WO2017212545A1 - Air conditioner, and group setting method - Google Patents

Air conditioner, and group setting method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017212545A1
WO2017212545A1 PCT/JP2016/066908 JP2016066908W WO2017212545A1 WO 2017212545 A1 WO2017212545 A1 WO 2017212545A1 JP 2016066908 W JP2016066908 W JP 2016066908W WO 2017212545 A1 WO2017212545 A1 WO 2017212545A1
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Prior art keywords
indoor unit
indoor units
indoor
device address
unit
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PCT/JP2016/066908
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French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
裕章 松本
彰久 前北
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三菱電機株式会社
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Application filed by 三菱電機株式会社 filed Critical 三菱電機株式会社
Priority to PCT/JP2016/066908 priority Critical patent/WO2017212545A1/en
Publication of WO2017212545A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017212545A1/en

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  • the present invention relates to an air conditioner and a group setting method, and more particularly to an air conditioner and a group setting method applied to a building multi-air conditioner and the like.
  • a building such as a building
  • indoor units that are provided indoors and adjust the indoor temperature to an instructed temperature
  • outdoor units that are provided outside and perform exhaust heat or the like
  • An air conditioner configured to be managed by a centralized management device
  • a communication network is configured by connecting an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a centralized management device with a transmission line. For example, operation on or off, temperature setting, operation mode, etc. between the devices Communication is performed by exchanging various signals including the control data.
  • this air conditioner can be further connected to a remote controller for the operator to perform operations such as setting the operation mode to the transmission line to which the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected.
  • a remote controller for the operator to perform operations such as setting the operation mode to the transmission line to which the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected.
  • indoor units that are controlled based on an instruction from the same remote controller can be configured as the same group (for example, see Patent Document 1).
  • the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 for example, during installation work, an operator confirms an indoor unit connected by the same wiring as the remote controller from a construction drawing or the like, and manually inputs it to the centralized controller. By doing this, indoor units corresponding to the same remote controller are set as the same group. Further, in this air conditioner, the device addresses of the remote controllers corresponding to these indoor units are set based on the unique device addresses set in advance for each indoor unit, and the indoor units and remote controllers are The group configuration is automatically determined based on the device address. Then, the centralized control device determines an erroneous group setting or the like by comparing the group configuration preset by manual input with the automatically determined group configuration.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and a group setting method capable of automatically performing group setting.
  • the air conditioner of the present invention includes a plurality of indoor units, a plurality of remote controllers connected to the one or more indoor units, and controlling operations of the connected indoor units, the indoor units, and the remote control.
  • a plurality of indoor units each of which has a device address, which is identification information unique to each of the plurality of indoor units. Is set to the first setting state, and among the indoor units set to the first setting state, the operation is performed for the indoor units whose device address is set to the minimum or maximum.
  • the control signal for changing from the set state to the second set state is transmitted, and one or a plurality of indoor units responding to the control signal within the set waiting time are set as the same group.
  • the group setting method for an air conditioner includes a plurality of indoor units each having a device address that is unique identification information, and one or a plurality of the indoor units connected to each other, and the connected indoor units.
  • a group setting method for an air conditioner comprising: a plurality of remote controllers that control the operation of a unit; and a centralized control device that controls the indoor unit and the remote controller, wherein the operations of the plurality of indoor units are controlled
  • one or a plurality of indoor units connected to each remote controller are set as the same group based on the device address, thereby enabling manual operation by an operator. It is possible to automatically perform group setting for an indoor unit without performing input and without setting a device address for a remote controller.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the centralized control apparatus of FIG.
  • It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the centralized control apparatus at the time of performing group setting with respect to the indoor unit of FIG.
  • It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process in an indoor unit when performing group setting with respect to the indoor unit of FIG.
  • FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in an indoor unit that is a child indoor unit when performing group setting for the indoor unit in FIG. 5.
  • Embodiment 1 when setting a group for each indoor unit whose operation is controlled by each of the plurality of remote controllers included in the air conditioner, unique identification information set in advance for the indoor unit The group setting is automatically performed based on the device address.
  • the number of indoor units belonging to one group may be one or a plurality.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
  • the air conditioning apparatus 1 includes a central control device 10, an outdoor unit 20, an indoor unit 30, and a remote controller 40.
  • the air conditioner 1 includes two indoor units 30A and 30B as the indoor unit 30 and two remote controllers 40A and 40B as the remote controllers 40.
  • FIG. 1 shows the connection relationship of communication performed between the devices, and for example, the refrigerant piping connected between the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 30 is not shown. .
  • the central control device 10 manages various states in the outdoor unit 20, the indoor unit 30, and the remote controller 40 constituting the air conditioner 1, and controls these devices. For example, in the first embodiment, the centralized control device 10 performs group setting for grouping the plurality of indoor units 30 provided in the air conditioner 1 for each corresponding remote controller 40.
  • An outdoor unit 20 is connected to the central control apparatus 10 via a transmission line 2A.
  • the centralized control device 10 exchanges various signals such as control signals with the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 30 connected to the outdoor unit 20 via the transmission line 2A. For example, when setting a group with respect to the some indoor unit 30 provided in the air conditioning apparatus 1, the centralized control apparatus 10 transmits the control signal at the time of performing group setting via the transmission line 2A and the outdoor unit 20. It transmits to the indoor unit 30.
  • the control signal is, for example, a command signal for changing the operation of the indoor unit 30 from “stop state” to “operation state”.
  • the “stop state” indicates a state where the operation of the indoor unit 30 is stopped.
  • the “operating state” indicates a state other than a stopped state such as an operation in the air blowing operation mode or an operation in the cooling operation mode.
  • the control signal is not limited to this example, and may be a signal for changing the air volume, for example. That is, the control signal is a signal for changing the indoor unit 30 from the first setting state to the second setting state.
  • the centralized control device 10 is configured by, for example, software executed on a computing device such as a microcomputer or CPU (Central Processing Unit), hardware such as a circuit device that realizes a function described later, and the like.
  • a computing device such as a microcomputer or CPU (Central Processing Unit)
  • hardware such as a circuit device that realizes a function described later, and the like.
  • the outdoor unit 20 forms a heat exchange cycle such as a refrigeration cycle by operating in cooperation with the indoor unit 30, for example.
  • the central control apparatus 10 is connected to the outdoor unit 20 through the transmission line 2A, and the indoor unit 30A is connected through the transmission line 2B.
  • the outdoor unit 20 transmits a control signal received from the central control apparatus 10 via the transmission line 2A to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 2B.
  • the indoor unit 30 operates in cooperation with the outdoor unit 20 to form a heat exchange cycle such as a refrigeration cycle, and harmonizes the air in the air-conditioning target space.
  • the outdoor unit 20 is connected to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 2B, and the indoor unit 30B is connected via the transmission line 2C.
  • a remote controller 40A is connected to the indoor unit 30A via a transmission line 3A.
  • the operation of the indoor unit 30A is controlled based on the operator's operation on the remote controller 40A connected by the transmission line 3A.
  • the indoor unit 30B is connected to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 2C and to the remote controller 40B via the transmission line 3B.
  • the operation of the indoor unit 30B is controlled based on the operator's operation on the remote controller 40B connected by the transmission line 3B.
  • Each indoor unit 30 is set with a device address that is unique identification information.
  • a group is set by the central control device 10 based on the device address. Details of the group setting will be described later.
  • the address “001” is set as the device address for the indoor unit 30A
  • the address “002” is set as the device address for the indoor unit 30B.
  • the remote controller 40 controls the operation of the indoor unit 30 by transmitting an operation signal based on the operation of the operator to the corresponding indoor unit 30. Further, the remote controller 40 receives information indicating the operation state from the corresponding indoor unit 30.
  • the remote controller 40A is connected to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 3A.
  • the remote controller 40B is connected to the indoor unit 30B via the transmission line 3B.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the centralized control device 10 of FIG.
  • the central control apparatus 10 includes a central control processing unit 11, a communication unit 12, a command unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a group registration unit 15.
  • the function of the central control apparatus 10 is not limited to what is illustrated.
  • the central control processing unit 11 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer and controls the operation of each unit in the central control device 10 based on input information.
  • the central control processing unit 11 performs centralized control of the entire air conditioner 1.
  • the central control processing unit 11 has a timer (not shown).
  • the timer is used for group setting of the indoor units 30 to be described later, and measures the preset standby time after the centralized control processing unit 11 transmits a control signal to the indoor units 30. For example, when the maximum number of indoor units 30 that can be connected to the remote controller 40 is connected, the standby time by the timer is necessary for receiving responses to control signals from all the connected indoor units 30. A long time is set.
  • the communication unit 12 is connected to the transmission line 2A and functions as an interface for communication exchanged between the central control processing unit 11 and an external device such as the outdoor unit 20. That is, communication performed between the central control apparatus 10 and external devices is performed via the communication unit 12. For example, when the communication unit 12 receives a control signal from the central control processing unit 11, the communication unit 12 transmits the received control signal to the outdoor unit 20 or another device via the transmission line 2A. For example, when the communication unit 12 receives operation information from the indoor unit 30 via the outdoor unit 20 and the transmission line 2 ⁇ / b> A, the communication unit 12 supplies the received operation information to the central control processing unit 11.
  • the operation information is information related to the operation of the indoor unit 30.
  • the operation information includes, for example, information on the current state that the indoor unit 30 is in the operating state or the stopped state, information on the temperature such as the indoor temperature and the set temperature, and the like.
  • the command unit 13 generates various commands related to the control of the indoor unit 30 such as change of the operation state of the indoor unit 30, switching of the operation mode, and change of the set temperature. Then, the command unit 13 supplies the generated command to the central control processing unit 11.
  • the storage unit 14 stores various data such as information on the entire air conditioner 1 including the operation state of the indoor unit 30, data necessary for each unit of the centralized control device 10 to perform various processes, and data generated by the various processes.
  • the storage unit 14 stores the device address set in the indoor unit 30 that has transmitted the received operation information.
  • the storage unit 14 stores group information registered by a group registration unit 15 described later.
  • the group registration unit 15 performs group registration based on the device address of the indoor unit 30 stored in the storage unit 14. Specifically, for example, when the central control processing unit 11 transmits a control signal to the indoor unit 30, the group registration unit 15 receives a response received while the timer of the central control processing unit 11 is timing. Are set and registered as the same group based on the device address.
  • the central control apparatus 10 sets a group for each indoor unit 30 connected to each remote controller 40 based on a device address set in advance in each indoor unit 30.
  • the indoor unit 30A is connected to the remote controller 40A
  • the indoor unit 30B is connected to the remote controller 40B. Therefore, in this example, the indoor unit 30A is set as one group #A, and the indoor unit 30B is set as another group #B.
  • the central control device 10 generates a command signal for stopping the operation of all the indoor units 30 at the command unit 13. Then, the central control apparatus 10 transmits the generated command signal to the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B via the transmission line 2A, the outdoor unit 20, the transmission line 2B, and the transmission line 2C. Thereby, indoor unit 30A and indoor unit 30B which received the command signal will be in a halt condition.
  • the centralized control device 10 generates a control signal for changing the indoor unit 30 from the stopped state to the operating state by the command unit 13, and sets the smallest device address among the stopped indoor units 30.
  • the searched indoor unit 30 is searched.
  • the centralized control device 10 does not recognize the device addresses set for all the indoor units 30. Therefore, the central control apparatus 10 sequentially transmits the generated control signals from a device address within a preset range, for example, device address “001” to device address “050”.
  • the central control apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the device address “001” that is the smallest value among the device addresses in a preset range. Then, the central control apparatus 10 determines whether or not the device address “001” is the minimum device address set in the indoor unit 30 according to whether or not a response to the control signal is received.
  • the central control apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the device address “001” via the transmission line 2A, the outdoor unit 20, the transmission line 2B, and the transmission line 2C.
  • the indoor unit 30A since there is an indoor unit 30A in which the device address “001” is set, the indoor unit 30A receives this control signal.
  • the central control device 10 transmits a control signal to the indoor unit 30 ⁇ / b> A, and at the same time starts timing by a timer provided in the central control processing unit 11. Then, the central control apparatus 10 waits until a preset standby time elapses in order to confirm the response from the indoor unit 30A.
  • the indoor unit 30 ⁇ / b> A enters an operation state based on a control signal from the central control device 10.
  • the indoor unit 30A that has entered the operation state receives, as a response to the control signal, the operation information indicating the operation state via the transmission line 2B, the outdoor unit 20, and the transmission line 2A. At the same time, it is transmitted to the central control apparatus 10.
  • the indoor unit 30A notifies the operating state to the remote controller 40A via the transmission line 3A.
  • the central control apparatus 10 When the central control apparatus 10 receives the operation information as a response to the control signal from the indoor unit 30A, the central control apparatus 10 stores the device address “001” set in the indoor unit 30A in the storage unit 14.
  • the indoor unit 30 other than the indoor unit 30A is not connected to the remote controller 40A corresponding to the indoor unit 30A that transmitted the response. Therefore, the centralized control device 10 does not receive a response to the control signal from the indoor units 30 other than the indoor unit 30A.
  • the centralized control device 10 After the waiting time set in the timer has elapsed, registers the device address “001” of the indoor unit 30A stored in the storage unit 14 as one group #A by the group registration unit 15. The group information is stored in the storage unit 14.
  • the central control apparatus 10 deletes the device address “001” from the storage unit 14. This is to prevent the indoor unit 30 having the device address registered in one group from being registered in another group.
  • the central control apparatus 10 searches for the indoor unit 30 in which the smallest device address is set among the stopped indoor units 30 as described above.
  • the central control apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the minimum device address in the device addresses in a preset range, but device addresses already registered in the group are excluded.
  • the device address “001” of the indoor unit 30A registered as the group #A is excluded from the device addresses “001” to “050” in the preset range. Therefore, the central control apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the indoor unit 30B in which the device address “002” is set.
  • the centralized control device 10 transmits a control signal to the indoor unit 30B, and at the same time starts timing by a timer. Then, the central control apparatus 10 waits until the standby time elapses in order to confirm the response from the indoor unit 30B.
  • the indoor unit 30 ⁇ / b> B enters an operation state based on a control signal from the central control device 10.
  • the indoor unit 30B that has entered the operation state transmits operation information to the centralized control device 10 together with the device address “002” of its own device as a response to the control signal.
  • the indoor unit 30B notifies the remote controller 40B of the operation state.
  • the centralized control device 10 When receiving the operation information from the indoor unit 30B, the centralized control device 10 stores the device address “002” set in the indoor unit 30B in the storage unit 14. Note that the indoor unit 30 other than the indoor unit 30B is not connected to the remote controller 40B. Therefore, the centralized control device 10 does not receive a response to the control signal from the indoor units 30 other than the indoor unit 30B. Then, after the standby time set in the timer has elapsed, the central control apparatus 10 sets the indoor unit 30B in which the device address “002” stored in the storage unit 14 is set to the group #A by the group registration unit 15. Is registered as a different group #B, and the group information is stored in the storage unit 14. Further, when the registration of the group #B is completed and the group information is stored, the centralized control device 10 deletes the device address “002” from the storage unit 14.
  • a different group is automatically set for each indoor unit 30 connected to each of the plurality of remote controllers 40 provided in the air conditioner 1 based on the device address of the indoor unit 30. Can be set and registered.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow in the central control apparatus 10 when performing group setting for the indoor unit 30 in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the indoor unit 30 when performing group setting for the indoor unit 30 in FIG. 1.
  • step S1 the central control device 10 generates a command signal for stopping the operation of the indoor unit 30, and transmits the generated command signal to all the indoor units 30 provided in the air conditioner 1.
  • the centralized control device 10 generates a control signal for changing the indoor unit 30 from the stopped state to the operating state, and searches for the smallest device address among the stopped indoor units 30.
  • the central control apparatus 10 sequentially transmits the generated control signals to the device addresses in a preset range, and recognizes the indoor unit 30 in which the minimum device address is set (step S2). Further, the centralized control device 10 starts measuring time by a timer at the same time as transmitting a control signal to the target indoor unit 30 (step S3).
  • step S4 the central control apparatus 10 determines whether or not the time measurement by the timer started in step S3 is continuing. If it is determined that the time measurement by the timer is continuing (step S4; Yes), the process proceeds to step S5.
  • step S5 the central control apparatus 10 determines whether or not operation information has been received from the target indoor unit 30 as a response to the control signal. If it is determined that the operation information has been received (step S5; Yes), the central control apparatus 10 stores the device address of the indoor unit 30 received together with the operation information in the storage unit 14 (step S6). Then, the process returns to step S2. When it is determined that the driving information has not been received (step S5; No), the process returns to step S4.
  • step S4 determines whether the time measurement by the timer has ended (step S4; No). If it is determined in step S4 that the time measurement by the timer has ended (step S4; No), the process proceeds to step S7.
  • step S ⁇ b> 7 the central control apparatus 10 determines whether a device address is stored in the storage unit 14. When it is determined that the device address is stored in the storage unit 14 (step S7; Yes), the central control device 10 sets the indoor units 30 corresponding to all the device addresses stored in the storage unit 14 to Register as the same group and store the group information in the storage unit 14 (step S8). The central control apparatus 10 deletes the device address stored in the storage unit 14 after registering the group information. On the other hand, when it is determined that the device address is not stored in the storage unit 14 (step S7; No), the process proceeds to step S9.
  • step S ⁇ b> 9 the central control apparatus 10 determines whether there is a stopped indoor unit 30. When it is determined that there is no stopped indoor unit 30 (step S9; Yes), the series of group setting processes ends. If it is determined that there is a stopped indoor unit 30 (step S9; No), the process returns to step S2, and the processes after step S2 are repeated until there is no stopped indoor unit 30.
  • step S11 when receiving the control signal, the indoor unit 30 that is the target of the control signal transmitted from the central control apparatus 10 in step S2 of FIG. 3 starts operation from the stopped state (step S12).
  • step S13 the indoor unit 30 transmits the operation information to the centralized control device 10 together with the device address of the own device as a response to the received control signal.
  • step S14 the indoor unit 30 notifies the operating state to the remote controller 40 connected to its own device.
  • the air-conditioning apparatus 1 includes a plurality of remote units that are connected to a plurality of indoor units 30 and one or a plurality of indoor units 30 and control operations of the connected indoor units 30.
  • a controller 40 and a centralized control device 10 that controls the indoor unit 30 and the remote controller 40 are provided.
  • Each of the plurality of indoor units 30 is set with a device address, which is unique identification information, and the central control apparatus 10 sets the operation of the plurality of indoor units 30 to the first setting state, and enters the first setting state.
  • a control signal for changing the operation from the first setting state to the second setting state is transmitted to the indoor unit 30 whose device address is set to the minimum or maximum, and setting standby One or a plurality of indoor units 30 responding to the control signal within the time are set as the same group.
  • the indoor units 30 connected to each remote controller 40 are set as the same group based on the device address set for each indoor unit 30. Therefore, the group setting of the indoor unit 30 can be automatically performed without the operator inputting a group under initiative and without setting a device address for the remote controller.
  • Embodiment 2 the air conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 will be described.
  • the case where one indoor unit 30 is connected to one remote controller 40 has been described as an example.
  • one remote controller 40 is connected.
  • a case where a plurality of indoor units 30 are connected will be described.
  • the air conditioner 1 according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment described above, except for the number of indoor units 30 connected to one remote controller 40. have. Therefore, in the following description, the same code
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment.
  • the air conditioner 1 includes a central control device 10, an outdoor unit 20, an indoor unit 30, and a remote controller 40, as in the first embodiment.
  • the air conditioner 1 includes three indoor units 30A, an indoor unit 30B, and an indoor unit 30C as the indoor units 30, and two remote controllers 40A and 40B as the remote controllers 40. It has been.
  • the indoor unit 30A is connected to the outdoor unit 20 via the transmission line 2B and to the indoor unit 30B via the transmission line 2C.
  • the indoor unit 30A is connected to the remote controller 40A via the transmission line 3A and to the indoor unit 30B via the transmission line 3B.
  • the indoor unit 30B is connected to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 2C and to the indoor unit 30C via the transmission line 2D.
  • the indoor unit 30B is connected to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 3B.
  • the indoor unit 30C is connected to the indoor unit 30B via the transmission line 2D.
  • the indoor unit 30C is connected to a remote controller 40B via the transmission line 3C.
  • the transmission lines 3A to 3C are for transmitting an operation signal from the remote controller 40 connected to each transmission line to the indoor unit 30. Therefore, since the remote controller 40A is substantially connected to the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B by the transmission line 3A and the transmission line 3B, the remote controller 40A operates the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B. Control. Further, since the remote controller 40B is connected to the indoor unit 30C by the transmission line 3C, the remote controller 40B controls the operation of the indoor unit 30C.
  • the device address “001” is set in the indoor unit 30A.
  • the device address “002” is set in the indoor unit 30B.
  • a device address “003” is set in the indoor unit 30C.
  • the indoor unit 30 having the smallest device address among the plurality of connected indoor units 30 is designated as “parent”.
  • the indoor unit 30 is referred to as an “indoor unit”, and the other indoor units 30 are referred to as “child indoor units”.
  • the indoor unit 30A in which the smallest device address “001” is set becomes the parent indoor unit,
  • the other indoor units 30B are sub indoor units.
  • the indoor unit 30B that is the child indoor unit always recognizes the state of the indoor unit 30A that is the parent indoor unit, and performs the same operation according to the state of the indoor unit 30A. For example, when the indoor unit 30A starts operation, the indoor unit 30B also starts operation when the state is recognized.
  • the central control device 10 generates a command signal for stopping the operation of all the indoor units 30 at the command unit 13. Then, the central control apparatus 10 transmits the generated command signal to the indoor unit 30A, the indoor unit 30B, and the indoor unit 30C via the transmission line 2A, the outdoor unit 20, the transmission line 2B, the transmission line 2C, and the transmission line 2D. . Accordingly, the indoor unit 30A, the indoor unit 30B, and the indoor unit 30C that have received the command signal are stopped.
  • the centralized control device 10 generates a control signal for changing the indoor unit 30 from the stopped state to the operating state by the command unit 13, and at the same time the stopped indoor unit 30. Among them, the indoor unit 30 in which the smallest device address is set is searched. Then, the centralized control device 10 transmits a control signal generated via the transmission line 2A, the outdoor unit 20, and the transmission line 2B to the indoor unit 30A in which the device address “001” is set.
  • the central control apparatus 10 starts measuring time by a timer provided in the central control processing unit 11 at the same time as transmitting a control signal to the indoor unit 30A. Then, the central control apparatus 10 waits until a preset standby time elapses in order to confirm the response from the indoor unit 30A.
  • the indoor unit 30 ⁇ / b> A enters an operation state based on a control signal from the central control device 10.
  • the indoor unit 30A that has entered the operation state transmits operation information to the centralized control device 10 together with the device address “001” of the own device as a response to the control signal via the transmission line 2B, the outdoor unit 20, and the transmission line 2A. .
  • the indoor unit 30A notifies the operating state to the remote controller 40A via the transmission line 3A.
  • the central control apparatus 10 When the central control apparatus 10 receives the operation information from the indoor unit 30A, the central control apparatus 10 stores the device address “001” of the indoor unit 30A received together with the operation information in the storage unit 14.
  • the other indoor unit 30B connected to the remote controller 40A corresponding to the indoor unit 30A recognizes the state of the indoor unit 30A as a child indoor unit. Then, when the indoor unit 30B recognizes that the indoor unit 30A is in an operating state, the indoor unit 30B starts operating its own device. The indoor unit 30B in the operating state transmits the operation information to the centralized control device 10 together with the device address “002” of its own device via the transmission line 2C, the transmission line 2B, the outdoor unit 20, and the transmission line 2A.
  • the indoor unit 30B which is the child indoor unit, performs the same operation as the indoor unit 30A based on the operating state notified from the indoor unit 30A, which is the parent indoor unit, to the remote controller 40A. For this reason, the indoor unit 30B does not notify the remote controller 40A of the operating state.
  • the centralized control device 10 When receiving the operation information from the indoor unit 30B, the centralized control device 10 stores the device address “002” of the indoor unit 30B received together with the operation information in the storage unit 14. In this example, no other indoor unit 30 is connected to the remote controller 40A corresponding to the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B that transmitted the operation information. Therefore, the centralized control device 10 does not receive a response to the control signal from the indoor units 30 other than the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B. After the standby time set in the timer has elapsed, the central control apparatus 10 causes the group registration unit 15 to store the device address “001” of the indoor unit 30A stored in the storage unit 14 and the device address “002” of the indoor unit 30B. As a group #A. The central control device 10 stores the registered group information in the storage unit 14. Further, when the registration of the group #A is completed and the group information is stored, the centralized control device 10 deletes the device address “001” and the device address “002” from the storage unit 14.
  • the central control apparatus 10 searches for the indoor unit 30 in which the smallest device address is set among the stopped indoor units 30 as described above.
  • the device addresses already registered in the group are excluded, as in the first embodiment.
  • the device address “001” and the device address “002” registered as the group #A are excluded from the device addresses in a preset range. Accordingly, the central control apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the indoor unit 30C in which the device address “003” is set.
  • the centralized control device 10 starts measuring time by a timer at the same time as transmitting a control signal to the indoor unit 30C. Then, the central control apparatus 10 waits until the standby time elapses in order to confirm the response from the indoor unit 30C.
  • the indoor unit 30 ⁇ / b> C enters an operating state based on a control signal from the central control device 10.
  • the indoor unit 30C that has entered the operation state transmits operation information to the centralized control device 10 together with the device address “003” of the own device as a response to the control signal.
  • the indoor unit 30C notifies the remote controller 40B of the operation state.
  • the centralized control device 10 When receiving the operation information from the indoor unit 30C, the centralized control device 10 stores the device address “003” of the indoor unit 30B received together with the operation information in the storage unit 14. Note that the indoor unit 30 other than the indoor unit 30C is not connected to the remote controller 40B. Therefore, the centralized control device 10 does not receive a response to the control signal from the other indoor units 30. After the standby time set in the timer has elapsed, the central control apparatus 10 uses the group registration unit 15 to set the device address “003” of the indoor unit 30B stored in the storage unit 14 to a group #B different from the group #A. And the group information is stored in the storage unit 14. Further, when the registration of the group #B is completed and the group information is stored, the centralized control device 10 deletes the device address “003” from the storage unit 14.
  • each of the plurality of remote controllers 40 is connected. Different groups can be automatically set and registered for each connected indoor unit 30.
  • the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 used for the description in the first embodiment can be applied as it is to the group setting process in the central control apparatus 10.
  • the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 used for the description in the first embodiment can be applied as it is to the processing in the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30C as the parent indoor unit. it can. Therefore, description of the process using a flowchart is abbreviate
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the indoor unit 30B that is a child indoor unit when performing group setting for the indoor unit 30 in FIG.
  • the indoor unit 30B that is the child indoor unit checks the state of the indoor unit 30A that is the parent indoor unit.
  • step S22 the indoor unit 30B determines whether or not the indoor unit 30A is in operation.
  • step S22 the indoor unit 30B starts operation from the stopped state (step S23).
  • step S24 the indoor unit 30B transmits the operation information to the central control device 10 together with the device address of the own device.
  • step S22 when it is determined in step S22 that the indoor unit 30A is not in operation (step S22; No), the process returns to step S21, and the state of the indoor unit 30A is confirmed again.
  • the air conditioner 1 according to the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment even when a plurality of indoor units 30 are connected to one remote controller 40.
  • the group setting for 30 can be automatically performed.
  • each device includes one or a plurality of units. May be.
  • the case where one outdoor unit 20 is connected has been described as an example.
  • the present invention is not limited thereto, and a plurality of outdoor units 20 are connected. May be.
  • the control signal is transmitted from the central control device 10 to the indoor unit 30 in which the minimum device address is set, and the group setting of the indoor unit 30 is performed.
  • the group setting of the indoor units 30 may be performed by transmitting a control signal from the central control apparatus 10 to the indoor unit 30 in which the maximum device address is set.
  • the indoor unit 30 in which the maximum device address is set is the parent indoor unit, and the other indoor units 30 are the child indoor units.

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  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)

Abstract

Provided are an air conditioner and a group setting method, the air conditioner comprising: a plurality of indoor units; a plurality of remote controllers to which one or more indoor units are connected and which controls the operation of the indoor units connected thereto; and a central control device which controls the indoor units and the remote controllers. A unit address which is unique identification information is set for each of the plurality of indoor units. The central control device sets the operation of the plurality of indoor units to a first setting state, and sends, to the indoor units having a unit address which is set to a minimum or maximum value among the indoor units set to the first setting state, a control signal for changing operation from the first setting state to a second setting state, and then sets, as the same group, the one or more indoor units that respond to the control signal within a preset standby time period.

Description

空気調和装置およびグループ設定方法Air conditioning apparatus and group setting method
　本発明は、空気調和装置およびグループ設定方法に関し、特に、ビル用マルチエアコン等に適用される空気調和装置およびグループ設定方法に関するものである。 The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a group setting method, and more particularly to an air conditioner and a group setting method applied to a building multi-air conditioner and the like.
　従来から、ビル等の建築物において、室内に設けられ、室内を指示された温度に調整するための複数の室内機と、室外に設けられ、排熱等を行う１または複数の室外機とを、集中管理装置で管理するように構成した空気調和装置が用いられている。このような空気調和装置では、室内機、室外機および集中管理装置の間を伝送線で接続して通信ネットワークを構成し、例えば、各装置間で運転のオンまたはオフ、温度設定、運転モード等の制御用データを含む各種の信号をやりとりすることによって通信を行っている。 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a building such as a building, a plurality of indoor units that are provided indoors and adjust the indoor temperature to an instructed temperature, and one or more outdoor units that are provided outside and perform exhaust heat or the like are provided. An air conditioner configured to be managed by a centralized management device is used. In such an air conditioner, a communication network is configured by connecting an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a centralized management device with a transmission line. For example, operation on or off, temperature setting, operation mode, etc. between the devices Communication is performed by exchanging various signals including the control data.
　また、この空気調和装置には、室内機と室外機とが接続された伝送線に対して、操作者が運転モードの設定等の操作を行うための遠隔制御器をさらに接続することができる。そして、例えば、複数の室内機のうち、同一の遠隔制御器からの指示に基づき制御される室内機を同一グループとして構成することができる（例えば、特許文献１参照）。 Also, this air conditioner can be further connected to a remote controller for the operator to perform operations such as setting the operation mode to the transmission line to which the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected. For example, among a plurality of indoor units, indoor units that are controlled based on an instruction from the same remote controller can be configured as the same group (for example, see Patent Document 1).
　特許文献１に記載の空気調和装置では、例えば据付工事の際に、作業者が施工図面などから遠隔制御器と同一配線で接続された室内機を確認し、集中制御装置に対して手動で入力することにより、同一の遠隔制御器に対応する室内機を同一のグループとして設定する。
　また、この空気調和装置では、各室内機に対して予め設定された固有の機器アドレスに基づき、これらの室内機に対応する遠隔制御器の機器アドレスを設定し、各室内機および遠隔制御器の機器アドレスに基づいてグループ構成を自動的に判断する。
　そして、集中制御装置は、手動入力によって予め設定されたグループ構成と、自動的に判断されたグループ構成とを比較することにより、グループの誤設定等を判断する。 In the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1, for example, during installation work, an operator confirms an indoor unit connected by the same wiring as the remote controller from a construction drawing or the like, and manually inputs it to the centralized controller. By doing this, indoor units corresponding to the same remote controller are set as the same group.
Further, in this air conditioner, the device addresses of the remote controllers corresponding to these indoor units are set based on the unique device addresses set in advance for each indoor unit, and the indoor units and remote controllers are The group configuration is automatically determined based on the device address.
Then, the centralized control device determines an erroneous group setting or the like by comparing the group configuration preset by manual input with the automatically determined group configuration.
特開２００９－９７８２９号公報JP 2009-97829 A
　しかしながら、特許文献１に記載の空気調和装置では、作業者による手動入力によってグループ登録を行うため、据え付けられたすべての室内機に対してグループを設定するのに膨大な時間と手間を要することになる。また、人為的な操作によってデータを入力するため、グループ登録における設定ミスが発生する危険性があるという問題点があった。 However, in the air conditioning apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since group registration is performed by manual input by an operator, enormous time and effort are required to set groups for all installed indoor units. Become. In addition, since data is input by human operation, there is a risk that a setting error may occur in group registration.
　さらに、この空気調和装置では、遠隔制御器に設定された機器アドレスを用いるため、遠隔制御器に対して機器アドレスを設定できない場合には、グループを設定することができないという問題点があった。 Furthermore, in this air conditioner, since the device address set in the remote controller is used, there is a problem that the group cannot be set when the device address cannot be set in the remote controller.
　本発明は、上記従来の技術における問題点に鑑みてなされたものであって、作業者による手動入力を行うことなく、また、遠隔制御器に対して機器アドレスを設定することなく、室内機に対して自動的にグループ設定を行うことが可能な空気調和装置およびグループ設定方法を提供することを目的とする。 The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems in the prior art, and does not require manual input by an operator, and does not set an apparatus address for a remote controller. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and a group setting method capable of automatically performing group setting.
　本発明の空気調和装置は、複数の室内機と、１または複数の前記室内機が接続され、接続された前記室内機の動作を制御する複数の遠隔制御器と、前記室内機および前記遠隔制御器を制御する集中制御装置とを備えた空気調和装置であって、複数の前記室内機は、それぞれに固有の識別情報である機器アドレスが設定され、前記集中制御装置は、複数の前記室内機の動作を第１の設定状態に設定し、前記第１の設定状態に設定された前記室内機のうち、前記機器アドレスが最小または最大に設定された室内機に対して、動作を前記第１の設定状態から第２の設定状態に変更する制御信号を送信し、設定待機時間内に前記制御信号に対して応答した１または複数の室内機を同一のグループとして設定するものである。 The air conditioner of the present invention includes a plurality of indoor units, a plurality of remote controllers connected to the one or more indoor units, and controlling operations of the connected indoor units, the indoor units, and the remote control. A plurality of indoor units, each of which has a device address, which is identification information unique to each of the plurality of indoor units. Is set to the first setting state, and among the indoor units set to the first setting state, the operation is performed for the indoor units whose device address is set to the minimum or maximum. The control signal for changing from the set state to the second set state is transmitted, and one or a plurality of indoor units responding to the control signal within the set waiting time are set as the same group.
　また、本発明の空気調和装置のグループ設定方法は、それぞれに固有の識別情報である機器アドレスが設定された複数の室内機と、１または複数の前記室内機が接続され、接続された前記室内機の動作を制御する複数の遠隔制御器と、前記室内機および前記遠隔制御器を制御する集中制御装置とを備えた空気調和装置のグループ設定方法であって、前記複数の室内機の動作を第１の設定状態に設定するステップと、前記第１の設定状態に設定された前記室内機のうち、前記機器アドレスが最小または最大に設定された室内機に対して、動作を前記第１の設定状態から第２の設定状態に変更する制御信号を送信するステップと、設定待機時間内に前記制御信号に対して応答した１または複数の室内機を同一のグループとして設定するステップとを有するものである。 The group setting method for an air conditioner according to the present invention includes a plurality of indoor units each having a device address that is unique identification information, and one or a plurality of the indoor units connected to each other, and the connected indoor units. A group setting method for an air conditioner, comprising: a plurality of remote controllers that control the operation of a unit; and a centralized control device that controls the indoor unit and the remote controller, wherein the operations of the plurality of indoor units are controlled A step of setting to a first setting state, and the operation of the first indoor unit set to the first setting state with respect to the indoor unit having the device address set to the minimum or maximum A step of transmitting a control signal for changing from the setting state to the second setting state, and a step of setting one or a plurality of indoor units responding to the control signal within the set waiting time as the same group And it has a.
　以上のように、本発明の空気調和装置およびグループ設定方法によれば、機器アドレスに基づき遠隔制御器毎に接続された１または複数の室内機を同一グループとして設定することにより、作業者による手動入力を行うことなく、また、遠隔制御器に対して機器アドレスを設定することなく、室内機に対して自動的にグループ設定を行うことが可能になる。 As described above, according to the air conditioning apparatus and the group setting method of the present invention, one or a plurality of indoor units connected to each remote controller are set as the same group based on the device address, thereby enabling manual operation by an operator. It is possible to automatically perform group setting for an indoor unit without performing input and without setting a device address for a remote controller.
実施の形態１に係る空気調和装置の構成の一例を示すブロック図である。1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 図１の集中制御装置の構成の一例を示すブロック図である。It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the centralized control apparatus of FIG. 図１の室内機に対してグループ設定を行う際の、集中制御装置における処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the centralized control apparatus at the time of performing group setting with respect to the indoor unit of FIG. 図１の室内機に対してグループ設定を行う際の、室内機における処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process in an indoor unit when performing group setting with respect to the indoor unit of FIG. 実施の形態２に係る空気調和装置の構成の一例を示すブロック図である。6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 図５の室内機に対してグループ設定を行う際の、子室内機である室内機における処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in an indoor unit that is a child indoor unit when performing group setting for the indoor unit in FIG. 5.
実施の形態１．
　以下、本発明の実施の形態１に係る空気調和装置について説明する。
　本実施の形態１では、空気調和装置に含まれる複数の遠隔制御器のそれぞれによって動作が制御される室内機毎にグループを設定する際に、室内機に対して予め設定された固有の識別情報である機器アドレスに基づき、当該グループ設定を自動的に行うものである。なお、以下の説明において、１つのグループに属する室内機の数は、１台でもよいし、複数台でもよいものとする。 Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.
In Embodiment 1, when setting a group for each indoor unit whose operation is controlled by each of the plurality of remote controllers included in the air conditioner, unique identification information set in advance for the indoor unit The group setting is automatically performed based on the device address. In the following description, the number of indoor units belonging to one group may be one or a plurality.
［空気調和装置の構成］
　図１は、本実施の形態１に係る空気調和装置１の構成の一例を示すブロック図である。
　図１に示すように、空気調和装置１は、集中制御装置１０、室外機２０、室内機３０、および遠隔制御器４０で構成されている。この例では、室内機３０としての２台の室内機３０Ａおよび室内機３０Ｂと、遠隔制御器４０としての２台の遠隔制御器４０Ａおよび遠隔制御器４０Ｂが空気調和装置１に備えられている。 [Configuration of air conditioner]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning apparatus 1 includes a central control device 10, an outdoor unit 20, an indoor unit 30, and a remote controller 40. In this example, the air conditioner 1 includes two indoor units 30A and 30B as the indoor unit 30 and two remote controllers 40A and 40B as the remote controllers 40.
　なお、以下の説明において、室内機３０Ａおよび室内機３０Ｂを特に区別する必要がない場合には、単に「室内機３０」と称して説明する。また、遠隔制御器４０Ａおよび遠隔制御器４０Ｂについても同様に、特に区別する必要がない場合には、単に「遠隔制御器４０」と称して説明する。
　また、図１は、各機器の間でやりとりが行われる通信の接続関係を示すものであり、例えば、室外機２０および室内機３０の間に接続される冷媒配管等については、図示を省略する。 In the following description, when it is not necessary to particularly distinguish the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B, they will be simply referred to as “indoor unit 30”. Similarly, the remote controller 40A and the remote controller 40B are simply referred to as the “remote controller 40” when it is not necessary to distinguish between them.
Moreover, FIG. 1 shows the connection relationship of communication performed between the devices, and for example, the refrigerant piping connected between the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 30 is not shown. .
（集中制御装置）
　集中制御装置１０は、この空気調和装置１を構成する室外機２０、室内機３０、および遠隔制御器４０における各種の状態を管理するとともに、これらの各機器を制御する。例えば本実施の形態１において、集中制御装置１０は、空気調和装置１に設けられた複数の室内機３０を、対応する遠隔制御器４０毎にグループ化するグループ設定を行う。
　集中制御装置１０には、伝送線２Ａを介して室外機２０が接続されている。集中制御装置１０は、伝送線２Ａを介して室外機２０および室外機２０に接続された室内機３０との間で、制御信号等の各種信号のやりとりを行う。例えば、空気調和装置１に設けられた複数の室内機３０に対してグループを設定する場合、集中制御装置１０は、伝送線２Ａおよび室外機２０を介して、グループ設定を行う際の制御信号を室内機３０に送信する。 (Centralized control device)
The central control device 10 manages various states in the outdoor unit 20, the indoor unit 30, and the remote controller 40 constituting the air conditioner 1, and controls these devices. For example, in the first embodiment, the centralized control device 10 performs group setting for grouping the plurality of indoor units 30 provided in the air conditioner 1 for each corresponding remote controller 40.
An outdoor unit 20 is connected to the central control apparatus 10 via a transmission line 2A. The centralized control device 10 exchanges various signals such as control signals with the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 30 connected to the outdoor unit 20 via the transmission line 2A. For example, when setting a group with respect to the some indoor unit 30 provided in the air conditioning apparatus 1, the centralized control apparatus 10 transmits the control signal at the time of performing group setting via the transmission line 2A and the outdoor unit 20. It transmits to the indoor unit 30.
　制御信号は、例えば、室内機３０を「停止状態」から「運転状態」に動作を変更するための指令信号である。「停止状態」とは、室内機３０の動作が停止している状態を示す。「運転状態」とは、例えば、送風運転モードによる運転、冷房運転モードによる運転などの停止状態以外の状態を示す。なお、制御信号は、この例に限らず、例えば風量を変更するための信号であってもよい。すなわち、制御信号は、室内機３０を第１の設定状態から第２の設定状態に変更するための信号である。 The control signal is, for example, a command signal for changing the operation of the indoor unit 30 from “stop state” to “operation state”. The “stop state” indicates a state where the operation of the indoor unit 30 is stopped. The “operating state” indicates a state other than a stopped state such as an operation in the air blowing operation mode or an operation in the cooling operation mode. The control signal is not limited to this example, and may be a signal for changing the air volume, for example. That is, the control signal is a signal for changing the indoor unit 30 from the first setting state to the second setting state.
　集中制御装置１０は、例えばマイクロコンピュータ、ＣＰＵ（Ｃｅｎｔｒａｌ　Ｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｉｎｇ　Ｕｎｉｔ）などの演算装置上で実行されるソフトウェア、後述する機能を実現する回路デバイスなどのハードウェア等で構成されるものである。 The centralized control device 10 is configured by, for example, software executed on a computing device such as a microcomputer or CPU (Central Processing Unit), hardware such as a circuit device that realizes a function described later, and the like.
（室外機）
　室外機２０は、例えば、室内機３０と連携して動作することにより、冷凍サイクル等の熱交換サイクルを形成する。室外機２０には、伝送線２Ａを介して集中制御装置１０が接続されるとともに、伝送線２Ｂを介して室内機３０Ａが接続されている。例えば、室外機２０は、伝送線２Ａを介して集中制御装置１０から受信した制御信号を、伝送線２Ｂを介して室内機３０Ａに送信する。 (Outdoor unit)
The outdoor unit 20 forms a heat exchange cycle such as a refrigeration cycle by operating in cooperation with the indoor unit 30, for example. The central control apparatus 10 is connected to the outdoor unit 20 through the transmission line 2A, and the indoor unit 30A is connected through the transmission line 2B. For example, the outdoor unit 20 transmits a control signal received from the central control apparatus 10 via the transmission line 2A to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 2B.
（室内機）
　室内機３０は、例えば、室外機２０と連携して動作することにより、冷凍サイクル等の熱交換サイクルを形成し、空調対象空間内の空気を調和する。本実施の形態１において、室内機３０Ａには、伝送線２Ｂを介して室外機２０が接続されるとともに、伝送線２Ｃを介して室内機３０Ｂが接続されている。 (Indoor unit)
For example, the indoor unit 30 operates in cooperation with the outdoor unit 20 to form a heat exchange cycle such as a refrigeration cycle, and harmonizes the air in the air-conditioning target space. In the first embodiment, the outdoor unit 20 is connected to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 2B, and the indoor unit 30B is connected via the transmission line 2C.
　室内機３０Ａには、伝送線３Ａを介して遠隔制御器４０Ａが接続されている。室内機３０Ａは、伝送線３Ａによって接続された遠隔制御器４０Ａに対する作業者の操作に基づき、動作が制御される。
　室内機３０Ｂには、伝送線２Ｃを介して室内機３０Ａが接続されるとともに、伝送線３Ｂを介して遠隔制御器４０Ｂが接続されている。室内機３０Ｂは、伝送線３Ｂによって接続された遠隔制御器４０Ｂに対する作業者の操作に基づき、動作が制御される。 A remote controller 40A is connected to the indoor unit 30A via a transmission line 3A. The operation of the indoor unit 30A is controlled based on the operator's operation on the remote controller 40A connected by the transmission line 3A.
The indoor unit 30B is connected to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 2C and to the remote controller 40B via the transmission line 3B. The operation of the indoor unit 30B is controlled based on the operator's operation on the remote controller 40B connected by the transmission line 3B.
　それぞれの室内機３０には、固有の識別情報である機器アドレスが設定されている。室内機３０は、この機器アドレスに基づき、集中制御装置１０によってグループが設定される。なお、グループ設定の詳細については、後述する。
　この例では、室内機３０Ａに対してアドレス「００１」が機器アドレスとして設定され、室内機３０Ｂに対してアドレス「００２」が機器アドレスとして設定されている。 Each indoor unit 30 is set with a device address that is unique identification information. In the indoor unit 30, a group is set by the central control device 10 based on the device address. Details of the group setting will be described later.
In this example, the address “001” is set as the device address for the indoor unit 30A, and the address “002” is set as the device address for the indoor unit 30B.
（遠隔制御器）
　遠隔制御器４０は、作業者の操作に基づく操作信号を対応する室内機３０に対して送信することにより、室内機３０の動作を制御する。また、遠隔制御器４０は、対応する室内機３０から運転状態を示す情報を受け取る。
　本実施の形態１において、遠隔制御器４０Ａは、伝送線３Ａを介して室内機３０Ａが接続されている。また、遠隔制御器４０Ｂは、伝送線３Ｂを介して室内機３０Ｂが接続されている。 (Remote controller)
The remote controller 40 controls the operation of the indoor unit 30 by transmitting an operation signal based on the operation of the operator to the corresponding indoor unit 30. Further, the remote controller 40 receives information indicating the operation state from the corresponding indoor unit 30.
In the first embodiment, the remote controller 40A is connected to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 3A. The remote controller 40B is connected to the indoor unit 30B via the transmission line 3B.
［集中制御装置の構成］
　図２は、図１の集中制御装置１０の構成の一例を示すブロック図である。
　図２に示すように、集中制御装置１０は、集中制御処理部１１、通信部１２、指令部１３、記憶部１４、およびグループ登録部１５を備えている。なお、図２の例では、本実施の形態１に関連する部分についてのみ図示し、それ以外の部分については、図示を省略する。したがって、集中制御装置１０の機能は、図示されたものに限定されない。 [Configuration of central control unit]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the centralized control device 10 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the central control apparatus 10 includes a central control processing unit 11, a communication unit 12, a command unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a group registration unit 15. In the example of FIG. 2, only the part related to the first embodiment is shown, and the other parts are not shown. Therefore, the function of the central control apparatus 10 is not limited to what is illustrated.
　集中制御処理部１１は、例えばマイクロコンピュータ等で構成され、入力される情報に基づき、集中制御装置１０における各部の動作を制御する。また、集中制御処理部１１は、空気調和装置１全体の集中制御を行う。 The central control processing unit 11 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer and controls the operation of each unit in the central control device 10 based on input information. The central control processing unit 11 performs centralized control of the entire air conditioner 1.
　また、集中制御処理部１１は、図示しないタイマーを有している。タイマーは、後述する室内機３０のグループ設定の際に用いられ、集中制御処理部１１が室内機３０に対して制御信号を送信してから、予め設定された待機時間を計時する。
　タイマーによる待機時間は、例えば、遠隔制御器４０に対して接続可能な最大台数の室内機３０が接続された場合に、接続されたすべての室内機３０から制御信号に対する応答を受信するのに必要な時間が設定される。 The central control processing unit 11 has a timer (not shown). The timer is used for group setting of the indoor units 30 to be described later, and measures the preset standby time after the centralized control processing unit 11 transmits a control signal to the indoor units 30.
For example, when the maximum number of indoor units 30 that can be connected to the remote controller 40 is connected, the standby time by the timer is necessary for receiving responses to control signals from all the connected indoor units 30. A long time is set.
　通信部１２は、伝送線２Ａが接続され、集中制御処理部１１と室外機２０等の外部の機器との間でやりとりされる通信のインターフェースとして機能する。すなわち、集中制御装置１０と外部の機器との間で行われる通信は、この通信部１２を介して行われる。
　例えば、通信部１２は、集中制御処理部１１から制御信号を受信した場合に、受信した制御信号を、伝送線２Ａを介して室外機２０または他の機器へ送信する。また、例えば、通信部１２は、室内機３０から室外機２０および伝送線２Ａを介して運転情報を受信した場合に、受信した運転情報を集中制御処理部１１に供給する。 The communication unit 12 is connected to the transmission line 2A and functions as an interface for communication exchanged between the central control processing unit 11 and an external device such as the outdoor unit 20. That is, communication performed between the central control apparatus 10 and external devices is performed via the communication unit 12.
For example, when the communication unit 12 receives a control signal from the central control processing unit 11, the communication unit 12 transmits the received control signal to the outdoor unit 20 or another device via the transmission line 2A. For example, when the communication unit 12 receives operation information from the indoor unit 30 via the outdoor unit 20 and the transmission line 2 </ b> A, the communication unit 12 supplies the received operation information to the central control processing unit 11.
　運転情報は、室内機３０の運転に関する情報である。運転情報には、例えば、室内機３０が運転状態または停止状態であるといった現在の状態に関する情報、室内温度および設定温度等の温度に関する情報等が含まれている。 The operation information is information related to the operation of the indoor unit 30. The operation information includes, for example, information on the current state that the indoor unit 30 is in the operating state or the stopped state, information on the temperature such as the indoor temperature and the set temperature, and the like.
　指令部１３は、室内機３０の運転状態の変更、運転モードの切り替え、設定温度の変更といった、室内機３０に対する制御に関する各種指令を生成する。そして、指令部１３は、生成した指令を集中制御処理部１１に供給する。 The command unit 13 generates various commands related to the control of the indoor unit 30 such as change of the operation state of the indoor unit 30, switching of the operation mode, and change of the set temperature. Then, the command unit 13 supplies the generated command to the central control processing unit 11.
　記憶部１４は、室内機３０の運転状態を含む空気調和装置１全体の情報、集中制御装置１０の各部が各種処理を行うために必要なデータ、各種処理によって生成されたデータ等の各種データを記憶する。例えば、記憶部１４は、室内機３０から運転情報を受信した場合に、受信した運転情報を送信した室内機３０に設定された機器アドレスを記憶する。
　また、記憶部１４は、後述するグループ登録部１５によって登録されたグループ情報を記憶する。 The storage unit 14 stores various data such as information on the entire air conditioner 1 including the operation state of the indoor unit 30, data necessary for each unit of the centralized control device 10 to perform various processes, and data generated by the various processes. Remember. For example, when receiving the operation information from the indoor unit 30, the storage unit 14 stores the device address set in the indoor unit 30 that has transmitted the received operation information.
The storage unit 14 stores group information registered by a group registration unit 15 described later.
　グループ登録部１５は、記憶部１４に記憶された室内機３０の機器アドレスに基づき、グループの登録を行う。具体的には、例えば、グループ登録部１５は、集中制御処理部１１が室内機３０に対して制御信号を送信した際に、集中制御処理部１１のタイマーが計時している間に受信した応答に対応する室内機３０を、機器アドレスに基づき同一のグループとして設定し、登録する。 The group registration unit 15 performs group registration based on the device address of the indoor unit 30 stored in the storage unit 14. Specifically, for example, when the central control processing unit 11 transmits a control signal to the indoor unit 30, the group registration unit 15 receives a response received while the timer of the central control processing unit 11 is timing. Are set and registered as the same group based on the device address.
［グループの設定］
　次に、室内機３０に対するグループ設定について説明する。
　本実施の形態１では、それぞれの室内機３０に予め設定された機器アドレスに基づき、集中制御装置１０がそれぞれの遠隔制御器４０に接続された室内機３０毎に、グループを設定する。
　以下では、図１に示す構成を有する空気調和装置１を例にとって説明する。この例では、遠隔制御器４０Ａに室内機３０Ａが接続され、遠隔制御器４０Ｂに室内機３０Ｂが接続されている。したがって、この例では、室内機３０Ａが１つのグループ＃Ａとして設定され、室内機３０Ｂが他のグループ＃Ｂとして設定される。 [Group settings]
Next, group setting for the indoor unit 30 will be described.
In the first embodiment, the central control apparatus 10 sets a group for each indoor unit 30 connected to each remote controller 40 based on a device address set in advance in each indoor unit 30.
Below, it demonstrates taking the case of the air conditioning apparatus 1 which has the structure shown in FIG. In this example, the indoor unit 30A is connected to the remote controller 40A, and the indoor unit 30B is connected to the remote controller 40B. Therefore, in this example, the indoor unit 30A is set as one group #A, and the indoor unit 30B is set as another group #B.
　まず、集中制御装置１０は、すべての室内機３０の運転を停止するための指令信号を指令部１３で生成する。そして、集中制御装置１０は、生成した指令信号を、伝送線２Ａ、室外機２０、伝送線２Ｂおよび伝送線２Ｃを介して室内機３０Ａおよび室内機３０Ｂに送信する。これにより、指令信号を受信した室内機３０Ａおよび室内機３０Ｂは、停止状態となる。 First, the central control device 10 generates a command signal for stopping the operation of all the indoor units 30 at the command unit 13. Then, the central control apparatus 10 transmits the generated command signal to the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B via the transmission line 2A, the outdoor unit 20, the transmission line 2B, and the transmission line 2C. Thereby, indoor unit 30A and indoor unit 30B which received the command signal will be in a halt condition.
　次に、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０を停止状態から運転状態とするための制御信号を指令部１３で生成するとともに、停止中の室内機３０のうち、最も小さい値の機器アドレスが設定された室内機３０を検索する。このとき、集中制御装置１０は、すべての室内機３０に設定された機器アドレスを認識していない。そこで、集中制御装置１０は、予め設定された範囲の機器アドレス、例えば機器アドレス「００１」から機器アドレス「０５０」に対して、生成した制御信号を順次送信する。 Next, the centralized control device 10 generates a control signal for changing the indoor unit 30 from the stopped state to the operating state by the command unit 13, and sets the smallest device address among the stopped indoor units 30. The searched indoor unit 30 is searched. At this time, the centralized control device 10 does not recognize the device addresses set for all the indoor units 30. Therefore, the central control apparatus 10 sequentially transmits the generated control signals from a device address within a preset range, for example, device address “001” to device address “050”.
　具体的には、まず、集中制御装置１０は、予め設定された範囲の機器アドレスのうち、最も小さい値となる機器アドレス「００１」に対して制御信号を送信する。そして、集中制御装置１０は、制御信号に対する応答を受信するか否かに応じて、当該機器アドレス「００１」が室内機３０に設定された最小機器アドレスであるか否かを判断する。 Specifically, first, the central control apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the device address “001” that is the smallest value among the device addresses in a preset range. Then, the central control apparatus 10 determines whether or not the device address “001” is the minimum device address set in the indoor unit 30 according to whether or not a response to the control signal is received.
　機器アドレス「００１」から応答を受信した場合には、この機器アドレス「００１」が室内機３０の最小機器アドレスであると判断する。一方、応答を受信しなかった場合には、この機器アドレス「００１」を欠番扱いとし、次の機器アドレス「００２」に対して制御信号を送信する。以下、このような動作を順次行い、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０に設定された最小機器アドレスを判断する。 When a response is received from the device address “001”, it is determined that this device address “001” is the minimum device address of the indoor unit 30. On the other hand, if no response is received, the device address “001” is treated as a missing number, and a control signal is transmitted to the next device address “002”. Hereinafter, such operations are sequentially performed, and the central control apparatus 10 determines the minimum device address set in the indoor unit 30.
　図１に示す例において、まず、集中制御装置１０は、機器アドレス「００１」に対し、伝送線２Ａ、室外機２０、伝送線２Ｂおよび伝送線２Ｃを介して制御信号を送信する。この例では、機器アドレス「００１」が設定された室内機３０Ａが存在するため、室内機３０Ａは、この制御信号を受信する。 In the example shown in FIG. 1, first, the central control apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the device address “001” via the transmission line 2A, the outdoor unit 20, the transmission line 2B, and the transmission line 2C. In this example, since there is an indoor unit 30A in which the device address “001” is set, the indoor unit 30A receives this control signal.
　次に、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ａに対して制御信号を送信すると同時に、集中制御処理部１１に設けられたタイマーによる計時を開始する。そして、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ａからの応答を確認するため、予め設定された待機時間が経過するまで待機する。 Next, the central control device 10 transmits a control signal to the indoor unit 30 </ b> A, and at the same time starts timing by a timer provided in the central control processing unit 11. Then, the central control apparatus 10 waits until a preset standby time elapses in order to confirm the response from the indoor unit 30A.
　一方、室内機３０Ａは、集中制御装置１０から制御信号に基づき、運転状態となる。運転状態となった室内機３０Ａは、伝送線２Ｂ、室外機２０、および伝送線２Ａを介して、制御信号に対する応答として、運転状態であることを示す運転情報を自装置の機器アドレス「００１」とともに集中制御装置１０に送信する。
　また、室内機３０Ａは、伝送線３Ａを介して遠隔制御器４０Ａに運転状態を通知する。 On the other hand, the indoor unit 30 </ b> A enters an operation state based on a control signal from the central control device 10. The indoor unit 30A that has entered the operation state receives, as a response to the control signal, the operation information indicating the operation state via the transmission line 2B, the outdoor unit 20, and the transmission line 2A. At the same time, it is transmitted to the central control apparatus 10.
The indoor unit 30A notifies the operating state to the remote controller 40A via the transmission line 3A.
　集中制御装置１０は、制御信号に対する応答としての運転情報を室内機３０Ａから受信すると、室内機３０Ａに設定された機器アドレス「００１」を記憶部１４に記憶する。なお、この例では、応答を送信した室内機３０Ａに対応する遠隔制御器４０Ａに、室内機３０Ａ以外の室内機３０が接続されていない。そのため、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ａ以外の室内機３０から制御信号に対する応答を受け取ることがない。
　タイマーに設定された待機時間が経過した後、集中制御装置１０は、グループ登録部１５により、記憶部１４に記憶された室内機３０Ａの機器アドレス「００１」を１つのグループ＃Ａとして登録し、グループ情報を記憶部１４に記憶する。 When the central control apparatus 10 receives the operation information as a response to the control signal from the indoor unit 30A, the central control apparatus 10 stores the device address “001” set in the indoor unit 30A in the storage unit 14. In this example, the indoor unit 30 other than the indoor unit 30A is not connected to the remote controller 40A corresponding to the indoor unit 30A that transmitted the response. Therefore, the centralized control device 10 does not receive a response to the control signal from the indoor units 30 other than the indoor unit 30A.
After the waiting time set in the timer has elapsed, the centralized control device 10 registers the device address “001” of the indoor unit 30A stored in the storage unit 14 as one group #A by the group registration unit 15. The group information is stored in the storage unit 14.
　ここで、記憶部１４に記憶された機器アドレスがグループ情報に登録された場合、集中制御装置１０は、当該機器アドレス「００１」を記憶部１４から削除する。これは、１つのグループに登録された機器アドレスの室内機３０が他のグループに重複して登録されるのを防ぐためである。 Here, when the device address stored in the storage unit 14 is registered in the group information, the central control apparatus 10 deletes the device address “001” from the storage unit 14. This is to prevent the indoor unit 30 having the device address registered in one group from being registered in another group.
　次に、グループ＃Ａが登録された後、集中制御装置１０は、上述したようにして、停止中の室内機３０のうち、最も小さい値の機器アドレスが設定された室内機３０を検索する。ここで、集中制御装置１０は、予め設定された範囲の機器アドレスのうちの最小機器アドレスに対して制御信号を送信するが、すでにグループに登録された機器アドレスは除外される。この例では、予め設定された範囲の機器アドレス「００１」から機器アドレス「０５０」のうち、グループ＃Ａとして登録された室内機３０Ａの機器アドレス「００１」が除外されることになる。従って、集中制御装置１０は、機器アドレス「００２」が設定された室内機３０Ｂに対して制御信号を送信する。 Next, after the group #A is registered, the central control apparatus 10 searches for the indoor unit 30 in which the smallest device address is set among the stopped indoor units 30 as described above. Here, the central control apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the minimum device address in the device addresses in a preset range, but device addresses already registered in the group are excluded. In this example, the device address “001” of the indoor unit 30A registered as the group #A is excluded from the device addresses “001” to “050” in the preset range. Therefore, the central control apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the indoor unit 30B in which the device address “002” is set.
　また、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ｂに対して制御信号を送信すると同時に、タイマーによる計時を開始する。そして、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ｂからの応答を確認するため、待機時間が経過するまで待機する。 In addition, the centralized control device 10 transmits a control signal to the indoor unit 30B, and at the same time starts timing by a timer. Then, the central control apparatus 10 waits until the standby time elapses in order to confirm the response from the indoor unit 30B.
　一方、室内機３０Ｂは、集中制御装置１０から制御信号に基づき、運転状態となる。運転状態となった室内機３０Ｂは、制御信号に対する応答として運転情報を自装置の機器アドレス「００２」とともに集中制御装置１０に送信する。
　また、室内機３０Ｂは、遠隔制御器４０Ｂに運転状態を通知する。 On the other hand, the indoor unit 30 </ b> B enters an operation state based on a control signal from the central control device 10. The indoor unit 30B that has entered the operation state transmits operation information to the centralized control device 10 together with the device address “002” of its own device as a response to the control signal.
In addition, the indoor unit 30B notifies the remote controller 40B of the operation state.
　集中制御装置１０は、運転情報を室内機３０Ｂから受信すると、室内機３０Ｂに設定された機器アドレス「００２」を記憶部１４に記憶する。なお、遠隔制御器４０Ｂには、室内機３０Ｂ以外の室内機３０が接続されていない。そのため、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ｂ以外の室内機３０から制御信号に対する応答を受け取ることがない。
　そして、タイマーに設定された待機時間が経過した後、集中制御装置１０は、グループ登録部１５により、記憶部１４に記憶された機器アドレス「００２」が設定された室内機３０Ｂをグループ＃Ａとは異なるグループ＃Ｂとして登録し、グループ情報を記憶部１４に記憶する。また、集中制御装置１０は、グループ＃Ｂの登録が完了してグループ情報を記憶すると、当該機器アドレス「００２」を記憶部１４から削除する。 When receiving the operation information from the indoor unit 30B, the centralized control device 10 stores the device address “002” set in the indoor unit 30B in the storage unit 14. Note that the indoor unit 30 other than the indoor unit 30B is not connected to the remote controller 40B. Therefore, the centralized control device 10 does not receive a response to the control signal from the indoor units 30 other than the indoor unit 30B.
Then, after the standby time set in the timer has elapsed, the central control apparatus 10 sets the indoor unit 30B in which the device address “002” stored in the storage unit 14 is set to the group #A by the group registration unit 15. Is registered as a different group #B, and the group information is stored in the storage unit 14. Further, when the registration of the group #B is completed and the group information is stored, the centralized control device 10 deletes the device address “002” from the storage unit 14.
　このように、本実施の形態１では、室内機３０の機器アドレスに基づき、空気調和装置１に設けられた複数の遠隔制御器４０のそれぞれに接続された室内機３０毎に、異なるグループを自動的に設定して登録することができる。 As described above, in the first embodiment, a different group is automatically set for each indoor unit 30 connected to each of the plurality of remote controllers 40 provided in the air conditioner 1 based on the device address of the indoor unit 30. Can be set and registered.
　図３は、図１の室内機３０に対してグループ設定を行う際の、集中制御装置１０における処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。図４は、図１の室内機３０に対してグループ設定を行う際の、室内機３０における処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。
　まず、集中制御装置１０における処理について、図３を参照して説明する。 FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow in the central control apparatus 10 when performing group setting for the indoor unit 30 in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the indoor unit 30 when performing group setting for the indoor unit 30 in FIG. 1.
First, processing in the central control apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
　ステップＳ１において、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０の運転の停止するための指令信号を生成し、生成した指令信号を空気調和装置１に設けられたすべての室内機３０に対して送信する。 In step S1, the central control device 10 generates a command signal for stopping the operation of the indoor unit 30, and transmits the generated command signal to all the indoor units 30 provided in the air conditioner 1.
　次に、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０を停止状態から運転状態とするための制御信号を生成するとともに、停止中の室内機３０のうち、最も小さい値の機器アドレスを検索する。集中制御装置１０は、検索に際し、予め設定された範囲の機器アドレスに対して、生成した制御信号を順次送信し、最小機器アドレスが設定された室内機３０を認識する（ステップＳ２）。
　また、集中制御装置１０は、対象となる室内機３０に対して制御信号を送信すると同時に、タイマーによる計時を開始する（ステップＳ３）。 Next, the centralized control device 10 generates a control signal for changing the indoor unit 30 from the stopped state to the operating state, and searches for the smallest device address among the stopped indoor units 30. In the search, the central control apparatus 10 sequentially transmits the generated control signals to the device addresses in a preset range, and recognizes the indoor unit 30 in which the minimum device address is set (step S2).
Further, the centralized control device 10 starts measuring time by a timer at the same time as transmitting a control signal to the target indoor unit 30 (step S3).
　ステップＳ４において、集中制御装置１０は、ステップＳ３で開始されたタイマーによる計時が継続中であるか否かを判断する。
　タイマーによる計時が継続中であると判断した場合（ステップＳ４；Ｙｅｓ）には、処理がステップＳ５に移行する。 In step S4, the central control apparatus 10 determines whether or not the time measurement by the timer started in step S3 is continuing.
If it is determined that the time measurement by the timer is continuing (step S4; Yes), the process proceeds to step S5.
　ステップＳ５において、集中制御装置１０は、対象となる室内機３０から制御信号に対する応答として運転情報を受信したか否かを判断する。運転情報を受信したと判断した場合（ステップＳ５；Ｙｅｓ）、集中制御装置１０は、運転情報とともに受信した室内機３０の機器アドレスを記憶部１４に記憶する（ステップＳ６）。そして、処理がステップＳ２に戻る。また、運転情報を受信していないと判断した場合（ステップＳ５；Ｎｏ）には、処理がステップＳ４に戻る。 In step S5, the central control apparatus 10 determines whether or not operation information has been received from the target indoor unit 30 as a response to the control signal. If it is determined that the operation information has been received (step S5; Yes), the central control apparatus 10 stores the device address of the indoor unit 30 received together with the operation information in the storage unit 14 (step S6). Then, the process returns to step S2. When it is determined that the driving information has not been received (step S5; No), the process returns to step S4.
　一方、ステップＳ４において、タイマーによる計時が終了したと判断した場合（ステップＳ４；Ｎｏ）には、処理がステップＳ７に移行する。 On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the time measurement by the timer has ended (step S4; No), the process proceeds to step S7.
　ステップＳ７において、集中制御装置１０は、記憶部１４に機器アドレスが記憶されているか否かを判断する。
　記憶部１４に機器アドレスが記憶されていると判断した場合（ステップＳ７；Ｙｅｓ）、集中制御装置１０は、記憶部１４に記憶されているすべての機器アドレスに対応するそれぞれの室内機３０を、同一グループとして登録し、グループ情報を記憶部１４に記憶する（ステップＳ８）。また、集中制御装置１０は、グループ情報を登録した後、記憶部１４に記憶された機器アドレスを削除する。
　一方、記憶部１４に機器アドレスが記憶されていないと判断した場合（ステップＳ７；Ｎｏ）には、処理がステップＳ９に移行する。 In step S <b> 7, the central control apparatus 10 determines whether a device address is stored in the storage unit 14.
When it is determined that the device address is stored in the storage unit 14 (step S7; Yes), the central control device 10 sets the indoor units 30 corresponding to all the device addresses stored in the storage unit 14 to Register as the same group and store the group information in the storage unit 14 (step S8). The central control apparatus 10 deletes the device address stored in the storage unit 14 after registering the group information.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the device address is not stored in the storage unit 14 (step S7; No), the process proceeds to step S9.
　ステップＳ９において、集中制御装置１０は、停止中の室内機３０が存在するか否かを判断する。
　停止中の室内機３０が存在しないと判断した場合（ステップＳ９；Ｙｅｓ）には、一連のグループ設定処理が終了する。また、停止中の室内機３０が存在すると判断した場合（ステップＳ９；Ｎｏ）には、処理がステップＳ２に戻り、停止中の室内機３０が存在しなくなるまで、ステップＳ２以降の処理を繰り返す。 In step S <b> 9, the central control apparatus 10 determines whether there is a stopped indoor unit 30.
When it is determined that there is no stopped indoor unit 30 (step S9; Yes), the series of group setting processes ends. If it is determined that there is a stopped indoor unit 30 (step S9; No), the process returns to step S2, and the processes after step S2 are repeated until there is no stopped indoor unit 30.
　次に、室内機３０における処理について、図４を参照して説明する。
　ステップＳ１１において、図３のステップＳ２で集中制御装置１０から送信された制御信号の対象となる室内機３０は、この制御信号を受信すると、停止状態から運転を開始する（ステップＳ１２）。 Next, processing in the indoor unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S11, when receiving the control signal, the indoor unit 30 that is the target of the control signal transmitted from the central control apparatus 10 in step S2 of FIG. 3 starts operation from the stopped state (step S12).
　そして、ステップＳ１３において、室内機３０は、受信した制御信号に対する応答として、運転情報を自装置の機器アドレスとともに集中制御装置１０に送信する。また、ステップＳ１４において、室内機３０は、自装置に接続された遠隔制御器４０に対して、運転状態を通知する。 In step S13, the indoor unit 30 transmits the operation information to the centralized control device 10 together with the device address of the own device as a response to the received control signal. In step S14, the indoor unit 30 notifies the operating state to the remote controller 40 connected to its own device.
　以上のように、本実施の形態１に係る空気調和装置１は、複数の室内機３０と、１または複数の室内機３０が接続され、接続された室内機３０の動作を制御する複数の遠隔制御器４０と、室内機３０および遠隔制御器４０を制御する集中制御装置１０とを備えている。複数の室内機３０は、それぞれに固有の識別情報である機器アドレスが設定され、集中制御装置１０は、複数の室内機３０の動作を第１の設定状態に設定し、第１の設定状態に設定された室内機３０のうち、機器アドレスが最小または最大に設定された室内機３０に対して、動作を第１の設定状態から第２の設定状態に変更する制御信号を送信し、設定待機時間内に制御信号に対して応答した１または複数の室内機３０を同一のグループとして設定する。 As described above, the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 includes a plurality of remote units that are connected to a plurality of indoor units 30 and one or a plurality of indoor units 30 and control operations of the connected indoor units 30. A controller 40 and a centralized control device 10 that controls the indoor unit 30 and the remote controller 40 are provided. Each of the plurality of indoor units 30 is set with a device address, which is unique identification information, and the central control apparatus 10 sets the operation of the plurality of indoor units 30 to the first setting state, and enters the first setting state. Among the set indoor units 30, a control signal for changing the operation from the first setting state to the second setting state is transmitted to the indoor unit 30 whose device address is set to the minimum or maximum, and setting standby One or a plurality of indoor units 30 responding to the control signal within the time are set as the same group.
　このように、本実施の形態１では、それぞれの室内機３０に対して設定された機器アドレスに基づき、遠隔制御器４０毎に接続された室内機３０を同一グループとして設定する。そのため、作業者が主導によってグループを入力することなく、また、遠隔制御器に対して機器アドレスを設定することなく、室内機３０のグループ設定を自動的に行うことができる。 As described above, in the first embodiment, the indoor units 30 connected to each remote controller 40 are set as the same group based on the device address set for each indoor unit 30. Therefore, the group setting of the indoor unit 30 can be automatically performed without the operator inputting a group under initiative and without setting a device address for the remote controller.
実施の形態２．
　次に、本実施の形態２に係る空気調和装置１について説明する。
　上述した実施の形態１では、１台の遠隔制御器４０に対して１台の室内機３０が接続された場合を例にとって説明したが、本実施の形態２では、１台の遠隔制御器４０に対して複数の室内機３０が接続された場合について説明する。 Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, the air conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 will be described.
In the first embodiment described above, the case where one indoor unit 30 is connected to one remote controller 40 has been described as an example. However, in the second embodiment, one remote controller 40 is connected. A case where a plurality of indoor units 30 are connected will be described.
　本実施の形態２に係る空気調和装置１では、１台の遠隔制御器４０に対して接続される室内機３０の台数以外は、上述した実施の形態１に係る空気調和装置１と同様の構成を有している。そのため、以下の説明において、上述した実施の形態１と同様の部分には同一の符号を付し、詳細な説明を省略する。 The air conditioner 1 according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment described above, except for the number of indoor units 30 connected to one remote controller 40. have. Therefore, in the following description, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part similar to Embodiment 1 mentioned above, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
［空気調和装置の構成］
　図５は、本実施の形態２に係る空気調和装置１の構成の一例を示すブロック図である。
　図５に示すように、空気調和装置１は、実施の形態１と同様に、集中制御装置１０、室外機２０、室内機３０、および遠隔制御器４０で構成されている。この例では、室内機３０としての３台の室内機３０Ａ、室内機３０Ｂおよび室内機３０Ｃと、遠隔制御器４０としての２台の遠隔制御器４０Ａおよび遠隔制御器４０Ｂが空気調和装置１に備えられている。 [Configuration of air conditioner]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, the air conditioner 1 includes a central control device 10, an outdoor unit 20, an indoor unit 30, and a remote controller 40, as in the first embodiment. In this example, the air conditioner 1 includes three indoor units 30A, an indoor unit 30B, and an indoor unit 30C as the indoor units 30, and two remote controllers 40A and 40B as the remote controllers 40. It has been.
　室内機３０Ａは、伝送線２Ｂを介して室外機２０が接続されるとともに、伝送線２Ｃを介して室内機３０Ｂが接続されている。また、室内機３０Ａは、伝送線３Ａを介して遠隔制御器４０Ａが接続されるとともに、伝送線３Ｂを介して室内機３０Ｂが接続されている。 The indoor unit 30A is connected to the outdoor unit 20 via the transmission line 2B and to the indoor unit 30B via the transmission line 2C. The indoor unit 30A is connected to the remote controller 40A via the transmission line 3A and to the indoor unit 30B via the transmission line 3B.
　室内機３０Ｂは、伝送線２Ｃを介して室内機３０Ａが接続されるとともに、伝送線２Ｄを介して室内機３０Ｃが接続されている。また、室内機３０Ｂは、伝送線３Ｂを介して室内機３０Ａが接続されている。 The indoor unit 30B is connected to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 2C and to the indoor unit 30C via the transmission line 2D. The indoor unit 30B is connected to the indoor unit 30A via the transmission line 3B.
　室内機３０Ｃは、伝送線２Ｄを介して室内機３０Ｂが接続されている。また、室内機３０Ｃは、伝送線３Ｃを介して遠隔制御器４０Ｂが接続されている。 The indoor unit 30C is connected to the indoor unit 30B via the transmission line 2D. The indoor unit 30C is connected to a remote controller 40B via the transmission line 3C.
　ここで、伝送線３Ａ～伝送線３Ｃは、各伝送線に接続された遠隔制御器４０からの操作信号を室内機３０に対して送信するためのものである。したがって、遠隔制御器４０Ａは、伝送線３Ａおよび伝送線３Ｂによって実質的に室内機３０Ａおよび室内機３０Ｂに接続されているので、この遠隔制御器４０Ａは、室内機３０Ａおよび室内機３０Ｂの動作を制御する。また、遠隔制御器４０Ｂは、伝送線３Ｃによって室内機３０Ｃに接続されているので、この遠隔制御器４０Ｂは、室内機３０Ｃの動作を制御する。 Here, the transmission lines 3A to 3C are for transmitting an operation signal from the remote controller 40 connected to each transmission line to the indoor unit 30. Therefore, since the remote controller 40A is substantially connected to the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B by the transmission line 3A and the transmission line 3B, the remote controller 40A operates the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B. Control. Further, since the remote controller 40B is connected to the indoor unit 30C by the transmission line 3C, the remote controller 40B controls the operation of the indoor unit 30C.
　本実施の形態２において、室内機３０Ａには、機器アドレス「００１」が設定されている。また、室内機３０Ｂには、機器アドレス「００２」が設定されている。さらに、室内機３０Ｃには、機器アドレス「００３」が設定されている。 In the second embodiment, the device address “001” is set in the indoor unit 30A. In addition, the device address “002” is set in the indoor unit 30B. Furthermore, a device address “003” is set in the indoor unit 30C.
　ここで、ある遠隔制御器４０に複数台の室内機３０が接続されている場合、接続された複数の室内機３０のうち、最も小さい値の機器アドレスが設定された室内機３０を、「親室内機」と称し、それ以外の室内機３０を「子室内機」と称する。
　この例では、遠隔制御器４０Ａに対して２台の室内機３０Ａおよび室内機３０Ｂが接続されているので、最も小さい値の機器アドレス「００１」が設定された室内機３０Ａが親室内機となり、それ以外の室内機３０Ｂが子室内機となる。 Here, when a plurality of indoor units 30 are connected to a certain remote controller 40, the indoor unit 30 having the smallest device address among the plurality of connected indoor units 30 is designated as “parent”. The indoor unit 30 is referred to as an “indoor unit”, and the other indoor units 30 are referred to as “child indoor units”.
In this example, since two indoor units 30A and 30B are connected to the remote controller 40A, the indoor unit 30A in which the smallest device address “001” is set becomes the parent indoor unit, The other indoor units 30B are sub indoor units.
　子室内機である室内機３０Ｂは、親室内機である室内機３０Ａの状態を常に認識し、室内機３０Ａの状態に応じて同様の動作を行う。例えば、室内機３０Ａが運転を開始した場合には、その状態を認識した時点で室内機３０Ｂも運転を開始する。 The indoor unit 30B that is the child indoor unit always recognizes the state of the indoor unit 30A that is the parent indoor unit, and performs the same operation according to the state of the indoor unit 30A. For example, when the indoor unit 30A starts operation, the indoor unit 30B also starts operation when the state is recognized.
　ところで、子室内機は、親室内機の状態を認識してから同様の状態となるように動作するため、子室内機が親室内機と同様に動作するまでには時間差が発生する。そのため、集中制御装置１０においては、この時間差を考慮してタイマーによる待機時間が設定される。 By the way, since the child indoor unit operates so as to be in the same state after recognizing the state of the parent indoor unit, a time difference occurs until the child indoor unit operates in the same manner as the parent indoor unit. Therefore, in the centralized control device 10, a standby time by a timer is set in consideration of this time difference.
［グループの設定］
　次に、室内機３０に対するグループ設定について説明する。
　まず、集中制御装置１０は、すべての室内機３０の運転を停止するための指令信号を指令部１３で生成する。そして、集中制御装置１０は、生成した指令信号を、伝送線２Ａ、室外機２０、伝送線２Ｂ、伝送線２Ｃおよび伝送線２Ｄを介して室内機３０Ａ、室内機３０Ｂおよび室内機３０Ｃに送信する。これにより、指令信号を受信した室内機３０Ａ、室内機３０Ｂおよび室内機３０Ｃは、停止状態となる。 [Group settings]
Next, group setting for the indoor unit 30 will be described.
First, the central control device 10 generates a command signal for stopping the operation of all the indoor units 30 at the command unit 13. Then, the central control apparatus 10 transmits the generated command signal to the indoor unit 30A, the indoor unit 30B, and the indoor unit 30C via the transmission line 2A, the outdoor unit 20, the transmission line 2B, the transmission line 2C, and the transmission line 2D. . Accordingly, the indoor unit 30A, the indoor unit 30B, and the indoor unit 30C that have received the command signal are stopped.
　次に、集中制御装置１０は、上述した実施の形態１と同様に、室内機３０を停止状態から運転状態とするための制御信号を指令部１３で生成するとともに、停止中の室内機３０のうち、最も小さい値の機器アドレスが設定された室内機３０を検索する。そして、集中制御装置１０は、機器アドレス「００１」が設定された室内機３０Ａに対し、伝送線２Ａ、室外機２０および伝送線２Ｂを介して生成した制御信号を送信する。 Next, as in the first embodiment described above, the centralized control device 10 generates a control signal for changing the indoor unit 30 from the stopped state to the operating state by the command unit 13, and at the same time the stopped indoor unit 30. Among them, the indoor unit 30 in which the smallest device address is set is searched. Then, the centralized control device 10 transmits a control signal generated via the transmission line 2A, the outdoor unit 20, and the transmission line 2B to the indoor unit 30A in which the device address “001” is set.
　また、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ａに対して制御信号を送信すると同時に、集中制御処理部１１に設けられたタイマーによる計時を開始する。そして、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ａからの応答を確認するため、予め設定された待機時間が経過するまで待機する。 Further, the central control apparatus 10 starts measuring time by a timer provided in the central control processing unit 11 at the same time as transmitting a control signal to the indoor unit 30A. Then, the central control apparatus 10 waits until a preset standby time elapses in order to confirm the response from the indoor unit 30A.
　一方、室内機３０Ａは、集中制御装置１０から制御信号に基づき、運転状態となる。運転状態となった室内機３０Ａは、伝送線２Ｂ、室外機２０、および伝送線２Ａを介して、制御信号に対する応答として運転情報を自装置の機器アドレス「００１」とともに集中制御装置１０に送信する。
　また、室内機３０Ａは、伝送線３Ａを介して遠隔制御器４０Ａに運転状態を通知する。 On the other hand, the indoor unit 30 </ b> A enters an operation state based on a control signal from the central control device 10. The indoor unit 30A that has entered the operation state transmits operation information to the centralized control device 10 together with the device address “001” of the own device as a response to the control signal via the transmission line 2B, the outdoor unit 20, and the transmission line 2A. .
The indoor unit 30A notifies the operating state to the remote controller 40A via the transmission line 3A.
　集中制御装置１０は、運転情報を室内機３０Ａから受信すると、運転情報とともに受信した室内機３０Ａの機器アドレス「００１」を記憶部１４に記憶する。 When the central control apparatus 10 receives the operation information from the indoor unit 30A, the central control apparatus 10 stores the device address “001” of the indoor unit 30A received together with the operation information in the storage unit 14.
　また、このとき、室内機３０Ａに対応する遠隔制御器４０Ａに接続された他の室内機３０Ｂは、子室内機として室内機３０Ａの状態を認識している。そして、室内機３０Ｂは、室内機３０Ａが運転状態となったことを認識すると、自装置の運転を開始する。運転状態となった室内機３０Ｂは、伝送線２Ｃ、伝送線２Ｂ、室外機２０、および伝送線２Ａを介して、運転情報を自装置の機器アドレス「００２」とともに集中制御装置１０に送信する。 At this time, the other indoor unit 30B connected to the remote controller 40A corresponding to the indoor unit 30A recognizes the state of the indoor unit 30A as a child indoor unit. Then, when the indoor unit 30B recognizes that the indoor unit 30A is in an operating state, the indoor unit 30B starts operating its own device. The indoor unit 30B in the operating state transmits the operation information to the centralized control device 10 together with the device address “002” of its own device via the transmission line 2C, the transmission line 2B, the outdoor unit 20, and the transmission line 2A.
　なお、子室内機である室内機３０Ｂは、親室内機である室内機３０Ａから遠隔制御器４０Ａに通知される運転状態に基づき、室内機３０Ａと同様の動作を行う。そのため、室内機３０Ｂは、遠隔制御器４０Ａに対して運転状態を通知しない。 Note that the indoor unit 30B, which is the child indoor unit, performs the same operation as the indoor unit 30A based on the operating state notified from the indoor unit 30A, which is the parent indoor unit, to the remote controller 40A. For this reason, the indoor unit 30B does not notify the remote controller 40A of the operating state.
　集中制御装置１０は、運転情報を室内機３０Ｂから受信すると、運転情報とともに受信した室内機３０Ｂの機器アドレス「００２」を記憶部１４に記憶する。なお、この例では、運転情報を送信した室内機３０Ａおよび室内機３０Ｂに対応する遠隔制御器４０Ａに、これ以外の室内機３０が接続されていない。そのため、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ａおよび室内機３０Ｂ以外の室内機３０から制御信号に対する応答を受け取ることがない。
　タイマーに設定された待機時間が経過した後、集中制御装置１０は、グループ登録部１５により、記憶部１４に記憶された室内機３０Ａの機器アドレス「００１」と、室内機３０Ｂの機器アドレス「００２」とを１つのグループ＃Ａとして登録する。そして、集中制御装置１０は、登録したグループ情報を記憶部１４に記憶する。また、集中制御装置１０は、グループ＃Ａの登録が完了してグループ情報を記憶すると、当該機器アドレス「００１」および機器アドレス「００２」を記憶部１４から削除する。 When receiving the operation information from the indoor unit 30B, the centralized control device 10 stores the device address “002” of the indoor unit 30B received together with the operation information in the storage unit 14. In this example, no other indoor unit 30 is connected to the remote controller 40A corresponding to the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B that transmitted the operation information. Therefore, the centralized control device 10 does not receive a response to the control signal from the indoor units 30 other than the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30B.
After the standby time set in the timer has elapsed, the central control apparatus 10 causes the group registration unit 15 to store the device address “001” of the indoor unit 30A stored in the storage unit 14 and the device address “002” of the indoor unit 30B. As a group #A. The central control device 10 stores the registered group information in the storage unit 14. Further, when the registration of the group #A is completed and the group information is stored, the centralized control device 10 deletes the device address “001” and the device address “002” from the storage unit 14.
　次に、グループ＃Ａが登録された後、集中制御装置１０は、上述したようにして、停止中の室内機３０のうち、最も小さい値の機器アドレスが設定された室内機３０を検索する。ここで、最小機器アドレスの室内機３０を検索する場合には、上述した実施の形態１と同様に、すでにグループに登録された機器アドレスは除外される。この例では、予め設定された範囲の機器アドレスのうち、グループ＃Ａとして登録された機器アドレス「００１」および機器アドレス「００２」が除外されることになる。従って、集中制御装置１０は、機器アドレス「００３」が設定された室内機３０Ｃに対して制御信号を送信する。 Next, after the group #A is registered, the central control apparatus 10 searches for the indoor unit 30 in which the smallest device address is set among the stopped indoor units 30 as described above. Here, when searching for the indoor unit 30 having the minimum device address, the device addresses already registered in the group are excluded, as in the first embodiment. In this example, the device address “001” and the device address “002” registered as the group #A are excluded from the device addresses in a preset range. Accordingly, the central control apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the indoor unit 30C in which the device address “003” is set.
　また、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ｃに対して制御信号を送信すると同時に、タイマーによる計時を開始する。そして、集中制御装置１０は、室内機３０Ｃからの応答を確認するため、待機時間が経過するまで待機する。 In addition, the centralized control device 10 starts measuring time by a timer at the same time as transmitting a control signal to the indoor unit 30C. Then, the central control apparatus 10 waits until the standby time elapses in order to confirm the response from the indoor unit 30C.
　一方、室内機３０Ｃは、集中制御装置１０から制御信号に基づき、運転状態となる。運転状態となった室内機３０Ｃは、制御信号に対する応答として運転情報を自装置の機器アドレス「００３」とともに集中制御装置１０に送信する。
　また、室内機３０Ｃは、遠隔制御器４０Ｂに運転状態を通知する。 On the other hand, the indoor unit 30 </ b> C enters an operating state based on a control signal from the central control device 10. The indoor unit 30C that has entered the operation state transmits operation information to the centralized control device 10 together with the device address “003” of the own device as a response to the control signal.
In addition, the indoor unit 30C notifies the remote controller 40B of the operation state.
　集中制御装置１０は、運転情報を室内機３０Ｃから受信すると、運転情報とともに受信した室内機３０Ｂの機器アドレス「００３」を記憶部１４に記憶する。なお、遠隔制御器４０Ｂには、室内機３０Ｃ以外の室内機３０が接続されていない。そのため、集中制御装置１０は、これ以外の室内機３０から制御信号に対する応答を受け取ることがない。
　タイマーに設定された待機時間が経過した後、集中制御装置１０は、グループ登録部１５により、記憶部１４に記憶された室内機３０Ｂの機器アドレス「００３」をグループ＃Ａとは異なるグループ＃Ｂとして登録し、グループ情報を記憶部１４に記憶する。また、集中制御装置１０は、グループ＃Ｂの登録が完了してグループ情報を記憶すると、当該機器アドレス「００３」を記憶部１４から削除する。 When receiving the operation information from the indoor unit 30C, the centralized control device 10 stores the device address “003” of the indoor unit 30B received together with the operation information in the storage unit 14. Note that the indoor unit 30 other than the indoor unit 30C is not connected to the remote controller 40B. Therefore, the centralized control device 10 does not receive a response to the control signal from the other indoor units 30.
After the standby time set in the timer has elapsed, the central control apparatus 10 uses the group registration unit 15 to set the device address “003” of the indoor unit 30B stored in the storage unit 14 to a group #B different from the group #A. And the group information is stored in the storage unit 14. Further, when the registration of the group #B is completed and the group information is stored, the centralized control device 10 deletes the device address “003” from the storage unit 14.
　このように、本実施の形態２では、１台の遠隔制御器４０に対して複数の室内機３０が接続された場合でも、実施の形態１と同様に、複数の遠隔制御器４０のそれぞれに接続された室内機３０毎に、異なるグループを自動的に設定して登録することができる。 As described above, in the second embodiment, even when a plurality of indoor units 30 are connected to one remote controller 40, as in the first embodiment, each of the plurality of remote controllers 40 is connected. Different groups can be automatically set and registered for each connected indoor unit 30.
　次に、各機器における処理について説明する。
　なお、本実施の形態２では、集中制御装置１０におけるグループ設定処理について、実施の形態１での説明に用いた図３のフローチャートに示す処理を、そのまま適用することができる。また、本実施の形態２では、親室内機としての室内機３０Ａおよび室内機３０Ｃにおける処理についても、実施の形態１での説明に用いた図４のフローチャートに示す処理を、そのまま適用することができる。そのため、ここでは、フローチャートを用いた処理の説明を省略する。 Next, processing in each device will be described.
In the second embodiment, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 used for the description in the first embodiment can be applied as it is to the group setting process in the central control apparatus 10. In the second embodiment, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 used for the description in the first embodiment can be applied as it is to the processing in the indoor unit 30A and the indoor unit 30C as the parent indoor unit. it can. Therefore, description of the process using a flowchart is abbreviate | omitted here.
　図６は、図５の室内機３０に対してグループ設定を行う際の、子室内機である室内機３０Ｂにおける処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。
　まず、ステップＳ２１において、子室内機である室内機３０Ｂは、親室内機である室内機３０Ａの状態を確認する。 FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the indoor unit 30B that is a child indoor unit when performing group setting for the indoor unit 30 in FIG.
First, in step S21, the indoor unit 30B that is the child indoor unit checks the state of the indoor unit 30A that is the parent indoor unit.
　次に、ステップＳ２２において、室内機３０Ｂは、室内機３０Ａが運転中であるか否かを判断する。
　室内機３０Ａが運転中であると判断した場合（ステップＳ２２；Ｙｅｓ）、室内機３０Ｂは、停止状態から運転を開始する（ステップＳ２３）。そして、ステップＳ２４において、室内機３０Ｂは、集中制御装置１０に対して運転情報を自装置の機器アドレスとともに送信する。 Next, in step S22, the indoor unit 30B determines whether or not the indoor unit 30A is in operation.
When it is determined that the indoor unit 30A is in operation (step S22; Yes), the indoor unit 30B starts operation from the stopped state (step S23). In step S24, the indoor unit 30B transmits the operation information to the central control device 10 together with the device address of the own device.
　一方、ステップＳ２２において、室内機３０Ａが運転中でないと判断した場合（ステップＳ２２；Ｎｏ）には、処理がステップＳ２１に戻り、再度、室内機３０Ａの状態を確認する。 On the other hand, when it is determined in step S22 that the indoor unit 30A is not in operation (step S22; No), the process returns to step S21, and the state of the indoor unit 30A is confirmed again.
　以上のように、本実施の形態２に係る空気調和装置１は、１台の遠隔制御器４０に対して複数の室内機３０が接続された場合でも、実施の形態１と同様に、室内機３０に対するグループ設定を自動的に行うことができる。 As described above, the air conditioner 1 according to the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment even when a plurality of indoor units 30 are connected to one remote controller 40. The group setting for 30 can be automatically performed.
　以上、本発明の実施の形態１および実施の形態２について説明したが、本発明は、上述した本発明の実施の形態１および実施の形態２に限定されるものではなく、本発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲内で様々な変形や応用が可能である。 As mentioned above, although Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 of this invention were demonstrated, this invention is not limited to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 of this invention mentioned above, The summary of this invention is shown. Various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the scope.
　例えば、空気調和装置１に備えられる集中制御装置１０、室外機２０、室内機３０および遠隔制御器４０の台数は、この例に限られず、例えば、それぞれの機器が１台または複数台で構成されてもよい。具体的には、例えば、上述した実施の形態１および２では、１台の室外機２０が接続されている場合を例にとって説明したが、これに限らず、複数台の室外機２０が接続されてもよい。 For example, the number of the central control device 10, the outdoor unit 20, the indoor unit 30, and the remote controller 40 provided in the air conditioner 1 is not limited to this example. For example, each device includes one or a plurality of units. May be. Specifically, for example, in Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the case where one outdoor unit 20 is connected has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a plurality of outdoor units 20 are connected. May be.
　また、実施の形態１および２では、最小の機器アドレスが設定された室内機３０に対して集中制御装置１０から制御信号を送信して、室内機３０のグループ設定を行うように説明したが、これはこの例に限られない。例えば、最大の機器アドレスが設定された室内機３０に対して集中制御装置１０から制御信号を送信して、室内機３０のグループ設定を行ってもよい。なお、この場合には、実施の形態２において、最大の機器アドレスが設定された室内機３０が親室内機となり、それ以外の室内機３０が子室内機となるものとする。 In Embodiments 1 and 2, the control signal is transmitted from the central control device 10 to the indoor unit 30 in which the minimum device address is set, and the group setting of the indoor unit 30 is performed. This is not limited to this example. For example, the group setting of the indoor units 30 may be performed by transmitting a control signal from the central control apparatus 10 to the indoor unit 30 in which the maximum device address is set. In this case, in the second embodiment, the indoor unit 30 in which the maximum device address is set is the parent indoor unit, and the other indoor units 30 are the child indoor units.
　１　空気調和装置、２Ａ、２Ｂ、２Ｃ、２Ｄ、３Ａ、３Ｂ、３Ｃ　伝送線、１０　集中制御装置、１１　集中制御処理部、１２　通信部、１３　指令部、１４　記憶部、１５　グループ登録部、２０　室外機、３０、３０Ａ、３０Ｂ、３０Ｃ　室内機、４０、４０Ａ、４０Ｂ　遠隔制御器。 1 air conditioner, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A, 3B, 3C transmission line, 10 central control device, 11 central control processing unit, 12 communication unit, 13 command unit, 14 storage unit, 15 group registration unit, 20 Outdoor unit, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C indoor unit, 40, 40A, 40B remote controller.

Claims (8)

  1. 　複数の室内機と、
    　１または複数の前記室内機が接続され、接続された前記室内機の動作を制御する複数の遠隔制御器と、
    　前記室内機および前記遠隔制御器を制御する集中制御装置と
    を備えた空気調和装置であって、
    　複数の前記室内機は、
    　それぞれに固有の識別情報である機器アドレスが設定され、
    　前記集中制御装置は、
    　複数の前記室内機を第１の設定状態に設定し、
    　前記第１の設定状態に設定された前記室内機のうち、前記機器アドレスが最小または最大に設定された室内機に対して、動作を前記第１の設定状態から第２の設定状態に変更する制御信号を送信し、
    　設定待機時間内に前記制御信号に対して応答した１または複数の室内機を同一のグループとして設定する
    空気調和装置。     Multiple indoor units,
    A plurality of remote controllers to which one or a plurality of the indoor units are connected, and controlling operations of the connected indoor units;
    An air conditioner comprising a centralized control device for controlling the indoor unit and the remote controller,
    The plurality of indoor units are
    A device address that is unique identification information is set for each,
    The central control device is:
    Setting the plurality of indoor units to the first setting state;
    Of the indoor units set in the first setting state, the operation is changed from the first setting state to the second setting state for the indoor unit whose device address is set to the minimum or maximum. Send control signals,
    An air conditioner that sets one or a plurality of indoor units that have responded to the control signal within a set waiting time as the same group.
  2. 　最小の機器アドレスが設定された前記室内機に対して前記集中制御装置から前記制御信号を送信する場合に、
    　１つの前記遠隔制御器に対して接続された複数の室内機は、
    　複数の該室内機のそれぞれに設定された前記機器アドレスのうち、最小の前記機器アドレスが設定された親室内機と、
    　前記親室内機以外の子室内機と
    で構成され、
    　前記子室内機は、
    　前記親室内機と同様の動作を行う
    請求項１に記載の空気調和装置。     When the control signal is transmitted from the centralized control device to the indoor unit in which the minimum device address is set,
    A plurality of indoor units connected to one remote controller are:
    Of the device addresses set in each of the plurality of indoor units, a parent indoor unit in which the minimum device address is set;
    It is composed of a child indoor unit other than the parent indoor unit,
    The child indoor unit is
    The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation is the same as that of the parent indoor unit.
  3. 　前記集中制御装置は、
    　設定範囲内の機器アドレスにおける最小の機器アドレスから最大の機器アドレスまで、前記制御信号を順次送信し、
    　前記制御信号に対する応答の有無に基づき、最小の前記機器アドレスを判断する
    請求項１または２に記載の空気調和装置。     The central control device is:
    The control signal is sequentially transmitted from the smallest device address to the largest device address in the device address within the setting range,
    The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the minimum device address is determined based on whether or not there is a response to the control signal.
  4. 　最大の機器アドレスが設定された前記室内機に対して前記集中制御装置から前記制御信号を送信する場合に、
    　１つの前記遠隔制御器に対して接続された複数の室内機は、
    　複数の該室内機のそれぞれに設定された前記機器アドレスのうち、最大の前記機器アドレスが設定された親室内機と、
    　前記親室内機以外の子室内機と
    で構成され、
    　前記子室内機は、
    　前記親室内機と同様の動作を行う
    請求項１に記載の空気調和装置。     When the control signal is transmitted from the centralized control device to the indoor unit in which the maximum device address is set,
    A plurality of indoor units connected to one remote controller are:
    Of the device addresses set in each of the plurality of indoor units, a parent indoor unit in which the maximum device address is set;
    It is composed of a child indoor unit other than the parent indoor unit,
    The child indoor unit is
    The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation is the same as that of the parent indoor unit.
  5. 　前記集中制御装置は、
    　設定範囲内の機器アドレスにおける最大の機器アドレスから最小の機器アドレスまで、前記制御信号を順次送信し、
    　前記制御信号に対する応答の有無に基づき、最大の前記機器アドレスを判断する
    請求項１または４に記載の空気調和装置。     The central control device is:
    The control signal is sequentially transmitted from the maximum device address to the minimum device address in the device address within the setting range,
    The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the maximum device address is determined based on whether or not there is a response to the control signal.
  6. 　前記待機時間は、
    　前記遠隔制御器に接続可能な最大台数の室内機が接続された場合に、前記制御信号に対する応答を接続されたすべての室内機から受信可能な時間に設定される
    請求項１～５のいずれか一項に記載の空気調和装置。     The waiting time is
    6. The system according to claim 1, wherein when a maximum number of indoor units connectable to the remote controller are connected, a response to the control signal is set to a time that can be received from all connected indoor units. The air conditioning apparatus according to one item.
  7. 　前記第１の設定状態は、停止状態であり、
    　前記第２の設定状態は、運転状態であり、
    　前記制御信号は、前記室内機を前記停止状態から前記運転状態とするための指令信号である
    請求項１～６のいずれか一項に記載の空気調和装置。     The first setting state is a stopped state;
    The second setting state is an operating state,
    The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control signal is a command signal for switching the indoor unit from the stopped state to the operating state.
  8. 　それぞれに固有の識別情報である機器アドレスが設定された複数の室内機と、
    　１または複数の前記室内機が接続され、接続された前記室内機の動作を制御する複数の遠隔制御器と、
    　前記室内機および前記遠隔制御器を制御する集中制御装置と
    を備えた空気調和装置のグループ設定方法であって、
    　前記複数の室内機の動作を第１の設定状態に設定するステップと、
    　前記第１の設定状態に設定された前記室内機のうち、前記機器アドレスが最小または最大に設定された室内機に対して、動作を前記第１の設定状態から第２の設定状態に変更する制御信号を送信するステップと、
    　設定待機時間内に前記制御信号に対して応答した１または複数の室内機を同一のグループとして設定するステップと
    を有する空気調和装置のグループ設定方法。     A plurality of indoor units each having a device address that is unique identification information;
    A plurality of remote controllers to which one or a plurality of the indoor units are connected, and controlling operations of the connected indoor units;
    A group setting method for an air conditioner comprising the indoor unit and a centralized control device for controlling the remote controller,
    Setting the operations of the plurality of indoor units to a first setting state;
    Of the indoor units set in the first setting state, the operation is changed from the first setting state to the second setting state for the indoor unit whose device address is set to the minimum or maximum. Transmitting a control signal;
    A group setting method for an air conditioner, comprising: setting one or a plurality of indoor units responding to the control signal within a set waiting time as the same group.
PCT/JP2016/066908 2016-06-07 2016-06-07 Air conditioner, and group setting method WO2017212545A1 (en)

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH07286750A (en) * 1994-04-18 1995-10-31 Daikin Ind Ltd Controller for air conditioner
JP2002130779A (en) * 2000-10-20 2002-05-09 Fujitsu General Ltd Method of controlling air conditioner
JP2007218449A (en) * 2006-02-14 2007-08-30 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Air conditioner and address setting method in air conditioner
WO2015092831A1 (en) * 2013-12-18 2015-06-25 三菱電機株式会社 Air-conditioning device and method for feeding power to remote controls

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH07286750A (en) * 1994-04-18 1995-10-31 Daikin Ind Ltd Controller for air conditioner
JP2002130779A (en) * 2000-10-20 2002-05-09 Fujitsu General Ltd Method of controlling air conditioner
JP2007218449A (en) * 2006-02-14 2007-08-30 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Air conditioner and address setting method in air conditioner
WO2015092831A1 (en) * 2013-12-18 2015-06-25 三菱電機株式会社 Air-conditioning device and method for feeding power to remote controls

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