ITMI941314A1 - AIR CONDITIONER DRYING OPERATION CONTROL PROCEDURE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a drying operation control method of an air conditioner and more specifically a drying operation mode control method of an air conditioner equipped with at least one internal fan and a compressor. In this drying operation mode, the air conditioner is operated to dry the laundry based on a command transmitted by an operating section (for example, remote control unit) of the air conditioner.

In general, an air conditioner is operated in a heating, a cooling or an automatic mode. To select any of these modes of operation, a remote control unit is usually provided with selection means (switching buttons) thereon. Recently, however, an additional drying mode of operation has been proposed for drying clothes hanging in a room. The drying operating mode proposed so far can be summarized as follows:

(1) The drying operation mode is the cooling or heating operation mode in which the adjusted temperature is automatically fixed at a specific value. Also, when the compressor is at a stop in the refrigeration cycle, the amount of air circulated by an internal fan is reduced in the same way as in the cooling or heating operation mode.

(2) The direction of the air flow, that is, the direction of the louver provided at the air outlet of an indoor unit is kept fixed in the horizontal direction in both the cooling and heating operation modes, without taking into account account for the activation or deactivation of the compressor, in the same way as in the usual cooling and heating operation.

(3) In the state to control the ambient or atmospheric temperature (since the ambient or atmospheric temperature does not reach a temperature at which the cooling or heating operation is to be started, the indoor fan is operated to blow the quantity of minimum air for the purpose of deciding either the cooling or heating operation), the quantity of air of the indoor fan is reduced and furthermore the direction of the ventilation slit is kept horizontal until the ambient or atmospheric temperature reaches a temperature in at which cooling or heating is to be started.

(4) The drying operation mode can only be selected before the operation starts. In other words, after the air conditioner is started in the cooling or heating operation mode, it is impossible to switch the drying operation.

The above mentioned factors implicated in conventional air conditioner result in the following drawbacks:

(1) Although to some degree, the air circulation operation is effective for drying clothes hanging in the room even if the compressor is kept stopped, the room fan function is not used efficiently in the drying operation mode.

(2) When the laundry is dried from the room, in general the laundry is arranged obliquely in front of and under the room fan. However, when the compressor is operated in the cooling mode, since the temperature of the air flow is relatively low and its relative humidity is high, if air is directed against the laundry, the dehumidification effect is low. Then, when the compressor is operated, the louver is fixed in the horizontal direction. On the other hand when the compressor is at a stop, despite the fact that a considerable drying effect can be obtained by blowing only room temperature air against the laundry, this drying effect cannot be achieved as the humidity is lowered. from the cooling function. In addition, in the heating and drying operation mode, it is effective to fix the louver in the direction to blow air directly against the laundry from the laundry drying standpoint, regardless of whether the compressor is running or not. However, since the air vent is always set obliquely downwards, an effective drying effect cannot be expected.

(3) In the control state where the cooling or heating operation cannot be decided, despite the fact that it is possible to dry the laundry sufficiently by blowing air of that temperature against the laundry, this procedure is not used.

(4) There is such a case that after the heating operation is started once, the drying operation mode is required due to the absence of the user, for example. However, since the drying operation mode can only be started after the now operating air conditioner has been stopped once, it is not convenient for the user.

With these problems therefore in mind, the object of the present invention is to provide a drying operation control method for an air conditioner by which the laundry can be dried more effectively using a conventional air conditioner.

To achieve the aforementioned purpose, in the drying operation control method according to the present invention, the direction and quantity of air blown out of the internal fan is finely controlled and so that more precise operation modes can be selected. .

According to the present invention, the air direction and the air quantity are both precisely controlled according to the laundry drying conditions in fine operation mode. The drying operation can be selected via a remote control unit. When the drying operation is selected in the stop state of the air conditioner, the drying operation conditions are decided according to the environmental conditions. When the operation other than drying is switched to the drying operation by the remote control unit, the conditions of drying operation are decided according to the previous operation mode. Also, when the previous operation mode is "automatic or control mode", the operating conditions are decided according to the environmental conditions. The drying operation can be canceled when the drying operation mode is switched to another operation mode (cooling, heating or automatic operation) or stopped.

During the drying operation, an appropriate operation mode can be selected from a plurality of operation modes including the strong airflow operation mode. Furthermore, a reasonable air emission direction and quantity of air can be selected to achieve a more effective drying effect than that of the conventional air conditioner.

In the attached drawings:

Fig. 1 is a system diagram showing an overall system configuration of an air conditioner to which the control method of the present invention is applied;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing apparatuses and devices for carrying out the control method according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an illustration to aid in explaining the state of the arrangement and the direction of the air flow of an indoor unit;

Fig. 4 is an illustration showing a state in which a humidifier is additionally provided as the indoor unit;

Fig. 5 is an illustration showing the relative positional arrangement between the indoor unit and the laundry;

Fig. 6 is an illustration showing an example where the laundry is hung from the indoor unit;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the external appearance of the remote control unit of the air conditioner, in which a cover for covering a lower half thereof is removed;

Fig. 8 is a table listing the relationship between the handling conditions of the remote control unit and the output signals; Fig. 9 is a table listing the depression of keys on the remote control unit and the tilting operation of the ventilation slot of the indoor unit;

Fig. 10 is a view showing an example of a configuration displayed in the drying operation mode in correspondence with the actuation of the key of the remote control unit related to the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a view showing another example of a configuration displayed in the drying operation mode at the key operation of the remote control unit related to the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a table listing the operating states of the respective devices in the ordinary operation of the air conditioner;

Fig. 13 is a table listing the operating conditions of the respective devices in the drying operation related to the present invention;

Fig. 14 is a table listing the operating conditions of the respective devices in the automatic operation of the air conditioner;

Fig. 15 is a flow chart showing the operation of the remote control operating section performed with respect to the remote control unit;

Fig. 16 is a flow chart showing the operation of the remote control section performed with respect to the remote control unit;

Fig. 17 is a flow chart showing the operation of the remote control section performed with respect to the remote control unit;

Fig. 18 is a flow chart showing the operation of the air conditioner performed with respect to the remote control unit;

Fig. 19 is a flow chart showing the operation of the air conditioner performed with respect to the remote control unit;

Fig. 20 is a flow chart showing the operation of the air conditioner performed with respect to the remote control unit;

Fig. 21 is a flow chart showing the operation of the air conditioner performed with respect to the remote control unit, in which the operation mode during the drying operation is decided at the stop of the air conditioner air; Fig. 22 is a flow chart showing the automatic operation mode selection procedure of the air conditioner performed in accordance with the remote control unit;

Fig. 23 is a flow chart showing the operation of the air conditioner performed with respect to the remote control unit;

Fig. 24 is a flow chart showing the operation of the air conditioner performed with respect to the remote control unit;

Fig. 25 is a flow chart showing the operation of the air conditioner performed with respect to the remote control unit;

Fig. 26 is a flow chart showing the operation of the air conditioner performed with respect to the remote control unit;

Fig. 27 is a graphical representation for aid in explaining the drying effect by drying operation control method according to the present invention;

Fig. 28 is a graphical representation to aid in explaining a modification of the drying operation control method according to the present invention; And

Fig. 29 is a graphical representation showing the laundry drying speed, ambient temperature and humidity, and the operating frequency of the compressor as a function of time, which are obtained when operated in the drying operation mode in accordance with the features shown in Fig. 28.

The control method of the drying operation according to the present invention is summarized with reference to Figs. 12 to 14. That is, Fig. 12 shows the control method in the operation of common air conditioner (not in the operation of drying) for reference; Fig. 13 shows the control procedure in the drying operation; and Fig. 14 shows the control procedure in automatic operation.

In Fig. 12, the basic control conditions of the air conditioner are listed in both the cooling and heating operation modes. That is, the on (heating) and off (cooling) conditions of a four-mode valve for switching the heating and cooling modes are listed; The compressor on and off conditions; the amount of air of an internal fan (H: high; M: medium; L: low; UL: ultra low, for each automatic and manual adjustment); the direction of the ventilation slot of the internal fan; the presence or absence of a humidifier; and the on and off conditions of the timer function; all being classified according to the ambient temperature Ta and the fixed temperature Ts as follows: Ta ≥ Ts (cooling) or Ta <Ts (heating); Ta <Ts (cooling) or Ta> Ts (heating).

Fig. 13 lists the operating conditions of the respective devices when the drying operation is carried out in accordance with the present invention, being classified according to three modes of cooling, heating and air circulation. In the operating modes, the devices are controlled according to the ambient temperature Ta, the set temperature and the set humidity.

Fig. 14 lists the common automatic operation mode, being classified according to cooling, heating and control operations. In the cooling and heating operation modes, the devices are controlled according to the relationship between the ambient temperature Ta and the set temperature Ts; and in the control mode, ultra low airflow operation is performed. In other modes, the respective devices are all shut down.

The above mentioned operating modes will be described in further detail below. In addition, although it is customary to provide a hysteresis of about 0.5 ° C in temperature or 5% in humidity between the operating point and the return point to stabilize the actual control operation, the hysteresis is omitted in the tables shown. in Figs. 12 to 14 and in all the flow charts described below.

The invention will now be described in further detail below.

Before the description of the present invention, the air conditioner will first be described.

Fig. 1 is an overall system diagram showing the air conditioner to which the control method of the present invention is applied.

The refrigeration cycle equipment of the air conditioner consists of a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an external heat exchanger 3, an expansion valve 4 and the indoor heat exchanger 5. The air conditioner air can be operated as a heater or cooler by activating or deactivating the 2 four-way valve. In the cooling operation (four-way valve 2 is deactivated), as shown by the full lines, refrigerant is circulated from compressor 1 to the same compressor 1 via four-way valve 2, external heat exchanger 3, valve 4 expansion, the internal heat exchanger 5 and the four-way valve 2. In the heating operation (four-way valve 2 is activated) as shown by the dotted lines, refrigerant is circulated from compressor 1 to the same compressor 1 via four-way valve 2, indoor heat exchanger 5, valve 4 expansion, the external heat exchanger 3 and the four-way valve 2. The external heat exchanger 3 is equipped with an external fan 6 to accelerate the heat exchange with external air. The internal heat exchanger 5 is equipped with an internal fan 7 to send air into the room and with a ventilation slot 8 to regulate the direction of the air flow. The compressor 1 is driven by a motor 9 so that its speed can be adjusted. The compressor 1, the four-way valve 2, the external heat exchanger 3, the expansion valve 4 and the external fan 6 constitute an outdoor unit. The internal heat exchanger 5, the internal fan 7 and the ventilation slot 8 constitute an internal unit 20 (see Fig. 3).

The ambient temperature Ta is detected by an ambient temperature sensor 10; the ambient humidity Ha is detected by a humidity sensor 11; the atmospheric temperature To is detected by an atmospheric temperature sensor 12; and the respective detection signals are inputted to an arithmetic control section 14. The ambient temperature sensor 10 and the humidity sensor 11 are arranged in the vicinity of the air inlet portion of the indoor unit and the atmospheric temperature sensor 12 is arranged in the vicinity of the air inlet portion of the outdoor unit. Various control signals from a wireless remote control unit 30 are applied to the arithmetic control section 14 through a receiving section 13. The arithmetic control section 14 controls an operation and the rotational speed of the motor 9 in such a way that the ambient temperature Ta comes as close as possible to the fixed ambient temperature Ts. The compressor 1 is activated or deactivated and controlled in the rotational speed in connection with the operation and rotational speed of the motor 9. The perimeter control section 14 is a microprocessor including a central processing unit (CPU) whose arithmetic operation and controls are performed in accordance with software as described below in further detail with reference to the accompanying flow diagrams.

Fig. 2 shows the devices controlled by the arithmetic control section 14, which is partially overlapped with the one shown in Fig. 1. The arithmetic control section 14 controls the on-off operation and the frequency of compressor 1 by means of a control element. command 15, the on-off operation (i.e. heating and cooling) of the four-way valve 2, the on-off operation and the air quantity of the indoor fan 7 and the fixed and oscillating operation and the direction (when fixed ) of the ventilation slot 8, all in accordance with the results of the arithmetic processing. The speed control of the compression 1, i.e., the speed control of the motor 9 is implemented by the arithmetic control section 14 by controlling the frequency of the inverter output with the use of a frequency converter (not shown). In addition, the internal fan 7 can be switched by the arithmetic control section 14 by switching the speed of a drive motor (not shown) into five different amounts of air flow of H (high), M (medium), L ( low), UL (ultra low) and Stop.

Fig. 3 shows an indoor unit 20 installed within a room where the unit 20 is mounted on the upper side of a wall 21 in the room. The air drawn in from the front surface of the indoor unit 20 is passed through the internal heat exchanger 5 for heat exchange and through the internal fan 7 and then is emitted through an air outlet at which it is arranged the ventilation slot 8. The direction (angular position) of the ventilation slot 8 will be described in further detail below.

Fig. 4 shows a state where a humidifier connected with the air conditioner is provided within the room, where the indoor unit 20 is mounted on the upper side of the room wall 21 and the humidifier 22 is installed on a floor or base. The humidifier 22 is used to increase the humidity of the room to an appropriate value when the humidity of the room is excessively lowered by the operation of the heater in the winter season. The humidifier 22 is provided with a receiving section 23. Then, the humidifier 22 can be activated or deactivated by the indoor unit 20 in wireless mode, by transmitting a control signal based on the humidity of the room from a transmitting section 24 of the indoor unit 20 to the receiving section 23 of the room. humidifier 22.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the positional relationship between indoor humidity and the laundry hanging in the room.

In Fig. 5, the indoor unit 20 is mounted on the upper axis of the wall 21 in a room and an internal movable clothes rail (of the knock-down type, preferably) is fixed in front of the indoor unit 20. The laundry is hanging on the clothes rail. When drying the laundry, the direction of the louver 8 is fixed in the horizontal direction H, the oblique downward direction K or the vertical direction (not shown). Furthermore, the ventilation slot 8 can be rotated within a predetermined angular range.

In Fig. 6, a clothes bar 28 is disposed in front of the ventilation slot 8 through the use of an attachment 27 of the indoor unit 20. The laundry 26 is hung on the clothes bar 28.

Fig. 7 is the plan view showing the external appearance of remote control unit 30 used in connection with the control method according to the present invention, in which a lid for covering a lower half is removed. As is well known, the remote control unit transmits various control signals to the indoor unit 20 in wireless mode. In the case of the remote control unit 30 shown in Fig. 7, an operation / stop button 31 is arranged at its intermediate portion and several function buttons are arranged around or below the operation / stop button 31. The different function keys are an operation switching key 32 for switching the operation mode (heating, cooling or automatic operation); a drying function key 33 for selecting the drying function mode for drying the laundry; an air quantity switch button 34 for switching the indoor fan air quantity to H (high), M (medium), L (low), UL (ultra low) or automatic air quantity, and stop; a current direction switch key 35 for switching the air flow direction of the indoor humidity; a louver swing or rotation button 36 (LSG); a timer reservation section 37 including a reservation / confirm button 38, a timer "on" button 39, a timer "off" button 40, a timer "cancel" button, etc. The louver swing key 36 transmits a swing control signal when the louver swing key 36 is pressed. Furthermore, on the operating key 31, the keys 42 and 43 for changing the fixed temperature (Ts), a key 44 for the fixed humidity, and a display section 45 for displaying the set temperature Ts, etc. are arranged. When the fixed humidity key 44 is pressed, the fixed humidity value can be cyclically fixed as H, M and L (for example, 60, 50 and 40%), and the fixed humidity value can be displayed in section 45 of display for a short time (for example 3 seconds).

Fig. 8 lists the respective functions of the buttons arranged on the remote control unit 30. When the operation / stop button 31 is pressed for operation (activated when the air conditioner is at a stop), it is generated an operation command and also the respective set conditions hitherto set (for example, set operation mode command, set temperature, set humidity, etc.) are output to the indoor unit 20. When key 31 operation / stop is pressed to stop (activated when the air conditioner is running), the air conditioner is stopped. When the "on" timer key 39 is pressed for timer "on" operation, the set timer time Ton and the respective set conditions are output in conjunction with the "on" timer command. When the " off " timer key 40 is pressed for " off " timer operation, the set timer time Toff and respective set conditions are output in conjunction with the " off " timer command. When the drying operation key 33 is pressed for drying operations, the operation time Toff is output together with the drying operation command. When the cooling operation is selected by pressing the operation changeover key 32, the cooling operation command and various commands of the set temperature Ts and the set air quantity by the air quality changeover key 34 are sent. When the heating operation is selected by pressing the operation switching key 32, the heating operation command and several commands of the set temperature Ts, the humidity Hs set by the humidity regulation rate 44 and the set amount of air, set by the Taf 34 of air quantity switching, are sent. When automatic operation is selected by pressing operation switching key 32, the automatic operation command, and several commands of the correct set temperature 4T, the humidity Hs by the humidity adjustment key 44 and the amount of air set by the rate 34 switching quantities of air are sent. Here, the correct set temperature 4ÌT can be adjusted as follows: In automatic operation, the air conditioner itself is operated at the selected set set temperature (for example 23 ° C). However, this fixed temperature can be changed within ± 2 ° C. This is referred to as the correct set temperature ΔΤ which can be changed by the user by pressing the set temperature change keys 42 and 43 in the automatic operating mode. In this regard, in the case of Figure 7, the remote control unit 30 displays "automatic operation" and the correct set temperature of ΔΤ = 2 ° C. In addition, the louver swing or swing command is issued by pressing the louver swing or swing button 36.

The swing operation of the louver 8 differs according to the operation modes of the louver swing button 36 and the operating conditions of the device when starting the air conditioner. As in the case of Fig. 9, in the case of automatic ordinary cooling / heating operation, swinging is first avoided (the louver is fixed. Then, the swinging or swinging operation of the louver is activated ( the louver is swiveled) or deactivated (the louver is fixed alternately if the louver swing or tilt button 36 is pressed. In the case of the drying and heating operation or in the airflow, swing or swing operation of the louver is first active (the louver is swung or swung). is fixed) or activated (the louver is swinging or swinging) alternately q If the louver swing or swing button 36 is pressed. Also, in the case of common operation (cooling or heating) or automatic operation, even if the operation mode is switched between both, the louver conditions determined before the change are maintained.

In the drying and cooling operation, when the initial temperature difference = Ta - Ts is greater than a predetermined value based on the relationship between the detected temperature Ta and the fixed temperature Ts, the state is such that the compressor 1 must be operated, a state referred to as a "heating activated" state. In this heating activated state, the initial state of the louver is stopped (the louver is fixed). Thereafter, when the louver swing or swing button 36 is pressed, louver swing on and louver swing off are repeated alternately. Furthermore, in the drying and cooling operation, when the initial temperature difference = Ta - Ts is less than the predetermined value, the state is such that compressor 1 must be stopped, referred to as "heating deactivation ". In this state of heating deactivation, the initial state of the louver is swing activation (the louver is swinging or swinging). Thereafter, if the louver swing rate 36 is pressed, the louver swing deactivation and the louver swing activation are repeated alternately. In the drying and cooling operation, the swing state of the louver at the heating activation is memorized (even if changed after the heating deactivation), which is not related to the initial swing state at the heating activation. initial heating deactivation. Likewise, in the drying and cooling operation, the swing state of the louver at the heating deactivation is stored (even if changed to the heating activation later), which is not related to the swing state or initial swing at initial heating activation. In other words, when the louver swing or tilt button 36 is not pressed, the louver status changes as follows:

activation of heating (activation of oscillation) -> deactivation of heating -> activation of heating (activation of oscillation)

activation of heating (deactivation of oscillation) -> deactivation of heating -> activation of heating (deactivation of oscillation) -> deactivation of heating (activation of oscillation) -> activation of heating -> deactivation of heating (activation of oscillation)

heating deactivation (oscillation deactivation) -> heating activation -> heating deactivation (oscillation deactivation)

The remote control processing routines related to the operation of the remote control unit 30 will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 15 and 17.

Referring to Fig. 15, under the condition that the air conditioner is running in the initial state (in step 50), if the run / stop key 31 is pressed (in step 51), the arithmetic control section 14 (referred to as control, hereafter) issues a stop command (in step 52), clears the various stored data related to the operation (in step 53) and waits for the new operation command. When the run / stop button 31 is not pressed in the operation, the check checks if the reservation / confirm button 38 is activated (in step 54). If pressed, the control proceeds to step 61 shown in Fig. 16. If not pressed, the control checks whether the drying operation key 33 is pressed or activated (in step 55). If pressed, the control proceeds to step 67 shown in Fig. 17. If not pressed, the control returns to step 50 after the completion of the other necessary key processing (in step 56).

Under the condition that the air conditioner is not operated in the initial state, when the operation / stop button 31 is pressed, and the control transmits various data related to the commands such as the operation mode, the set temperature Ts, the amount of air, etc., which are all fixed by depressing different keys on the remote control unit 30 (in Step 59), and stores this operation-related data (in Step 60), then returns to Step 50.

Fig. 16 shows a routine for confirming different key operations from the remote control unit 30 from step 61 to step 66. The control displays "display mode 1" (in step 61). In this phase, as shown in Fig. 10, various displays such as "automatic" sign indicative of automatic operation, "timer sign" indicating an operation time fixed with the use of a clock symbol, "operating sign of drying "indicative of the drying operation with the use of a shirt symbol and a remaining operation time (based on a time previously set by a timer). After these displays, the control clears the display timer once and starts the timer (in step 62). In addition, the control waits for a predetermined display time (for example, 3 seconds) (in steps 63 and 64), resets the display timer again (in step 65) and displays "display mode 2" (in step 66) . In this second display mode 2, as shown in Fig. 11, the "automatic" sign, the timer sign and the drying operation sign are displayed, returning to step 50 thereafter.

Fig. 17 shows a routine for setting a time in the drying operation mode from the remote control unit 30 from step 67 to step 73. The control displays "display mode 1" (in step 67) as shown in Fig. 10, resets the "button timer" once, then counts up the button timer (in step 68). Furthermore, if the timer deactivation key 40 (shown in Fig. 7) is pressed (activated), the drying operation time is increased by the unit of time Δt (for example, 0.5 hours) by adjustment (in step 69 and 70), then returns to step 67. In this step, a time (for example 3 hours) is initially set as a standard time. Until the timer off button 40 is pressed and the timer button time (for example, 3 seconds) has elapsed, the control continues to count up (in steps 68, 69 and 71) increment the operation time drying of Δt if the deactivated timer button 40 is pressed. If a ring counter is used, after the up count value exceeds the fixed maximum time (for example, 12 hours), the counted value is returned to one hour, then increased again by Δt in Δt . After the timer button time (for example, 3 seconds) has elapsed, that is, when the timer off button 40 is not pressed for more than 3 seconds, the control displays "display mode 2" as shown in Fig. 11 (in step 72), transmits operation control data commands into the indoor unit having (in step 73) the return to step 50. In other words, when the drying operation has been set, the deactivated timer is always set . If the deactivated timer button 40 is not pressed, a fixed time of 3 hours is set. If pressed, any desired time can be set within a range of 1 to 12 hours.

As described above, as the drying time for drying the laundry can be freely set or changed by using the remote control unit 30, it is possible to ensure sufficient drying time for the laundry even when the user is asleep. or comes out while the air conditioner is running. In addition, since an exact display can be obtained in a time series mode corresponding to the drying operation mode with the display section 45 of the distance control unit 30, the operation is simple for the user (operator).

Figs. 18 to 26 show control flow diagrams for carrying out the drying operation of the air conditioner in accordance with the commands transmitted by the remote control unit 30.

During operation, if the operation stop is commanded, the control performs the stop processing of the air conditioner, releases the "operation" memory (in steps 80, 81 and 82) and sets the S1 and S2 indicators of the swing or tilt memory of the louver at S1 = 0 and S2 = 0 (in step 83). This S1 indicator is a louver swing or tilt control indicator except the deactivation of heating in the drying and cooling operation, which represents:

S1 = 0 .... the ventilation slot is fixed.

S1 = 1 .... the louver is swung or rotated. Similarly, this S2 indicator is a louver swing control indicator in the heating deactivation in the drying and cooling operation, representing:

S2 = 0 .... the ventilation slot is fixed.

S2 = 1. the louver is swung.

When an operation command is generated at stop, the control stores "set values" and "running" transmitted from the remote control unit 30 (in steps 80, 84 and 85). Here, the fixed values are an operation command or a stop command and several fixed values related to the operation and stop such as data of an operation mode (described below), a fixed temperature Ts, a fixed unit Hs, and a fixed amount of air. After the store process from step 85, the control resets the TM1 activation timer (in step 86) and executes the flag process S1 = 0, S2 = 0 (in step 83). When the stop command is absent in the operation (in steps 80 and 81), the control performs steps 94 and later shown in Fig. 19. During stop and when the run command is absent (in steps 80 and 84) ), the control verifies the presence and absence of the drying operation command (in step 87). if the drying operation command is present, the control performs phases 120 and subsequent shown in Fig. 21. If the drying operation command is absent, the control verifies the presence and absence in the command input (in the step 88) of deactivation timer (TM). If present, the control resets the activation timer (TM1) and restarts it (in phase 89), stores the fixed time Ton and the fixed value (in phase 90) and executes the processing of phase 83. If the activation timer is absent in step 88, the control checks whether the activation timer is in operation or not (in step 91). If it is running, the control checks if TM1 (the counting time of the on timer)> Ton (fixed time) (in step 92). If TM1 ≥ Ton, the control stores "running" (in step 93) and proceeds to step 83. If TM1 <Ton, the control returns to step 80. Also, after indicator processing in step 83, the control returns to step 80.

In steps 80 and 81 during the operation but when the stop command is absent, the control executes the processing routine of steps 94 and following shown in Fig. 19. First the control verifies whether the automatic operation starts or not (in step 94). If the automatic operation starts, the control performs the processing of steps 140 and later shown in Fig. 22. If the automatic operation does not start, the control checks whether the set value change command is present or not (in step 95) . If present, the control stores a new set value (in step 96) and executes the processing routine of steps 170 and subsequent shown in Fig. 24. If the set value change is absent, the control checks whether the activation (TM1) is entered (in step 97). If entered, the control resets the on timer (TM1) once, restarts it (in step 98), stores the set time TM1 and set value (in step 99), and proceeds to step 82 shown in Fig. 18 to stop operation. In step 97, if the activation timing command input is absent, the control checks whether the deactivation timer command input is present (at step 100). If present, the control resets the deactivation timer TM2, resets and restarts the deactivation timer (in step 101, stores the set deactivation timer Toff time (in step 102) and performs steps 170 and later shown in Fig. 24 . If the deactivation timer command input is absent (in step 100), the control checks if TM2 (the deactivation timer count time)> Toff (fixed time) (in step 103). , controls and executes steps 104 and subsequent shown in Fig. 20.

In step 104, the control checks if the rocking or tilt command is present or absent, if the rocking or tilt command is absent, the control performs steps 150 and following shown in Fig. 23. If the rocking command is present , the control verifies whether the compressor is kept stopped (heating deactivation) in the cooling drying operation (in step 105). If kept stopped, the control checks if S2 = 1 (in step 106). If S2 = 1 the control sets S2 = 0 (in step 107) and if S2 = 0, the control sets S2 - 1 (in step 108) and executes steps 170 and subsequent shown in Fig. 24, respectively. If the compressor is not kept stopped in the drying and cooling operation, the control checks if S1 = 1 (in step 109). If S1 = 1, (in step 110) and if S1 = 0 the control sets S1 = 1 (in step 111), and carries out the steps 170 and subsequent shown in Fig, 24, respectively.

Fig. 21 shows a routine for deciding an operation mode for a drying operation from step 120 to step 126 which is executed when the drying operation command is present during stop and when the operation command is absent ( see Fig. 18 and steps 80, 84 and 87). First, the control issues a humidifier deactivation command (in step 120) to stop humidifier 22 regardless of temperature and reads a set temperature Ta, ambient humidity Ha and atmospheric temperature To (in step 121). The control verifies whether To ≥ 20 ° C (in step 122). If To> 20 ° C, the control also checks whether Ta ≥ 24 ° C (in step 123). If Ta> 24 ° C, the control sets the operating mode to "drying cooling", stores the operating mode set (in step 124) and sets the louver swing or swing indicators as S2 = 1 and S1 = 0 (in step 125). On the other hand, if To <20 ° C (in step 122), the control checks whether Ta ≥ 24 ° C (in step 126). If Ta> 24 ° C (in phase 126) or Ta <24 ° C (in phase 123), the control sets the operating mode to "drying air flow", stores the fixed operating mode (in phase 127) and sets the louver swing or swing indicators as S1 = 1 (in step 129). If Ta <24 ° C (in step 126), the control sets the operation mode to "drying cooling", stores the set operation mode (in step 128), and proceeds to step 129. After the operation mode for the drying operation it was decided in steps from 121 to 129, the control fixes the deactivation of the timer on the basis of the fixed time data (Toff) added to the drying operation command transmitted by the control unit from the distance 30 in stages 130 and later. First, the control resets all the deactivated timer operation determined earlier, stores the transmitted time data (Toff) and begins the operation of the new deactivated timer (TM2) (in step 130). Thereafter, the control stores "in operation" (at step 131) and proceeds to step 170 shown in Fig. 24, to perform the actual operation processing. Also, in case the air conditioner is only equipped with the heating (cooler) function since the "heating and drying" operation mode is not present, steps 126 to 128 are omitted. That is, if NO is present in steps 122 and 123, the control sets "drying air flow".

Fig. 22 is a routine for selecting the automatic operation mode performed if YES is present in step 94 of Fig. 19. The control reads an atmospheric temperature Ta and an ambient temperature Ta (in step 140). The control checks whether Ta> 23 ° C (in step 141). If Ta> 23 ° C, the control sets the "automatic cooling" operating mode, sets the room temperature set as Ts - 23 ° C ΔΤ, stores the set value (in phase 142), and carries out phases 170 and following shown in Fig. 24. If Ta <23 ° C (in step 141), the control also checks whether Ta ≤ 17 ° C (in step 143). If To <17 ° C, the control sets the "automatic heating" operating mode, sets the set room temperature Ts as TS = 23 ° C ΔΤ, stores the set value (in phase 144) and carries out phases 170 and following shown in Fig. 24. If To> 17 ° C in step 143, the control sets the operating mode to "automatic control" (in step 145), and executes steps 160 and later. Here, the automatic control indicates that since the room temperature is close to the set room temperature, the compressor 1 is kept stopped without performing any cooling and heating operations by setting the room fan 7 to "UL" (ultra-low operation) to control the state of the ambient temperature Ta.

Fig. 23 shows a processing routine performed when the control determines that the "swing command is absent" in step 104 of Fig. 20. The control first checks whether the dry operation command is present (in step 150 ). This check examines whether the drying operation is designated during operation. If the drying operation command is present, the control checks the operation mode (in step 151). If there is "cooling" or "automatic cooling", the control proceeds to step 152 and if there is "heating" or "automatic heating", the control proceeds to step 155. If "automatic control" is present, the control proceeds to step 157. In step 152, the control sets and stores the operating mode = drying cooling, sets the louver swing memory S2 indicator as S2 = 1 (in step 153) and the S1 indicator of the swing or swing memory of the louver as S1 = 1 (in step 154) and proceed to step 159. In step 155, the control fixes and stores the operating mode = heating and drying and fixes the memory indicator S1 swing or swing of the louver as S1 = 1 (in step 156). In step 157, the control reads the atmospheric temperature To and checks if To <17 ° C (in step 158). If To <17 ° C, the control proceeds to step 155 and if To> 17 ° C, the control proceeds to step 152. After the operation mode has been decided in the drying operation in steps 150 to 158, the control proceeds from step 154 or 156 to step 159, to set the deactivation timer based on the set time data (Toff) added to the drying operation command transmitted by the remote control unit 30. That is, the control first resets the The preceding operation of the on timer TM2 (in step 159), stores the transmitted set time Toff of the deactivation timer (in step 160) and begins the new operation of the deactivation timer TM2 (in step 161). Next, the control proceeds to the actual operation processing of step 170 shown in Fig. 24.

In step 150, if the drying operation command is absent, the control checks whether the operation is in the automatic control operation (in step 162), if the answer is YES, the control reads the atmospheric temperature To and the temperature Ta environment (in step 163). The control checks whether Ta> 23 ° C (in step 164). If Ta> 23 ° C, the control sets the operating mode to automatic cooling, sets and stores Ts = 23 ° C ΔΤ (in phase 165) and carries out phases 170 and following shown in Fig. 24. If Ta <23 ° C (in phase 164, the control checks if To (atmospheric temperature) <17 ° C (in phase 166). If To ≤ 17 ° C, the control sets the operating mode to automatic heating, sets and stores TS = 23 ° C ΔΤ (in step 167) and performs steps 170 and later shown in Fig. 24. Also if To> 17 ° C (in step 166), the control continues monitoring and performs steps 170 and later shown in Fig. 24 even if not in automatic control. In Fig. 24, the control reads the ambient temperature Ta and the ambient humidity Ha (in phase 170) and checks the operating mode (in phase 171). automatic heating, the control proceeds to step 175; if drying heating is present, the check proceeds to step 181; if drying air flow is present, the check proceeds to step 184; if automatic control is present, the control proceeds to step 185; and if drying cooling is present, the control proceeds to step 186, as shown in Fig. 25, respectively. Furthermore, these processing routines have already been explained with reference to Figs. 12 to 14.

In the case of automatic cooling and ordinary cooling, the control checks whether Ta ≥ Ts with respect to the ambient temperature (in step 172). If Ta ≥ Ts, the control issues commands to activate compressor 1 by deactivating the four-way valve 2 (cooling), adjusting the room fan 7 as decided and fixing the louver 8 in the horizontal direction (in step 174) and performs steps 193 and later shown in Fig. 26.

In the case of ordinary heating, the control checks whether Ha (ambient humidity) ≥ Hs (fixed humidity) (in step 175). If Ha ≥ Hs, the control issues a command to deactivate the humidifier (in step 176). If Ha <Hs, the control issues a command to activate the humidifier (in step 177) and also checks whether Ta <Ts (in step 178). Here, if Ta ≤ Ts, the control issues command to activate compressor 1, activate four-way valve 2 (heating), fix fan 7 in the room as decided, and adjust louver 8 in the downward direction so that oblique or downward (in step 179). Also, if Ta> Ts, the control issues commands to deactivate compressor 1, activate four-way valve 2 (heating), deactivate room fan 7 and adjust louver 8 in the downward direction at an angle or downwards (in step 180) and performs steps 193 and subsequent shown in Fig. 26 In the case of heating and drying, the control checks whether the ambient temperature Ta is below 28 ° C (in step 181). If Ta ≤ 28 ° C, the control issues commands to activate compressor 1, activate four-way valve 2 (heating), adjust room fan 7 to H (high), and adjust louver 8 in the direction towards down obliquely (in step 182) and performs steps 193 and later as shown in Fig. 26. If Ta> 28 ° C in step 181, the control issues commands to deactivate compressor 1, activate valve 2 four-way, (cooling), adjust the room fan 7 to H (high) and adjust the louver 8 in the downward direction obliquely in step 183) and perform steps 193 and following shown in Fig. 26 .

In the case of drying air flow, the control issues commands to deactivate compressor 1, deactivate four-way valve 2 (cooling), adjust room fan 7 to H (high) and adjust louver 8 in the direction down obliquely (in step 184) and performs steps 193 and following shown in Fig. 26.

If this is the case with automatic control, the control issues commands to deactivate compressor 1, deactivate four-way valve 2 (cooling), set room fan 7 to UL (ultra low) and adjust louver 8 in the horizontal direction (in step 185) and performs steps 193 and subsequent shown in Fig. 26 In the case of drying cooling, as shown in Fig. 25, the control checks whether Ta (ambient temperature) ≥ 22 ° C (in step 186). If Ta> 22 ° C, the control checks if Ha (ambient humidity)> 80% (in step 187). If Ha ≥ 80%, the control issues commands to activate compressor 1, deactivate the four-way valve 2 (cooling), adjust the room fan 7 to M (medium) and adjust the louver 8 in the horizontal direction (in the step 188), and performs steps 193 and subsequent shown in Fig. 26. If Ta <22 ° C (in step 186) or if Ha <80% (in step 187), the control checks whether Ha (ambient humidity) ≥ 80% (in step 187), the control issues commands to deactivate compressor 1, deactivate four-way valve 2 (cooling), adjust room fan 7 to H (high) and adjust louver 8 in the direction towards the bass obliquely (in step 189) and also checks the S2 indicator (in step 190). If S2 = 1, the control issues a command to activate the swing or swing of the louver (in step 191) and if S2 = 0 the control issues a command to disable the swing or swing of the louver (in step 191) 194) and if S141, that is, S1 = 1, the control issues a command to activate the oscillation of the room fan 7 (in step 195), completing a series of routines.

Steps 190 to 195 shown in Figs. 25 and 26 relate to the swing operation of the louver. Steps 193 to 195 are a routine for deciding whether the swing or swing of the lower louver is activated or deactivated under the operating condition other than stopping the compressor in drying cooling. The louver swing or swing is decided on the basis of the louver swing or swing indicator S1. Here, if a swing or swing operation of the louver is not designated by the remote control unit, in the case of ordinary or automatic heating, ordinary or automatic cooling and compressor operation for automatic control and drying cooling, since the louver swing or swing indicator S1 is set to "0" in the previous step, the louver is fixed in the non swing or swing condition. Also, in drying heating and drying air flow, since the louver swing operation indicator S1 is set to "1" in the previous step, the louver is swung or pivoted within a range determined in the oblique downward direction, as set in steps 182 to 194 in Fig. 24. On the other hand, steps 190 to 192 are a routine for deciding whether to swing or tilt the louver it is enabled or disabled in the drying cooling compressor operation. The swing or swing of the louver is decided on the basis of the swing or swing indicator S2 of the louver. Here, if the louver swing operation is not designated by the remote control unit, as the louver swing indicator S2 is set to "1" in the step before the louver is swung or pivoted within a predetermined range in the downward direction in an oblique manner, as set in step 189 in Fig. 25.

The direction of swing or pan at the respective operation will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The louver is fixed to direction a (approximately horizontal parallel to the floor) in automatic ordinary cooling, automatic control and operation. of compressor in drying cooling. The louver is fixed in direction b (downward by an angle θ1 = 40 to 60 ° (preferably 50 °) in direction a) in ordinary or automatic heating. The louver is fixed in direction c (down by an angle θ2 = 30 to 40 ° (preferably 35 °) in direction a) in ordinary heating, drying air flow and compressor stop in cooling drying.

The reason that direction b is slightly different from direction c is as follows: In the case of urinary or automatic heating (direction b), since the user is usually closer to the floor than the laundry is, the heated air is directed against the lower position in the room to improve the temperature conditions for the user.

Fig. 27 shows the drying speed of the dried laundry by the drying operation control method according to the present invention, in which the air flow operation mode is shown by the full line and the cooling operation mode is shown by a dashed line. The operating conditions for obtaining the data shown in Fig. 27 are as follows:

(1) the amount of air: H (high)

(2) the direction of the louver: fixed to the laundry 26 In both modes of operation, the ambient temperature Ta and the ambient humidity Ha are both fixed to the same values at the beginning of the operation. Fig. 27 indicates that even in the case of the airflow operation, when the amount of air is determined to be large and the direction of the louver 8 is adjusted so that air is well directed against the laundry 6, laundry can be dried more effectively than in the cooling operation. Here, the percentage drying rate can be defined as follows.

Drying speed = 100 x (amount of moisture evaporated from the laundry) ÷ (amount of moisture absorbed in the laundry at the start of the drying operation)

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 28. In this embodiment, when the drying command is issued from the remote control unit 30, the ambient temperature Ta and humidity are detected. Has; the operating mode is selected on the basis of the revealed results; and furthermore the drying operation is controlled by controlling the operation and the operating frequency of the compressor. In this embodiment, if Ta> 22 ° C, the cooling operation is maintained, and furthermore the compressor is operated at a higher frequency when the humidity is relatively large and at a lower frequency when relatively low. Furthermore, the compressor is stopped when the humidity reaches a fixed and predetermined value (for example, Ha <30%). After the temperature Ta is lowered from the cooling zone and reaches the range of 22 ° C ≥ Ta> 20 ° C, the operation is fixed to the air flow only. When the ambient temperature Ta falls below Ta <20 ° C, the compressor is driven to heat at a constant speed (M). Also, when the ambient temperature increases from the region of Ta ≤ 20 ° C to the region of Ta> 20 ° C, the cooling operation is started without running the airflow operation mode, then the operating frequency (Hz) of the compressor is controlled in accordance with the humidity Ha. As shown approximately in Fig. 25, the operating frequency of the compressor is controlled in such a way that if Ha> 70%, the frequency is set at maximum; if Ha> 70%, the frequency is stopped; and if 30% <Ha ≤ 70%, the frequency is stepped in 10% increments based on the humidity Ha. In this embodiment, the operation mode of the drying operation (after the drying operation command is issued) changes according to the ambient temperature and ambient humidity. In compressor operation at the cooling zone, the louver is held in the horizontal direction and swung or swiveled in the downward direction obliquely at the compressor stop (Ha <30%). In addition, in the airflow zone and in the heating zone, the louver is swung or swiveled in the downward direction at an angle.

Fig. 29 shows the laundry drying conditions just after washing (drying speed: 0%), which are obtained when the drying and cooling operation is performed according to the mode as shown in Fig. 28. In this case, the initial conditions are that the ambient temperature Ta = 27 ° C and the humidity = 70% in the cooling zone (Ta> 22 ° C or Ta> 20 ° C). Fig. 29 indicates that the drying speed reaches 50% approximately 30 minutes after the start of the operation and 100% 1.5 hours after the start. As described above, when the rotational speed (frequency) of the compressor is additionally controlled according to the ambient humidity, it is possible to dry the laundry with further efficiency.

Claims (22)

R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1. Drying operation control method of an air conditioner equipped with an indoor unit including an indoor fan and an outdoor unit including a compressor, so that the laundry hanging in a room can be dried on the basis of a command transmitted by an operation section, wherein when a drying operation mode is selected at an air conditioner start, any of the cooling and strong airflow operation modes are automatically selected based on the ambient temperature and atmospheric temperature. 2. Process of controlling the drying operation of an air conditioner equipped with an indoor unit including an indoor fan and an outdoor unit including a compressor, so that the laundry hanging in a room can be dried on the base of a command transmitted by an operation section, wherein when a drying operation mode is selected at a start of the air conditioner, any of the heating and strong airflow operation modes are automatically selected based on the ambient temperature and atmospheric temperature. 3. Drying operation control method of an air conditioner equipped with an indoor unit including an indoor fan and an outdoor unit including a compressor, so that the laundry hanging in a room can be dried on the basis of a command transmitted by an operation section, wherein when a drying operation mode is selected at a start of the air conditioner, any of the cooling, heating and strong airflow operation modes are automatically selected based on the ambient temperature and atmospheric temperature. 4. Process of controlling the drying operation of an air conditioner equipped with an indoor unit including an indoor fan and an outdoor unit including a compressor, so that the laundry hanging in a room can be dried on the base of a command transmitted by an operation section in which when a drying operation mode is selected during a heating or cooling operation mode, a mode for the drying operation is decided based on a previous operation mode. 5. Drying operation control process of an air conditioner equipped with an internal fan and a compressor, so that the laundry hanging in a room can be dried based on a command sent by the operating section by selecting a mode of cooling operation or airflow, in which an airflow direction of the indoor unit is controlled approximately horizontally in the cooling operation mode and obliquely downwards in the airflow operation mode. The method of claim 5, wherein the airflow direction is controlled to be swung or swiveled within a predetermined obliquely downward range in the airflow operation mode. 7. Drying operation control method of an air conditioner equipped with an indoor unit including an indoor fan and an outdoor unit including a compressor, so that the laundry hanging in a room can be dried on the basis of a command transmitted by an operation section, in which the air conditioner is operated in a heating operation mode to dry the laundry and the air flow direction of the indoor unit is controlled obliquely downward. The method of claim 7, wherein the direction of the air flow is controlled to be swung or swiveled within a predetermined range obliquely downward in the heating operation mode. 9. Drying operation control method of an air conditioner equipped with an internal fan and compressor, so that the hanging laundry in a room can be dried, wherein the heating operation in a mode of drying operation and heating operation in the ordinary operation mode can be switched; the direction of the air flow is controlled obliquely downward during the heating operation in the drying operation mode and during the heating operation in the ordinary operation mode; and the direction of the standard air flow during the heating operation in the drying operation mode is determined more upward than during the heating operation in the ordinary operation mode. 10. Process of controlling the drying operation of an air conditioner equipped with an indoor unit including an indoor fan and an outdoor unit including a compressor, so that the laundry hanging in a room can be dried on the base of a command transmitted by the operation section, wherein the air conditioner is set to cooling operation mode or airflow operation mode for drying the laundry; and the amount of air in the airflow mode is determined to be larger than that in the cooling operation mode. 11. Drying operation control method of an air conditioner equipped with an indoor unit including an indoor fan and an outdoor unit including a compressor, so that the laundry hanging in a room can be dried on the basis of a command transmitted by an operating section, in which the air conditioner is fixed to the cooling operation mode to dry the laundry; and when the compressor stops during the cooling operation because the room temperature reaches a fixed temperature, the air conditioner is fixed to the airflow operation. 12. Drying operation control method of an air conditioner equipped with an indoor unit including an indoor fan and an outdoor unit including a compressor, so that the laundry hanging in a room can be dried on the basis of a command transmitted by an operating section, in which the air conditioner is operated in the cooling operation mode to dry the laundry; and when the ambient humidity falls below a predetermined value in the cooling operation mode for drying the laundry, the compressor is stopped and the air conditioner is set to airflow operation. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein in the air flow operation, the direction of air flow is controlled obliquely downward. A method according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the direction of air flow is controlled to be swung or swiveled within a predetermined range in the air flow operation. Method according to any one of claims 6, 8 and 14, wherein the operation of oscillating or swiveling of the direction of air flow is stopped manually. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the amount of air flow in the air flow operation is determined to be larger than that of the compressor operation. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the air flow direction is horizontally fixed during compressor operation in the cooling mode. 18. Process of controlling the drying operation of an air conditioner equipped with an indoor unit including an indoor fan and an outdoor unit including a compressor, so that the laundry hanging in a room can be dried on the base of a command transmitted by an operating section, a humidifier being controlled on the basis of comparison results between the ambient humidity and a fixed humidity in the heating operation, in which when the drying operation is selected, the humidifier is deactivated, regardless of ambient humidity. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4 and 9, wherein an end time of the drying operation mode can be controlled based on the change in ambient humidity. Method according to any of claims 5, 7, 10 to 12 and 18, wherein an ordinary operation mode is provided other than the drying operation mode and the ordinary operation mode can be switched to the drying operation mode or vice versa by manual operation. Method according to claim 9 or 20, wherein when the ordinary operation mode is switched to the drying operation mode, a timer for stopping the operation can be set automatically in connection with the start of the drying operation mode . A method according to claim 21, wherein the set time of the timer can be changed manually.