 may transmit data received from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to another connected remote controller.

The controller 110 of the remote controller temporarily accumulates and stores cycle data among the data received from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit in the data unit 120, and if the cycle data temporarily stored in the data unit 120 is greater than or equal to the reference size (S330). In operation S340, it is determined whether the cycle data unit 130 is in a normal state.

At this time, when the size of the temporarily stored cycle data does not reach the reference size, the controller 110 temporarily accumulates and stores the data in the data unit 120 until the reference size is reached.

In addition, when the cycle data unit 130 is not in a normal state, that is, when the cycle data unit 130 is not mounted, the controller 110 may determine that the cycle data unit 130 is small. At least one of the cases of malfunctioning due to abnormality of 130 itself is determined as the cycle data unit 130 is not in the normal state, and outputs a guide on the connection state through the output unit 150 (S350).

At this time, the guide for the abnormality of the cycle data unit 130 may be output in the form of at least one of the text, voice, sound effects, warning, etc. through the output unit 150. In some cases, it may be transmitted to another remote controller connected to the remote controller and output through an output unit provided to the other remote controller.

When the cycle data unit 130 is in a normal state, the controller 110 stores cycle data of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit temporarily stored in the data unit 120 in the cycle data unit 130 (S360).

The controller 110 periodically cycles the cycle data stored in the data unit 120 to be stored in the cycle data unit 130, and periodically checks the remaining capacity and the connection state of the cycle data unit 130.

When a request for cycle data is received from another connected remote controller or connected terminal, the controller 110 checks the connection state of the cycle data unit 130 and calls the requested data among the stored cycle data (S380). Each transmits to the requested device (S390).

At this time, when the communication method of the device requesting data is different or the protocol is different, the signal converter 180 converts the signal accordingly so that data is transmitted and received.

In some cases, since the cycle data unit 130 is detachable from the remote controller, the cycle data unit 130 can be detached from the remote controller and connected to another terminal.

Accordingly, the cycle data of the air conditioner can be accumulated and stored, and the diagnosis of the operating state of the air conditioner can be performed using the air conditioner, thereby increasing the efficiency according to the management and control of the air conditioner. In addition, the cycle data portion can be attached and detached so that necessary data can be easily obtained.

As described above, the air conditioner and the control method according to the present invention have been described with reference to the illustrated drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein, and may be applied within the scope of the technical idea. Can be.

10, 11 to 13: remote controller 21 to 23: outdoor unit
31 to 39: indoor unit
110: control unit 120: data unit
130: cycle data portion

Claims (10)

Indoor and outdoor units;
It is connected to the indoor unit and outdoor unit to control and monitor its operation,
And a remote controller for dividing the cycle data for the indoor unit and the outdoor unit among the data received from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit and accumulating and storing the cycle data for the cycle unit. The method of claim 1,
The remote controller
A data unit storing data received from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit and data to be transmitted to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and temporarily storing the cycle data;
And a controller configured to store the cycle data temporarily stored in the data unit in the cycle data corresponding to the connection state of the cycle data unit. The method of claim 2,
And the control unit accumulates and stores the cycle data temporarily stored in the data unit if the size of the cycle data stored in the data unit is greater than or equal to a preset reference size. The method of claim 2,
And the cycle data unit is a storage device configured to be detachable from the remote controller. The method of claim 2,
When the connection state of the cycle data unit is not normal, the controller outputs a guide for the connection state of the cycle data unit in the form of at least one of a warning sound, a voice guidance, a warning message, and a warning lamp. group. The method of claim 1,
A second remote controller connected to the remote controller; And
And a terminal connected to the remote controller and receiving information of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit through the remote controller,
When the request for the cycle data is received from the second remote controller or the terminal, the remote controller reads the requested cycle data from the cycle data unit and transmits the cycle data to the second remote controller or the terminal. group. Temporarily storing cycle data among data received from the connected indoor unit and the outdoor unit in the data unit;
Detecting a connection state of the cycle data unit if the size of the cycle data temporarily stored in the data unit is greater than or equal to a preset reference size;
Accumulating and storing the cycle data in the cycle data unit when the connection state of the cycle data unit is normal; And
And outputting a guide for an abnormality of the cycle data unit if the connection state of the cycle data unit is abnormal. The method of claim 7, wherein
If the request for the cycle data is received from the connected second remote controller or the terminal, the control method of the air conditioner further comprising the step of reading the cycle data from the cycle data unit to the second remote controller or the terminal. . The method of claim 7, wherein
When detecting the connection state of the cycle data unit,
When the cycle data unit is not mounted, at least one of the remaining capacity of the cycle data unit is less than or equal to a predetermined value and malfunctions beyond the cycle data unit itself. The control method of the air conditioner, characterized in that the cycle data is not stored in the cycle data. The method of claim 7, wherein
And if the connection state of the cycle data unit is abnormal, outputting a guide of the connection state of the cycle data unit in the form of at least one of a warning sound, a voice guidance, a warning message, and a warning lamp.

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