FR3065788A1 - AIR CONDITIONER - Google Patents

Abstract

An air conditioner (S) is provided which gently cleans sticky dirt from an indoor heat exchanger (102). The air conditioner (S) includes a cleaner that cleans an indoor heat exchanger (102); and a control unit (130) that controls the cleaner. The control unit (130), in a case where the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger (102) after an end of a heating operation, controls the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102) after that a first given time elapsed since the end of the heating operation, and in a case where the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger (102) after an end of a cooling operation, a dehumidifying operation or an air blowing operation, controls the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102) after a second delay shorter than the first time has elapsed.

Description

Holder (s): HITACHI-JOHNSON CONTROLS AIR CONDITIONING, INC ..

Agent (s): BREVALEX Limited liability company.

FR 3 065 788 - A1 (5 /) An air conditioner (S) is provided which gently cleans the sticky dirt from an indoor heat exchanger (102). The air conditioner (S) has a cleaner which cleans an indoor heat exchanger (102); and a control unit (130) which controls the cleaner. The control unit (130), in a case where the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger (102) after completion of a heating operation, controls the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102) after that a first given delay has elapsed since the end of the heating operation, and in a case where the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger (102) after the end of a cooling operation, a dehumidification operation or air blowing operation, controls the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102) after a second delay shorter than the first delay has elapsed.

S64267FR CM-P i

AIR CONDITIONER

Reference to a related request

This application claims priority benefit from Japanese patent application No. 2017089 774, filed April 28, 2017, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in full.

Context of the invention

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

Description of Related Art

An indoor unit heat exchanger (indoor heat exchanger) mounted in an air conditioner has the problem that dust, microorganisms and the like (hereinafter referred to as dust) having passed through a dust filter are deposited there, to give off a bad smell. In addition, the efficiency of the heat exchanger decreases, which deteriorates the energy saving performance. A plurality of non-removable pipes are arranged in the indoor heat exchanger, making it difficult to remove the indoor heat exchanger from the indoor unit for cleaning.

As a technique for cleaning the indoor heat exchanger without removing the indoor unit, Japanese Patent No. 4,931,566 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-200 348 are known, for example. Japanese Patent No. 4,931,566 describes that, "after the heating operation, the cooling operation is performed in order to bring the water

S64267FR CM-P to adhere to the fin surface, so as to keep the heat exchanger in the heating operation constantly clean by itself ”.

However, in the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 4,931,566, the indoor heat exchanger begins cleaning without considering the presence of a user in a room. As a result, the user may feel discomfort due to the leakage of cold air during cleaning, or may think that something is wrong due to an abnormal noise caused by the sudden reverse flow of a cycle. refrigeration.

Accordingly, the present invention is intended to provide an air conditioner which gently cleans off sticky dirt from an indoor heat exchanger.

Summary of the invention

In order to solve the problem identified above, the present invention provides an air conditioner including:

a cleaner which cleans an indoor heat exchanger; and a control unit which controls the cleaner, wherein the control unit, in a case where the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger after completion of a heating operation, controls the cleaner to clean the heat exchanger indoor heat after a first given time has elapsed since the end of the heating operation, and in a case where the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger after the end of a cooling operation, a dehumidification or air blowing operation, controls the

S64267EN CM-P cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger after a second delay shorter than the first delay has elapsed.

According to the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner which gently cleans the sticky dirt from the indoor heat exchanger.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a front view of an indoor unit, an outdoor unit and a remote control of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along a line I-I in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of devices in the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 4A and 4B are schematic perspective views of the indoor heat exchanger in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 5A and 5B are image waveforms of differential analysis results of images of the indoor heat exchanger in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are graphs showing the correlation between a period required for a change in room temperature to reach a reference value and the volume of a room, and its correction values; and

S64267EN CM-P Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing the processing of a main microcomputer in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

The figure 1 is a view of face of a unit interior 100, of a outdoor unit 200, and of a Re remote control of a air conditioner S according to a mode of 10 production.

The indoor unit 100 is connected to the outdoor unit 200 via refrigerant pipes (not shown), to cool the air in a room installed with the indoor unit 100 by a refrigeration cycle. In addition, the indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200 transmit and receive information mutually via a communication cable (not shown).

Although not shown, the outdoor unit 200 includes a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor fan and an expansion valve. In a refrigeration circuit formed with the compressor, the four-way valve, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve and an indoor heat exchanger 102 (see Figure 2) connected sequentially in a loop, a refrigerant circulates in a heat pump cycle.

The remote control Re is operated by a user to transmit infrared signals to a remote control transceiver Q of the unit

S64267FR CM-P are transmitted remote control Q from the interior 100. The signals are instructions such as an activation request, a change in set temperature, a setting of a timer value, a change in operating mode , and a deactivation request. According to the signals, the air conditioner S is operated in a cooling mode, a heating mode, a dehumidification mode, or the like. In addition, information relating to a room temperature, a humidity level, an electricity expenditure, etc.

of the transceiver indoor unit 100 remote control Re, to inform the user about the information.

An imaging device 110A for acquiring interior image information and a visible light filter 117A are arranged at the bottom of a front face of the indoor unit 100. The arrangement positions of the imaging device 110A and the filter visible light cutter 117A can be changed in accordance with the purpose of acquiring the image information to be described later, and are not limited to that of FIG. 1. The reason why the cutout filter will be described later visible light 117A is arranged in the present embodiment.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the indoor unit 100 in Figure 1 taken along a line I-I.

A housing base 101 accommodates internal components such as the interior heat exchanger 102, a blower fan 103, a filter 108 and

S64267FR CM-P similar. Note that the filter 108 is arranged on one side of the indoor heat exchanger 102, where air is admitted.

The indoor heat exchanger 102 has a plurality of heat transfer tubes 102a for exchanging heat between the air admitted into the indoor unit 100 by the blower fan 103 and a refrigerant passing therethrough, so as to heat or cool the air. Note that the heat transfer tubes 102a communicate with the refrigerant pipes (not shown) and constitute parts of a well-known refrigeration cycle (not shown).

The ventilator ventilator 103 shown in FIG. 2 rotates to admit the interior air through an air inlet 107 and the filter 108, and to guide the air having been the object of a heat exchange through the indoor heat exchanger 102 to be guided to a purge duct 109a. In addition, the air guided to the purge duct 109a has its flow direction adjusted by a horizontal air deflector 104 and a vertical air deflector 105, then is blown from an air outlet 109b to cool the air. in the room.

The horizontal air deflector 104 is rotated by a motor (not shown) around a pivot shaft (not shown) at the bottom, in accordance with an instruction from a main microcomputer 130 (control unit: see the figure 3) to be described later.

The vertical air deflector 105 is rotated by a motor (not shown) around shafts

S64267FR CM-P pivots (not shown) arranged at both ends, in accordance with an instruction from the main microcomputer 130 to be described later.

As a result, the air having been conditioned is blown to a given position in the room.

The imaging device 110A and the visible light filter 117A are arranged at the bottom of a front panel 106 which is mounted to cover the front face of the indoor unit 100. The imaging device 110A is mounted so as to be oriented downward at a given angle to the horizontal direction from the mounting position, to properly image the room where the indoor unit 100 is installed.

However, the precise mounting position and angle of the imaging device 110A can be fixed according to the specification and use of the air conditioner S, and the configuration is not limited to them.

Note that the configuration of the air conditioner S shown in Figures 1 and 2 is simply an example according to the present embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

Figure 3 is a control block diagram of the air conditioner S.

The main microcomputer 130 in FIG. 3 controls a charge pilot 150 based on environmental information detected by an environment detector 160 and the operating instruction received by the remote control transceiver Q (see FIG. 1) so as to order

S64267EN CM-P ίο each device in the indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200.

As shown in Figure 3, the imaging device 110A includes an optical lens 111A for adjusting imaging ranges and focal points, an image sensor 112A for converting incident light from the workpiece through the optical lens 111A into an electrical signal, an A / D converter 113A which digitizes the signal from the image sensor 112A and converts it into image information, and a digital signal processor 114A which corrects the luminance and hue of the image information.

An imaging device 110B configured in the same manner as imaging 110A.

Various kinds of processing performed by an image detector 122 on image information of the part acquired by the imaging device 110A. The image detector 122 can be configured to include image detectors to detect various images, such as is also the image device are aimed at the dust detector.

Therefore, each image detector can be configured to detect an image from the same image information acquired by the imaging device 110A, or can be configured to send an imaging parameter suitable for the detection of each image to the digital signal processor 114A in the imaging device 110A and for detecting a dust image 122a for detecting

S64267FR CM-P using an exclusive image captured according to the imaging setting.

A detection result such as user position information detected by the image detector 122 and an operating instruction based on the detection result is sent to an arithmetic processor 132.

The arithmetic processor 132 integrally controls the control units of the air conditioner S and controls a pilot control unit 133 according to an operating setting of the air conditioner S and the operating instruction according to the detection result to execute the air conditioning operation . The imaging device 110A captures the image based on an operating instruction in an imaging request signal from the arithmetic processor 132.

The piloting control unit 133 sends a piloting signal to the load pilot 150 for piloting.

The charge pilot 150 individually controls the refrigeration cycle (not shown), an indoor fan motor (not shown) in the indoor unit 100, a compressor motor (not shown) in the outdoor unit 200, the motor ( not shown) for the vertical deflector mounted with the vertical air deflector 105, and the motor (not shown) for the horizontal air deflector mounted with the horizontal air deflector 104. In addition, the load pilot 150 can be configured to drive the 110A imaging device, a near-beam projector

S64267FR CM-P ίο infrared (not shown), or a filter driver 116 to rotate the visible light filter 117A.

Memories 121, 131 are configured to include ROM (read only memory), RAM (random access memory), and the like. Programs stored in the ROM are retrieved by a CPU (central unit) in the arithmetic processor 132 of the main microcomputer 130 in the RAM for execution.

The environment detector 160 can be configured to include various sensors, such as a temperature sensor using a thermopile, an activity detection sensor using a Fresnel lens and an infrared sensor in the air conditioner S.

With the above configuration, the main microcomputer 130 fully controls the operation of the air conditioner S in accordance with the image information from the imaging device 110A, the instruction signal from the remote control Re, the sensor outputs from various sensors, and the like. This accomplishes a fine operating command.

The detection result through image processing in the image detector 122 may include only digital information such as user position, amount of activity, and distance, and may not include information which can be viewed. This helps to reduce the amount of data stored in the memories 121, 131. In addition, since the image information cannot be taken from

S64267EN CM-P outside the main microcomputer 130, the user's privacy in the air-conditioned room is protected.

The indoor unit 100 has an automatic cleaning operation function for cleaning the indoor heat exchanger 102. A control unit of the automatic cleaning operation for the indoor heat exchanger 102 will be described with reference to the figures 2 and 3.

The automatic cleaning operation is intended to cool the indoor heat exchanger 102 to cause humidity in the surrounding air to stick to the indoor heat exchanger 102, in order to clean the indoor heat exchanger 102 with l 'humidity.

In order to cause the humidity to adhere to the indoor heat exchanger 102, the main microcomputer 130 fixes a temperature of evaporation of the refrigerant in the automatic cleaning operation lower than a temperature of evaporation of the refrigerant in a dehumidification operation. In a case where higher cleaning capacity is required, the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant can be set at a temperature below the freezing point.

The amount of dirt sticking to the indoor heat exchanger 102 varies depending on the hours of use of the air conditioner S, the operating mode used, the amount of dust in the air of the room, and the like.

Thus, the main microcomputer 130, if it is determined that a total of the hours of use since

S64267EN CM-P the previous cleaning stored in memory 131, that the number of uses since the previous cleaning stored in memory 131, or that a time elapsed since the installation of the air conditioner S has reached a given value, executes l 'automatic cleaning operation. This allows automatic cleaning to be triggered if necessary, to reduce the accumulation of dust and the adhesion of dirt. In addition, the number of executions of an automatic cleaning operation is reduced to save energy compared to a case where the automatic cleaning operation is executed each time the air conditioning operation is completed.

The total hours of use in each operating mode are acquired as follows. The main microcomputer 130 stores time information managed by a time manager 134 in the memory 131, finds the time information in the memory 131 periodically or at the time of the occurrence of an event, and takes a difference between the information of time during the previous automatic cleaning operation and current time information, to acquire the total hours of use in each operating mode.

The number of uses is also acquired by the same processing as described above with respect to the usage information managed by an operating information manager 135.

The time elapsed since the installation of the air conditioner S is also acquired by the same treatment as described above with respect to the

S64267EN CM-P time information at the time of installation managed by the time manager 134.

The time manager 134 may have calendar information including dates, in addition to the time information.

There are several ways to set time information as follows. The user inputs the time information in the remote control Re (FIG. 1), and transmits the time information entered as a remote control signal from the remote control Re (FIG. 1) to the remote control receiver in the indoor unit 100 , to fix the time information in the main microcomputer 130. In addition, the user transmits the time information from an information terminal via a communication network 190 to the indoor unit 100, to fix the time information in the main microcomputer 130.

In addition, the indoor unit 100 can be configured to include an automatic time information acquisition function which automatically acquires time information from a time management server (such as NTP) on the communication network 190 .

The indoor unit 100 fixes the current time information acquired in the time manager 134 in the main microcomputer 130. The time manager 134 continues to count down the fixed time in accordance with the passage of time. In

S64267EN CM-P Consequently, the time manager 134 manages the correct current time.

The user can update the current time managed by the time manager 134 to an arbitrary timing using a way of setting the time information. In addition, the indoor unit 100 can be set up to periodically execute the automatic time information acquisition function, to update the current time managed by the time manager 134 periodically and automatically. This prevents a gap between the current time managed by the time manager 134 and an actual current time.

The various operating information is managed by the operating information manager 135. The operating information manager 135 manages an operation such as switching the operating mode according to an input from the remote control Re (FIG. 1), switching of the operating mode according to an input via the communication network 190, and the switching of the operating mode by a timer incorporated in the indoor unit 100.

The memory 131 stores the operating information and the current time managed by the time manager 134, to take account of the acquisition of the total hours of use and the number of uses in each operating mode, and of the time since the installation of the air conditioner S.

elapsed

S64267FR CM-P

The memory 131 stores values given in advance for each of the total hours of use to be stored in the memory 131 since the previous cleaning, the number of uses to be stored in the memory 131 since the previous cleaning, and the time elapsed since the installation of the air conditioner S. An operating condition for the automatic cleaning operation is that: the total hours of use stored in memory 131, the number of uses stored in memory 131, or the time elapsed reaches each given value stored in memory 131.

As long as the automatic cleaning operation is performed at constant time intervals or for any given number of uses, any combination of operating conditions can be selected for the automatic cleaning operation. It is sufficient to meet one or more of the above conditions.

In addition, any method can be used to calculate the total hours of use, the number of uses and the time elapsed. For example, the following calculation methods can be used. The values of the total hours of use and the number of uses can be reset to 0 after the automatic cleaning operation. After each given number of automatic cleaning operations, the number of automatic cleaning operations can be counted down from 0, and the number of automatic cleaning operations can be multiplied by reference values of the total hours of use ,

S64267EN CM-P the number of uses and the time elapsed since the installation of the air conditioner S, to execute the automatic cleaning operation when the product is greater than or equal to a given value.

The values given for the total hours of use, the number of uses and the elapsed time can be arbitrarily fixed via an input device such as the Re remote control or the information terminal connected to the communication network 190.

In a case where the operating condition for the automatic cleaning operation is satisfied after the heating operation has ended, the automatic cleaning operation is executed after a first given time has passed since deactivation of the heating operation.

In a case where the automatic cleaning operation is performed after the cooling operation, the dehumidification operation, or the air blowing operation, the automatic cleaning operation is performed immediately after the operation was interrupted or after a second delay shorter than the first delay has elapsed.

In this case, the operation having been interrupted means that the respective devices such as the compressor and the ventilator fan 103 in the air conditioner S have been interrupted.

In the event that the heating operation is completed, the indoor heat exchanger 102 is cooled after the first given time and the automatic cleaning operation can be performed, to

S64267FR CM-P cleaning

In addition, to allow the automatic operation to be performed in power saving mode, the user may have left the room during the period, to prevent cold air in the automatic cleaning operation from bringing the user to feel discomfort. In addition, the occurrence of abnormal and similar noise caused by sudden reverse rotation switching of the refrigeration cycle is prevented.

The first time given can be set, for example, around 3 minutes at the time of a factory shipment. This time is sufficient for the user to leave the room, to cool the indoor heat exchanger 102, and to quietly switch the four-way valve to reverse the refrigeration cycle.

Desirably, the ventilator ventilator 103 is controlled and the vertical air deflector 105 is opened in the interval of the first delay. This quickly cools the indoor heat exchanger 102. In addition, the room temperature is acquired while being equalized by the air blowing operation, and a cooling temperature, etc. in the automatic cleaning operation is optimized according to the degree of change in room temperature.

In addition, a hygrometer (not shown) can be arranged in the vicinity of the indoor heat exchanger 102 to measure the humidity in the vicinity of the indoor heat exchanger 102 in the interval of the first delay. Depending on the measurement result,

S64267EN CM-P humidity time ίο the subsequent automatic cleaning operation can be optimized. For example, in a case where the humidity is high and the humidity around the indoor heat exchanger 102 is substantial, a cooling time in the automatic cleaning operation can be shortened. If cooling is set to 20 minutes, substantial for the automatic cleaning operation can be collected even during dry winter months, but when the humidity around the indoor heat exchanger 102 is substantial, the cooling time can be set to around 15 minutes.

The indoor heat exchanger 102 (Figure 2) in the indoor unit 100 (Figure 2) is provided with the filter 108 (Figure 2) at its top to remove significant dust so as to prevent the indoor heat exchanger 102 from to get dirty. The dust settling on the filter 108 causes an obstruction, which reduces the air passing through the indoor heat exchanger 102, and reduces the air conditioning performance of the indoor unit 100

In order to prevent this problem, the indoor unit 100 can be filtered to clean with a brush (not provided with a cleaner to automatically filter 10 shown) after the air conditioning operation has ended.

In a case where the indoor unit 100 has the filter cleaner, fine dust falls on the indoor heat exchanger 102 when the brush rubs the filter 108. The amount of dust falling due to the filter cleaning is greater

S64267FR CM-P than the sticky one during a normal air conditioning operation, causing the accumulation of dust and the adhesion of dirt in the indoor heat exchanger 102.

Accordingly, the filter cleaner desirably cleans the filter 108 during the first delay. This allows the dust dropped during the filter cleaning to be cleaned by the automatic cleaning operation immediately after the dust has dropped, to prevent the dirt due to the filter cleaning from sticking in the indoor heat exchanger 102 .

The time required for the user to leave the room varies depending on the situation. The period required to cool the indoor heat exchanger 102 varies with temperature and the like. Consequently, the deadline can preferably be changed.

For example, the indoor unit 100 may include a way to enter the first delay from the information terminal connected to the communication network 190 or to the remote control Re.

If the first delay is given, it is desirable to notify the user of the execution of the automatic cleaning operation during the first delay. This prevents the user from feeling that something is wrong. Accordingly, the indoor unit 100 may have an alarm device such as a display lamp (not shown) and an alarm sound generator (not shown) to warn the user about the execution of the automatic cleaning operation within the first delay, and the device

S64267FR CM-P alarm can change the contents to be warned according to a time remaining until the automatic cleaning operation is started. The change in content to be notified is, for example, the change of a flashing cycle of the display lamp or an announcement by a voice guide.

If the user is not in the room and the automatic cleaning operation is started immediately after deactivating the air conditioning operation, the user does not feel discomfort with the cold air emitted into the automatic cleaning operation.

Accordingly, in a case where the operating condition for the automatic cleaning operation is satisfied, if a human sensor in the indoor unit 100 does not detect a human in the room after the cooling operation, the dehumidification operation or the air blowing operation has ended, the automatic cleaning operation can be performed immediately after the operation is deactivated.

In addition, in a case where the air conditioning operation is interrupted via a remote input from outside the room, it is entirely possible that the room is empty.

Accordingly, in a case where the operating condition for the automatic cleaning operation is satisfied, if the air conditioning operation is interrupted via the remote input from the information terminal connected to the communication network 190 after the operation of

S64267EN CM-P cooling, dehumidification operation, or air blowing operation has ended, the automatic cleaning operation can be performed immediately after the air conditioning operation has been interrupted.

However, even when the air conditioning operation is interrupted via the remote input, a human may be present in the room. Accordingly, when a human detector detects a human in the room, the automatic cleaning operation can be performed after the first delay has elapsed.

The following human detector can be used for the human detector 122b to analyze the image captured by the imaging device 110A to detect if a human is present. In addition, infrared rays generated by the human body can be detected by a human sensor (not shown). In this way, the start of the automatic cleaning operation is controlled based on the result of the detection of a human in the room.

In a case where the operating condition of the automatic cleaning operation is not satisfied for a long time and dust collects on the indoor heat exchanger 102, the user may wish to perform the cleaning operation automatic immediately after the air conditioning operation has been interrupted. Consequently, in a case where an instruction to execute the automatic cleaning operation is supplied as input via the remote control Re or the information terminal connected to the communication network 190,

S64267EN CM-P the automatic cleaning operation can be performed immediately after entry.

The larger the room to be conditioned, the more the total amount of dust in the room. Since the dust in the air passes through the indoor heat exchanger 102 through the blower fan 103, the room size correlates to the amount of dust accumulated in the indoor heat exchanger 102. As a result, it is desirable that the air conditioner S has a volume detector which detects the volume or size of the room, and is configured to determine threshold values in advance for the total hours of use and the number of uses since the last cleaning to execute the automatic cleaning operation, in accordance with the detected result.

The following volume detector can be used for a room temperature detector 161 to detect a room temperature and automatically detect the volume or size of the room according to a time (hereinafter, referred to as change in room temperature) required for the room temperature to reach the reference value (for example, 1 degree).

The time of room temperature change is measured beforehand for each volume of the room by experiments, and correlation data (Figure 6A) between the time of room temperature change and the volume or size of the part are stored in memory 131. Since the

S64267EN CM-P correlation varies according to the air conditioning capacity of air conditioner S, it is desirable that the above measurements are made on each model of air conditioner S by each air conditioning capacity to acquire the correlation data corresponding to the capacity of air conditioner.

In addition, the correlation between the time of room temperature change and the volume of the room is affected by room temperature, room illumination, and the like at the time of measurement. In order to eliminate the influence, an adjustment value a (FIG. 6B) between the room temperature at the start of the measurement and the time of temperature change in the room and an adjustment value β (FIG. 6C) between the illumination of the room at the time of measurement and the time of room temperature change are desirably measured by experiments and stored in memory 131.

The volume detector acquires the room temperature and the room lighting by the room temperature detector 161 and the lighting detector 162 to detect the room volume in view of the adjustment value a and of the adjustment value β.

In addition, the volume or size of the room can be detected from the image information input by the imaging device 110A. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-200348 describes that "the imaging device 13 recognizes information such as

S64267EN CM-P people entering and leaving, the number and position of people in the room, the amount of activity, a configuration of the room and an area where sunlight enters. ” A portion of the floor in the image information input to the imaging device 110A can be detected to estimate an area other than the floor such as a wall, and the volume or size of the room can be calculated from 'after the area report. As a result, the automatic cleaning operation is optimized based on the volume or size of the room to be an air conditioned space.

The volume detector acquires only an approximate size of the part and does not necessarily have high precision. However, in order to deal with a case where a difference between the detected result and the effective volume of the room is large, the indoor unit 100 desirably includes a function as described below, namely, the indoor unit 100 can be configured to include an input interface through which the user inputs the volume or size of the room to be conditioned or resets the volume or size value to an initial value from the information terminal connected to the 190 communication network or Re remote control, in addition to automatic detection of the room volume.

The main microcomputer 130 determines the threshold values for the total hours of use for the previous cleaning and the number of uses since the previous cleaning for

S64267EN CM-P clean the interior heat exchanger by the cleaner, according to the volume or size of the part supplied as input using the input interface.

In order to improve the efficiency of the automatic cleaning operation, the indoor unit 100 may desirably be provided with a dirt detector for detecting the dirt in the indoor heat exchanger 102, and if the amount of dirt detected by the dirt detector exceeds a given amount, the automatic cleaning operation is executed regardless of the values of the total hours of use since the previous cleaning stored in memory 131, the number of uses since the previous cleaning stored in memory 131, or the time elapsed since the installation of the air conditioner S. This allows automatic cleaning to be carried out before dust collects on the indoor heat exchanger 102 and dirt adheres to it , to keep the indoor heat exchanger 102 clean with less electrical power, without requiring a large amount of water to clean the exchange indoor heat ur 102.

The dirt detector may include the imaging device 110B which uses visible light or near infrared light as a light source, and an optical filter which cuts or attenuates light having a specific wavelength. The image information supplied as input by the imaging device 110B is analyzed by the dust detector 122a of the image detector 122 in the

S64267FR CM-P camera microcomputer 120, and dust in the image information is detected as dirt.

As shown in Figure 4A, metal sheets are arranged in the indoor heat exchanger 102 at regular intervals at very fine steps. When the indoor heat exchanger 102 is imaged by the imaging device 110B, portions of metal sheet are imaged in white because the light is reflected, and layers of air between the steps of the metal sheets are imaged in black because the light is not reflected. As a result, an image is acquired, which shows that the metal sheets are arranged at regular intervals. When a differential analysis is performed on the image along an analysis line 301, an image waveform shown in Figure 5A is acquired.

As shown in FIG. 4B, if the indoor heat exchanger 102 to which dust 401A is stuck is imaged by the imaging device 110B, an image having a dark border between the white portion and the black portion is acquired, which fails to show that the metal sheets are arranged at regular intervals. When a differential analysis is performed on the image along an analysis line 302, an image waveform shown in Fig. 5B is acquired, which shows an image waveform 401B without peak due to dust sticking Dust sticking is detected according to the image waveform 401B.

The following can be used, for example, as a technique to improve accuracy

S64267FR CM-P of the 110B imaging device. Namely, image data having only a specific wavelength using an infrared light emitter (not shown) and the visible light filter 117B (Figure 3) can be acquired to eliminate a disturbance influence image data, so as to increase the recognition accuracy of the dust detector 122a (FIG. 3).

The amount of dirt sticking to the indoor heat exchanger 102 varies depending on the mode of operation such as the cooling operation, the heating operation, and the dehumidification operation. Consequently, the values of the total hours of use since the previous cleaning, the number of uses since the previous cleaning, or the time elapsed since the installation of the air conditioner S are set desirably for each operating mode, as than the heating operation, the cooling operation and the dehumidification operation.

The user may wish to execute the automatic cleaning operation even if the values of the total hours of use since the previous cleaning stored in memory 131, the number of uses since the previous cleaning stored in memory 131, and the time elapsed since the installation of the air conditioner S did not reach the threshold values and that the filter 108 was not cleaned. In order to prevent the user from feeling discomfort and the like, a reservation is desirably set so that the automatic cleaning operation is started

S64267FR CM-P when the user is out of the room. The indoor unit 100 can have an input interface, thanks to which a start time for the automatic cleaning operation is supplied as input from the information terminal connected to the communication network 190 or to the remote control Re.

The processing performed by the main microcomputer 130 will be described below by way of example.

Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the main microcomputer 130 at the start of the cleaning process.

In step S101, the main microcomputer 130 determines whether the condition for starting the cleaning process is satisfied. As described above, the "condition for starting the cleaning process" is, for example, the condition that the total value of the hours of use of air conditioning since the end of the previous cleaning process has reached the data. If the start condition value is satisfied from to

cleaning process step S101 (S101: Yes), main 130 goes to step S102. On the other hand, if the condition for starting the cleaning process is No), the microcomputer microcomputer series of steps not satisfied (S101: main 130 ends processing (END).

In step S102, the main microcomputer 130 generates a given alarm emitted by the alarm sound generator (not shown) and turns on the display lamp (not shown). Namely, before starting the cleaning process such as freezing

S64267EN CM-P the indoor heat exchanger 102, the main microcomputer 130 warns that the cleaning process will be executed by the alarm sound generator and the display lamp. This alerts the user in advance that the cleaning process will be started.

Then, in step S103, the microcomputer

main 130 fix first delay until the process of cleaning of the heat exchanger 10 interior 102 does not begin. The first delay (by example, three minutes) is a time until

the user is notified that the cleaning process begins at step S102 until the cleaning operation actually begins, and is set to

In advance.

In step S104, the main microcomputer 130 determines whether the first given time has elapsed since the user was notified in advance to start the cleaning process (S102). If the first given time has elapsed (S104: Yes), the main microcomputer 130 proceeds to step S105. The display lamp can continue to be lit (S102) until the first delay has elapsed.

In step S105, the main microcomputer 130 performs cleaning of the indoor heat exchanger 102.

On the other hand, in step S104, if the first given delay has not elapsed (S104: No), the main microcomputer 130 proceeds to step S106.

In step S106, the main microcomputer 130 determines whether an instruction to cancel the process

S64267FR CM-P cleaning is supplied as input using the Re remote control or the information terminal (not shown). If no instruction to cancel the cleaning process is detected (S106: No), the main microcomputer 130 returns to step S104. On the other hand, if the instruction to cancel the cleaning process is detected (S104: Yes), the main microcomputer 130 goes to step S107.

In step S107, the main microcomputer 130 10 causes the alarm sound generator to generate a given alarm sound and causes the display lamp to light. This alerts the user that the cleaning operation is effectively canceled according to the operation using the remote control R or the like.

Note that the alarm sound or the like (S107) is desirably a different type of the alarm sound or the like (S102) to warn in advance of the cleaning process. As a result, the user is easily warned that the cleaning process is effectively canceled.

Next, in step S108, the main microcomputer 130 cancels the cleaning process of the indoor heat exchanger 102. Namely, the main microcomputer 130 cancels the cleaning process including freezing the indoor heat exchanger 102 based on the signal from the Re remote control or the information terminal. More specifically, if the given cancellation instruction 30 is received from the remote control Re or the information terminal (S104: No,

S106:

Yes), since

S64267EN CM-P alarm (S102) before the cleaning process begins until the first given time has elapsed, the main microcomputer 130 does not execute the cleaning process including freezing the heat exchanger indoor heat 102 (S108). This allows the main microcomputer 130 to cancel the cleaning of the indoor heat exchanger 102 appropriately according to the intention of the user. After the processing in step S108, the main microcomputer 130 ends the series of processing steps (FIN).

The embodiment has been described in detail in order to describe the present invention so as to be easily understood, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiment having all of the configurations described above. In addition, part of the configuration of the embodiment can be added, deleted, or replaced by other configurations.

Furthermore, the mechanisms and configurations described above show what is considered necessary for the description, and are not found

necessarily in a product effective. 25 Numerical references S: air conditioner; 100: indoor unit ; 101: housing base; 102: exchanger of heat

interior; 103: blower fan; 104:

horizontal air deflector; 105: vertical air deflector; 106: front panel; 107: air intake;

108: filter; 109a: purge duct; 109b: exit

S64267FR CM-P air; 11 OA, 110B optical lens; A / L converter; digital; 116:

: imaging device; 111A:

112A: image sensor; 113A:

114A: filter driver processor; 117A, signal 117B:

visible light filter; 120: camera microcomputer; 121, 131: memory; 122: image detector; 122a: dust detector (dirt detector); 122b: human detector; 130: main microcomputer (control unit)

132 arithmetic processor; 133: piloting control unit;

134: time manager; 135: operational information manager; 150: charge pilot; 160: environment detector; 161:

room temperature detector; 162: lighting detector; 190: communication network; 200:

outdoor unit; Q: transceiver (input interface); 301, 302: line of analysis; 401A:

dust; 401B: image waveform without peak due to

Dust adhesion

Claims (16)

1. Air conditioner (S) comprising: a cleaner which cleans an indoor heat exchanger (102); and a control unit (130) which controls the cleaner, characterized in that the control unit, in a case where the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger (102) after completion of a heating operation, controls the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger after a first given time has elapsed since the end of the heating operation, and in a case where the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger <102) after a end of a cooling operation, a dehumidification operation or an air blowing operation, controls the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102) after a second delay shorter than the first delay has passed. 2. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 1, further comprising a memory (121, 131) which stores an operating condition of the air conditioner, characterized in that the control unit (130) controls the cleaner to clean the exchanger of internal heat (102) when a total of the hours of use since a previous cleaning stored in the memory (121, 131), the number of uses since the previous cleaning stored in the memory (121, 131), or a time elapsed since an installation of the air conditioner (S) stored in the memory (121, 131) reaches a given threshold value. 3. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 1, further comprising: an insufflator fan (103) which is mounted in an indoor unit (100) and blows air into the indoor heat exchanger (102); and a vertical air deflector (105) which controls the direction of the blown wind from the indoor unit (100), characterized in that the control unit (130) controls the drive of the blower fan (103) or l opening the vertical air deflector (105) after the heating operation is interrupted until the first delay has elapsed. 4. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 1, comprising: a filter cleaner which cleans a filter (108) arranged on one side of the indoor heat exchanger (102), where air is admitted, characterized in that that the control unit (130), in a case where the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger (102) after completion of a heating operation, controls the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102) after a first given time has elapsed since the end of the heating operation, and controls the filter cleaner to clean the filter (108) after the heating operation is interrupted until the first time runs out. 5. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (130) fixes a temperature of evaporation of a refrigerant when the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger (102) lower than an evaporation temperature of the refrigerant in a dehumidification operation. 6. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (130) fixes a temperature of evaporation of a refrigerant when the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger (102) at a temperature of below a freezing point. 7. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an alarm device which warns that the cleaner cleans the indoor heat exchanger (102) after the heating operation is interrupted until until the first delay has elapsed or after the cooling operation, the dehumidification operation or the air blowing operation has been interrupted until the second delay has elapsed. 8. An air conditioner (S) according to claim 1, further comprising an input interface (Q) by which an execution instruction for cleaning the interior heat exchanger (102) by the cleaner is input from an information terminal connected to a communication network (190) or to a remote control, characterized in that the indoor heat exchanger (102) is cleaned by the cleaner immediately after the instruction to clean the heat exchanger inside by the cleaner is entered through the input interface (Q). 9. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 1, comprising: a memory (121, 131) which stores an operating condition of an air conditioner, - and a volume detector which detects a volume or a space of a room to be air conditioned , characterized in that the control unit (130) determines a threshold value of a total of the hours of use since a previous cleaning by the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102) or a threshold value of the number of uses since the previous cleaning, according to the volume or space of the room detected by the volume detector, and characterized in that the control unit (130), after the end of a heating operation , in a case where the total hours of use since the previous cleaning stored in the memory (121, 131) or the number of uses since the previous cleaning stored in the memory (121, 131) reaches the threshold value, or in a case where an elapsed time memorized in the memory (121, 131) since the air conditioner was installed reaches a given threshold value, commands the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102) after a first given time has elapsed since the end of the heating operation. 10. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 9, characterized in that the volume detector detects the volume or space of the room according to a time when a measurement of a room temperature begins until 'A change in the room temperature reaches a reference temperature. 11. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 9, characterized in that the volume detector detects the volume or space of the room based on image information supplied as input by an imaging device (110A, 110B ) who pictures the room. 12. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 1, comprising: a memory (121, 131) which stores an operating condition of an air conditioner; and an input interface (Q) by which a volume or a space of a room to be air-conditioned is supplied as input from an information terminal connected to a communication network (190) or to a remote control, characterized in that the control unit (130) determines a threshold value of a total of hours of use since a previous cleaning by the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102) or a threshold value of the number d 'uses since the previous cleaning, according to the volume or space of the room which is supplied as input by means of the input interface (Q), and characterized in that the control unit (130), after the end of a heating operation, in a case where the total hours of use since the previous cleaning stored in the memory (121, 131) or the number of uses since the previous cleaning stored in the memory (121 , 131) reaches the threshold value, or in one case where an elapsed time stored in memory (121, 131) since the air conditioner was installed reaches a given threshold value, controls the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102) after a first given time has elapsed elapsed since the end of the heating operation. 13. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a dirt detector (122a) which detects the dirt in the indoor heat exchanger (102), characterized in that the control unit (130) , in a case where the dirt detector (122a) detects more than a given amount of dirt, controls the cleaner to clean the indoor heat exchanger (102). 14. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 13, characterized in that the dirt detector (122a) comprises an imaging device (110A, 110B) which uses visible light or near infrared light as a light source, · and an optical filter which cuts or dims light having a specific wavelength, and detects dirt in the indoor heat exchanger (102) based on image information input from the imaging device (110A , 110B). 15. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 2, characterized in that than the threshold value for total hours in use since the cleaning previous, the number of uses since the cleaning previous or the time elapsed since the installation of the air conditioner is set for each mode such as the heating operation, the cooling operation and the dehumidification operation. 16. Air conditioner (S) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises an input interface (Q) by which a start-up time for cleaning the indoor heat exchanger (102) is provided as input from an information terminal connected to a communication network (190) or to a remote control. S64267FR CM-P Re 2/6