JP2000171081A - Air-conditioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption while a system is at halt by performing the energy-saving control of outdoor and indoor machines and a remote controller during system stop where all indoor machines are at halt. SOLUTION: In a controlling device 13 of an outdoor machine 11, when entire indoor machines 12A, 12B, and 12C are at halt, the indoor machines 12A, 12B, and 12C including the outdoor machine 11 and remote controllers 16 and 17 are subjected to energy-saving control. In the energy-saving control, entire serial communication is stopped by the controlling device 13 of the outdoor machine 11, where the serial communication is made between the controlling device 13 of the outdoor machine 11 and controlling devices 14A, 14B, and 14C of the indoor machines 12A, 12B, and 12C, the controlling device 14A of the indoor machine 12A and a controlling device 18 of the remote controller 16, and the controlling devices 14B and 14C of the indoor machines 12B and 12C and a controlling device 19 of the remote controller 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner in which communication is performed between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit and between an indoor unit and a remote controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some air conditioners always perform serial communication between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, and between an indoor unit and a remote controller.

[0003]

However, the serial communication described above is in a state of execution even when the system is stopped in which all the indoor units are stopped. For this reason, outdoor units,
The communication devices of the indoor unit and the remote controller and the CPU (central processing unit) of the control device require the same power consumption as during system operation even when the system is stopped.

[0004] The outdoor unit and the indoor unit include a device that is kept ON even when the system is stopped, for example, a solenoid valve. Therefore, even in this case, the power consumption cannot be reduced while the system is stopped.

An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of reducing power consumption while the system is stopped.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioner, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are communicable with each other, and the indoor unit and the remote controller are communicable with each other. The system is characterized in that the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, and the remote controller perform energy saving control during a system stop in which all of the indoor units are stopped.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the energy-saving control means that a control device of the outdoor unit performs a periodical communication between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit and a remote control between the indoor unit and the remote unit. It is characterized in that periodic communication with the controller is stopped.

[0008] The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the invention described in the above, the energy saving control means that the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, or the remote controller sets the CPU in each control device to a sleep mode in which the arithmetic processing is stopped, and stops the devices disposed therein. It is characterized by that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the CPU in the control device of each of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit controls the outdoor unit even during execution of the energy saving control. The apparatus is characterized in that when it is necessary to stop the device or each of the indoor units, the device returns to an activated state to stop the device.

The first to third aspects of the present invention have the following effects.

[0011] Since the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, and the remote controller perform energy saving control during a system stop in which all the indoor units are stopped, these outdoor units,
The power required for the communication device of the indoor unit and the remote controller, the CPU of the control device, and other devices can be reduced, and the power consumption when the system is stopped can be reduced.

The invention described in claim 4 has the following operation.

The CPU in the control unit of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit returns to the starting state when it is necessary to stop each device of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit even during the execution of the energy-saving control. , The devices of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit can be stopped at an optimum time regardless of the timing of performing the energy saving control, and the power supply to these devices can be cut off. At the same time, the CPU in the control unit of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit can be kept in the state of executing the energy saving control without being activated until the device is stopped, so that the power consumption of the CPU during this period can be reduced.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 10
Is, for example, one outdoor unit 11 and three indoor units 12A,
12B and 12C are connected by a refrigerant pipe (not shown).

Also, a control device 13 for the outdoor unit 11 and respective control devices 14A, 14A, for the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C.
14B and 14C are connected via a communication line 15 to enable serial communication. Further, the controller 14 of the indoor unit 12A
A is controlled by the control device 18 of the remote controller 16.
Further, the control device 14B of the indoor unit 12B and the control device 14C of the indoor unit 12C are configured to be capable of serial communication using infrared light or the like by the control device 19 of the remote controller 17.

The control unit 13 for the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 12
Control devices 14A, 14A of A, 12B, 12C
B, 14C, the controller 14A of the indoor unit 12A and the controller 1 of the remote controller 16.
8 and the serial communication between the control devices 14B and 14C of the indoor units 12B and 12C and the control device 19 of the remote controller 17, respectively, all of the indoor units 12A, 12B and 12C operate. It is always executed during the system operation of the air conditioner 10 in the state.

When all of the indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C are in a stopped state, the control unit 13 of the outdoor unit 11 includes the indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C and the remote controller 16 (including the outdoor unit 11). And 17 execute energy saving control. Further, when the energy saving control release signal is transmitted from the remote controllers 16 and 17 via the indoor units 12A, 12B and 12C, the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 includes the indoor units 12A and 12B including the outdoor unit 11. And 12C and the energy saving controls of the remote controllers 16 and 17 are released.

As the above energy saving control, first,
The control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 is different from the control device 1 of the outdoor unit 11.
Communication between the control unit 3 and the control units 14A, 14B, 14C of the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C, the indoor unit 1
Serial communication between the control device 14A of the 2A and the control device 18 of the remote controller 16, the indoor units 12B and 12
This is to stop all serial communication between the control devices 14B and 14C of C and the control device 19 of the remote controller 17. Second, as the energy saving control, the control unit 13 of the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 12
Control devices 14A, 14A of A, 12B, 12C
B, 14C, control device 1 of remote controller 16
8. The control device 19 of the remote controller 17 sets its own CPU (central processing unit) to the sleep mode. Here, the sleep mode is the CP
This is a mode in which U stops execution of arithmetic processing while making the register function, thereby reducing power consumption of the CPU.

Third, the energy saving control is as follows.
This is to stop or turn off various devices provided in the outdoor unit 11, the indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C, and the remote controllers 16 and 17. However, the outdoor unit 11
In the indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C, there is a device that causes a malfunction if it is immediately stopped or turned off when the energy saving control is performed. For example, in the four-way valve (not shown) in the outdoor unit 11, when the four-way valve is operated after the compressor is stopped and the pressure of the refrigerant in the high-pressure pipe and the low-pressure pipe is not balanced, an extremely loud noise is generated. Therefore, it is necessary to turn off the four-way valve when the refrigerant pressures are balanced (about one hour after the compressor is stopped).

Therefore, the CPU of the control unit 13 of the outdoor unit 11 and the CPUs of the control units 14A, 14B, 14C of the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C turn off the four-way valve even during the energy saving control. When it is time to stop or turn off the internal devices, such as when operating the device, the device returns to the starting state and stops or turns off the internal devices. For example, in the case of the four-way valve, the CPU of the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11
The timer counts from the time when the compressor is stopped after the energy saving control is executed, and after one hour, the sleep mode of the energy saving control is activated and the four-way valve is turned off.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the execution and cancellation of the energy saving control performed by the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 will be described.

(1) Implementation of Energy Saving Control As shown in FIG. 2A, the control unit 13 of the outdoor unit 11
(Actually, the CPU of the control device 13) includes the indoor unit 12A,
It is determined whether the number of operating units 12B and 12C is zero. (S10). When the number of operating indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C is zero, the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11
Control device 1 for each of indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C
An energy-saving control start signal is transmitted to 4A, 14B, and 14C by serial communication (S11).

Next, the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 is controlled by the respective control devices 14 of the indoor units 12A, 12B and 12C.
It is confirmed whether or not the reception OK signal of the energy saving control start signal has been received from A, 14B and 14C (S1).
2). The control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 includes the indoor units 12A, 1
If the reception OK signal of the energy saving control start signal has not been received from each of the control devices 14A, 14B, 14C of 2B, 12C, step S11 is executed again, and if it has been received, the energy saving control of the outdoor unit 11 is performed ( S13).

As shown in FIG. 3A, the indoor units 12A,
Control devices 14A, 14B of 12B, 12C,
14C is the outdoor unit 11 performed in step S11.
It is determined whether or not the energy saving control start signal from the control device 13 has been received (S20). Indoor unit 12A, 1
The control devices 14A, 14B, 1
When receiving the energy saving control start signal from the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11, the 4C returns a reception OK signal to the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 (S21). Subsequently, the control unit 14A of the indoor unit 12A sends the control unit 18 of the remote controller 16 to the indoor unit 12B, 12C.
Each of the control devices 14B and 14C transmits an energy saving control start signal to the control device 19 of the remote controller 17 (S22).

The control units 14A, 14B, 14C of the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C are respectively connected to the control units 1 and 17 of the corresponding remote controllers 16 and 17.
It is confirmed from step 9 whether or not the reception OK signal of the energy saving control start signal has been received (S23). Indoor units 12A, 12
Each of the control devices 14A, 14B, and 14C of B and 12C executes step S22 again when the reception OK signal is not received, and executes the indoor unit 12 when the reception OK signal is received.
A, 12B, and 12C start the energy saving control (S
24).

As shown in FIG. 4A, the control device 18 of the remote controller 16 is the control device 1 of the indoor unit 12A.
4A and the control device 1 of the remote controller 17
9 confirms whether or not the energy saving control start signal performed in step S22 is received from the control devices 14B and 14C of the indoor units 12B and 12C, respectively (S3).
0). When the control device 18 of the remote controller 16 and the control device 19 of the remote controller 17 each receive the energy saving control start signal, the control device 14A, 14C of the corresponding indoor unit 12A, 12B, 12C respectively.
B, and returns a reception OK signal to 14C (S31), and subsequently starts the energy saving control of the remote controllers 16 and 17 (S32).

As described above, the indoor units 12A and 12B
When it is confirmed by the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 that all of the outdoor units 11 and 12C are in the stopped state, the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 transmits the outdoor unit 11, the indoor units 12A, 12B and 12C, and the remote controller 16 And 17 execute energy saving control, that is, stop the serial communication described above, and control the controller 13 of the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 1.
2A, 12B, and 12C control devices 14A, 14B, 1
4C, each control device 1 of the remote controllers 16 and 17
Each of the CPUs 8 and 19 is set to the sleep mode, and the outdoor unit 11, the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C,
The internal devices of the remote controllers 16 and 17 (except those that stop after a predetermined time has elapsed after the execution of the energy saving control) are stopped or turned off.

(2) Cancellation of Energy Saving Control As shown in FIG. 4B, the control device 18 of the remote controller 16 and the control device 1 of the remote controller 17
No. 9 confirms whether or not the operation button of the remote controllers 16 and 17 has been operated (S40). When the operation button is operated, the control device 18 of the remote controller 16 having the operated operation button or the control device 19 of the remote controller 17 controls each of the control devices 14A of the corresponding indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C. 14B,
14C transmits an energy saving control release signal (S4).
1).

Next, the control devices 18 and 19 of the remote controllers 16 and 17 which have transmitted the energy saving control release signal are transmitted to the corresponding indoor units 12A and 12B, respectively.
It is determined whether or not the reception OK signal of the energy saving control release signal has been transmitted from each of the control devices 14A, 14B, and 14C of 12C (S42). The control device 18 of the remote controller 16 that has transmitted the energy saving control release signal,
When the control unit 19 of the remote controller 17 does not return the reception OK signal, the control unit 19 proceeds to step S41.
Is transmitted again, and if it has been done, the process ends.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the indoor units 12A,
Control devices 14A, 14B of 12B, 12C,
14C is a control device 18 of the remote controller 16,
It is confirmed whether or not the energy saving control release signal performed in step S41 has been received from at least one of the control devices 19 of the remote controller 17 (S50). Each of the control devices 14A, 14B, and 14C of the indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C that have received the energy saving control release signal from the remote controllers 16 and 17 transmits an energy saving control release signal reception OK signal when receiving the energy saving control release signal. , The control devices 18 and 1 of the remote controllers 16 and 17 that have transmitted the energy saving control release signal.
9 is returned (S51).

Subsequently, the remote controllers 16, 1
Indoor unit 12 that has received the energy saving control release signal from
Control devices 14A, 14B, 14 of A, 12B, 12C
C transmits an energy saving control release signal to the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 (S52). Each of the indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C that transmitted the energy saving control release signal 14,
14B and 14C confirm whether or not the reception OK signal of the energy saving control release signal is returned from the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 (S53). Each control device 1 of the indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C that transmitted the energy saving control release signal
4A, 14B, and 14C execute step S52 again when the reception OK signal cannot be confirmed, and terminate when the reception OK signal can be confirmed (S53).

As shown in FIG. 2B, the controller 13 of the outdoor unit 11 checks whether or not any serial communication has been performed from the respective controllers 14A, 14B, 14C of the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C. A determination is made (S60). When there is any serial communication, the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 determines whether or not this is an energy saving control release signal (S61).

The control unit 13 of the outdoor unit 11
Control devices 14A, 14B, 14 of A, 12B, 12C
When it is determined that the energy saving control release signal has been transmitted from C, the indoor units 12A, 12B,
At the same time as transmitting the reception OK signal of the energy saving control release signal to each of the control devices 14A, 14B, and 14C of 12C,
Each control device 14 of all indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C
An energy saving control release signal is transmitted to A, 14B, and 14C (S62).

The control unit 13 of the outdoor unit 11
Control devices 14A, 14B, 14 of A, 12B, 12C
It is determined whether or not all of C have received the energy saving control cancellation signal performed in step S62 (S63). The control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 includes the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12
When at least one of the control devices 14A, 14B, and 14C of C does not receive the energy saving control release signal, step S62 is executed again, and the indoor units 12A, 12A
When all of the control devices 14A, 14B, and 14C of B and 12C receive the energy saving control release signal, the outdoor unit 1
The first energy saving control is canceled (S64).

Thus, the control unit 1 of the outdoor unit 11
3 indicates that the outdoor unit 1 is operated when the operation button of at least one of the remote controllers 16 and 17 is operated.
1. The energy saving control of the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C and the remote controllers 16 and 17 is canceled, that is, the serial communication is performed, and the control unit 13 of the outdoor unit 11 and each of the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C Control devices 14A, 14B, 14C, remote controller 16,
CPU in each of the 17 control devices 18 and 19
From the sleep mode to the activation state, the outdoor unit 11, the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C, the remote controller 1
The internal devices 6 and 17 are operated or turned on.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects and advantages can be obtained.

Since the outdoor unit 11, the indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C, and the remote controllers 16 and 17 perform energy saving control during the system stoppage in which all of the indoor units 12A, 12B, and 12C are in a stopped state. Outdoor unit 11, indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C, communication devices in remote controllers 16 and 17, control device 1
3, 14A, 14B, 14C, 18 and 19 CPUs,
In addition, the power required for various other devices is reduced, and power consumption during system suspension can be reduced.

The control unit 13 of the outdoor unit 11 or the indoor unit 1
2A, 12B, and 12C control devices 14A, 14B, 1
The CPU in 4C keeps the outdoor unit 11 or the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C even during the execution of the energy saving control.
At the time when it is necessary to stop each device (for example, a four-way valve), the device returns to the starting state from the sleep mode of the energy saving control and stops the device. Therefore, these outdoor units 11 or indoor units 12A and 12B , And 12C are stopped at the optimal time (for example, in the case of the above four-way valve, about one hour after the start of the energy saving control) regardless of the timing of the energy saving control, and the power supply to these devices is cut off. Can be done. At the same time, the controller 13 of the outdoor unit 11 or the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C
Of each of the control devices 14A, 14B, and 14C can be maintained in an energy-saving control execution state (sleep mode) without being activated until the device is stopped. Can be reduced.

Although the present invention has been described based on one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the four-way valve of the outdoor unit 11 is described as the device that continues the operation state or the ON operation state even after the start of the energy saving control.
Similarly, in the case of the save valve and the control valve of the compressor unit, the capacity of which can be changed stepwise, after the refrigerant pressures before and after these valves are balanced, the CPU of the control device 13 of the outdoor unit 11 is similarly set to the sleep mode. From the start state,
These valves may be turned off. Here, in the compressor unit, for example, one of the two compressors connects two cylinders via a bypass passage provided with a control valve to realize 100% capacity operation. A low-speed compressor whose capacity cannot be controlled by another compressor can be combined with both compressors and an external save valve so that the capacity can be changed step by step in units of one horsepower.

Further, with respect to the expansion valve and the bypass valve, the CPU in the control unit 13 of the outdoor unit 11 and each of the indoor units 12A, 12B, 12C are controlled after the refrigerant pressures before and after these valves are balanced in the energy saving control. The CPUs of the control devices 14A, 14B, and 14C are set to the activation state from the sleep mode, and these valves are similarly turned off.
It may be operated.

[0044]

As described above, according to the air conditioner of the present invention, the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, and the remote controller perform the energy saving control while the system in which all the indoor units are stopped is stopped. Therefore, power consumption during the system stoppage can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a case (A) and a case (B) of exiting from the energy saving control performed by the outdoor unit control device of FIG. 1, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a case (A) and a case (B) of exiting from the energy saving control performed by the indoor unit control device of FIG. 1, respectively.

4 is a flowchart showing a case (A) and a case (B) of exiting from the energy saving control performed by the control device of the remote controller of FIG. 1, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Air conditioner 11 Outdoor unit 12A, 12B, 12C Indoor unit 13 Control unit 14A, 14B, 14C Control unit 15 Communication line 16 Remote controller 17 Remote controller 18 Control unit 19 Control unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] An air conditioner configured to be able to communicate between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, and between the indoor unit and a remote controller, wherein the system is in a stopped state in which all of the indoor units are stopped. ,
The air conditioner, wherein the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, and the remote controller perform energy saving control. 2. The energy saving control according to claim 1, wherein the control unit of the outdoor unit stops periodic communication between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit and periodic communication between the indoor unit and the remote controller. The air conditioner according to claim 1. 3. The energy saving control according to claim 1, wherein the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, or the remote controller causes the CPU of each control device to be in a sleep mode in which arithmetic processing is stopped, and to stop devices provided therein. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The CPU in the control device of each of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is set to a start state when it is necessary to stop each device of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit even during execution of the energy saving control. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air conditioner is restarted to stop the device.