JP2001227802A - Control system and air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a controller compatible to various outdoor machines and indoor machines. SOLUTION: In a first air conditioning apparatus 11, a second air conditioning apparatus 12, and a third air conditioning apparatus 13 which include an outdoor machine 14 and an indoor machine 15, and these outdoor machine and indoor machine are adapted to be controllable by remote controllers 21, 23, 25, each remote controller includes operation switches such as a CPU 34, an operation interruption switch 27, and operation change-over switch 28, the CPU of the remote controller sends to the outdoor machine or the indoor machine switch operation information P, and the CPU 35 of the outdoor machine or the indoor machine judges and determines the operation corresponding to the switch operation information, and forces the associated outdoor machine or indoor machine to execute the associated operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a control system in which a device to be controlled is controlled by a controller, and an air conditioner in which an outdoor unit or an indoor unit is controlled by a controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 6, a device 1 to be controlled, such as an outdoor unit or an indoor unit, is configured to be controllable by a remote controller 2.

That is, when an operation switch (not shown) of the remote controller 2 is operated, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 6 of the remote controller 2 determines the operation of the controlled device 1 corresponding to the operated operation switch. Then, the operation request information 3 for causing the control target device 1 to execute this operation is transmitted to the control target device 1. The CPU 6 of the remote controller 2 selects the display screen corresponding to the above operation when the CPU 7 of the control target device 1 receives the operation request information 3 and transmits the confirmation information 4 and receives the confirmation information 4. The display screen is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the remote controller 2. CPU of the control target device 1
7 transmits the confirmation information 4 to the remote controller 2 and, at the same time, causes the control target device 1 to execute the requested operation based on the operation request information 3.

[0004]

As described above, the CPU 6 of the remote controller 2 determines and determines the operation of the controlled device 1 corresponding to the operated operation switch.
Furthermore, since a display screen corresponding to the operation is selected, it is necessary that each of the various control target devices 1 has a dedicated function. Therefore, a remote controller 2 must be prepared for each device 1 to be controlled.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a control system that can use a controller commonly for various control target devices. An object of the described invention is to provide an air conditioner in which a controller can be commonly used for various outdoor units, indoor units, and the like.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control system including a controller having a control element and an operation element, and a control target device configured to be controllable by the controller. The control element of the controller, when the operation element is operated,
Operation information regarding which operation element is operated is transmitted to the control target device, and the control element of the control target device determines and determines an operation corresponding to the operation information, and the control target device performs the operation. Is executed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the controller has a display unit, and the control element of the control target device corresponds to the operation determined and determined from operation information. A display screen to be displayed on the display unit is selected, display information on the display screen is transmitted to the controller, and a control element of the controller is configured to display the display screen on the display unit based on the display information. It is characterized by having.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner having an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, wherein the outdoor unit and the indoor unit can be controlled by a controller. The control element of the controller, when the operation element is operated, transmits to the outdoor unit or the indoor unit operation information regarding which operation element has been operated, the outdoor unit or the indoor unit, The control element is configured to determine and determine an operation corresponding to the operation information, and to cause the outdoor unit or the indoor unit to execute the operation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the controller includes a display unit, and the control element of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit corresponds to the operation determined and determined from the operation information. Select a display screen to be displayed on the display unit, transmit display information about the display screen to the controller, and the control element of the controller
The display unit is configured to display the display screen based on the display information.

The invention described in claim 1 has the following operation.

When the operation element of the controller is operated, the control element of the controller transmits operation information regarding which operation element is operated to the control target device. Since the operation corresponding to the information is determined and determined and the control target device is configured to execute the operation, the control element of the controller determines the operation of the control target device corresponding to the operated operation element. No need to decide. For this reason, the control element of the controller does not need to be configured to have a dedicated function for each type of control target device, so that the controller can be commonly used for various types of control target device.

The second aspect of the invention has the following operation.

The control element of the device to be controlled selects a display screen to be displayed on the display unit of the controller in accordance with the operation determined and determined from the operation information, and transmits display information on the display screen to the controller. Since the control element of the controller is configured to display the display screen on the display unit based on the display information,
The control element of the controller does not need to select a display screen to be displayed on the display unit. For this reason, the control element of the controller does not need to be configured to have a dedicated function for each type of control target device, so that the controller can be commonly used for various types of control target device.

The third aspect of the invention has the following operation.

When a control element of the controller is operated, the control element of the controller transmits operation information regarding which operation element has been operated to the outdoor unit or the indoor unit, and the control element of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit. However, since the operation corresponding to the operation information is determined and determined and the outdoor unit or the indoor unit is configured to execute the operation, the control element of the controller is connected to the outdoor unit corresponding to the operated operation element. There is no need to judge and determine the operation of the unit or the indoor unit. Therefore, the control elements of the controller are:
Since there is no need to configure each outdoor unit or indoor unit to have a dedicated function, a controller can be commonly used for various outdoor units or indoor units.

The invention described in claim 4 has the following operation.

The control element of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit selects a display screen to be displayed on the display unit of the controller in accordance with the operation determined and determined from the operation information, and sends the display information on the display screen to the controller. Since the control element of the controller is configured to display the display screen on the display unit based on the display information, the control element of the controller selects the display screen to be displayed on the display unit by itself. No need. For this reason, the control elements of the controller do not need to be configured to have dedicated functions for various outdoor units or indoor units, etc., so that the controller is commonly used for various outdoor units or indoor units. can do.

[0018]

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.

The air conditioning system 10 shown in FIG.
It has a plurality of, for example, three first air conditioners 11, second air conditioners 12, and third air conditioners 13, and the second air conditioner 12 and the third air conditioner 13 are one outdoor unit. 14 and a plurality of (for example, three) indoor units 15.
The first air conditioner 11 has a plurality of units (for example, two units).
, And a plurality of (for example, three) indoor units 15. The first air conditioner 11, the second air conditioner 12, and the third air conditioner 13 are all air conditioners capable of performing a cooling operation or a heating operation.

The outdoor unit 14 and the indoor unit 15 of the first air conditioner 11 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 16, the outdoor unit 14 and the indoor unit 15 of the second air conditioner 12 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 17, and the third air The outdoor unit 14 and the indoor unit 15 of the harmony device 13 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 18.

The outdoor unit 14 and the indoor unit 15 of the first air conditioner 11, the second air conditioner 12, and the third air conditioner 13 are interconnected by a two-wire communication line 19.

The indoor unit 15 of the first air conditioner 11
Is connected to a remote controller 21 using a communication line 20. The remote controller 21 causes the indoor unit 15 of the first air conditioner 11 to perform the same control (group control) all at once. Similarly, each indoor unit 15 of the second air conditioner 12 and the third air conditioner 13 is connected to remote controllers 23 and 25 using communication lines 22 and 24, respectively. The remote controller 23 is the indoor unit 1 of the second air conditioner 12
5, and the remote controller 25 causes the indoor units 15 of the third air conditioner 13 to simultaneously perform the same control (group control).

The remote controllers 21, 23 and 25 are the same, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a display section 26 and a plurality of operation switches (described later) as operation elements.
And a CPU (central processing unit) 34 as a control element.

These remote controllers 21 and 23
And 25 are connected to the indoor unit 15 as a device to be controlled as described above, and when the indoor unit 15 is controlled, constitute a control system together with the indoor unit 15. In this case, for example, the operation / stop switch 27 of the remote controllers 21, 23 and 25 operates or stops the indoor unit 15, and the operation changeover switch 28 switches the cooling or heating operation mode or the like of the indoor unit 15 and further sets The temperature raising switch 29 and the set temperature lowering switch 30 raise and lower the set temperature of the indoor unit 15, respectively.

Remote controllers 21, 23 and 25
Is controlling the indoor unit 15 in the same manner as described above, the operation state of the indoor unit 15 is displayed on the display unit 26 of the remote controllers 21, 23, and 25. For example, the set temperature of the indoor unit 15 in the first display area 31 of the display unit 26, the timer set time in the second display area 32,
In the third display area 33, the address code of the indoor unit 15, that is, the unit number (No) is displayed.

On the other hand, the remote controllers 21, 23 and 25 are connected to an outdoor unit 14 as a device to be controlled, for example, the first air conditioner 11, the second air conditioner 1, and the like.
2. When controlling the operation of at least one of the indoor unit 15 and the outdoor unit 14 during maintenance of the third air conditioner 13, the outdoor unit 14 and the indoor unit 15 constitute a control system. In this case, for example, the set temperature increase switch 29 and the set temperature decrease switch 30 switch the item code of the inspection item at the time of maintenance. In the same case, the item code is displayed in the first display area 31, and the inspection result at the time of maintenance is displayed in the second display area 32 and the third display area 33.

Each inspection item code and its contents are, for example,
They are associated as shown in FIG. Item code "0
“1” is an item for inspecting the number of connected indoor units 15.
The item code “03” is an item for inspecting and displaying the operation state of the indoor unit 15. Further, the item code “0”
“7”, “08”, and “09” are items for inspecting, for example, the integrated operation times of a plurality of compressors in the outdoor unit 14 of the first air conditioner 11.

When the inspection results are displayed in the second display area 32 and the third display area 33, for example, the item codes "01", "07", "08", and "09" have a total of eight digits. Numbers 37A, 37B, 37C, 3
Displayed by 7D, 37E, 37F, 37G and 37H.

Further, for example, item codes "02" to "0"
As for "6", as shown in FIG. 5, seven segments (first segment 41, second segment 42, third segment 43, fourth segment 44, fourth segment 44, 5 segments 4
5, the sixth segment 46 and the seventh segment 47), the first segment 41, the third segment 43, the fifth segment 45 and the seventh segment 47 are used, and the numeral 37 is used.
The first segment 41, the third segment 43, the fifth segment 45, and the seventh segment 47 of A correspond to the first, second, third, and fourth units of the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15, respectively. 1 segment 41, 3rd segment 43, 5th segment 45, 7th segment 4
7 is the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15, the fifth unit, the sixth unit, and the seventh unit.
Unit No. 8 and Unit No. 8 are associated with each other. Similarly, the first segment 41, the third segment 43, the fifth segment 45, and the seventh segment 47 of the respective numbers 37C to 37H correspond to the numbers of the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15.

For example, regarding the item code “03”, the first, second, third, fourth, and ninth indoor units 15
When the No. 10 and No. 10 units are in operation, respectively, the first segment 41, the third segment 43, the fifth segment 45, and the seventh segment 47 of the numeral 37A in the second display area 32 and the third display area 33, and 37
The first segment 41 and the third segment 43 of C are respectively turned on.

Now, as shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 34 in the remote controllers 21, 23 and 25
When operation switches such as the start / stop switch 27, the operation changeover switch 28, the set temperature rise switch 29, and the set temperature decrease switch 30 are operated, the switch operation information P regarding which operation switch is operated is output to the outdoor unit 14, The data is transmitted to the control target device such as the indoor unit 15.

The CPU 35 of the device to be controlled such as the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15 determines and determines the operation corresponding to the switch operation information P, that is, the operation to be executed by itself in response to the operated operation switch. And the outdoor unit 14 and the indoor unit 1
5 is executed by the control target device.

Further, the CPU 35 of the device to be controlled such as the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15 responds to the operation determined and determined from the switch operation information P by itself, and the display unit 26 of the remote controllers 21, 23 and 25. Is selected, and display information Q relating to this display screen is displayed on the CPU 34 of the remote controllers 21, 23 and 25.
Send to

Remote controllers 21, 23 and 25
CPU 34 of the outdoor unit 1 based on the display information Q
4. The display screen selected by the CPU 35 of the control target device such as the indoor unit 15 is displayed on the display unit 26.

As described above, the remote controller 21,
The CPUs of the outdoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 1 send operation request information relating to an operation to be executed by a controlled device such as the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15 in response to the operated operation switch.
4. It is not configured to transmit to control target devices such as the indoor unit 15. Further, the CPU 34 is not configured to select a display screen to be displayed on the display unit 26 in accordance with the operation of the controlled device such as the outdoor unit 14 and the indoor unit 15. These are all executed by the CPU 35 of the control target device such as the outdoor unit 14 and the indoor unit 15. As a result, the functions of the remote controllers 21, 23, and 25 are changed depending on the device to be controlled (the outdoor unit 14, the indoor unit 15, or the like) to which the remote controllers 21, 23, and 25 are connected.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

Remote controllers 21, 23 and 2
5, the remote controller 21, 2
Operation switches 3 and 25 (run / stop switch 27,
When the operation changeover switch 28, the set temperature increase switch 29, the set temperature decrease switch 30, etc.) are operated, the switch operation information P regarding which operation switch is operated is transmitted to the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15, and Since the CPU 35 of the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15 is configured to determine and determine the operation corresponding to the switch operation information P and cause the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15 to execute the operation, the remote controller The CPU 34 of 21, 23 and 25 does not need to determine and determine the operation of the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15 corresponding to the operated operation switch. Therefore, the remote controller 2
The CPUs 34 of the CPUs 1, 23, and 25 do not need to be configured to have dedicated functions for devices to be controlled, such as the outdoor unit 14 or the indoor unit 15, respectively. Outdoor unit 14
Alternatively, it can be commonly used for control target devices such as the indoor unit 15.

CPU 3 of outdoor unit 14 or indoor unit 15
5 selects a display screen to be displayed on the display unit 26 of the remote controllers 21, 23 and 25 in accordance with its own operation determined from the switch operation information P, and displays the display information Q on this display screen to the remote controller 21. ,
23 and 25, and the remote controller 2
The CPUs 34 of the remote controllers 21, 23, and 25 cause the display units 26 to display the display screen on the display unit 26 based on the display information Q. It is not necessary to select the display screen to be used by itself. For this reason, the CPUs 34 of the remote controllers 21, 23, and 25 do not need to be configured to have dedicated functions for devices to be controlled, such as various outdoor units 14 or indoor units 15, respectively. And 25 can be commonly used for devices to be controlled such as various outdoor units 14 or indoor units 15.

Since the operation of at least one of the outdoor unit 14 and the indoor unit 15 during maintenance is controlled by the operation of the remote controllers 21, 23 and 25 which can be connected to the outdoor unit 14,
In the circuit board (not shown), devices such as switches and display devices used at the time of maintenance become unnecessary, and these can be deleted. For this reason, the area of the circuit board of the outdoor unit 14 can be reduced, and the first air conditioner 11 and the second air conditioner 12
In addition, the cost of the third air conditioner 13 can be reduced.

Remote controllers 21, 23 and 2
Since the operation at the time of maintenance can be performed using the device 5, the operability can be improved as compared with the operation by the device on the circuit board of the outdoor unit 14.

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

For example, although the case has been described where the controllers are the remote controllers 21, 23 and 25, the present invention may be applied to a centralized control device for centrally controlling the outdoor unit 14 and the indoor unit 15. In addition, the present invention may be applied to a showcase and a controller that controls the showcase.

As a maintenance-only controller used only at the time of maintenance, operation request information relating to an operation to be performed by the outdoor unit 14 in response to the operated operation switch is transmitted to the outdoor unit 14, and this operation is performed. Alternatively, a controller that selects a display screen to be displayed and displays the selected display screen on the display unit of the controller may be used.

[0045]

As described above, according to the control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the control element of the controller is operated, which control element is operated is determined. Transmitted to the controlled device, the control element of the controlled device determines and determines the operation corresponding to the operation information, and is configured to cause the controlled device to execute the operation. The controller can be commonly used for various control target devices.

According to the air conditioner of the third aspect of the present invention, the controller for controlling the outdoor unit and the indoor unit includes a control element and an operation element, and the control element of the controller is operated by the operation element. When the operation information is transmitted to the outdoor unit or the indoor unit as to which operation element is operated, the control element of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit determines and determines the operation corresponding to the operation information, Since the outdoor unit or the indoor unit is configured to execute the operation, the controller can be commonly used for various outdoor units, indoor units, and the like.

[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 front view showing the remote controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a relationship between the remote controller of FIG. 1 and an outdoor unit and an indoor unit as controlled devices.

4 is a diagram showing a display screen and the like when the remote controller of FIG. 2 is connected to an outdoor unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a part of a display unit in the remote controller of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a relationship between a conventional remote controller and an outdoor unit and an indoor unit as controlled devices.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 first air conditioner 12 second air conditioner 13 third air conditioner 14 outdoor unit 15 indoor unit 21, 23, 25 remote controller 26 display unit 27 start / stop switch 28 operation changeover switch 29 set temperature rise switch 30 setting Temperature lowering switch 34 CPU 35 CPU P Switch operation information Q Display information

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 9/00 301 H04Q 9/00 301B 321 321B 331 331A 361 361 F term (Reference) 3L061 BA03 BA05 BB01 BC01 BC03 BC04 BC06 BC07 BD01 BD02 5K048 BA08 DA01 DC03 EB01 EB02 EB06 FB15 HA01 HA02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A control system comprising: a controller including a control element and an operation element; and a control target device configured to be controllable by the controller, wherein the control element of the controller is operated by the operation element. The operation information regarding which operation element has been operated is transmitted to the control target device, and the control element of the control target device determines and determines an operation corresponding to the operation information, and A control system configured to execute the operation. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a display unit, and a control element of the control target device selects a display screen to be displayed on the display unit in accordance with the operation determined and determined from the operation information. The control system according to claim 1, wherein display information is transmitted to the controller, and a control element of the controller is configured to cause the display unit to display the display screen based on the display information. 3. An outdoor unit, comprising an outdoor unit and an indoor unit,
In the air conditioner in which the indoor unit is configured to be controllable by a controller, the controller includes a control element and an operation element. When the operation element is operated, any of the operation elements is controlled by the controller. Transmits operation information regarding whether or not the operation has been performed to the outdoor unit or the indoor unit, and the control element of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit determines and determines an operation corresponding to the operation information, and transmits to the outdoor unit or the indoor unit. An air conditioner configured to perform the operation. 4. The controller includes a display unit, and a control element of the outdoor unit or the indoor unit selects a display screen to be displayed on the display unit in accordance with the operation determined and determined from the operation information, and displays the display screen. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein display information related to a screen is transmitted to the controller, and a control element of the controller is configured to cause the display unit to display the display screen based on the display information. apparatus.