JP2000205627A - Waiting operation controller for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waiting operation controller performing preheat operation of a compressor by detecting the room temperature without increasing power consumption during waiting time and effecting open-phase conduction of the compressor when a low outdoor air temperature is detected. SOLUTION: In an inverter system air conditioner comprising a conduction controller 3 effecting open-phase conduction of a compressor 2 at a constant period when an outdoor air temperature detecting means 1 in an outdoor unit detects the outdoor air temperature lower than a specified level during waiting time, temperature switch 11 provided in the outdoor unit is connected in series with an indoor/outdoor communication circuit 5 comprising a series circuit of an indoor transmitter 7, an indoor receiver 8, an indoor/outdoor transmitter 9, and an indoor/outdoor receiver 10 and the power supply for the indoor/ outdoor communication circuit 5 is provided on the indoor unit side. During waiting time, presence of a signal in the indoor receiver 8 is detected by delivering a signal constantly from the indoor transmitter 7. When the temperature switch is opened and a receiving signal is not present, a conduction switching means 6 is turned on to conduct the conduction controller 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inverter type air conditioner having an energization control device for controlling open-phase energization to an outdoor unit compressor during standby, and to energization of the energization control device for the outdoor unit. The present invention relates to a standby operation control device for controlling the operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an inverter type air conditioner, when the air conditioner is on standby, the air conditioner is in standby mode in order to improve the heating start-up characteristics when the outdoor temperature is low and to improve the reliability of the compressor. A control (hereinafter, referred to as standby control) for energizing any two of the three phases (open-phase energization) and warming the compressor in advance has been used. In this control, the compressor can be heated by the supplied current without rotating the compressor by selecting the period of the supplied pulse and the current value to the compressor.

FIG. 4 shows an electric circuit diagram of a conventional example. The outdoor unit has an outdoor air temperature detecting means 1, an output thereof, an outdoor heat exchanger temperature, a communication signal from the indoor (not shown), and the like, and an energization control for appropriately providing an optimal drive signal to the compressor 2. The indoor unit is provided with an indoor control device. The energization control device 3 and the indoor control device 4 transmit and receive control signals by the indoor / outdoor communication circuit 5, and do not transmit a control signal from the indoor control device 4 during standby, or transmit a signal indicating standby. Thus, the outdoor power supply control device 3 can determine the standby state. Therefore, in the standby state, if the outdoor temperature detecting means 1 detects a temperature lower than a certain temperature, the energization control device 3 performs a standby control.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, it is necessary to always supply power to the outdoor unit in order to detect the outdoor air temperature, and the outdoor control device consumes power even during standby. The problem of consuming about 3 to 4 W of power occurs. In order to reduce the power consumption during standby, the indoor unit is provided with a relay for turning ON / OFF the energization to the outdoor, and for example, the outdoor energization selection switch provided in the indoor unit switches the outdoor energization as needed by the user. Although a method may be adopted, when it is necessary to heat the compressor during standby, the user does not always select to turn on the outdoor power supply, There have been problems such as a slow start-up of the heating operation, shortening of the life of the compressor, and destruction of the compressor.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and detects an outdoor temperature without increasing power consumption during standby, and can perform standby control at low outdoor temperature. It is an object of the present invention to provide a standby operation control device.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has an outdoor unit having outdoor temperature detecting means for detecting that the outdoor temperature has become lower than a predetermined temperature when the air conditioner is on standby. In an inverter type air conditioner equipped with an energization control device that energizes the compressor for open-phase energization at a constant cycle, the indoor unit is provided with energization switching means for controlling energization to the outdoor unit,
During standby, the energization switching means is turned on for a short period of time at regular intervals to energize the energization control device of the outdoor unit to enable the outdoor temperature detection function, and the energization control device determines that the outdoor air temperature is below a certain temperature. When this is detected, the indoor energization switching means is always turned on.

[0007] With this configuration, the outdoor unit can be energized at regular time intervals and the outdoor air temperature can be detected by the energization control device, so that the outdoor air temperature can be detected with low power consumption. When a low outside air temperature is detected, the standby control can be performed by turning on the power supply switching means provided in the indoor unit and supplying power to the power supply control device, thereby improving the heating start-up characteristic and improving the reliability of the compressor. Can be improved.

In the above-mentioned structure, the outdoor unit is provided with a temperature switch that detects an under-temperature level and detects an open circuit, and a circuit is provided for supplying current from the indoor unit to the temperature switch. A current detection device for detecting the presence / absence is provided, and when the circuit current is detected to be equal to or less than a predetermined value, the power supply switching means for controlling the power supply to the outdoor unit is turned on.

With this configuration, the outdoor temperature can be detected without repeatedly turning on / off the power supply switching means for controlling the power supply to the outdoor unit, so that the life of the power supply switching means can be prevented from being shortened and the temperature switch can be prevented. However, since the presence or absence of a circuit current can be detected even if the current flowing through the device is small, the outdoor temperature can be detected with low power consumption and standby control can be performed.

The temperature switch provided in the outdoor unit is configured in series with an indoor / outdoor communication circuit including a series circuit of an indoor transmission device, an indoor reception device, an outdoor transmission device, and an outdoor reception device,
A power supply for the indoor / outdoor communication circuit is provided on the indoor unit side, and during standby, a signal is constantly output from the indoor transmitting device to detect the presence / absence of a signal at the indoor receiving device. In this configuration, the power supply switching means for controlling the power supply is turned on.

According to this configuration, since it can be shared with an existing circuit without adding an outdoor temperature detecting circuit, the cost can be reduced and the number of electric wires connecting the indoor and the outdoor does not increase, and low power consumption can be achieved. Standby control can be performed by detecting the outdoor temperature, so that the heating start-up characteristics can be improved and the reliability of the compressor can be improved.

[0012] Further, in the standby mode, a signal from the indoor transmitter is output for a short time at regular intervals.

With this configuration, it is possible to further reduce the power consumption when the outdoor temperature is detected.

[0014]

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

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows an electric circuit of a standby operation control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The same components as those in the conventional example of FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 1, 1 is an outdoor temperature detecting means, 2 is a compressor, and 3 is a communication control device, each of which is provided in the outdoor unit. Reference numeral 4 denotes an indoor control device, and reference numeral 6 denotes an energization switching unit, which is provided in the indoor unit. An indoor / outdoor communication circuit 5 electrically connects the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. The communication control device 3 detects the output of the outdoor air temperature detecting means 1 and the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, a communication signal from the indoor unit and the like (neither is shown), and gives an optimal drive signal to the compressor 2 as appropriate. The indoor control device 4 receives the user's operation selection information from, for example, a remote controller (not shown) and controls various functions of the indoor unit and controls the energization control device 3 of the outdoor unit via the indoor / outdoor communication circuit 5. The outdoor unit is controlled by transmitting and receiving signals, and the energization switching means 6 provided in the indoor unit is controlled.

First, the indoor control device 4 recognizes that it is in the standby state because it has not received the operation selection information from the user. In this case, the energization switching unit 6 is turned on once for a short period of time by the internal timer for a predetermined time, and the energization control device 3 is energized. Normally, energization is performed once every 30 to 60 minutes, for several tens of seconds to several minutes, depending on the change rate of the outdoor air temperature and the followability of temperature detection by the outdoor air temperature detection means 1. Energization control device 3
When the outdoor air temperature detecting means 1 detects a temperature equal to or higher than a certain temperature, the outdoor air temperature detecting means 1 turns on the energizing switching means 6 under the control of the indoor control device 4 for a short time. Is turned off and the apparatus waits for a certain time. When the outdoor temperature detecting means 1 detects a temperature lower than a certain temperature, a control signal for keeping the power supply switching means 6 ON is transmitted from the power supply control device 3 to the indoor control device 4. In this state, the outdoor power supply control device 3 operates in the same manner as in the conventional example, and performs standby control.

As described above, if the control of the energization switching means 6 by the indoor control unit 4 is turned ON for one minute, for example, once every 60 minutes, the power consumption of the outdoor unit per hour is reduced by 1 /
60, and the standby control can be performed.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows an electric circuit of a standby operation control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the energization switching unit is periodically turned on / off. However, when a compressor is used as a load, a current having a large current value is used. Used. Therefore, repetition of ON / OFF includes a problem of shortening the contact life, and the second embodiment solves the problem.

As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit
The energization switching means 6 is connected to an indoor / outdoor communication circuit 5 composed of a series circuit of an indoor transmission device 7, an indoor reception device 8, an outdoor transmission device 9, and an outdoor reception device 10. A temperature switch 11 that becomes an open circuit when a temperature below a certain temperature is detected is inserted in series. Also, a relay 12 is provided in the outdoor unit, and between the secondary COM-NC contact, which is turned on when the primary side is de-energized, is connected in parallel with the outdoor transmission device 9 to OF
A temperature switch 11 is provided between the secondary side COM-NO contact which is F.
Are connected in parallel with each other, and the primary side thereof is configured to be in series with the energization switching means 6. A circuit power supply of the indoor / outdoor communication circuit 5 is configured as an indoor unit by a resistor 13 for limiting a circuit current, a rectifying diode 14, and a smoothing capacitor 15. In addition, the energization switching means 6, the indoor transmission device 7, and the indoor reception device 8 are controlled by the indoor control device 4.
The outdoor transmission device 9 and the outdoor reception device 10 are controlled by the power supply control device 3 respectively.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. Note that the operation of the energization control device 3 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

First, the indoor control device 4 recognizes that it is in a standby state because it has not received the operation selection information from the user, and sends a transmission signal to the indoor transmission device 7. A transmission signal from the indoor transmission device 7 passes through an indoor / outdoor communication circuit 5 including an indoor reception device 8, a temperature switch 11, an outdoor transmission device 9, and an outdoor reception device 10. In the standby state, the energization switching means 6 is controlled to be OFF by the indoor control device 4 and the primary side of the relay 12 is de-energized. Side C
The OM-NC contact is ON. Therefore, the transmission signal from the indoor transmission device 7 flows in a closed circuit including the indoor reception device 8, the temperature switch 11, the relay 12, and the outdoor reception device 10. That is, the indoor receiving device 8 is
Can be received, and the indoor control device 4 can determine whether the signal transmitted by itself has been received by the indoor receiving device 8. Here, assuming that the outdoor air temperature falls below a certain temperature, the temperature switch 11 becomes an open circuit, and the transmission signal from the indoor transmitter 7 cannot be received by the indoor receiver 8.

As described above, the indoor control device 4 determines whether the temperature switch 11 is ON or OFF, that is, whether or not the outdoor air temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, based on whether the signal transmitted by the indoor control device 4 is received or not received by the indoor receiving device 8. Can be. When the indoor control device 4 determines that the outdoor temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature because the signal transmitted by the indoor control device 4 itself is not received by the indoor reception device 8, the indoor control device 4 sets the energization switching means 6 to O.
Set to N and energize the outdoor unit. The primary side of the relay 12 is energized by energizing the outdoor, and the secondary side COM-NC contact of the relay 12 connected in parallel with the outdoor transmitter 9 is O.
It becomes FF, and the outdoor transmission device 9 becomes effective. At the same time, between the secondary side COM-NO contact of the relay 12 is turned ON and
By bypassing the temperature switch 11 in the F state, the normal indoor / outdoor communication circuit 5 is formed. At the same time, power is supplied to the power supply control device 3 to perform standby control in the same manner as in the conventional example.

The electric current flowing through the indoor / outdoor communication circuit 5 is
If the power supply voltage is adjusted to, for example, 1 mA, the power consumption required for detecting the outdoor air temperature is approximately 0.1 W when the power supply voltage is 100 V.
, And the outdoor temperature can be detected with effective use of existing circuits and with low power consumption.

(Embodiment 3) In Embodiment 2, the detection of the outdoor temperature is shared with the existing indoor / outdoor communication circuit, but as shown in FIG.
An open circuit may be formed from the indoor unit by the current detection device 16 for detecting the presence or absence of a current.

The signal from the indoor transmitter 7 is output for a short period at regular intervals, and the indoor controller 4 determines whether or not there is a received signal in the indoor receiver 8 only during the period when the transmission signal is being output. If the outdoor temperature is determined, for example, if the output is performed once every 100 seconds for 10 seconds, the power consumption per unit time can be further reduced to 1/10. .1W can be reduced to about 0.01W.

[0027]

As is clear from the above embodiment, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the outdoor unit can be energized at regular time intervals and the energization control device can detect the outdoor air temperature. The outdoor temperature can be detected with low power consumption.
In addition, when a low outside air temperature is detected, the standby control can be performed by turning on the power supply switching means provided in the indoor unit and supplying power to the power supply control device, thereby improving the heating start-up characteristics and the reliability of the compressor. Can be planned.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the outdoor temperature can be detected without repeatedly turning on / off the power supply switching means for controlling the power supply to the outdoor unit, it is possible to prevent the life of the power supply switching means from being shortened. In addition, since the presence or absence of a circuit current can be detected even if the current flowing through the temperature switch is small, the outdoor temperature can be detected with low power consumption and standby control can be performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the cost can be reduced because the circuit can be shared with the existing circuit without adding an outdoor temperature detecting circuit, and the number of electric wires connecting the indoor and the outdoor is increased. In addition, the outdoor temperature can be detected with low power consumption and standby control can be performed to improve the heating start-up characteristics and improve the reliability of the compressor.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further reduce the current supplied to the outdoor temperature detecting circuit per unit time, and to further reduce the power consumption.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electric circuit diagram of a standby operation control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of a standby operation control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of a standby operation control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outdoor unit control means 2 Compressor 3 Power supply control device 4 Indoor control device 5 Indoor / outdoor communication circuit 6 Power supply switching means 7 Indoor transmission device 8 Indoor reception device 9 Outdoor transmission device 10 Outdoor reception device 11 Temperature switch 12 Relay 13 Resistance 14 Rectifier diode 15 Smoothing capacitor 16 Current detector

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Mayumi Arakawa 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An energization control device having an outdoor air temperature detection means in an outdoor unit, wherein when the air conditioner is on standby, detects that the outdoor air temperature has become lower than a predetermined temperature and conducts open-phase energization to the compressor at a predetermined cycle. In the inverter type air conditioner provided with, the indoor unit is provided with energization switching means for controlling energization to the outdoor unit, and in a standby state, the energization switching means is turned on for a short time at regular intervals, and the energization control device for the outdoor unit is provided. The air conditioner is characterized in that, when the outdoor control unit detects that the outdoor air temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the indoor energization switching unit is always turned on. Machine standby operation control device. 2. An outdoor unit is provided with a temperature switch that detects a temperature below a certain level and detects an open circuit when the indoor unit is turned on. 2. The standby operation control device for an air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a current detection device, wherein when the circuit current is detected to be equal to or less than a predetermined value, an energization switching unit that controls energization to the outdoor unit is turned on. . 3. A temperature switch provided in an outdoor unit is configured in series with an indoor / outdoor communication circuit comprising a series circuit of an indoor transmission device, an indoor reception device, an outdoor transmission device, and an outdoor reception device, and A power supply is provided on the indoor unit side, and during standby, a signal is constantly output from the indoor transmission device to detect the presence or absence of a signal at the indoor reception device, and when there is no reception signal, energization switching to control energization to the outdoor unit 3. The standby operation control device for an air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the means is turned on. 4. The air conditioner standby operation control device according to claim 3, wherein a signal from the indoor transmission device is output for a short time at regular intervals during standby.