JP2001215047A - Air conditioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioning system in which displays of controllers for air conditioning operation provided in respective rooms can be effectively utilized. SOLUTION: The air conditioning system is provided with air conditioning apparatuses equipped with displays, controllers for controlling air conditioning, and a higher-order controller for controlling the air conditioning apparatuses. The controllers are connected to the higher-order controller via communication means. When any special signal irrelative to an air conditioning control is input via a communication means from the higher-order controller, a specified information is displayed on the displays.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for cooling and heating by supplying cold or hot water to a heat exchanger provided in an indoor unit, and more particularly to an air conditioning system capable of transmitting information other than air conditioning. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in hotels and office buildings, air-conditioning systems for supplying cooling water or hot water to a heat exchanger provided in an indoor unit for cooling and heating have been used.
The control device of the air conditioning system performs cooling / heating (air conditioning) control based on information input from an air conditioning controller that sets a temperature, a blowing amount, and the like. Further, such a control device can also transmit information related to air conditioning control to the controller, and the controller can display the information transmitted from the control device on a display device such as a liquid crystal panel.

[0003]

Generally, such a controller is installed at a position where the wall in the room is easy to see so that a room user and a hotel employee can easily check the room temperature and the like.

However, in the conventional air conditioning system, only information related to air conditioning was transmitted, and information completely unrelated to air conditioning was not transmitted to the controller and displayed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system capable of effectively utilizing a display device of an air conditioning controller provided in each room.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioning system including a display device and a control device for performing air conditioning control, wherein the control device includes an external device. An external input terminal for inputting a signal from the controller, and when a special signal not related to the air conditioning control is input from the external input terminal, predetermined information is displayed on the display device. Constitute.

[0007] According to the air conditioning system configured as described above, a special signal not related to the air conditioning control is input from the external input terminal. The special signal not related to the air-conditioning control is a signal that does not change the operation state related to the air-conditioning control by the signal. When the special signal is input, predetermined information not related to the air conditioning control is displayed on the display device. Therefore, the air conditioning system can be effectively used as a system capable of transmitting various types of information. In addition, the display device provided in the room can be effectively used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioning system comprising a display device, a plurality of air conditioners having a control device for controlling air conditioning, and a higher-level control device for controlling the air conditioner. The control device is connected to the higher-level control device via a communication unit, and when a special signal not related to the air conditioning control is input from the higher-level control device via the communication unit, the display unit displays the display. It is configured to display predetermined information on the device.

According to the air-conditioning system configured as described above, a special signal having no relation to the air-conditioning control is input from the host control device. When the special signal is input, predetermined information not related to the air conditioning control is displayed on the display device. Therefore, the air conditioning system can be effectively used as a system capable of transmitting various types of information. In addition, the display devices provided in each room can be effectively used.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioning system according to the first or second aspect, the display device is configured to be installed in a room where air conditioning control is performed. Therefore, room users and employees of hotels and office buildings can see the display device installed indoors.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioning system according to the first aspect, the air conditioning system has a setter for outputting a signal corresponding to an input for turning off the display of the predetermined information. The display device and the setting device are installed in a room where air-conditioning control is performed, the control device includes means for detecting a signal output from the setting device, and when the signal is detected Is configured to turn off the display of the predetermined information. Thus, the user of the room can turn off the display of the predetermined information on the display device, so that the display device can be effectively used any number of times.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioning system according to the second aspect, the air conditioner has means for outputting a signal corresponding to an input for turning off the display of the predetermined information. The display device and the setting device are installed in a room where air-conditioning control is performed, the control device includes means for detecting a signal output from the setting device, and when the signal is detected Is configured to turn off the display of the predetermined information. Thus, the user of the room can turn off the display of the predetermined information on the display device, so that the display device can be effectively used any number of times.

[0013] In claim 4 or 5, the display device may be configured to be included in the setting device.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 shows an outline of an air conditioning system (or air conditioner) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioning system 1 has a cold heat source 2 and a hot heat source 3 and a fan coil unit 4. The cold heat source 2 and the hot heat source 3 are installed in a basement or a roof of a hotel or office building, and the fan coil unit 4 is installed in each room in the hotel or office building. The fan coil unit 4 is configured as an integrated device in which a pair of heat exchangers 5, 6 and a fan 7 for blowing air are housed in a housing 4a that can be installed on a floor or the like.

When the system 1 is operated with the heat exchangers 5 and 6 for cooling and heating, respectively, the cold water supplied from the cold heat source 2 is guided to the vicinity of each guest room via the forward pipe 10;
From there, the heat is supplied to the heat exchanger 5 through a supply pipe 11 prepared by branching for each fan coil unit 4. The heat-exchanged water discharged from the heat exchanger 5 is returned from the return pipe 12 to the return pipe 1.
Reflux to the cold source 2 via 3. On the other hand, the hot water supplied from the heat source 3 is guided to the vicinity of each chamber via the outgoing pipe 14, and is branched therefrom through the supply pipe 15 prepared for each fan coil unit 4. The heat is supplied to the heat exchanger 6. The heat-exchanged water discharged from the heat exchanger 6 returns to the heat source 3 from the return pipe 16 via the return pipe 17.

In order to control the amount of heat exchange by the heat exchangers 5, 6, control pipes 20, 21 are provided in supply pipes 11, 15, respectively.
Is connected. As the control valves 20 and 21, use is made of a flow rate adjusting valve capable of adjusting a flow rate (opening degree) according to an input signal, such as an electromagnetic proportional control valve. A temperature sensor 2 is provided between the control valves 20 and 21 of the supply pipes 11 and 15 and the heat exchangers 5 and 6.
2 and 23 are respectively installed. Each temperature sensor 22, 2
Reference numeral 3 can output a signal corresponding to the surface temperature of the supply pipes 11 and 15.

In order to control the operation of the fan coil unit 4, in the air conditioning system 1, a power unit 30 as a control device and a user or the like of each room in which the fan coil unit 4 is installed set the temperature and the amount of air blow. And a setting device 40 (hereinafter, referred to as a “controller 40”) for displaying a temperature, a blowing amount, and the like are provided in association with each of the fan coil units 4.

The power unit 30 has a built-in power supply circuit (not shown), supplies electric power necessary for operation of control elements such as the fan 7 and the control valves 20 and 21, and also controls the control elements based on various input signals. It has a function as a control device of the present invention for controlling operation. The controller 40 is installed on a position in which the user of the room where the fan coil unit 4 is installed is operable and easy to see, for example, on a wall surface. Note that the power unit 30 and the controller 40 do not necessarily need to be provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the fan coil unit 4. When a plurality of fan coil units 4 are controlled collectively, such as in a case where a plurality of fan coil units 4 are provided in one room, one group of the fan coil units 4 to be collectively controlled is required. Power units 30 and controller 4
0 may be provided.

FIG. 2 shows functional blocks of the power unit 30. The power unit 30 includes a CPU 31 and its C
A storage device 32 for the PU 31, a fan motor 7 a as a drive source of the fan 7 in response to an operation command from the CPU 31, and drive circuits 33, 34, 35 for driving actuators of the control valves 20, 21. A communication circuit 36 for performing communication between the power unit 30 and a higher-level control device (not shown), an external input terminal 37 for inputting an external signal, and a CPU 31 Is provided with an external input protection circuit 38 for protecting the circuit.

The host controller is for centrally controlling the fan coil unit 4 and the power unit 30 in each room. Further, a terminal device used by employees or managers of hotels or office buildings is connected to the host control device. Employees and managers of hotels and office buildings send various instruction information from terminal devices installed at specific places in hotels and office buildings to the power units 30 in each room via the host controller and the communication circuit 36. Can be input. Such signals include not only signals related to air-conditioning control but also special signals not related to air-conditioning control. The special signal not related to the air-conditioning control means a signal that does not change the operation state related to the air-conditioning control by the signal. For example, a signal for instructing cleaning of each room corresponds to the signal. In addition, an external switch or the like can be connected to the external input terminal 37, and a special signal not related to the air conditioning control can be input from the external switch.

The CPU 31 is configured as a one-chip microcomputer in which, for example, a microprocessor unit and various peripheral circuits necessary for its operation are integrated. The temperature sensors 22 and 23 and the controller 40 described above are further connected to the CPU 31. The storage device 32 is a CPU 31
And stores various data necessary for executing the program. As the storage device 32, for example, an EEPROM is used.

In the above configuration, the CPU 31 controls the air conditioning on the basis of various conditions set via the controller 40. For example, according to the operation mode and the set temperature,
The control valves 20 and 21 are controlled to guide cold or hot water to the heat exchanger 5 and to control the number of revolutions of the fan motor 7a. Further, the CPU 31 transmits a special signal transmitted from the host control device or a special signal input from the external input terminal 37 to the controller 40.

FIG. 3 shows functional blocks of the controller 40. The controller 40 includes a CPU 51 and the CPU
A storage device 52 for the user 51, a switch circuit 53 for the user of each room to set the temperature and the amount of air to be blown, a thermistor 54, and a display device for displaying information such as the temperature (here, a liquid crystal panel). 55) and the liquid crystal panel 5
And a communication circuit 57 for performing communication between the power unit 30 and a driver 56 for controlling output of a signal to the power unit 5.
And

The CPU 51 is configured as a one-chip microcomputer, for example, like the CPU 31. Storage device 5
Reference numeral 2 stores a program executed by the CPU 51 and various data necessary for executing the program. The switch circuit 53 includes a stop switch 53a for stopping the fan motor 7a, an automatic switch 53b for automatically adjusting the temperature, the air volume, and the like, a weak switch 53c for setting the air volume to be low, and a strong air volume. A strong switch 53d for setting, an UP switch 53e for increasing a set temperature or selecting a set item, and a DOWN switch 53f for decreasing a set temperature or selecting a set item
And a changeover switch 53g for performing cooling / heating switching. The user in each room can operate these switches to set the desired temperature and air flow. The assignment of these switches can be arbitrarily changed by an air conditioning system administrator or the like. For example, the changeover switch 53g can be changed to be used to display the current time.
Further, the CPU 51 outputs a signal corresponding to an input from the switch circuit 53 to the liquid crystal panel 55. Also, CPU
The transmission unit 51 transmits setting conditions such as a temperature and an air volume to the power unit 30 via the communication circuit 57. Thermistor 5
Reference numeral 4 denotes a semiconductor element whose electric resistance changes according to a temperature change. The CPU 51 calculates a room temperature based on a signal from the thermistor 54.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen display on the liquid crystal panel 55. FIG. 4 shows a state in which all information is displayed for convenience of explanation. The set temperature display section 61 displays the temperature set by the switch circuit 53. In addition, the set temperature display section 61 can be set so that the current time is displayed. The room temperature display section 62 displays the current room temperature. The mode display unit 63 displays the set air conditioning mode. For example, the mark 63a is set when the cooling / heating automatic adjustment mode is set, the mark 63b is set when the heating mode is set, and the mark 63c is set when the cooling mode is set.
However, when the dehumidification mode is set, the mark 63d is displayed. The mark 64 is displayed when the air blowing mode is set.

The timer display section 65 displays the setting state of the timer in the air conditioning mode. For example, marks 65a and 65b are displayed when the ON timer is set, and marks 65a and 65c are displayed when the OFF timer is set. The air volume display section 66 displays the intensity of the air volume. For example,
The marks 66a and 66b are displayed when the light wind is set, the marks 66a to 66c are displayed when the light wind is set, and the marks 66a to 66d are displayed when the strong wind is set. Also, marks 66a and 66e are displayed at the time of automatic setting of the air volume. The mark 67 is displayed, for example, when an operation prohibition signal is input to the controller 40 via the power unit 30 from the host control device. When the operation prohibition signal is input, the input from the switch circuit 53 is locked, and the user of the room cannot set the temperature and the air flow.

The temperature graph display section 68 displays the level of the room temperature with respect to the set temperature. For example, when the room temperature is higher than the set temperature with reference to the center mark 68a, the mark 68b is displayed, and when the room temperature is lower than the set temperature, the mark 68c is displayed. Mark 68b
And 68c are composed of four elements, and each element is displayed for each predetermined temperature step. For example, when the room temperature rises above the set temperature and rises further,
Such elements are sequentially displayed in the direction of arrow 69a for each predetermined temperature. Further, when the room temperature falls below the set temperature and further decreases, an arrow 6 is displayed at every predetermined temperature.
Such elements are sequentially displayed in the direction of 9b.

The information indicated by the reference numerals 61 to 68 is information related to the air conditioning control.

Next, when a special signal not related to the air-conditioning control is transmitted from the power unit 30 to the special information display unit 70, predetermined information not related to the air-conditioning control is displayed. You. For example, the mark 70a (hereinafter referred to as an "instruction mark") is used as information for instructing a hotel or office building cleaner to perform cleaning. Perform cleaning. The display of the instruction mark is released by a predetermined operation of a specific switch provided in the switch circuit 53. This operation is a hidden operation that is not disclosed to the user (customer) of the room, and can be operated by a hotel or office building cleaner. However, if necessary, the information may be disclosed to the customer and used.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transmitting a special signal having no relation to the air conditioning control using the air conditioning system 1 according to the present invention. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 5, a process of transmitting a special signal having no relevance in the air conditioning system 1 will be described.

When a user of a hotel guest room completes a check-out procedure in, for example, a hotel lobby, an employee of the hotel inputs a cleaning instruction for the guest room from a terminal device installed in the lobby. This input is performed, for example, by specifying the guest room from a keyboard or the like and pressing a predetermined button. The cleaning instruction entered is
Along with the address of the power unit 30 of the cabin, the terminal device transmits the special signal having no relevance to the air-conditioning control to the host control device (S1). The host controller receives the transmitted special signal and address, specifies the corresponding power unit 30, and transmits the specified power unit 30 to the power unit 30 (S2). The power unit 30 receives the transmitted special signal and transmits it to the controller 40 (S3). When the controller 40 receives the special signal, the CPU 51 outputs a signal for displaying an instruction mark to the liquid crystal panel 55 via the driver 56. Then, the liquid crystal panel 55 displays an instruction mark on the special information display unit 70 shown in FIG. 4 (S4).

In this way, the hotel cleaning staff checks the indication mark on the liquid crystal panel 55 and cleans the room. When the cleaning of the room is completed, the cleaning staff performs a hiding operation of the switch of the controller 40. For example, UP switch 53e
Is pressed for more than 10 seconds, the controller 40
CPU 51 detects this (S5), and the liquid crystal panel 55
Is erased (S6), and a signal indicating the end of cleaning is transmitted to the terminal device via the power unit 30 and the host controller (S7). Thereby, the employee of the hotel can confirm on the terminal device that the cleaning of the guest room has been completed.

As described above, in the air conditioning system 1 according to the present invention, a special signal not related to the air conditioning control can be transmitted while performing the air conditioning control. Therefore, it is not necessary to newly install a device or a line for transmitting such a special signal, and cost can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the special signal not related to the air-conditioning control is described as the signal indicating the cleaning instruction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to prepare a meal for the customer. May be transmitted.

[0036]

As described above, in the air conditioning system according to the present invention, a special signal having no relation to the air conditioning can be transmitted while performing the air conditioning control. It can be effectively used as a system that can transmit information. Therefore, it is not necessary to newly install a device or a line for transmitting a special signal that is not related to the air conditioning, and cost can be reduced. Further, the display device of the air conditioning controller provided in each room can be effectively used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a control device of the air conditioning system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a controller of the air conditioning system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display of the controller shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transmitting a special signal not related to air conditioning control in the air conditioning system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air-conditioning system 2 Cold heat source 3 Heat source 4 Fan coil unit (indoor unit) 5, 6 Heat exchanger 7 Fan 7a Fan motor 10, 14 Outgoing pipe 11, 15 Supply pipe (a pair of pipes) 12, 16 Return pipe 13 , 17 Return pipe 20, 21 Control valve 22, 23 Temperature sensor 30 Power unit (control device) 31 CPU (control device) 32 Storage device 33, 34, 35 Drive circuit 36 Communication circuit 37 External input terminal 38 External input circuit 40 Controller 51 CPU 52 Storage device 53 Switch circuit 53a Stop switch 53b Automatic switch 53c Weak switch 53d Strong switch 53g Changeover switch 53e UP switch 53f DOWN switch 54 Thermistor 55 Liquid crystal panel 56 Driver 57 Communication circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioning system comprising a display device and a control device for performing air conditioning control, wherein the control device has an external input terminal for inputting an external signal, and air conditioning is performed from the external input terminal. An air conditioning system characterized by displaying predetermined information on the display device when a special signal not related to control is input. 2. An air conditioning system comprising: a display device; a plurality of air conditioners having a control device for performing air conditioning control; and a higher-level control device for controlling the air-conditioning device. When a special signal that is not connected to the air conditioning control is input from the higher-level control device via the communication unit, the display unit displays predetermined information on the display device. An air conditioning system characterized by: 3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the display device is installed in a room where air conditioning control is performed. 4. The air-conditioning system includes a setting device having a unit that outputs a signal corresponding to an input for turning off the display of the predetermined information, and the display device and the setting device perform air-conditioning control. The control device is provided in a room, and the control device includes means for detecting a signal output from the setting device, and when the signal is detected, the display of the predetermined information is turned off. 2. The air conditioning system according to 1. 5. The air conditioner includes a setting device having a unit that outputs a signal corresponding to an input for turning off the display of the predetermined information, and the display device and the setting device perform air conditioning control. The control device is provided in a room, and the control device includes means for detecting a signal output from the setting device, and when the signal is detected, the display of the predetermined information is turned off. 3. The air conditioning system according to 2.