JP2005140489A - Air conditioner and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner, having an power supply structure improved such that power is stably supplied, and allowing efficient resetting of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit even in the improved power supply structure, and to provide a control method therefor. <P>SOLUTION: This multi-type air conditioner wherein a plurality of indoor units are connected to the single outdoor unit via a communication line and are operated includes the outdoor unit, one or more indoor units and reset control parts. The outdoor unit is connected with one or more indoor units via the communication line. The reset control part is independently equipped in the outdoor unit and each of one or more indoor units, receives a reset signal transferred via the communication line, and rests the outdoor unit or one or more indoor units. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to a multi-type air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are operated by being connected to one outdoor unit through a communication line and a refrigerant pipe.

  In a multi-type air conditioner in which multiple indoor units are connected to a single outdoor unit through a single communication line, each indoor unit is unique for smooth communication between the outdoor unit and multiple indoor units. Address is set. When a temporary address with a different value is transferred from each indoor unit to the outdoor unit to set the address of the indoor unit, the outdoor unit sets the received temporary address as a unique address of the corresponding indoor unit or receives the received temporary address. A separate unique address corresponding to the address is generated and given to the corresponding indoor unit.

  In such a multi-type air conditioner, the outdoor unit and all the indoor units communicate through one communication line and a power line, respectively, and are supplied with power. The outdoor unit is responsible for communication and power supply. In particular, when the control unit (microcomputer) provided for each indoor unit does not operate normally, the outdoor unit with a reset operation for initializing the control unit takes the lead.

  In the conventional multi-type air conditioner, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are reset by shutting off the power supplied to the outdoor unit and then restarting the power supply again. This is possible because the outdoor unit and the plurality of indoor units are supplied with power through a single power line.

  The air conditioner and the control method thereof according to the present invention can stably supply power in a multi-type air conditioner that is operated by connecting a plurality of indoor units to a single outdoor unit through a communication line. An object of the present invention is to improve the power supply structure so that the outdoor unit and the plurality of indoor units can be reset efficiently even in the improved power supply structure.

  In order to achieve the above object, an air conditioner according to the present invention includes an outdoor unit, at least one indoor unit, and a reset control unit. At least one indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit through a communication line. The reset control unit is provided independently for each outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit, and receives a reset signal transferred through a communication line to reset the outdoor unit or at least one indoor unit.

  In one control method of an air conditioner according to the present invention configured as described above, any one of the outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit generates a reset signal and transfers it through a communication line, and at least one of the outdoor unit and the outdoor unit. The remaining one of the two indoor units is reset upon receiving a reset signal transferred through the communication line.

  In another control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention, when power supply is resumed after power supply to the outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit is interrupted, the outdoor unit is reset first when power supply is resumed. The reset outdoor unit resets at least one indoor unit.

  In still another control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention, when at least one of the plurality of indoor units is set as a master indoor unit and the outdoor unit does not generate a reset signal for resetting the plurality of indoor units. The master indoor unit generates a reset signal for resetting the outdoor unit, and the outdoor unit is reset by receiving the reset signal generated from the master indoor unit.

  Another air conditioner according to the present invention includes an outdoor unit, at least one indoor unit, and a power supply device. At least one indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit through a communication line, and the power supply device supplies power to the outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit independently.

  In order to achieve the above object, an air conditioner according to the present invention is provided in each of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, receives a reset signal transferred through the communication line, and receives the outdoor signal. Means for resetting the unit or the at least one indoor unit. The means determines whether or not the reset signal is included in a communication signal input through the communication line, and if it is determined that the reset signal is included, generates at least one of the at least one reset control signal. It is determined whether or not the reset signal is included in the communication signal input through the communication line and the receiving means of the two indoor units, and if it is determined that the reset signal is included, a second reset control signal is generated Means for receiving the outdoor unit.

  In the air conditioner and the control method thereof according to the present invention, the size of the power supply section of the outdoor unit is reduced, and the outdoor unit can be independently supplied to the outdoor unit and each indoor unit. The burden of is reduced, and as a result, it becomes more stable. Furthermore, since the outdoor unit and the indoor unit can be selectively reset individually even in the improved power supply structure as described above, the extra restart time of the compressor provided in the outdoor unit is reduced, and the number of restarts is reduced. Can be greatly reduced and become more effective. In addition, since the existing communication line is used as it is, it is not necessary to add a separate line for resetting even in the individual power supply structure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals and symbols are used in common as much as possible to the same constituent elements, and description of well-known techniques will be omitted as appropriate.

An air conditioner and a control method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multi-type air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of indoor units 104 a to 104 h and a single outdoor unit 102 are connected through a refrigerant pipe 108 to form one refrigerant cycle. The outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104 a to 104 h are commonly connected through one communication line 106 and communicate with the outdoor unit 102 at the initiative. A power supply device (116 and 110a to 110h) is provided independently for each of the outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h, and power is independently supplied to each of the outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h. The In addition, each of the outdoor unit 102 and each of the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h has a circuit breaker
Breakers 112 and 114a to 114h) are connected to each other by the circuit breakers (112 and 114a to 114h) when an abnormality (lightning strike, overvoltage, etc.) occurs in the power supplied to the outdoor unit 102 and each of the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h. Power supply to the outdoor unit 102 or the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h is interrupted.

  As described above, when the outdoor unit 102 and each of the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h are provided with the power supply devices (116 and 110a to 110h) and the circuit breakers (112 and 114a to 114h), the power supply device 116 of the outdoor unit 102. Need only have the power supply capacity required by the outdoor unit 102, and the power supply devices 110a to 110h of the respective indoor units 104a to 104h also have the power supply required by the indoor units 104a to 104h. It only needs to have supply capacity. Therefore, the structure in which power is independently supplied to each of the outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h is more outdoor than the structure in which power is supplied to each of the indoor units 104a to 104h via the outdoor unit 102. The burden on the power supply of the unit 102 can be greatly reduced. In addition, since the outdoor unit 102 and each of the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h are provided with circuit breakers (112 and 114a to 114h), the safety problem of power supply is the problem with each outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h. However, the burden of ensuring safety for the power supply of the outdoor unit 102 is greatly reduced.

  2A and 2B are block diagrams showing configurations of the outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h of the multi-type air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the related component. Here, the reset is an operation for forcibly initializing the control unit (microcomputer) provided in each of the outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h so that the control unit can be normally operated. That means.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h and an outdoor unit 102 of a multi-type air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention include reset control units 202 and 212 and reset driving units 204 and 214, respectively. Control units 206 and 216 are provided.

  The reset control units 202 and 212 classify other general communication signals and reset signals, and generate reset control signals 202a and 212a when the reset signals are received. The control units 206 and 216 correspond to microcomputers and control general operations of the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h and the outdoor unit 102, respectively. The reset driving units 204 and 214 reset the control units 206 and 216 in response to reset control signals 202a and 212a generated from the reset control units 202 and 212. In particular, the reset driving unit 214 of the outdoor unit 102 resets the control unit 216 of the outdoor unit 102 in response to a change in the power supply 208 input through the power supply device 116 shown in FIG. 1 in addition to the reset control signal 212a. Let Here, an example of a change in the power supply 208 is that the power supply voltage that has fallen below the critical level rises above the critical level.

  The communication line 106 is directly connected to each of the control units 206 and 216. From such a structure, the control unit 206 and 216 determines whether the reset signal currently transferred through the communication line 106 is a reset signal corresponding to itself. Can be judged. If the reset signal currently transferred through the communication line does not correspond to itself, the control units 206 and 216 are excluded from being reset by refusing to receive the reset signal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a reset signal transferred through the communication line of the multi-type air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the electrical characteristic of the reset signal 302 is that a constant level voltage signal (for example, 5V) is held for a predetermined time (t _r ). The characteristic unique to 302 enables the reset signal 302 to be distinguished from other general communication signals transmitted and received between the outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h. Further, the data signal 304 having the address of the outdoor unit 102 or the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h to be reset is simultaneously generated in the preceding stage of the reset signal 320. The outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h refuse to receive a reset signal that does not include their own address, so that only the outdoor unit or the indoor unit that does not operate normally is reset in response to the reset signal. The

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a reset controller of the multi-type air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. As shown in FIG. 4A, the reference signal of 5V is input to the non-inverting input terminal (+) of the comparator 402a, and the communication signal transferred through the communication line 106 is input to the inverting input terminal (−). Assume that the reset signal has an electrical characteristic in which a DC voltage of 5V is maintained for a predetermined time (t _r ), and the reference signal also has the same electrical characteristic. The reset control unit 202 is a device for detecting a reset signal from a communication signal transferred through the communication line 106. When the reset signal is received through the communication line 106, the comparator 402 a generates a positive (+) reset control signal 202 a to drive the reset driving unit 204. In this case, it is preferable that the reset driving unit 204 is driven only when the reset control signal 202a holds a positive (+) value for a certain time (t _r ) as in the reset signal.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the configuration of another reset control unit 202 ', which is based on the delay relay 402b. Since the delay relay 402b has a feature that it is excited and turned on only when a signal of a specific condition is input for a certain period of time, the communication signal is received using the delay relay 402b, and the received communication signal is reset. If the reset control signal 202a is generated by being excited and turned on when it has the same electrical characteristics as the signal (for example, a DC voltage of 5V is maintained for a certain period of time), it responds only to the reset signal. Thus, the reset driving unit 204 can be driven.

  5 to 7 are flowcharts illustrating a method for controlling an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a plurality of indoor units 104 a to 104 h are reset under the initiative of the outdoor unit 102. If some or all of the control units among the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h do not operate normally, the controller is reset to initialize and operate normally (step 502). The outdoor unit 102 generates an address data signal and a reset signal of the corresponding indoor unit in order to reset the indoor unit that does not operate normally (step 504). Since the indoor unit in which the control unit 206 does not operate normally cannot directly receive the reset signal, the reset control unit 202 and the reset driving unit 204 in the previous stage operate according to the reset signal to reset the control unit 206 ( 506). That is, the indoor unit that operates normally rejects reception because the address included in the reset signal is not its own, and as a result, the reset signal is input and reset only to the other indoor units that do not operate normally.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h are reset when power supply is interrupted and restarted. When power supply is interrupted due to a lightning strike or abnormal voltage, the outdoor unit 102 and the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h do not operate (step 602). Thereafter, when the power supply is resumed (step 604), first, the controller 216 of the outdoor unit 102 is restarted while being reset (step 606). As shown in FIG. 2B, the reset driving unit 214 of the outdoor unit 102 responds not only to the reset control signal 212a but also to the change in the power source 208 input through the power supply device 116 shown in FIG. In order to reset the control unit 216, the outdoor unit 102 is automatically reset by restarting the power supply. Once the outdoor unit 102 is reset and restarted, the indoor units 104a to 104h are simultaneously reset while tracking the indoor units 104a to 104h (step 608). Tracking of the indoor units 104a to 104h by the outdoor unit 102 is an operation in which the outdoor unit 102 confirms whether each of the indoor units 104a to 104h exists through communication. At this time, the reset of the indoor units 104a to 104h is performed on the indoor units 104a to 104h that are confirmed to exist.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation in which the outdoor unit 102 is reset when the control unit 216 of the outdoor unit 102 does not operate normally. If the control unit 216 of the outdoor unit 102 that leads communication with the indoor units 104a to 104h does not operate normally, not only the outdoor unit 102 but also other indoor units cannot be reset (step 702). Therefore, one of the plurality of indoor units 104a to 104h is set as the master indoor unit as shown in 104a in FIG. 1, and when the outdoor unit 102 does not operate normally, the master indoor unit 104a is used as the outdoor unit. The reset of 102 is led. The master indoor unit 104a transfers a reset signal to the outdoor unit 102 in order to reset the outdoor unit 102 that does not operate normally (step 704). The outdoor unit 102 is reset in response to the reset signal transferred from the master indoor unit 104a (step 706). After the outdoor unit 102 is reset, the indoor units 104a to 104h are reset by the outdoor unit 102, and there is an indoor unit that resets the outdoor unit 102 (that is, an indoor unit that does not operate normally). If there is an indoor unit that does not operate normally, a reset signal is transferred to the corresponding indoor unit (step 710). Although all the indoor units 104a to 104h are set as master indoor units in preparation for the situation where both the outdoor unit 102 and the master indoor unit 104a do not operate normally, priority is set for each of the indoor units 104a to 104h. When an indoor unit with a short period of time stops operating normally, the indoor unit having the next priority order operates as a master indoor unit, thereby improving the safety of reset control.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the multi type air conditioner by one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows each structure of the outdoor unit and indoor unit of the multi type air conditioner by one Example of this invention shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows each structure of the outdoor unit and indoor unit of the multi type air conditioner by one Example of this invention shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the waveform of the rit signal transmitted through the communication line of the multi type air conditioner by one Example of this invention shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the reset control part of the multi type air conditioner by one Example of this invention shown to FIG. 2A and 2B. It is a figure which shows the reset control part of the multi type air conditioner by one Example of this invention shown to FIG. 2A and 2B. It is a flowchart which shows the control method of the air conditioner by one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control method of the air conditioner by one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control method of the air conditioner by one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

102 outdoor units 104a to 104h indoor unit 106 common line 108 refrigerant pipe 116, 110a to 110h power supply device 112, 114a to 114h circuit breaker

Claims (29)

An outdoor unit;
At least one indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit through a communication line;
Reset control that is provided independently for each of the outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit and that receives a reset signal transferred through the communication line and resets at least one of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit. And air conditioner. The at least one indoor unit is reset in response to a reset signal generated from the outdoor unit;
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the outdoor unit is reset in response to a reset signal generated from the at least one indoor unit. A plurality of indoor units are provided, and at least one of the plurality of indoor units is set as a master indoor unit;
The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the master indoor unit generates a reset signal for resetting the outdoor unit. Each of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit includes a control unit;
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the reset signal is a signal for resetting the respective control units. The reset signal includes an address of at least one of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit to be reset;
The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein only the outdoor unit or the indoor unit designated by the address is reset in response to the reset signal.   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the reset signal has an inherent electrical characteristic so as to be differentiated from other general communication signals transferred through the communication line. The outdoor unit determines whether or not the reset signal is included in a communication signal input through the communication line, and generates a first reset control signal when it is determined that the reset signal is included. Including a reset controller;
The at least one indoor unit determines whether or not the reset signal is included in a communication signal input through the communication line, and outputs a second reset control signal when it is determined that the reset signal is included. The air conditioner according to claim 6, further comprising a second reset control unit to be generated. The first and second reset control units are respectively
A reference signal having the same electrical characteristics as the reset signal is input, a communication signal transferred through the communication line is received, the reference signal and the communication signal are compared, and the reset signal is generated when they match each other The air conditioner according to claim 7, further comprising a comparator that determines that the reset control signal is generated. The first and second reset control units are respectively
A communication signal transferred through the communication line is received, and when the received communication signal has the same electrical characteristics as the reset signal, the first reset control signal and the first reset signal are excited when turned on. The air conditioner according to claim 7, further comprising a delay relay that generates a 2 reset control signal.   10. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the electrical characteristics of the reset signal include a voltage signal having a certain level that is maintained for a predetermined time. The at least one indoor unit further includes a first reset driving unit for generating a first reset driving signal for resetting the control unit of the indoor unit;
The air conditioning according to claim 7, wherein the first reset driving unit generates the first reset driving signal in response to the first reset control signal generated from the first reset control unit. Machine. The outdoor unit further includes a second reset driving unit that generates a second reset driving signal for resetting the control unit of the outdoor unit;
The second reset driving unit generates the second reset driving signal in response to at least one of the second reset control signal generated from the second reset control unit and a preset change in power supply. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein the air conditioner is used. At least one indoor unit is connected to an outdoor unit through a communication line, and power is independently supplied to each of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, and the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit are connected through the communication line. In a control method of an air conditioner that is reset by receiving a transferred reset signal,
A reset signal is generated and transferred through the communication line by at least one of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit;
A method for controlling an air conditioner, wherein the outdoor unit and the remaining one of the at least one indoor unit are reset by receiving a reset signal transferred through the communication line. In the method of controlling an air conditioner, wherein the at least one indoor unit includes a first control unit, a first reset control unit, and a first reset driving unit,
A general operation of the at least one indoor unit is controlled by the first controller;
The first reset control unit determines whether or not the reset signal is included in a communication signal input through the communication line, and generates a first reset control signal when it is determined that the reset signal is included. Let;
The first reset driving unit generates the first reset driving signal and resets the first control unit in response to the first reset control signal generated from the first reset control unit. Item 14. A method for controlling an air conditioner according to Item 13. In the control method of the air conditioner, wherein the outdoor unit includes a second control unit, a second reset control unit, and a second reset driving unit,
The second controller controls the overall operation of the at least one outdoor unit;
The second reset control unit determines whether or not the reset signal is included in a communication signal input through the communication line, and generates a second reset control signal when it is determined that the reset signal is included. Let;
The second reset driving unit generates the second reset driving signal in response to at least one of the second reset control signal generated from the second reset control unit and a preset change in power supply. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the second control unit is reset. An address of one of the outdoor unit to be reset and at least one indoor unit is assigned to the reset signal;
14. The method of controlling an air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein only the outdoor unit designated by the address or at least one indoor unit is reset in response to the reset signal. At least one indoor unit is connected to an outdoor unit through a communication line, and power is independently supplied to each of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, and the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit are connected through the communication line. In a control method of an air conditioner that is reset by receiving a transferred reset signal,
When the power supply of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit is resumed after being interrupted, the outdoor unit is reset first together with the restart of the power supply;
The air conditioner control method, wherein the reset outdoor unit resets the at least one indoor unit.   18. The at least one indoor unit includes a plurality of indoor units, and the outdoor unit restarted by the reset causes the plurality of indoor units to be reset while tracking the plurality of indoor units. The control method of the air conditioner described in 1. In the method of controlling an air conditioner, wherein the at least one indoor unit includes a first control unit, a first reset control unit, and a first reset driving unit,
The first controller controls the overall operation of the at least one indoor unit;
The first reset control unit determines whether or not the reset signal is included in a communication signal input through the communication line, and generates a first reset control signal when it is determined that the reset signal is included. Let;
The first reset driving unit generates the first reset driving signal and resets the first control unit in response to the first reset control signal generated from the first reset control unit. Item 18. A method for controlling an air conditioner according to Item 17. In the control method of the air conditioner, wherein the outdoor unit includes a second control unit, a second reset control unit, and a second reset driving unit,
The second controller controls the overall operation of the at least one outdoor unit;
The second reset control unit determines whether or not the reset signal is included in a communication signal input through the communication line, and generates a second reset control signal when it is determined that the reset signal is included. Let;
The second reset driving unit generates the second reset driving signal in response to at least one of the second reset control signal generated from the second reset control unit and a preset change in power supply. The air conditioner according to claim 17, wherein the second control unit is reset. A plurality of indoor units are connected to an outdoor unit through a communication line, power is independently supplied to each of the outdoor unit and the plurality of indoor units, and the outdoor unit and the plurality of indoor units are transferred through the communication line. In a control method of an air conditioner that is reset by receiving a reset signal
At least one of the plurality of indoor units is set as a master indoor unit;
When the outdoor unit does not generate a reset signal for resetting the plurality of indoor units, the master indoor unit generates a reset signal for resetting the outdoor unit;
The method of controlling an air conditioner, wherein the outdoor unit is reset by receiving a reset signal generated from the master indoor unit. An address of one of an outdoor unit or a plurality of indoor units to be reset is given to the reset signal;
The method of controlling an air conditioner according to claim 21, wherein only one of an outdoor unit or a plurality of indoor units designated by the address is reset in response to the reset signal. An outdoor unit;
At least one indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit through a communication line;
An air conditioner comprising: a power supply device configured to independently supply power to each of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit.   The air conditioner according to claim 23, wherein the power supply device for the outdoor unit supplies power having a magnitude corresponding to the amount of power required from the outdoor unit.   A circuit breaker provided independently for each of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit so as to cut off the power supply to the outdoor unit or the indoor unit when an abnormality occurs in the power supplied to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. The air conditioner according to claim 23, further comprising: An outdoor unit;
At least one indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit through a communication line;
A power supply device for independently supplying power to each of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit;
An air conditioner comprising: the outdoor unit and a reset control unit that is provided independently for each indoor unit and receives a reset signal transferred through the communication line and resets the outdoor unit or the at least one indoor unit. An outdoor unit;
At least one indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit through a communication line;
An air conditioner that is provided in each of the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, and that receives a reset signal transferred through the communication line and resets the outdoor unit or the at least one indoor unit. The means is
It is determined whether or not the reset signal is included in a communication signal input through the communication line, and if it is determined that the reset signal is included, the first reset control signal is generated. Receiving means;
Receiving means of the outdoor unit for determining whether or not the reset signal is included in a communication signal input through the communication line, and generating a second reset control signal when it is determined that the reset signal is included; The air conditioner according to claim 27, comprising:   The receiving unit of the at least one indoor unit and the receiving unit of the outdoor unit each receive a reference signal having the same electrical characteristics as the reset signal, receive the communication signal transferred through the communication line, 29. The air conditioner according to claim 28, wherein the communication signal and the reference signal are compared to determine that the reset signal has been generated when they coincide with each other, and the first and second reset control signals are generated. Machine.

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