EP3421896B1

EP3421896B1 - Air conditioner indoor unit

Info

Publication number: EP3421896B1
Application number: EP16891422.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hirokazu Iijima
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2016-02-23
Filing date: 2016-02-23
Publication date: 2020-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-23
Also published as: EP3421896A1; JPWO2017145263A1; EP3421896A4; AU2016393930B2; WO2017145263A1; AU2016393930A1; JP6537697B2

Description

Field

The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner that can be connected to an optional device.

Background

Conventionally, there has been an indoor unit of an air conditioner that is configured to reduce power consumption during standby by decreasing an output voltage of a direct-current power supply when the conditioner is not connected to any optional devices but not decreasing the output voltage of the direct-current power supply when the conditioner is connected to an optional device (see Patent Literature 1, for example). Literature 1 discloses that the controller includes the operating state monitoring unit and the optional part connection determining unit, where standby power is reduced by lowering the output power from the power supply circuit when the operating state monitoring unit determines that all the actuators are stopped and on standby and the optional part connection determining unit determines, from the communication state with the optional part, that the optional part is not connected.

Citation List

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-162957

Summary

Technical Problem

According to the aforementioned conventional technique, however, the indoor unit drives a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of a microcomputer even during standby in a similar manner to an operation mode in order to communicate with the optional device. In this situation, the indoor unit thus continues to consume a certain amount of power even during standby.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the invention is to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner that can reduce power consumption during standby.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above problem and achieve the object, the present invention provides an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1 or, alternatively, according to claim 3.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention has an advantageous effect of reducing power consumption during standby.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an indoor unit and an optional device according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing of switching details of control that reduces power consumption during standby in the indoor unit according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where an arithmetic unit of the indoor unit according to the first embodiment is implemented using a CPU and a memory.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an air conditioner and the optional device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing of switching details of control that reduces power consumption during standby in an indoor unit according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an indoor unit and an optional device according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing of switching details of control that reduces power consumption during standby of the indoor unit according to the third embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not necessarily limited by the embodiments.

First Embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an indoor unit 1 and an optional device 5 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The indoor unit 1 is an indoor unit of an air conditioner that constitutes the air conditioner together with an outdoor unit, a wireless remote controller, and the like, which are not shown in the figure. The optional device 5 is a functional component that can selectively add a function to a standard air conditioner.
The configuration of the indoor unit 1 will be described. The indoor unit 1 includes an arithmetic unit 2. The arithmetic unit 2 executes air conditioning control in a microcomputer controlling the operation of the indoor unit 1 and the like, and is a CPU, for example. The arithmetic unit 2 includes an operation signal reception unit 10, an operation content determination unit 11, an actuator control unit 12, a communication unit 13, an optional device connection determination unit 14, and a standby power control unit 15.
The operation signal reception unit 10 receives an operation signal for an air conditioner, transmitted from an operating device such as a wireless remote controller. The operation signal reception unit 10 outputs the received operation signal to the operation content determination unit 11.
The operation content determination unit 11 determines whether the operation signal received by the operation signal reception unit 10 is normal or abnormal. The operation content determination unit 11 analyzes the content of the operation signal when determining that the operation signal is normal. The operation content determination unit 11 outputs the content of the operation signal, that is a result of the analysis, to the actuator control unit 12.
On the basis of the content of the operation signal that is the result of the analysis of the operation content determination unit 11, the actuator control unit 12 controls the operation of actuators including a switch, a motor, a fan motor, and the like so as to execute air conditioning control such as starting or stopping of the operation of the air conditioner, control of the wind speed, or control of the wind direction. The actuator control unit 12 notifies the standby power control unit 15 of the operating state of the actuators.
The communication unit 13 is a first communication unit that communicates with a communication unit 50 of the optional device 5.
The optional device connection determination unit 14 determines whether or not the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1 on the basis of a communication state between the communication unit 13 and the optional device 5. The optional device connection determination unit 14 notifies the standby power control unit 15 of a result of the determination as to whether or not the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1.
On the basis of the operating state of the actuators from the actuator control unit 12 and the result of the determination as to whether the optional device 5 is connected, from the optional device connection determination unit 14, the standby power control unit 15 switches processing for reduction of standby power of the arithmetic unit 2 in a standby mode that is a mode during which the operation of the indoor unit 1 is stopped, or during which the operations of the actuators are stopped.
The configuration of the optional device 5 will be described. The optional device 5 includes the communication unit 50. The communication unit 50 communicates with the communication unit 13 of the indoor unit 1.
Next, the operation of reducing power consumption during standby in the indoor unit 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing of switching details of control for reducing power consumption during standby in the indoor unit 1 according to the first embodiment.
First, the operation signal reception unit 10 of the indoor unit 1 receives an operation signal to stop the operation from the operating device such as a wireless remote controller. The operation content determination unit 11 determines that the operation signal is normal and analyzes the operation signal, and determines that the content of the operation signal indicates stoppage of the operation (step S1).
The optional device connection determination unit 14 determines whether or not the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1 on the basis of a communication state of the communication unit 13 (step S2). The optional device connection determination unit 14 determines that the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1, at least, for example, in a case where communication has been carried out successfully between the communication unit 13 and the communication unit 50 of the optional device 5 at least once, in a case where communication has been carried out successfully between the communication unit 13 and the communication unit 50 of the optional device 5 in a given elapsed period of time, or in a case where a specific signal has been able to be successfully transmitted and received between the communication unit 13 and the communication unit 50 of the optional device 5. The optional device connection determination unit 14 determines that the optional device 5 is not connected to the indoor unit 1 if the current condition does not correspond to any of the three cases mentioned above, for example. The optional device connection determination unit 14 notifies the standby power control unit 15 of a result of the determination as to whether or not the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1.
When the optional device connection determination unit 14 determines that the optional device 5 is not connected to the indoor unit 1 (step S2: No), the actuator control unit 12 performs control to stop the operations of all the actuators used for controlling the wind speed, the wind direction, and the like in order to stop the operation of the air conditioner on the basis of the content of the operation signal indicating stoppage of the operation (step S3) .
The actuator control unit 12 determines whether or not all the actuators are stopped (step S4). When there is an actuator that is not stopped (step S4: No), the actuator control unit 12 waits until all the actuators are stopped. This is because the actuators include not only a kind of actuator that stops the operation immediately by the operation stop control and but also another kind of actuator that takes a certain amount of time to stop the operation. The actuator control unit 12 notifies the standby power control unit 15 that an actuator in operation exists, as the operating state of the actuators.
When all the actuators are stopped (step S4: Yes), the actuator control unit 12 notifies the standby power control unit 15 that all the actuators have been stopped, as the operating state of the actuators.
In accordance with a result of the determination that the optional device 5 is not connected to the indoor unit 1 from the optional device connection determination unit 14 and the notification of the operating state that all the actuators have been stopped from the actuator control unit 12, the standby power control unit 15 performs control to stop the operation of the arithmetic unit 2 in order to more significantly reduce power consumption during standby for the purpose of standby power consumption saving (step S5).
Returning to step S2, When the optional device connection determination unit 14 determines that the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1 (step S2: Yes), the actuator control unit 12 performs control to stop the operations of the actuators other than the optional device 5 in order to stop the operation of the air conditioner while continuing communication with the optional device 5, on the basis of the content of the operation signal indicating the stoppage of the operation (step S6).
The actuator control unit 12 determines whether or not the actuators except the communication with the optional device 5 have been stopped (step S7). When there is an actuator that has not been stopped (step S7: No), the actuator control unit 12 waits until the actuator has been stopped. The actuator control unit 12 notifies the standby power control unit 15 that the actuator in operation exists, as the operating state of the actuators.
When the actuators have been stopped except the communication with the optional device 5 (step S7: Yes), the actuator control unit 12 notifies the standby power control unit 15 that the actuators have been stopped except the communication with the optional device 5, as the operating state of the actuators.
In accordance with a result of the determination that the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1 from the optional device connection determination unit 14 and the notification of the operating state that the actuators have been stopped except the communication with the optional device 5 from the actuator control unit 12, the standby power control unit 15 performs control to decrease the processing speed of the arithmetic unit 2 to a state allowing the communication with the optional device 5, for the purpose of standby power consumption saving (step S8). In other words, the standby power control unit 15 performs control such that the processing speed of the arithmetic unit 2 during standby is made to be lower than a processing speed during the operation.
In this way, the standby power control unit 15 switches details of control for the arithmetic unit 2 being in stoppage of operation on the basis of the result of the determination as to whether or not the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1 from the optional device connection determination unit 14 and the notification of the operating state of the actuators from the actuator control unit 12, so as to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2 during standby.
The hardware configuration of the indoor unit 1 will now be described. In the indoor unit 1, the arithmetic unit 2 including the operation signal reception unit 10, the operation content determination unit 11, the actuator control unit 12, the communication unit 13, the optional device connection determination unit 14, and the standby power control unit 15 is implemented by a processing circuit. That is, the indoor unit 1 has the processing circuit that receives the operation signal, analyzes the content of the operation signal, controls the actuators, communicates with the optional device 5, determines whether or not the optional device 5 is connected thereto, and switches processing for reduction of the standby power of the arithmetic unit 2 during standby and execute the processing. The processing circuit corresponds to a CPU for executing a program stored in a memory and the memory.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the case where the arithmetic unit 2 of the indoor unit 1 according to the first embodiment is implemented by the CPU and the memory. When the processing circuit is constructed of a CPU 91 and a memory 92, each function of the arithmetic unit 2 is implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is described as a program and stored in the memory 92. The processing circuit implements the functions by the CPU 91 reading and executing the program stored in the memory 92. That is, the indoor unit 1 includes the memory 92 for storing therein programs that consequently enable execution of a step of receiving the operation signal, a step of analyzing the content of the operation signal, a step of controlling the actuators, a step of communicating with the optional device 5, a step of determining whether or not the optional device 5 is connected, and a step of switching the processing for reduction of the standby power of the arithmetic unit 2 during standby to execute the resultant processing, when the arithmetic unit 2 is implemented by the processing circuit. It can also be said that these programs cause a computer to execute a procedure and a method involved in the indoor unit 1.
Here, the CPU 91 may be a processing device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), or the like. The memory 92 corresponds to, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), or an electrically EPROM (EEPROM), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disc, a mini disc, or a digital versatile disc (DVD), or the like. The processing circuit can thus implement the aforementioned functions by software, firmware, or a combination of them.
As described above, the indoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment automatically switches control to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2 during standby depending on whether or not the optional device 5 is connected thereto. By so doing, when the optional device 5 is not connected to the indoor unit 1 and operations of all the actuators are being stopped in an operation stoppage mode, the indoor unit 1 stops the arithmetic unit 2, thereby making it possible to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2 relative to a case when the indoor unit 1 is in operation and a case when the processing speed of the arithmetic unit 2 is decreased. Moreover, when the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1 and the actuators are being stopped in operation except communication with the optional device 5, the indoor unit 1 decreases the processing speed of the arithmetic unit 2, thereby making it possible to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2 relative to a case when the indoor unit 1 is in operation, although the power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2 cannot be lower than that when the arithmetic unit 2 is stopped.

Second Embodiment.

An indoor unit of a second embodiment further performs control to reduce power consumption of an air conditioner depending on whether or not communication with an outdoor unit is cut off. Differences from the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an air conditioner 4 and the optional device 5 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 4 includes an indoor unit 1a and an outdoor unit 3. The indoor unit 1a is an indoor unit of an air conditioner that constitutes the air conditioner 4 together with the outdoor unit 3, a wireless remote controller not shown in the figure, and the like.
The configuration of the indoor unit 1a will be described. The indoor unit 1a includes an arithmetic unit 2a. The arithmetic unit 2a is an arithmetic unit that executes air conditioning control in a microcomputer controlling the operation of the indoor unit 1a and the like. The arithmetic unit 2a is obtained by removing the operation content determination unit 11 and the standby power control unit 15 from the configuration of the arithmetic unit 2 and adding thereto an operation content determination unit 11a, a standby power control unit 15a, a communication unit 16, an outdoor unit connection determination unit 17, and an outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18.
The operation content determination unit 11a performs processing similar to processing of the operation content determination unit 11 but outputs the content of an operation signal that is an analysis result to the outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18 as well as to the actuator control unit 12.
The communication unit 16 is a second communication unit that communicates with a communication unit 30 of the outdoor unit 3.
The outdoor unit connection determination unit 17 determines whether or not the outdoor unit 3 is connected to the indoor unit 1a on the basis of a communication state between the communication unit 16 and the outdoor unit 3.
On the basis of the content of the operation signal that is the analysis result of the operation content determination unit 11a, the outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18 performs control to cut off communication with the outdoor unit 3 when the content of the operation signal indicates stoppage of operation.
The standby power control unit 15a switches processing for reduction of standby power of the arithmetic unit 2a in standby during which the operation of the indoor unit 1a is stopped and executes the processing, on the basis of operating states of the actuators from the actuator control unit 12, a result of the determination as to whether or not the optional device 5 is connected from the optional device connection determination unit 14, and a result of the determination as to whether or not communication with the outdoor unit 3 has been cut off from the outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18.
The configuration of the outdoor unit 3 will be described. The outdoor unit 3 includes the communication unit 30. The communication unit 30 communicates with the communication unit 16 of the indoor unit 1a.
Next, the operation of reducing power consumption of the indoor unit 1a during standby will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing of switching details of control for reducing power consumption during standby in the indoor unit 1a according to the second embodiment. The processing in step S1 is similar to the processing of the first embodiment.
The outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18 performs control to cut off communication with the outdoor unit 3 on the basis of the content of the operation signal indicating stoppage of operation from the operation content determination unit 11a. The outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18 determines whether or not the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has been cut off (step S11). After carrying out the control to cut off the communication with the outdoor unit 3, the outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18 determines that the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has been cut off, for example, in the case where the communication unit 16 cannot receive a signal from the outdoor unit 3 successfully, the case where the communication unit 16 cannot receive a signal from the outdoor unit 3 successfully within a certain period of time, the case where the number of times the communication unit 16 has failed to receive a signal from the outdoor unit 3 successfully has reached a predetermined number of times or more, or the like case, based on a notification from the outdoor unit connection determination unit 17. The outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18 determines that the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has not been cut off when the present condition does not correspond to any of the above-mentioned three cases, for example. The outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18 notifies the standby power control unit 15a of a result of the determination as to whether or not the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has been cut off.
If the outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18 determines that the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has been cut off (step S11: Yes), the optional device connection determination unit 14 determines whether or not the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1a on the basis of the communication state of the communication unit 13 (step S2). The subsequent processing from step S2 to step S8 is similar to the processing of the first embodiment.
If the outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18 determines that the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has not been cut off (step S11; No), the actuator control unit 12 performs control to stop the operation of an actuator other than an actuator provided in the outdoor unit 3 on the basis of the content of the operation signal indicating the stoppage of the operation in spite of the presence or absence of connection with the optional device 5 in order to stop the operation of the air conditioner 4 although communication is being made between the communication unit 16 and the outdoor unit 3 (step S12). The actuator other than the actuator provided in the outdoor unit 3 means an actuator provided in the indoor unit 1a, for example.
In this way, the standby power control unit 15a switches details of control for the arithmetic unit 2a that is in an operation stop mode in order to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2a during standby or reduce power consumption of the air conditioner 4 on the basis of the result of the determination as to whether or not the optional device 5 is connected to the indoor unit 1a from the optional device connection determination unit 14, the notification of the operating state of the actuators from the actuator control unit 12, and the result of the determination as to whether or not the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has been cut off from the outdoor unit communication cutoff unit 18. In the indoor unit 1a, when the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has not been cut off, the standby power control unit 15a does not perform processing for reduction of power consumption for the arithmetic unit 2a, but the actuator control unit 12 performs control to stop the operation of the actuator other than the outdoor unit 3. When the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has been cut off, the standby power control unit 15a performs control similar to the control of the standby power control unit 15 of the first embodiment.
Note that the indoor unit 1a of the second embodiment is also implemented by the hardware configuration similar to the hardware configuration of the indoor unit 1 of the first embodiment. Because of this, a detailed description about it will be omitted.
As described above, the indoor unit 1a according to the present embodiment automatically switches control to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2a during standby depending on whether or not the optional device 5 is connected thereto and whether or not the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has been cut off. By doing so, when the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has been cut off, the optional device 5 is not connected thereto, and operations of all the actuators are stopped in the operation stop mode, the indoor unit 1a stops the arithmetic unit 2a, thereby making it possible to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2a relative to a case when the indoor unit 1a is in an operation mode and a case when the processing speed of the arithmetic unit 2a is decreased. Moreover, when the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has been cut off, the optional device 5 is connected, and the actuators are stopped in operation except communication with the optional device 5, the indoor unit 1a decreases the processing speed of the arithmetic unit 2a, thereby making it possible to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2a relative to a case when the indoor unit 1a is in an operation mode, although the power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2a cannot be made lower than that in a case when the arithmetic unit 2a is stopped. Furthermore, when the communication with the outdoor unit 3 has not been cut off, the indoor unit 1a performs control to stop the operation although the communication with the outdoor unit 3 is alive, thereby making it possible to reduce power consumption of the air conditioner 4 relative to a case when the indoor unit 1a is in an operation mode.

Third Embodiment.

An indoor unit of a third embodiment automatically switches control for reducing power consumption of an arithmetic unit during standby depending on a type of an optional device connected thereto. Differences from the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an indoor unit 1b and an optional device 5b according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The indoor unit 1b is an indoor unit of an air conditioner, which constitutes the air conditioner together with an outdoor unit, a wireless remote controller, and the like, which are not shown in the figure. The optional device 5b is a functional component that can be selectively added in function to a standard air conditioner.
The configuration of the indoor unit 1b will be described. The indoor unit 1b includes an arithmetic unit 2b. The arithmetic unit 2b is an arithmetic unit that carries out air conditioning control in a microcomputer controlling the operation of the indoor unit 1b and the like. The arithmetic unit 2b is obtained by removing the communication unit 13, the optional device connection determination unit 14, and the standby power control unit 15 from the configuration of the arithmetic unit 2 and adding thereto a communication unit 13b, an optional device type determination unit 19, and a standby power control unit 15b.
The communication unit 13b is a first communication unit that communicates with a communication unit 50b of the optional device 5b. The communication unit 13b acquires information on the type of the optional device 5b by way of communicating with the communication unit 50b of the optional device 5b.
The optional device type determination unit 19 determines a type of the optional device 5b on the basis of the information on the type of the optional device 5b acquired by the communication unit 13b.
On the basis of the operating state of an actuator from the actuator control unit 12 and the information on the type of the optional device 5b from the optional device type determination unit 19, the standby power control unit 15b switches processing for reduction of standby power of the arithmetic unit 2b in standby that is an operation stop mode of the indoor unit 1b, or during which the operation of the actuator is stopped, and executes the processing.
The configuration of the optional device 5b will be described. The optional device 5b includes the communication unit 50b. The communication unit 50b communicates with the communication unit 13b of the indoor unit 1b. The communication unit 50b transmits the information on the type of the optional device 5b through communication with the communication unit 13b of the indoor unit 1b.
Next, the operation of reducing power consumption of the indoor unit 1b during standby will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing of switching details of control for reduction of power consumption during standby in the indoor unit 1b according to the third embodiment. The processing in step S1 is similar to the processing of the first embodiment.
The optional device type determination unit 19 determines a type of the optional device 5b on the basis of the information on the optional device 5b acquired from the communication unit 13b (step S21). The optional device type determination unit 19 determines a type of the optional device 5b on the basis of the information that is embedded in a communication signal from the optional device 5b and indicates the type of the optional device 5b, for example, after the communication with the optional device 5b is performed successfully. This example is based on the premise that type A and type B are used as a type of the optional device 5b, and that details of standby power control corresponding to the type A of the optional device 5b and details of standby power control corresponding to the type B of the optional device 5b are set in advance to the standby power control unit 15b.
When the optional device type determination unit 19 determines that the type of the optional device 5b connected to the indoor unit 1b is the type A that is a first type (step S21: Type A), the actuator control unit 12 performs control to stop the operations of the actuators other than the optional device 5b on the basis of the content of the operation signal indicating stoppage of the operation in order to stop the operation of the air conditioner although continuing communication with the optional device 5b (step S22).
The actuator control unit 12 determines whether or not the actuators are stopped except the communication with the optional device 5b (step S23). If there is an actuator that is not stopped (step S23: No), the actuator control unit 12 waits until the actuator is stopped. The actuator control unit 12 notifies the standby power control unit 15b that the actuator in operation exists, as the operating state of the actuators.
When the actuators are stopped except the communication with the optional device 5b (step S23: Yes), the actuator control unit 12 notifies the standby power control unit 15b that the actuators are stopped except the communication with the optional device 5b, as the operating state of the actuators.
In accordance with a result of the determination on the type of the optional device 5b connected to the indoor unit 1b from the optional device type determination unit 19 and the notification of the operating state that the actuators are stopped except the communication with the optional device 5b from the actuator control unit 12, the standby power control unit 15b performs control to stop the operation of the arithmetic unit 2b in order to reduce power consumption during standby for the purpose of standby power consumption saving (step S24).
In the step S21 again, when the optional device type determination unit 19 determines that a type of the optional device 5b connected to the indoor unit 1b is the type B that is a second type (step S21: Type B), the actuator control unit 12 performs control to stop the operations of actuators other than the optional device 5b on the basis of the content of the operation signal indicating stoppage of the operation in order to stop the operation of the air conditioner although continuing communication with the optional device 5b (step S25). This example is based on the premise that standby power control corresponding to the type B of the optional device 5b is set in advance to the standby power control unit 15b.
The actuator control unit 12 determines whether or not the actuators have been stopped except the communication with the optional device 5b (step S26). When there is an actuator that has not been stopped (step S26: No), the actuator control unit 12 waits until the actuator is stopped. The actuator control unit 12 notifies the standby power control unit 15b that the actuator being in an operation mode exists, as the operating state of the actuators.
When the actuators are stopped except the communication with the optional device 5b (step S26: Yes), the actuator control unit 12 notifies the standby power control unit 15b of the operating state that the actuators have been stopped except the communication with the optional device 5b, as the operating state of the actuators.
In accordance with the result of the determination on the type of the optional device 5b connected to the indoor unit 1b from the optional device type determination unit 19 and the notification of the operating state that the actuators have been stopped except the communication with the optional device 5b from the actuator control unit 12, the standby power control unit 15b performs control to decrease the processing speed of the arithmetic unit 2b to a state in which the communication with the optional device 5b can be made in order to reduce power consumption during standby (step S27). That is, the standby power control unit 15b performs control for making the processing speed of the arithmetic unit 2b during standby to be lower than a processing speed during the operation.
In this way, in order to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2b during standby, the standby power control unit 15b switches details of control for the arithmetic unit 2b that is stopped in operation on the basis of the result of the determination on the type of the optional device 5b connected to the indoor unit 1b from the optional device type determination unit 19 and the notification of the operating state of the actuators from the actuator control unit 12.
Note that the indoor unit 1b of the third embodiment is also implemented by the hardware configuration similar to the hardware configuration of the indoor unit 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
As described above, the indoor unit 1b according to the present embodiment automatically switches control for reduction of power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2b during standby depending on the type of the optional device 5b connected thereto. By this configuration, when an optional device 5b of the first type is connected and the actuators have been stopped in the operation stop mode except the communication with the optional device 5b, the indoor unit 1b stops the arithmetic unit 2b, thereby making it possible to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2b relative to a case when the indoor unit 1b is in an operation mode and another case when the processing speed of the arithmetic unit 2b is decreased. Moreover, when an optional device 5b of the second type is connected and the actuators have been stopped except the communication with the optional device 5b, the indoor unit 1b decreases the processing speed of the arithmetic unit 2b, thereby making it possible to reduce power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2b relative to a case when the indoor unit 1b is in an operation mode, although the power consumption of the arithmetic unit 2b cannot be lower than that in a case when the arithmetic unit 2b is stopped.

Reference Signs List

1, 1a, 1b indoor unit; 2, 2a, 2b arithmetic unit; 3 outdoor unit; 4 air conditioner; 5, 5b optional device; 10 operation signal reception unit; 11 operation content determination unit; 12 actuator control unit; 13, 13b, 16, 30, 50, 50b communication unit; 14 optional device connection determination unit; 15, 15a, 15b standby power control unit; 17 outdoor unit connection determination unit; 18 outdoor unit communication cutoff unit; 19 optional device type determination unit.

Claims

An indoor unit (1) of an air conditioner comprising an arithmetic unit (2) configured to execute air conditioning control, wherein the arithmetic unit (2) includes:
an actuator control unit (12) configured to control an operation of an actuator on the basis of a content of an operation signal transmitted from an operating device;

a communication unit (13) configured to communicate with an optional device (5);

an optional device connection determination unit (14) configured to determine whether or not the optional device (5) is connected to the indoor unit (1) of an air conditioner; and

a standby power control unit (15) configured to switch processing for reduction of standby power of the arithmetic unit (2) in standby during which the operation of the actuator is stopped, on the basis of a result of the determination on whether or not the optional device (5) is connected, and execute the processing, and

the standby power control unit (15) is further configured to perform:
control to stop the operation of the arithmetic unit (2) after stopping the operation of the actuator under the control of the actuator control unit (12), when the optional device connection determination unit (14) determines that the optional device (5) is not connected; characterized in that

the standby power control unit (15) is further configured to perform control to set a processing speed of the arithmetic unit (2) during the standby to be lower than a processing speed during operation after stopping the operation of the actuator under the control of the actuator control unit (12), when the optional device connection determination unit (14) determines that the optional device (5) is connected.
The indoor unit (1a) of an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein, when the communication unit (3) is used as a first communication unit,
the arithmetic unit (2a) further includes:
a second communication unit configured to communicate with an outdoor unit; and

an outdoor unit communication cutoff unit (18) configured to perform control to cut off communication with the outdoor unit (3),

the actuator control unit (12) is configured to stop an operation of an actuator other than an actuator included in the outdoor unit (3) regardless of whether or not the optional device (5) is connected, when the communication with the outdoor unit (3) is not cut off by the outdoor unit communication cutoff unit (18), and

when the communication with the outdoor unit (3) is cut off by the outdoor unit communication cutoff unit (18),

the standby power control unit (15a) is configured to perform:
control to stop the operation of the arithmetic unit (2a) after stopping the operation of the actuator under the control of the actuator control unit (12), when the optional device connection determination unit (14) determines that the optional device (5) is not connected; and

control to set the processing speed of the arithmetic unit (2a) during the standby to be lower than a processing speed during operation after stopping the operation of the actuator under the control of the actuator control unit (12), when the optional device connection determination unit (14) determines that the optional device (5) is connected.
An indoor unit (1b) of an air conditioner comprising an arithmetic unit (2b) configured to execute air conditioning control, wherein the arithmetic unit (2b) includes:
an actuator control unit (12) configured to control an operation of an actuator on the basis of a content of an operation signal transmitted from an operating device;

a communication unit (13b) configured to communicate with an optional device (5b);

a standby power control unit (15b) configured to switch processing for reduction of standby power of the arithmetic unit (2b) in standby during which the operation of the actuator is stopped,

characterized by an optional device type determination unit (19) configured to determine a type of the optional device (5b) connected to the indoor unit (1b) of an air conditioner; and

the standby power control unit (15b) is configured to switch processing for reduction of standby power of the arithmetic unit (2b) in standby during which the operation of the actuator is stopped, on the basis of a result of the determination on the type of the optional device (5b).
The indoor unit (1b) of an air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the standby power control unit (15b) is configured to perform:
control to stop the operation of the arithmetic unit (2b) after stopping the operation of the actuator under the control of the actuator control unit (12), when the optional device type determination unit (19) determines that an optional device (5b) of a first type is connected; and

control to set a processing speed of the arithmetic unit (2b) during the standby to be lower than a processing speed during operation after stopping the operation of the actuator under the control of the actuator control unit (12), when the optional device type determination unit (19) determines that an optional device (5b) of a second type is connected.