JP2010266146A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of being easily applied to a compact wireless remote controller and having superior operability of the wireless remote controller. <P>SOLUTION: Control information of an air conditioning unit 2 according to the kind of an operated operation key is transmitted from the wireless remote controller 1 to the air conditioning unit 2, when any of a plurality of operation keys disposed on one face of the wireless remote controller 1 is operated independently in a normal operation mode. When a specific operation key selected from the plurality of operation keys is pressed double, or pressed long, an address switching signal according to the kind and the operating method of the operated operation key is transmitted from the wireless remote controller 1 to the air conditioning unit 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to a means for transmitting an address switching signal from a wireless remote controller to an air conditioning unit.

  Many of the recent air conditioners are remotely operated by an infrared wireless remote controller for both a multi-type air conditioner and a package type air conditioner. This type of air conditioner receives control information transmitted from a wireless remote controller in an indoor unit of a multi-type air conditioner or a main body of a package type air conditioner, and performs an operation according to the control information. In the following, the indoor unit of the multi-type air conditioner and the main body of the package type air conditioner are collectively referred to as an “air conditioning unit”.

  By the way, in an office or the like, there are cases where a plurality of air conditioning units are installed in one room. In this case as well, the operation of each air conditioning unit is switched by operating a wireless remote controller associated therewith. However, when a plurality of air conditioning units installed in one room are operated by operating the same type of wireless remote controller, as shown in FIG. In spite of operating one wireless remote controller 1, the air conditioning unit B tends to react to the same control information, and there is a problem that it is difficult to individually operate the air conditioning units A and B.

  Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, specific address information is added to control information transmitted from the wireless remote controller, and address information for identifying a specific wireless remote controller is registered in the air conditioning unit. There has been proposed an air conditioner that performs control according to control information transmitted from a wireless remote controller when these pieces of address information match. In addition, the address information on the wireless remote controller side and the address information on the air conditioning unit side do not correspond to each other on a one-to-one basis, but are registered in the air conditioning unit according to changes in the installation status and usage status of the air conditioning unit in the room. In order to be able to switch the address information appropriately, an address selector switch is provided in the wireless remote controller, and when this address selector switch is operated, an address switch signal for switching the address information is transmitted from the wireless remote controller to the air conditioning unit. There has also been proposed an air conditioner that changes registered address information to address information after switching in an air conditioning unit that has received a signal (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3818035

  However, the operation surface of the wireless remote controller is provided with a number of operation keys for outputting necessary control information, a liquid crystal display device for displaying the operating state of the air conditioning unit, and the like. Adding a changeover switch is difficult in terms of space and circuit board configuration, and there is a problem that it is difficult to put it into practical use. This problem becomes more pronounced as the wireless remote control becomes smaller. It should be noted that this problem can be solved by arranging an address changeover switch on the side of the wireless remote control where the normal operation keys are not provided. However, according to such a configuration, it is provided on the surface of the wireless remote control. Since it is difficult to operate the address selector switch while looking at the liquid crystal display device or the like, another problem arises that the operability is poor.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems of the prior art, and the object thereof can be easily applied to a small wireless remote controller and is excellent in operability of the wireless remote controller. Is to provide an air conditioner.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention operates control information corresponding to the type of operation key operated from the wireless remote controller by operating any one of a plurality of operation keys arranged on one side of the wireless remote controller. In the air conditioner that operates the air conditioning unit according to the control information transmitted from the wireless remote controller, the specific operation key selected from the plurality of operation keys transmits the control information. The wireless remote controller is configured to transmit an address switching signal for switching the address information for identifying the wireless remote controller registered in the air conditioning unit to the air conditioning unit. When the address switching signal is transmitted from the wireless remote controller The air conditioning unit has a configuration that switches the address information registered previously in the address information after the added change in the address switching signal.

  According to this configuration, an address switching signal for switching address information can be transmitted to the air conditioning unit using the operation key for transmitting control information provided in the wireless remote controller, so a special operation key for transmitting the address switching signal is provided. It is not necessary to provide a wireless remote control, and can be easily applied to a small wireless remote control and can improve the operability of the wireless remote control.

  In the air conditioner having the above-described configuration, the format of the transmission signal transmitted from the wireless remote controller to the air conditioning unit includes the format of the transmission signal when transmitting the control information, and the address switching signal. The transmission signal has a common format for transmission.

  According to such a configuration, the address signal transmission means and the control information signal transmission means provided in the wireless remote controller and the address signal reception means and the control information signal reception means provided in the air conditioning unit can be made common. The configuration can be simplified.

  According to the present invention, in the air conditioner having the above configuration, the wireless remote controller includes a display device on a mounting surface of the operation key, and is different from a method in which the specific operation key transmits the control information. When operated, the changed address information added to the address switching signal is displayed on the display device.

  According to such a configuration, the operation contents of the operation keys can be displayed on the display device, so that a required key operation can be reliably performed.

  In the air conditioner having the above-described configuration, the wireless remote controller includes a nonvolatile memory, and when the specific operation key is operated by a method different from the case where the control information is transmitted, The changed address information added to the address switching signal is stored in the nonvolatile memory.

  According to such a configuration, the address information after the change can be stored in the non-volatile memory provided in the wireless remote controller, so that the key for switching the address again when the wireless remote controller is reset due to battery replacement or the like. There is no need to perform any operation.

  According to the present invention, the address switch signal can be transmitted to the air conditioning unit without providing the wireless remote controller with a special operation key for transmitting the address switch signal. Therefore, the present invention can be easily applied to a small wireless remote controller and the wireless remote controller can be operated. The property can be improved.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the air conditioner which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data format of the transmission signal of the air conditioner which concerns on embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner concerning an embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the wireless remote control side of the air conditioner which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the air-conditioning unit side of the air conditioner which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the problem of a prior art.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner according to the embodiment includes a wireless remote controller 1 and an air conditioning unit 2. The wireless remote controller 1 includes a plurality of operation keys such as an operation switching key for switching the operation state of the air conditioning unit 2 to cooling, heating, dehumidification, etc., a temperature setting key, a wind speed setting key, and a wind direction setting key on one side of a casing (not shown). Operation key switch unit 3, infrared transmission unit 6 that wirelessly transmits control information or an address switching signal edited in accordance with the operation content of the operation key to air conditioning unit 2, and the current operation status of air conditioning unit 2 are displayed. A liquid crystal display unit 4 for controlling, a remote controller side non-volatile memory 7 for storing the setting state of the wireless remote controller 1 such as address information, and a remote controller side control unit 5 for controlling the driving of each of these units 3, 4, 6, 7 It has. On the other hand, the air conditioning unit 2 includes an infrared receiving unit 8 that receives an infrared signal transmitted from the wireless remote controller 1, an air conditioning unit side control unit 9 that analyzes a command included in the received signal of the infrared receiving unit 8, and an infrared receiving unit. When the command included in the received signal 8 is for instructing switching of address information, the air conditioning unit side nonvolatile memory 10 for storing new address information instructed by the received signal, and the air conditioning unit side control unit 9 and a drive circuit 11 for driving the air conditioning unit 2 based on a control signal from 9.

  A signal output from the operation key switch unit 3 by operating the operation key is used as an address setting signal shown in FIG. 2A or a control information setting signal shown in FIG. The edited signal is converted into an infrared signal by the infrared transmitter 6 and transmitted to the air conditioning unit 2. That is, when the operation switching key, temperature setting key, wind speed setting key, wind direction setting key, and the like provided in the operation key switch unit 3 are operated by a single and normal operation method, as shown in FIG. In addition, “various control information setting” is registered in the command code Dn-x, the address information of the air conditioning unit 2 to be controlled is registered in the address code Dn-y, and the operation key is operated in the other air conditioning control information section Then, the control information setting signal in which the control information instructed is set is edited by the remote controller 5 and transmitted from the infrared transmitter 6 to the air conditioning unit 2. On the other hand, for example, when a plurality of predetermined operation keys are operated in combination (double press), or when a predetermined specific operation key is pressed for a long time, FIG. As shown, the address setting signal in which “address setting” is registered in the command code Dn-x and the changed address information is registered in the address code Dn-y is edited by the remote control unit 5, and the infrared transmission unit 6 to the air conditioning unit 2. Then, when the address setting signal is edited by the remote control side control unit 5, the address information after switching registered in the address code Dn-y is stored in the remote control side nonvolatile memory 7.

  In the air conditioning unit 2, the infrared signal from the wireless remote controller 1 is received by the infrared receiving unit 8, and the command code Dn-x of the signal received by the air conditioning unit side control unit 9 is analyzed. When the command code Dn-x is “address setting”, the address information registered in the address code Dn-y of the address setting signal is written in the air-conditioning unit side nonvolatile memory 10. If the command code Dn-x of the received signal is “various control information setting” as a result of the analysis, the address information stored in the air-conditioning unit side nonvolatile memory 10 and the address code Dn of the air-conditioning control information are stored. The address information registered in -y is compared, and only when they match, the air conditioning control information is fetched, and a control signal corresponding to the fetched air conditioning control information is output to the drive circuit 11 to perform the required air conditioning operation. .

  With this configuration, between the wireless remote controller 1 and the air conditioning unit 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the address setting means 12 for setting an address for the air conditioning unit 2 to identify the wireless remote controller 1, and this Address signal transmitting means 13 for transmitting the address set by the address setting means 12, address storing means 14 for storing the set address, address signal receiving means 17 for receiving the address signal from the wireless remote controller 1, The address switching means 22 comprising the address storage means 18 for storing the address in the address signal is functionally configured. Further, control information setting means 15 for controlling the air conditioning unit 2, control information signal transmitting means 16 for transmitting this control information to the air conditioning unit 2, and control information signals (cooling, heating, Control information signal receiving means 19 for receiving operation switching such as dehumidification, temperature setting, wind speed setting, wind direction setting, etc.), the address in the signal at the time of receiving this control information signal, and the address storage means 18 are stored. An air conditioning control means 23 comprising an address confirmation means 20 for determining whether or not the addresses match, and an air conditioning operation means 21 for taking in only the control information with the matching addresses and controlling the air conditioning unit based on the control information signal. Is functionally configured.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 4, in the wireless remote controller 1, the presence / absence of an operation key input is detected in step S1. If there is an operation key input, the process proceeds to step S2 to detect the presence / absence of an address switching operation (double pressing or long pressing of the operation key). If there is no operation key input in step S1, detection of the operation key input is repeated. If it is determined in step S2 that there is an address switching operation, the process proceeds to step S3, the address is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 4, and the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the address information is stored in the non-volatile memory on the remote controller side. In step S5, the address information is set, and the process proceeds to step 7. If there is no address switching operation in step S2, control proceeds to step S6, control information is set, and control proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the information set in step S5 or step S6 is converted into an infrared signal, and a wireless signal is transmitted and output to the air conditioning unit 2. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the air conditioning unit 2 waits for a wireless signal to be received in step S8, and if received, proceeds to step S9 to analyze command data. If the analysis result is an address setting signal, the process proceeds to step S10, where the address storage is updated and the process ends. In step S9, if it does not correspond to the address setting signal, the process proceeds to step S11, and it is confirmed whether it is a control information setting signal. In the case of the control information setting signal, the process proceeds to step S12, where it is compared whether the stored address matches the address in the received signal, and only if they match, the process proceeds to step S13 to perform control output. When it does not correspond in step S11 and step S12, it progresses to step S14, the process which ignores a received signal is performed, and it is complete | finished.

  Subsequently, there are two types of addresses that can be switched by the wireless remote controller 1, that is, address A and address B, and an example of a case where the address A is set in the wireless remote controller 1 and the air conditioning unit 2 will be described. explain.

  When independently controlling a plurality of air conditioning units 2 with individual operation details, first, the operation direction of the wireless remote controller 1 is set to a direction in which only one air conditioning unit 2 reacts, and the wireless remote controller 1 is operated to An address switching operation for switching address information from address A to address B is performed for one air conditioning unit. This address switching operation is performed by double-pressing or long-pressing the operation key provided in the operation key switch unit 3. By this operation, the air conditioning unit 2 receives only the control information setting signal having the address B. Since the other air conditioning unit is originally address A, only the control information signal having address A is accepted.

  This address switching is performed by address B in the first operation, address A in the second operation, address B in the third operation, and address B in the nth operation (n = 1, 3, 5,...). In the (n + 1) th operation, address A is changed to address B when the number of times of switching is an odd number, and is changed to address A when the number of times of switching is even, and the addresses are switched alternately.

  When a plurality of air conditioning units are simultaneously operated by a single wireless remote controller 1, address switching operation is performed by directing the wireless remote controller 1 in a direction in which a plurality of air conditioning units 2 to be simultaneously operated react. By this operation, the plurality of air conditioning units all accept only the control information setting signal having the address B, and can be controlled simultaneously by subsequent remote control operations.

  Since the air conditioner of this example can transmit an address switching signal for switching address information for wireless remote control identification to the air conditioning unit 2 using an operation key for transmitting control information provided in the wireless remote control 1, It is not necessary to provide the wireless remote controller 1 with a special operation key for switching signal transmission, and it can be easily applied to a small wireless remote controller. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a special operation key for transmitting the address switching signal on the back surface of the wireless remote controller, the operation can be performed while looking at the liquid crystal display unit 4, and the operability is excellent. Moreover, since the air conditioner of this example has made the format of the infrared signal when transmitting the control information and the format of the infrared signal when transmitting the address switching signal common, the address signal provided in the wireless remote controller 1 The transmission means 13 and the control information signal transmission means 16 and the address signal reception means 17 and the control information signal reception means 19 provided in the air conditioning unit 2 can be shared, respectively. Simplification can be achieved. Furthermore, since the air conditioner of this example displays the operation contents of the operation keys on the liquid crystal display device 4, the required key operation can be reliably performed. In addition, since the air conditioner of this example can store the changed address information in the non-volatile memories 7 and 10 provided in the wireless remote controller 1 and the air conditioning unit 2, the wireless remote controller can be used by replacing the battery. When is reset, it is not necessary to perform a key operation for switching the address again.

  In the above embodiment, the wireless remote controller 1 includes the liquid crystal display unit 4. However, the gist of the present invention is not limited to this, and the liquid crystal display unit 4 is omitted in a small wireless remote controller or the like. You can also.

  The present invention can be applied to an air conditioner that transmits control information and an address switching signal by operating a wireless remote controller.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wireless remote control, 2 ... Air conditioning unit, 3 ... Operation key switch part, 4 ... Liquid crystal display part, 5 ... Remote control side control part (CPU), 6 ... Infrared transmission part, 7 ... Remote control side non-volatile memory (EEPROM), DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 ... Infrared receiving part, 9 ... Air-conditioning unit side control part (CPU), 10 ... Air-conditioning unit side non-volatile memory (EEPROM), 11 ... Drive circuit, 12 ... Address setting means, 13 ... Address signal transmission means, 14 ... Address Storage means 15 ... Control information setting means 16 ... Control information signal transmission means 17 ... Address signal reception means 18 ... Address storage means 19 ... Control information signal reception means 20 ... Address confirmation means 21 ... Air conditioning operation means 22 ... address switching means, 23 ... air conditioning control means.

Claims (4)

By operating any one of a plurality of operation keys arranged on one side of the wireless remote controller, control information corresponding to the type of the operated operation key is transmitted from the wireless remote controller to the air conditioning unit. In the air conditioner that operates according to the control information transmitted from the wireless remote control,
The specific operation key selected from the plurality of operation keys is operated by a method different from that for transmitting the control information, so that the wireless remote controller registers the air conditioning unit with the wireless remote controller. An address switching signal for switching address information for remote control identification is configured to be transmitted, and when the address switching signal is transmitted from the wireless remote controller, the air conditioning unit is configured to transmit the address previously registered. An air conditioner that switches information to changed address information added to the address switching signal.   The format of the transmission signal transmitted from the wireless remote controller to the air conditioning unit is the same as the format of the transmission signal when transmitting the control information and the format of the transmission signal when transmitting the address switching signal. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is provided.   The wireless remote controller includes a display device on a mounting surface of the operation key, and is added to the address switching signal when the specific operation key is operated by a method different from the case of transmitting the control information. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the changed address information is displayed on the display device.   The wireless remote control includes a non-volatile memory, and when the specific operation key is operated by a method different from the case of transmitting the control information, the changed address information added to the address switching signal is displayed. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is stored in the nonvolatile memory.

Images