JP2003207192A - Controller for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for an air conditioner simplifying failure restoration by identifying a failure part properly from outside if a failure occurs. <P>SOLUTION: Machinery control units 2a, 3a are provided with storage means 13 such as nonvolatile memories for storing data of the operation situation including a failure history of the air conditioner. A communication facility with outside is provided in the machinery control units 2a, 3a, an interface unit 4 for communication is connected with the machinery control units 2a, 3a, and a terminal units 5 such as a personal computer capable of e-mail communication is connected with the interface unit 4. An operation situation or a failure state of the air conditioner is checked with an operation terminal unit 7 comprising a telephones, etc., through a terminal unit 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air conditioner. More specifically, the present invention relates to grasping the operating status of an air conditioner and improving failure repair work when a failure occurs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, household air conditioners equipped with an inverter have been remarkably spread, and a microcomputer (CPU) is installed in a body control device incorporated in the main body of the air conditioner for operation control and controls the operation. The contents of the system are becoming very complicated.

For this reason, it is difficult to accurately determine the failed portion when a failure occurs, and it takes a long time to carry out the failure repair work. Therefore, there is a strong demand for improvement of the failure repair work when a failure occurs.

The conventional air conditioner has a built-in control for performing a failure diagnosis. For example, in the case of an operating abnormality due to burn-in of the compressor, the operating current is measured, and if it exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined to be a failure and a 7-segment LED or liquid crystal display is provided to inform the user of it. The alarm corresponding to the content of the failure was issued by means of blinking LED, sound, and the like.

[0005]

In the conventional air conditioner control system, when a user has a failure while operating the air conditioner, the person in charge of the service center or the like can make an accurate call by telephone with the user. Since it is difficult to specify the failure part and it is difficult to accurately determine the failure part, it is necessary for a specific service person who has specialized knowledge to go directly to the site and check the situation there. . In addition, even if such a service is visited, the contents of the failure are grasped on the spot and appropriate judgment is made for it.
It took a lot of time to procure the appropriate parts and complete the repair, and the user could be inconvenient to operate.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a storage means in a machine body control device which is incorporated in an air conditioner main body and which controls operation, and is further connected to an interface unit capable of communicating with the outside, and the personal computer is connected to the interface unit. By connecting a terminal device such as a computer or an operation terminal device for service, in the unlikely event of a failure, a service person with specialized knowledge can identify the exact failed part through a communication line from the outside and speed up the repair work. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner control device that can be made easier and easier.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an air conditioner control device of the present invention is an air conditioner provided with a device control device with a built-in microcomputer, and is stored in the device control device. A means is provided to hold data of operating conditions including a history of failure of the air conditioner, the machine control device is provided with a communication function with the outside, and an interface unit for communication is further connected to the machine control device,
A terminal device having an internet address capable of mail communication is connected to the interface unit, and the operating condition or the failure condition of the air conditioner can be confirmed by the operation terminal device via the terminal device.

Further, according to the present invention, in the airframe control device, further, a parameter or a program for determining the operating condition of the airframe control device can be rewritten from the outside, and the operating condition of the air conditioner via the terminal device by the operation terminal device. Alternatively, the failure state can be confirmed, and at the same time, the parameter or the program can be rewritten.

Further, according to the present invention, a communication interface unit is connected to the machine body control device, and a service operation terminal device is connected to the interface unit so that the operating condition or failure condition of the air conditioner can be confirmed. It is composed.

Further, according to the present invention, the airframe control device can externally rewrite the parameters or programs for determining the operating conditions, and the operating terminal device for service can confirm the operating condition or failure condition of the air conditioner via the terminal device. The configuration is such that the parameters or programs can be rewritten at the same time.

With the above-mentioned respective configurations, in the event of a failure, it is possible to confirm the operating condition or the failure condition of the air conditioner from the outside through the operation terminal device such as a telephone or the service operation terminal device, and the failure condition. Since a parameter or a program for determining the operating condition of the air conditioner can be externally rewritten depending on the failure state or the failure state, the failure repair work can be easily performed in a short time.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is an air conditioner provided with a machine body control device having a microcomputer incorporated therein, wherein the machine body control device is provided with a storage means and the air conditioner fails. It retains data on driving conditions including history, and the machine control device has a communication function with the outside.Furthermore, an interface unit for communication is connected to the machine control device, and a terminal device such as a personal computer is connected to the interface unit. Since it is configured so that the operating status or failure status of the air conditioner can be checked by operating the terminal device such as a telephone via the terminal device, the service engineer with specialized knowledge can identify the exact failure part through the communication line. It is possible to speed up and facilitate the trouble repair work.

According to the present invention, the airframe control device further comprises storage means for holding data of operating conditions including a history of failure of the air conditioner, and also has a communication function with the outside. A parameter or program that determines the operating conditions can be rewritten from the outside, and the operating terminal device can confirm the operating status or failure state of the air conditioner via the terminal device, and at the same time, the parameter or the program can be rewritten. Therefore, if operation can be continued by changing operating parameters or programs at the time when the failure status of the air conditioner is confirmed by operating terminals such as a telephone, restarting operation can be done by rewriting parameters or programs using the operating terminals. Therefore, the repair work can be performed easily and in a short time.

Further, according to the present invention, an interface unit for communication is connected to the machine body control device, and a service operation terminal device is connected to the interface unit so that the operating condition or failure condition of the air conditioner can be confirmed. Since it is configured, it is possible to identify the exact failure site on site.

Further, according to the present invention, the airframe controller can externally rewrite parameters or programs for determining operating conditions, and the operating terminal device for service can confirm the operating condition or failure condition of the air conditioner via the terminal device. Since the parameters or programs can be rewritten at the same time, if the operation condition can be changed by changing the operating parameters or the program at the time when the failure condition of the air conditioner is confirmed by the operation terminal device for service, the operating terminal can be immediately changed. Since the operation can be restarted by rewriting the parameters or the program by the device, the on-site repair work can be easily performed in a short time.

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

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an air conditioner controller of Embodiment 1, and FIG. 2 is a block connection diagram thereof.

In FIG. 1, the air conditioner comprises a power plug 1, an indoor unit 2 and an outdoor unit 3, and a terminal device 5 such as a personal computer is connected to the indoor unit 2 via an interface unit 4. 6 is a provider,
Reference numeral 7 is a mobile phone, an operation terminal device including a telephone, and 8 is a connection pipe.

Then, the operating condition of the air conditioner and past failure history data are read into the terminal device 5 via the interface unit 4. On the other hand, the operation terminal device 7 can access the terminal device 5 via the provider 6 to decode the data of the air conditioner, and rewrite the operating parameters or the program of the air conditioner as necessary. These will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, an indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner is provided with an indoor body control device 2a having a built-in storage means 13 including a CPU (microcomputer) 11 and a non-volatile memory (eg EPROM), Also outdoor unit 3
Is provided with an outdoor machine control device 3a having a built-in CPU 12.

CPU 11 of the indoor unit 2 and CPU of the outdoor unit 3
The communication unit 12 regularly communicates with each other to grasp the operation data of each other, and in the event that a failure should occur, the content thereof is written in the storage unit 13. The operation terminal device 7 can access the terminal device 5 by internet communication via the provider 6 and can decode the operation status of the air conditioner or past failure history data via the interface unit 4, and in the case of failure occurrence, The failure part can be specified accurately.

Furthermore, the CPUs 11 and 12 or the storage means 13 of the machine control device 2a or the machine control device 3a.
An operating parameter or a program is written in this, and this is configured so that it can be rewritten from the outside if necessary. Therefore, if the failure is relatively minor and it is determined that the operation can be continued by changing the operating parameters or the program, for example, if the heat dissipation side of the air conditioner is slightly ventilated and the high pressure side pressure is over, By reducing the maximum allowable operating frequency of the inverter compressor (not shown), the problem can be resolved and the repair time can be greatly shortened.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an air conditioner controller of Embodiment 2, and FIG. 4 is a block connection diagram thereof.

In FIG. 3, the air conditioner has a power plug 2
1, an indoor unit 22, and an outdoor unit 23. A service operation terminal device 25 is connected to the indoor unit 22 via an interface unit 24. 28 is a connecting pipe.

Then, the operating condition of the air conditioner and past failure history data are read into the service operation terminal device 25 through the interface unit 24. Further, the operating parameters of the air conditioner or the program can be rewritten as necessary. These will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, the indoor unit 22 of the air conditioner has a CPU 31 and a non-volatile memory (for example, EEPRO).
M) and the like, which is provided with a storage means 33 built-in, is provided with an indoor-side body control device 22a, and the outdoor unit 23 has a CPU 3
An outdoor machine control device 23a having 2 built therein is provided.

The CPU 31 of the indoor unit 22 and the C of the outdoor unit 23
The PU 32 regularly communicates with each other to grasp the operation data of each other, and in the event that a failure should occur, the contents thereof are written in the storage means 33. The service operation terminal device 25 has a function of reading the operation status of the air conditioner or past failure history data through the interface unit 24 and decoding the data.

Furthermore, operating parameters or programs are written in the CPUs 31, 32 or the storage means 33 of the machine body control device 22a or machine body control device 23a, and these are constructed so that they can be rewritten from the outside if necessary. ing. Therefore, if the failure is relatively minor and it is determined that the operation can be continued by changing the operating parameters or the program, for example, if the heat dissipation side of the air conditioner is slightly ventilated and the high pressure side pressure is over, The problem was solved by reducing the maximum allowable operating frequency of the inverter compressor (not shown),
Repair time can be greatly reduced.

In each of the above embodiments, the storage means 13 and 33 are provided on the indoor units 2 and 22 side, but they may be provided on the outdoor machine control units 3a and 23a side. In the case of a wind type air conditioner, of course, the airframe control devices 2a and 22a and the airframe control device 3
a and 23a are integrally configured.

[0030]

The present invention is embodied in the form as described above, and has a simple structure, from the outside of the air conditioner, for confirming its operating condition or failure state, for accurately identifying the failure point, and for minor failures. Has the effect of speeding up and facilitating failure repair work by externally changing operating parameters or programs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block connection diagram of an air conditioner control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioner control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block connection diagram of an air conditioner control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2.22 Indoor unit 2a, 3a Airframe control device (inside the room) 3,23 Outdoor unit 13, 33 storage means 22a, 23a Airframe control device (outdoor side) 4, 24 Interface unit 5 terminal devices 7 Operation terminal device 11, 12, 31, 32 CPU 22 Indoor unit 23 Outdoor unit 24 Interface unit 25 Service terminal equipment

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner provided with a machine body control device for controlling the operation of the air conditioner, wherein the machine body control device has a storage means for holding operation status data including at least a failure history of the air conditioner, The terminal unit is provided so as to be capable of mutual communication with an external control terminal via a wired / wireless network, and a communication unit for communicating via an interface unit for communication is provided, and mail communication is performed to the interface unit. An air conditioner control device configured such that a terminal device having a possible Internet address is connected and an operating terminal device can confirm the operating condition or the failure condition of the air conditioner via the terminal device. 2. The airframe controller can externally rewrite parameters or programs for determining operating conditions,
The air conditioner control device according to claim 1, wherein the operation terminal device can confirm the operating condition or the failure condition of the air conditioner via the terminal device and can rewrite the parameter or the program at the same time. 3. An air conditioner provided with a machine body control device for controlling the operation of the air conditioner, wherein the machine body control device has a storage means for holding data on an operating condition including a failure history of the air conditioner, The air conditioner is provided with communication means for communicating via a communication interface unit with a terminal device arranged to be capable of mutual communication with an external network, and connecting the service operation terminal device to the interface unit. An air conditioner control device configured to check the operating status or failure status of the air conditioner. 4. The airframe controller is provided with a storage means for holding data of operating conditions including a history of failure of the air conditioner,
It also has a function of communicating with the outside, and the machine control device can rewrite parameters or programs that determine the operating conditions from the outside, and the operating status of the air conditioner or failure of the air conditioner via the terminal device by the service operation terminal device. The air conditioner control device according to claim 3, wherein the state can be confirmed and the parameter or the program can be rewritten at the same time.