ES2786044T3 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

An air conditioner comprising: - an air conditioner body (2) performing a maintenance operation after the air conditioning has been operated; and - a remote controller (1) that controls the operation of the air conditioner body, wherein - the air conditioner body (2) includes - a body receiver (21) that receives a control signal to control the operation. from the remote controller (1), - a body transmitter (21) that transmits operating information for the air conditioner body (2) to the remote controller (1), and - a generator (22) of maintenance that generates the content of the maintenance operation and its operation time as the operation information, and - the remote controller (1) includes - a remote controller transmitter (11) that transmits a control signal to control the operation to the body (2) of the air conditioner, - a remote controller receiver (11) receiving operation information for the body (2) of the air conditioner transmitted from the body (2) of the air conditioner, and - a unit ( 15) d e display showing the content of the maintenance operation and the operation time included in the operation information received by the receiver (11) of the remote controller, wherein when the transmitter (11) of the remote controller transmits a control signal to stop operation to the body (2) of the air conditioner, the body receiver receives the control signal, the maintenance operation information generator generates the maintenance operation content and its operation time as the operation information, While when the operation information is transmitted from the body transmitter (21), the remote controller receiver (11) receives the operation information and displays the content of the maintenance operation and its operation time on the unit (15 ) display, characterized in that the display unit (15) shows, when the maintenance operation is started automatically after that the air conditioning operation is stopped by the air conditioner body (2), the content of the maintenance operation and the time required for the maintenance operation.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Air conditioner

Background of the invention

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an air conditioner showing the content of a maintenance operation and its operation time.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently, there has been an air conditioner for realizing two-way communication between an air conditioner body (hereinafter "AC") and a remote controller (hereinafter "RC"), which has been described, by For example, in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 2007-278696. This type of conventional technology includes one in which when an operation stop command is sent from the RC to the AC body, the AC body stops the operation, and information such as the operation time and power consumption ( electricity costs) is transmitted from the AC body to the RC, so that it is notified to a user.

In AC during a cooling operation, condensation droplets easily form on a heat exchanger due to the difference between ambient temperature and a heat exchanger temperature. Therefore, if the operation is stopped in this state, an internal humidity of an indoor unit becomes high, causing mold and odor. Therefore, some of the recent ACs automatically perform a drying operation in order to dry the condensation droplets formed on the heat exchanger or the like after the cooling operation is stopped.

A filter is provided in the indoor unit of ACs so that dirt and dust in the air do not enter an air intake, and some of the ACs have the function of automatically cleaning the filter when operation is stopped after that the operating time reaches a predetermined integrated operating time.

In this way, the conventional air conditioner automatically starts a maintenance operation (filter drying and cleaning operation) independently of a stop operation performed by the user when the AC satisfies the predetermined conditions. Therefore, in the conventional air conditioner, when an operator controls the stop operation of the air conditioning operation, the operation time and energy consumption (electricity expenses) of the air conditioning operation are transmitted from the body of the AC to the RC through two-way communication, however, the information for the maintenance operation is not transmitted.

When this is seen by the operator, the operation does not stop even if the stop operation of the air conditioner is performed. Therefore, because it is not known what type of operation is being operated and how long the operation is continued, the air conditioner may be forcibly stopped or a new air conditioning operation may be started, i.e. maintenance operation is unsuccessful.

Accordingly, it is an object in one aspect of an embodiment of the invention to provide an air conditioner capable of clearly recognizing the content of a maintenance operation and a time for the maintenance operation.

JP-H08-271039 A shows an air conditioner according to the preamble of claim 1.

Compendium of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to at least partially solve the problems of conventional technology.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner is defined in claim 1 and includes an air conditioner body that performs maintenance operation after operating the air conditioner; and a remote controller that controls the operation of the body of the air conditioner, wherein the body of the air conditioner includes a body receiver that receives a control signal to control the operation from the remote controller, a body transmitter that transmits information of the operation for the air conditioner body to the remote controller, and a maintenance operation information generator that generates the content of the maintenance operation and its operation time as operation information, and the remote controller includes a transmitter of remote controller that transmits a control signal to control the operation of the air conditioner body, a remote control receiver that receives operation information for the air conditioner body transmitted from the air conditioner body, and a display unit showing the content of the maintenance operation and the operation time ration included in the operation information received by the remote controller receiver, wherein when the remote controller transmitter transmits a control signal to stop operation to the air conditioner body, the body receiver receives the control signal, the Maintenance operation information generator generates the content of the maintenance operation and its operation time as the operation information, while when the Operation information is transmitted from the body transmitter, the remote controller receiver receives the operation information and displays the content of the maintenance operation and its operation time on the display unit.

The foregoing and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention, which have been defined in the claims, will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the attached drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between an air conditioner body and an RC according to an embodiment of the present invention, a humidifier, and an externally connected device;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a schematic configuration between the body of the air conditioner, the RC, the humidifier and the externally connected device in FIG. one;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the RC of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram of a pairing setup operation performed between the RC and the AC in accordance with the present embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a diagram of an example of AC model information that may be received during pairing setup in FIG. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagram of an example of minimum AC model information required for the pairing configuration in FIG. 4;

Fig. 7 is a communication sequence diagram when the registration information is exchanged between the RC and the AC after pairing configuration according to the present embodiment;

Fig. 8 is a diagram of an example of a display device when a start operation is performed from the RC to the body of the air conditioner while the operation is stopped;

Fig. 9 is a diagram of an example of a display device when a stop operation is performed from the RC to the body of the running air conditioner;

Fig. 10 is a diagram of an example of a display device when the stop operation is performed from the RC to the body of the running air conditioner and then an interior cleaning operation is performed; Fig. 11 is a diagram of an example of a display device when the stop operation is performed from the RC to the running air conditioner body, and then an interior cleaning operation and a filter cleaning operation are performed;

Fig. 12 is a flow chart of the operation of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment; Fig. 13 is a communication sequence diagram when the registration information is exchanged between the RC according to the present embodiment and the PC;

Fig. 14 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 15 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages the operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 16 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages the operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 17 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages the operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 18 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages the operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 19 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages the operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 20 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages the operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 21 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages the operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 22 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 23 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages the operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 24 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages the operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 25 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 26 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 27 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Fig. 28 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information; Y

Fig. 29 is a diagram of an example PC screen through which the PC manages the operation information for the AC based on the acquired registration information;

Description of the implementation (s)

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

First example

Configuration description

Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between an air conditioner body and an RC according to an embodiment of the present invention, a humidifier and an externally connected device. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a schematic configuration between the body of the air conditioner, the RC, the humidifier, and the externally connected device in FIG. 1. fig. 3 is a plan view of the RC of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the air conditioner according to the present embodiment is formed with an AC indoor unit 2 which is an air conditioner body, an RC 1, and an outdoor unit (not illustrated). Remote operation and different settings have been performed from RC 1 to AC indoor unit 2 using bidirectional communication through radio frequency (RF) modules. When RC 1 acquires different operation information from indoor unit 2 from AC, the information is displayed on a RC 1 display unit, to be used for operation control and different settings. The RC 1 according to the present embodiment has a wired connection with a personal computer (PC) 3 through a universal serial bus (USB) connection terminal which is an external connection terminal to transmit to it the different acquired operation information, so that PC 3 can manage operation information. The RC 1 according to the present embodiment can remotely operate a humidifier 4 or the like, which is a unit to be operated differently from the AC indoor unit 2 using infrared light emitting diode (IR LED) which is an infrared transmitter.

It will be explained with reference to fig. 2 each schematic configuration of RC 1, with AC indoor unit 2 being the body of the air conditioner, PC 3 connected to RC 1 through the USB connection terminal, and humidifier 4, which are configured as illustrated in fig. 1. The RC 1 includes an RF module 11 which is a RC transmitter and a RC receiver which includes a transceiver and an antenna to realize two-way wireless communication with the AC indoor unit 2, a USB socket 12 for USB connection with the PC 3 that manages information, an IR LED 13 that transmits a command to the humidifier 4 through an infrared diode (IR) to control it, an MPU board 14 that is mounted on a microprocessor unit (MPU) that includes a memory that stores therein data such as the different operating information received from the indoor unit 2 of the AC during a fixed period (here, 40 days) and controls units of the RC 1, a unit 15 being a liquid crystal display device ( LCD) a display unit to display RC 1 control information and operation information (operation time, power consumption, etc.) of AC indoor unit 2, a keypad operation unit 16 Through which a device directed to the operation is controlled, a real time clock (RTC) 17 being a timer dedicated to measuring time to manage time, and a battery 18 to supply power to the units of the RC 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the indoor unit 2 of the AC includes an RF module 21 that is a bodypack receiver and a bodypack transmitter to realize two-way wireless communication with the RF module 11 of the RC 1, and an MPU board 22 that mounts on it an MPU that controls AC indoor unit 2 units based on RC 1 commands received by RF module 21, collect operation information for AC indoor unit 2, calculate operation time and power consumption (electricity costs) in an air conditioner operation mode 22a or in a maintenance operation mode 22b, and also includes memory that stores data therein for a fixed period (here, 10 days). The MPU board 22 forms a maintenance operation information generator that generates characteristic maintenance operation contents according to the present invention and its operation time as the operation information. The AC indoor unit 2 further includes an RTC 23 which is a timer required to show a countdown for the operation time of the maintenance operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, PC 3 includes a USB socket 31 to connect a USB cable to USB socket 12 of RC 1. PC 3 installs the operation information management software to thereby allow data transmission / reception via USB connection, periodic collection of operation information from AC indoor unit 2 through RC 1, and continuous monitoring of operation on the PC screen.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the humidifier 4 includes an infrared proximity detector (IR PD) unit 41 for receiving an infrared signal transmitted from the IR LED 13 of the RC 1. The RC 1 can control the humidifier 4 using this infrared signal (command).

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the RC 1 controlling the air conditioner includes the LCD unit 15 formed from a part of liquid crystal display device for displaying operation information (maintenance information content, operation time, power consumption, etc. .), and the keypad operation unit 16 to control the operation of the AC indoor unit 2. The keypad operation unit 16 is provided with a Start / Stop key 16a to control the start of operation and the stop of the AC indoor unit 2, and also with the OK key 16b required for the start of pairing.

The air conditioner according to the present embodiment performs two-way wireless communication using the RF modules between the RC 1 and the AC indoor unit 2. Therefore, if a different model of the AC is foreseen close to these two, the RC 1 cannot discriminate one device aimed at operation from the other, and therefore the air conditioner requires a pre-pairing configuration.

Pairing settings

Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram of a pairing setup operation performed between the RC 1 and the AC indoor unit 2 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 5 is a diagram of an example of AC model information that can be received during pairing setup in FIG. 4. fig. 6 is a diagram of an example of minimum AC model information required for the pairing configuration in FIG. Four.

First, when the RC 1 registration configuration has been selected or when an RC 1 pairing partner is not stored in a non-volatile memory (not illustrated, hereinafter "EEPROM") mounted on the MPU board 14 of RC 1 (when "Not Registered" has been displayed on the LCD unit 15), a mode is changed to an RC registration setting mode, and a pairing screen is displayed, where a sequence appears to perform pairing with the AC indoor unit 2. Similarly, when a pairing partner of the AC indoor unit 2 is also not registered, this is indicated by a lamp (not illustrated) provided on the AC indoor unit 2. As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the operator presses a pairing button (not illustrated) provided on the AC indoor unit 2, a pairing execution state is indicated by the sound of a buzzer and the flashing of the lamp, a request signal for pairing of the AC indoor unit 2 is sent to the RF module 21, and the pairing is initiated (Step S60).

During the display of the pairing screen on the RC 1 LCD unit 15, simultaneously pressing the Start / Stop key 16a of the RC 1 keypad operation unit 16 illustrated in fig. 3 and the OK key 16b provided within an operation cover, the pairing request signal is sent to the RF module 11, and the pairing is initiated (Step S61). "The pairing is being registered" has been displayed on the LCD unit 15 of RC 1. Here, communication for pairing is performed between the RF modules 11 and 21 (Step S62), and after checking if these are models whose pairing can be registered (Step S63), a pairing complete signal indicating the completion of pairing of the RF modules is transmitted from the RF module 21 to the MPU board 22 (Step S64), and the pairing complete signal indicating the completion of the pairing of the RF modules is transmitted from the RF module 11 to the MPU board 14 (Step S65).

Then, a request for AC model information is transmitted as general data from RC 1 to AC indoor unit 2 (Step S66). At this time, a signal indicating the AC model information that can be received from the AC indoor unit 2 includes, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a serial name (Z / S), year of manufacture of the indoor unit (A to Z), a character string (model name: within 16 characters), a derived model (1), and an ID AC (MAC address). Upon receiving the AC model information request by AC indoor unit 2, the RF module 21 of AC indoor unit 2 transmits a full general data transmission signal to RC 1 to notify RC 1 that the transmission has been successful (Step S67). The MPU board 14 of the RC 1 switches the RF module 11 to the receive mode (Step S68).

Subsequently, the MPU board 22 of the AC indoor unit 2 transfers the AC model information to the RC 1 (Step S69). When the RC 1 receives the model information from the AC indoor unit 2, the RF module 11 transmits a complete information transfer signal to the AC indoor unit 2, to notify the AC indoor unit 2 that the transmission has been successful (Step S70).

Upon acquiring the model information from the AC, the RC 1 notifies the RF module 11 that the reception mode is canceled (Step S71), and receives a complete signal of the reception mode (Step S72).

The RC 1 MPU board 14 determines whether the AC indoor unit 2 for setting up pairing is the corresponding model, based on the AC model information acquired. When the AC indoor unit 2 is the corresponding model and the received signal includes at least the signal illustrated in FIG. 6, the RC 1 MPU board 14 transmits the general data for successful pairing to the AC indoor unit 2 (Step S73). Upon receiving the general data for successful pairing, the RF module 21 of the AC indoor unit 2 notifies the RC 1 that the transmission of the general data has been completed (the transmission has been successful) (Step S74). The RC 1 MPU board 14 displays the pairing success on the LCD unit 15 for 5.5 seconds, and the operator selects "Z" or "S" according to the series name, so that the content of the selected model is written to EEPROM.

Meanwhile, when it has been determined that the AC indoor unit 2 to perform the pairing setting is not the corresponding model, or when the information received from the AC model is any other information other than the signal illustrated in FIG. 6, the RC 1 MPU board 14 transmits general data for unsuccessful pairing to the AC indoor unit 2 (Step S75). Upon receiving the general data for the failed pairing, the RF module 21 of the AC indoor unit 2 notifies the RC 1 that the transmission of the general data is completed (Step S76). The MPU board 14 of the RC 1 displays the failed pairing on the LCD unit 15 for 5.5 seconds, performs a pairing delete process (Step S77), and receives a notification that the pairing delete process has been completed. (Step S78).

In the case of unsuccessful pairing, the AC indoor unit 2 MPU board 22 also performs a pairing deletion process (Step S79), and receives a notification that the pairing deletion process has been completed (Step S80 ). The pairing setup is finished in this way.

Between RC 1 and AC indoor unit 2 that finish pairing setting, operation control and different settings are performed from RC 1 to AC indoor unit 2 and RC 1 requests an operation status record ( history) stored in AC indoor unit 2 according to the following communication sequence, thus acquiring the record.

Communication sequence between AC and RC

Fig. 7 is a communication sequence diagram when the registration information is exchanged between the RC and the AC after pairing configuration according to the present embodiment. RC 1 requests the AC indoor unit 2 operation status record every day at a fixed time to perform a collect operation.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when the time reaches the set time (here, 0:30 AM) based on the RTC 17, the MPU board 14 of RC 1 transmits a registration request to the MPU board 22 of the AC indoor unit 2 to through RF modules 11 and 21 (Step S81). RC 1 transmits the registration request and then waits for the registration data sent from AC indoor unit 2. When the record is not received after a predetermined time has passed during the record wait, the RC 1 determines this as a receive error due to the receive wait time, ends the wait for the record reception, and ends the collection of records that day. Because the EEPROM of the AC indoor unit 2 MPU board 22 has such a capacity that records for AC operation status can be stored for up to 10 days, even if the reception error occurs, the Records are collectively transferred when the next record can be received.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the registration data from the AC indoor unit 2 is received sequentially (Steps S82, S83, ...), the RC 1 stores the registration data in the EEPROM of the MPU board 14 at all times. A method has been implemented to store records in such a way that when the EEPROM has an area where the data has not been stored, the record has been written to the area, while when the EEPROM does not have an area where the data has not been stored data, the record has been overwritten in the writing area of the oldest record, and stored there. Upon receiving the end of the record indicating the end of the record data from the AC indoor unit 2 (Step S84), the RC 1 completes the acquisition of the records.

Between RC 1 and AC indoor unit 2, RC 1 transmits an operation control command to AC indoor unit 2 at any time other than the set time, and acquires the record of the unit's operation status. 2 of the AC, so that the acquired operation status register can be displayed on the LCD unit 15 of the RC 1.

Contents of the maintenance operation and display of the operation time

Fig. 8 is a diagram of a display example when a start operation has been performed from the RC to the body of the air conditioner while stopping the operation. Fig. 9 is a diagram of a display example when a stop operation has been performed from the RC to the body of the running air conditioner. Fig. 10 is a diagram of a display example when the stop operation is performed from the RC to the body of the air conditioner in operation, and then the interior cleaning operation has been performed. Fig. 11 is a diagram of a display example when the stop operation is performed from the RC to the air conditioner body in operation, and then the interior cleaning operation and a filter cleaning operation have been performed.

When the AC indoor unit 2 is stopped and the RC 1 also displays the operation stop screen as illustrated in fig. 8, the operator presses the 16a Start / Stop key of RC 1, and an indicator is changed to "Run" illustrated by an open arrow in response to the press, and an indicator of AC indoor unit 2 is also changed to " Functioning". However, when communication cannot be established, even if the 16th Start / Stop key of RC 1 is pressed, "Communication x" illustrated by a black arrow and indicating that communication is disabled "is displayed on the unit. LCD 15. Therefore, the operator can learn, simply by looking at the RC 1 display device, if the communication has been established successfully and if the command is executed or if the communication is disabled and the command is not executed.

When the AC indoor unit 2 is working and the RC 1 also displays an "Operation" screen as illustrated in fig. 9, the operator presses the Start / Stop key 16a of RC 1, and registration is requested from the AC indoor unit 2 before an operation stop status is displayed. The MPU board 22 of the AC indoor unit 2 calculates the electricity costs and an operation time in the air conditioner operation mode 22a and transmits the calculated results to RC 1, so that the electricity costs and the Operation time of today's operation (air conditioning operation) can be displayed in "Note" indicated by an open arrow. After 5.5 seconds have elapsed since the "Note" display, the operation stop status indicated by an open arrow is displayed. A total of today's electricity costs and a total of yesterday's electricity costs are displayed on the stop operation screen.

AC power consumption fluctuates due to a cooling or heating mode of operation and a set temperature. Therefore, the energy consumption is determined in such a way that the AC indoor unit 2 measures the energy consumption in real time, integrates the energy consumption to determine the energy consumption, and determines the energy consumption using the consumption determined power and electricity costs per unit time stored in the MPU board 22 of the AC indoor unit 2, although not illustrated.

When the AC indoor unit 2 is in air conditioning operation and the RC 1 also displays a "in cooling operation" screen as illustrated in fig. 10, the operator presses the Start / Stop key 16a of the RC 1, the registration is requested from the indoor unit 2 of the AC in a similar way to the case of fig. 9, and today's electricity costs and its operating time calculated by AC indoor unit 2 MPU board 22 are displayed in RC 1. Here, AC indoor unit 2 MPU board 22 determines that the air conditioning operation is the cooling operation and condensation may form on the heat exchanger or the like, and the indoor cleaning operation to dry the inside of the indoor unit automatically starts after the conditioning operation is stopped air, to perform the interior cleaning operation of the maintenance operation. The indoor cleaning operation time is determined according to the cooling operation time before the operation is stopped using a table stored in the MPU board 22 of the AC indoor unit 2.

At the time of starting the maintenance operation, the MPU board 22 of the AC indoor unit 2 calculates the electricity costs required for the maintenance operation from the maintenance operation time and the electricity costs per unit of maintenance operation time stored in AC indoor unit 2 MPU board 22, and transmits information for maintenance operation mode, operation time, and electricity costs to RC 1, and RC 1 displays the information received there.

The RC 1 displays the remaining time of the interior cleaning operation (remaining: about 90 minutes) using the information of the maintenance operation time after 5.5 seconds have passed from the display device, and the remaining time is counted back on the display device. The countdown measurement is performed by RTC 17 of RC 1. Alternatively, measurement is performed by RTC 23 of AC indoor unit 2, and the countdown information can be transmitted to RC 1 and displayed there. .

In this way, at the time when the maintenance operation, the indicator indicating that "interior cleaning operation" as illustrated in fig. 10 is performed and the “remaining operation time” is displayed on the LCD unit 15 of the RC 1. This allows the operator to know the content of the maintenance operation after the operation is stopped and the remaining time of the maintenance operation. . Therefore, these pieces of information help the operator to determine whether normal operation is expected until the end of the maintenance operation or whether the maintenance operation is suspended to perform normal operation, depending on the time remaining. For example, if the operator presses the RC 1 Start / Stop key 16a with some time remaining, the internal cleaning operation is suspended and the operation stop screen indicated by the white arrow is displayed. The operation stop screen display device shows there a total of the operating costs. Today's electricity and a total of yesterday's electricity expenses, and shows an amount of money that includes the electricity expenses required for the interior cleaning operation until it is suspended in today's total electricity expenses.

When the interior cleaning operation is shown as illustrated in FIG. 10 and the maintenance operation without suspension is finished, as illustrated by the black arrow, only the operation time for the maintenance operation (here, interior cleaning operation) and the actual electricity costs are displayed, and displayed the operation stop status indicated by the white arrow. The operation stop screen display device shows there the total of today's electricity costs and the total of yesterday's electricity costs.

When the AC indoor unit 2 is in air conditioning operation and the RC 1 also displays a "in cooling operation" screen there as illustrated in fig. 11, and when the operator presses the Start / Stop key 16a of RC 1, similarly to the case of fig. 10, the RC 1 requests the registration of the AC indoor unit 2, and the electricity costs for today's operation and the operation time calculated by the AC indoor unit 2's MPU board 22 are displayed on the RC 1. Similar to FIG. 10, the MPU board 22 of the AC indoor unit 2 determines that the air conditioning operation is the cooling operation, and condensation may form on the heat exchanger or the like, and automatically starts the indoor cleaning operation after the air conditioning operation stops. At this time, the AC indoor unit 2 transmits information for the maintenance operation mode, the operation time, and the electricity costs to the RC 1, and the RC 1 there displays the received information.

The RC 1 displays a countdown of the remaining operation time during the interior cleaning operation, using the maintenance operation time information, after 5.5 seconds have passed from the information display.

The interior cleaning is finished after 90 minutes, and the RC 1 shows an operating time only for the interior cleaning operation and the actual electricity costs as indicated by the white arrow. When it is determined that the air conditioning operation time reaches a predetermined integrated air conditioning operation time, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the MPU board 22 of the AC indoor unit 2 automatically starts the filter cleaning operation to clean the filter as indicated by the white arrow. At this time, too, the AC indoor unit 2 transmits information for the maintenance operation mode, the operation time, and the electricity costs to the RC 1, similar to the indoor cleaning operation, and the RC 1 displays the received information. From there, during the filter cleaning operation, the operation status and the countdown of the remaining time are displayed on the RC 1. The countdown display device is similar to the case of the interior cleaning operation and Therefore, it can be done using any of the RTCs in RC 1 and AC indoor unit 2.

When the maintenance operation is finished without suspension of the filter cleaning operation illustrated in FIG. 11 (after 10 minutes), as illustrated by the white arrow, the operation time is displayed only for the filter cleaning operation and electricity costs, and then the operation stop status indicated by the next white arrow. The operation stop screen display device shows there a total of today's electricity costs and a total of yesterday's electricity costs.

Contents of the maintenance operation and display of the operation time

Fig. 12 is a flow chart of the operation of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment. The operation in the case of automatically performing a maintenance operation after the air conditioning operation will be explained with reference to FIG. 12. First, it is determined whether the operator requires the stop of the air conditioning operation during the air conditioning operation (Step S100). When the stop of the air conditioning operation is not required, the AC indoor unit 2 waits until the stop of the air conditioning operation is required (Step S101).

When the operator stops the air conditioning operation through RC 1 (Yes in Step S100), the AC indoor unit 2 MPU board 22 calculates the operation time and electricity costs for the conditioning operation. air conditioning, and the information for the air conditioning operation time and the electricity costs or the like is transmitted from the AC indoor unit 2 to the RC 1 through the RF module 21, and the RC 1 acquires the information for the air conditioning operation time and the electricity or similar expenses (Step S102). The AC indoor unit 2 determines whether maintenance operation is required after the air conditioning operation is finished. When the maintenance operation is not required (Not in Step S103), the MPU plate 14 of the RC 1 shows the acquired operation time and the electricity expenses for the air conditioning operation (Step S104).

In Step S103, when it is determined that maintenance operation is required (Yes in Step S103), the MPU board 22 of the AC indoor unit 2 extracts a preset maintenance operation time from the table stored in the board. 22 of MPU of the AC indoor unit 2, calculates the electricity expenses, and generates the information for the maintenance operation (Step S105). AC indoor unit 2 transmits the maintenance operation information to RC 1, and RC 1 displays maintenance operation time and maintenance costs. electricity to LCD unit 15 of RC 1 (Step S106). The RC 1 displays a countdown of the remaining operation time based on the operation time sent from the AC indoor unit 2 (Step S107). RC 1 sets AC indoor unit 2 reception standby status to be off to save power until countdown is complete, and notifies AC indoor unit 2 of completion after countdown is completed . AC indoor unit 2 calculates a maintenance operation time and its actual electricity expenses, and calculates a total operation time of air conditioning operation and maintenance operation and electricity expenses for them, and transmits the information to the RC. RC 1 displays the maintenance operation time and electricity expenses on LCD unit 15 (Step S108) and from there it shows the total operation time and electricity expenses for air conditioning operation and the maintenance operation (Step S109).

As explained above, when the maintenance operation is started automatically after the air conditioning operation is stopped, the air conditioner according to the present embodiment causes the RC 1 to display the contents of the maintenance operation there and the time required for the maintenance operation. Therefore, the operator can know what kind of maintenance operation is being performed after the air conditioning operation is stopped, and even learn how long the maintenance operation continues. Therefore, these pieces of information help the operator to determine how to perform the next operation using the RC. In particular, when the operation time of the maintenance operation is displayed as the countdown, the operator can learn the remaining time of the maintenance operation, and this information helps the operator to determine whether normal operation is expected until the end of maintenance operation or maintenance operation is suspended to perform normal operation.

Communication sequence between RC and PC

The RC 1 according to the present embodiment includes that the USB socket 12 which is an external connection terminal which is connected to the PC 3 which can manage the operation information of the AC indoor unit 2. Therefore, by connecting RC 1 and PC 3 by USB, the operation information of AC indoor unit 2 can be collected in PC 3 through RC 1, which allows PC 3 to manage the information of operation for AC indoor unit 2.

Fig. 13 is a communication sequence diagram when registration information is exchanged between the RC and the PC according to the present embodiment. The AC operation status registers stored in the EEPROM of the RC 1 MPU board 14 are transmitted to the PC 3 according to the communication sequence between the AC indoor unit 2 and the RC 1. The board's EEPROM MPU 14 of RC 1 has a capacity such that the records received from the AC can be stored for a maximum of 40 days.

First, when RC 1 and PC 3 are connected to each other by USB, a series of processes (enumeration) are performed until the USB controller makes communication possible, and the completion of enumeration enables communication between RC 1 and PC 3 (Step S85). During enumeration, a "connection detected: USB connected" indicator is displayed on the RC 1 LCD 15 unit.

When the enumeration is complete, the PC 3 requests the information from the AC of RC 1 (Step S86). The RC 1 responds to the request and transmits the AC information stored in the EEPROM of the MPU board 14 to the PC 3 (Step S87). AC information includes a product name of an AC, a series name, a performance range, year of manufacture of the indoor unit, a voltage to be used, a MAC address of the AC, room information , and a type of RC.

The PC 3 verifies the received AC information against the managed AC information, and identifies to which of the ACs the received CA information corresponds. When a plurality of ACs are managed by PC 3, it is necessary to verify which of the ACs the received AC information corresponds to.

The PC 3 requests operation configuration information from the AC of RC 1 in order to load the operation configuration information (Step S88). The RC 1 responds to this request and transmits the AC operation configuration information stored in the EEPROM of the MPU board 14 to the PC 3 (Step S89). AC operation setting information includes a volume level, with or without voice, switching to a power saving function (human sensor), equipped with an interior cleaning function or not, a maintenance time, equipped with an energy-saving fan or not, equipped with automatic power function or not, and current switching.

PC 3 requests a record from RC 1 in order to load the record (Step S90). RC 1 responds to this registration request from PC 3 and transmits the registration data thereto (Step S91). PC 3 and RC 1 repeat a request for the next data and the transmission of registration data (Steps S92, S93, S94) respectively. RC 1 transmits the "End of record" to PC 3 when there is no record data left to transmit (Step S95), and the process of uploading records is thus completed in PC 3. Thereafter, the connection USB to connect PC 3 and RC 1 is disconnected (Step S96), and RC 1 is thereby released from the communication mode with PC 3, so that the display device of the LCD unit 15 changes to the device normal display.

In this way, the AC operation log temporarily stored (records can be stored for 10 days) in the AC indoor unit 2 is transmitted to RC 1 and stored there (records can be stored for a maximum of 40 days), and the record stored in RC 1 is transferred to PC 3 when RC 1 and PC 3 are connected to each other by USB. The PC 3 uses the operation information management software pre-installed therein to enable the management of the operation information for the AC indoor unit 2 as illustrated in Figs. 14 to 29.

Management of operation information on the PC

Figs. 14 to 29 are diagrams of a PC screen example through which the operation information for the AC is managed based on the registration information acquired by the PC. First, the screen as illustrated in fig. 14 is displayed on PC 3 using the operation information management software. The operator clicks on a "Select AC" label 100 and clicks on a "Living Room 1" button 101 provided on the Select AC label 100. Then, clicking on a calendar label 102 displays a calendar screen 103 describing daily operating time and electricity charges, monthly and annual electricity charges, target monthly electricity charges for AC in "Living Room 1". This allows the operator to continually check the status of operation and electricity costs for each AC, thus utilizing the information for efficient use and configuration of the AC.

When PC 3 and RC 1 are connected by USB to each other, as illustrated in fig. 15, RC 1 is connected to PC 3, and a window 104 is displayed indicating "Receiving data". When new operation information is loaded into PC 3, as illustrated in FIG. 16, a screen in which the operating times and electricity costs up to the previous day stored in the RC 1 is added to the calendar screen 103.

The operator clicks a graph label 105 on the screen in the state of FIG. 16 and, as illustrated in FIG. 17, a graphical screen 106 can be displayed in which the daily electricity costs are illustrated by a bar graph. This allows the operator to see at a glance an increase and decrease in AC electricity costs for one month. In addition, as AC cumulative electricity charges required for "Living Room 1", a total electricity charges for one month, a total electricity charges for the previous month, a total annual electricity charges, a total of electricity expenses for the previous year, and the target monthly electricity expenses, or the like, are also displayed, and therefore the AC operation status can be obtained from different angles.

In the screen of fig. 18, by clicking button 108 of the total of all rooms in label 100 of Select AC, graphic screen 106 is displayed in which the electricity costs for button 101 of Living Room 1 and the costs are added of electricity for the button 107 of Bedroom 1 respectively in different colors (different densities in a monochrome display device). This allows the operator to know at a glance the total electricity costs for ACs in all rooms and their breakdown. Furthermore, the graphic display 106 is provided with a "Reduce" button 109 and a "Enlarge" button 110. For example, when the Zoom button 110 is clicked in the state of FIG. 18, a graphical rate changes as illustrated in FIG. 19 on the graphic display 106 so that the graphic can be enlarged. This allows the operator to clearly learn a small change in electricity costs.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 20, a lot of ACs such as button 101 for Living Room 1, button 111 for Dining Room 1, button 112 for Japanese Room 1, button 113 for Bedroom 1, button 114 for Room 1 of The children, button 115 from Other Room 1, a button 116 from Room 2 of the children are registered in the label 100 of Select AC. In this case, by clicking on the button 108 of the total of all rooms, the graph showing the total of electricity costs for all rooms for each day is displayed. As for the graph that indicates the total electricity costs for all rooms during a day, the electricity costs for each room are also shown in different colors (different densities on the monochrome screen), and this allows the operator to know from a Look at the breakdown of electricity costs even for the large amount of AC.

In the graphic display device illustrated in FIG. 18, by clicking on a specific day, as illustrated in FIG. 21, a window 117 can be opened indicating details of the status of the operation on that day. The electricity costs and the operating time of all the rooms on that day, and an average temperature of the outside air temperatures, or the like, can be displayed in window 117.

Furthermore, a configuration confirmation screen 119 as illustrated in FIG. 22 is a screen obtained when the button 101 of Living Room 1 of the label 100 of Select AC is clicked and the label 118 of "Confirm configuration of the AC" is clicked. The AC setting confirmation screen 119 is used to easily confirm the details of the AC setting contents registered in the 101 button of Living Room 1 on the PC 3 screen. In addition, each function of the setting contents It is also displayed on the AC setting confirmation screen 119, so that when a setting content is to be changed, the operator can change the setting content while understanding it correctly. Furthermore, by clicking a button 120 on the Next page, as illustrated in FIG. 23, an AC setting confirmation screen 119 is displayed on the next page. When the configuration content is to be changed, the configuration content to be changed is clicked, so that the content to be changed is displayed as a menu and the configuration content is changed by clicking on the desired content. If the operator wishes to return to the AC configuration confirmation screen 119 on the previous page, a button 121 on the Previous page is clicked. Configuration information changed in this way is sent from PC 3 connected by USB to RC 1. When a command or the like is sent from RC 1 to AC indoor unit 2, the changed configuration information is sent with the command , so that the AC indoor unit 2 setting is changed.

In the calendar display in fig. 16, when a one-point warning button 123 illustrated in FIG. 24, a One point warning window 122 opens, and some warnings are displayed for the operator to efficiently use the AC. When a plurality of One-point warning windows 122 have been provided, by clicking a Next page button 122a or Previous page button 122b, another One-point warning window 122 can be opened (see Fig. 25 ).

As illustrated in FIG. 26, a file management label 124 adjacent to the Select AC label 100 is clicked to display a Load button 125 to load data from CD-ROM or the like, a Write button 126 to write data to CD- R or similar, a Delete Model button 127 to delete an AC model registered in the AC selection label, a File button 128 to write a file to a floppy disk (FD) or similar, a button 129 "How to use this software "to display Help for the PC software, and a button 130 for" About this software "that displays a name, font, and version information of the PC software. For example, the Delete Model button 127 among these buttons is clicked to open a window 131 as illustrated in FIG. 27, and a list of already registered models is displayed. For example, the Living Room 1 button between window 131 is clicked to open a confirmation window 132 to confirm deletion, as illustrated in FIG. 28, and by clicking "Yes" or "No", it can be deleted or it can be canceled.

As illustrated in FIG. 29, the button 130 for "About this software" is clicked in the file management label 124, to allow the display of a screen 133 showing a name of the PC software, a name of its source , or release date, although not illustrated.

As explained above, in the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, the operation information for the AC indoor unit 2 can be managed even by the PC 3 through the RC 1. Therefore, the content that does not can be displayed within the display screen of the RC 1 can be displayed in detail using a display device of an externally connected device such as the PC 3. Particularly, in the configuration screen of the AC as illustrated in fig. 23 and fig. 24, the functions for internal cleaning and filter cleaning intervals for maintenance operation are described, so that the operator understands the content, allowing him to properly configure the maintenance operation. Furthermore, when the content of the maintenance operation is displayed on the LCD unit 15 of the RC 1, the operator can properly determine whether the maintenance operation continues or is suspended to perform normal operation.

According to the present invention, the RC transmitter transmits the control signal to stop operation to the body of the air conditioner, the body receiver receives the control signal, the maintenance operation information generator generates the operation content. maintenance and its operating time as the operating information. When the operation information is transmitted from the body transmitter, the RC receiver receives the operation information and displays the content of the maintenance operation and its operation time on the display unit. Therefore, there is an effect such that because the content of the maintenance operation and the operation time are transmitted from the body of the air conditioner to the RC and displayed on the display unit, the content of the operation can be obtained. maintenance operation and the time required for the maintenance operation, and these pieces of information thus help the operator to determine how to perform the operation using the RC.

Claims (3)

1. An air conditioner comprising: - a body (2) of the air conditioner that performs a maintenance operation after the air conditioner has been operated; Y - a remote controller (1) that controls the operation of the body of the air conditioner, where - the body (2) of the air conditioner includes - a receiver (21) of the body that receives a control signal to control the operation from the remote controller (1), - a body transmitter (21) transmitting operating information for the body (2) of the air conditioner to the remote controller (1), and - a maintenance operation information generator (22) generating the content of the maintenance operation and its operation time as the operation information, and - the remote controller (1) includes - a remote controller transmitter (11) transmitting a control signal to control operation to the body (2) of the air conditioner, - a remote controller receiver (11) receiving operating information for the body (2) of the air conditioner transmitted from the body (2) of the air conditioner, and - a display unit (15) showing the content of the maintenance operation and the operation time included in the operation information received by the receiver (11) of the remote controller, wherein when the transmitter (11) of the remote controller Transmits a control signal to stop operation to the body (2) of the air conditioner, the body receiver receives the control signal, the maintenance operation information generator generates the content of the maintenance operation and its operation time as the operation information, while when the operation information is transmitted from the body transmitter (21), the remote controller receiver (11) receives the operation information and displays the content of the maintenance operation and its run time. operation on the display unit (15), characterized by what The display unit (15) shows, when the maintenance operation is started automatically after the air conditioning operation is stopped by the air conditioner body (2), the content of the maintenance operation and the required time for maintenance operation. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a timer (17, 23) that manages the time provided in at least one of the body (2) of the air conditioner and of the remote controller (1), wherein After the operation time of the maintenance operation is displayed on the display unit (15), the timer (17, 23) is used to show a countdown of a remaining time of the maintenance operation. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein when the timer (17, 23) is provided on the body (2) of the air conditioner, the countdown information is transmitted from the transmitter (21) of the body to the remote controller receiver (11) for each set time after the countdown starts, and the content of the maintenance operation and the remaining time are displayed on the display unit (15).