JP2014047964A - Air conditioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioning device which performs normal operation when a temperature becomes higher or lower than an allowable range of an indoor environment that a user demands while automatically performing energy saving operation in the time zone when electric power rate is relatively expensive in accordance with a change in a unit electric power rate for every time zone.SOLUTION: When an operation mode is set for an automatic energy saving operation, an air conditioning device: detects a room temperature at predetermined time intervals in a time zone when a unit electric power rate is relatively expensive by referring to the unit electric power rate in every time zone; performs energy saving operation when the detected room temperature is within a threshold range that a user preliminarily set as an operation temperature; and performs normal operation when the detected room temperature is outside the threshold range.

Description

The present invention relates to an energy-saving operation of an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner that automatically performs an energy-saving operation according to a unit price of an electric charge according to time zones.

In recent years, consumers have become more aware of power saving due to a shortage of social power supply and increased electricity prices, etc., and air conditioners that are considered to have a high proportion of power consumed in ordinary households are normally operated. Many of them have a function of energy-saving operation (hereinafter referred to as energy-saving operation) that consumes less power than when performing.

The energy-saving operation function of the air conditioner includes a function that increases the set temperature, which is the target value for air-conditioning operation control set by the user, during cooling operation, relaxes slightly lower during heating operation, and monitors the presence of people. Air conditioning is concentrated around people when they are present, and wasteful driving is suppressed when they are absent. By controlling the air volume and airflow direction, the temperature can be felt higher or lower than the actual room temperature, improving comfort. There are a wide variety of things, but among them, the user operates buttons such as “energy saving” on the remote control to reduce the power consumption of the air conditioner only when the function is set. There is something to reduce.

In addition to the conventional fixed price plan, which is a fixed unit price regardless of the time of day, electricity prices are cheaper from late night to early morning, and other unit prices are higher. Late night electricity plans, peak shift plans that are most expensive during the daytime in summer when electricity demand peaks, are cheaper from late night to early morning, and are slightly more expensive during other hours, etc. It can be selected by contract with an electric power company according to the lifestyle.

Therefore, if a home air conditioner user who has selected a rate plan with a different unit price of electricity depending on the time of day, such as a peak shift plan, saves electricity costs through the use of energy-saving operation, the unit price is higher. It is easier to achieve a saving effect by performing energy-saving operation during the time period. From such a background, a time zone for carrying out energy saving operation in a day is set in advance, and by setting the temperature of the air conditioner higher or lower during that time zone, the operation capacity is limited. Building monitoring and control devices that can save on charges have been proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In addition, a dehumidifying device has been proposed that can save electricity charges by driving the electricity charges of each household while concentrating them at a reasonable time. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-121126 A (page 3, FIG. 6) JP 2010-240556 A (page 6, FIG. 3)

In Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, since the energy saving operation is automatically performed by setting the time zone for performing the energy saving operation in advance, the power consumption in the time zone can be reduced. Limit driving ability uniformly. In general home air conditioners, when the operating capacity is limited, there is a possibility that the capacity will be insufficient due to external factors such as changes in outside air temperature and opening / closing of windows essential to daily living, and the indoor environment changes beyond the allowable range. There was a problem that users who shy away from doing so could not use energy-saving automatic driving with peace of mind.

In addition, in the case where the user performs energy saving operation only when the operation method is selected by the button operation such as “energy saving” on the remote control, the energy saving operation is performed only during the time when the electricity charge is high, and the electricity charge is saved. In such a case, there is a problem in that setting and canceling operations must be performed every time the charge is switched, which is inconvenient and the electricity charge cannot be saved by forgetting the operation.

The present invention solves the problems described above, and switches between energy-saving operation and normal operation according to the change in the unit price of the electricity rate for each time zone and the threshold of the room temperature and the room temperature during energy-saving operation requested by the user. It aims at providing the air conditioner performed effectively.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to an indoor unit, a remote controller that gives an operation instruction to the indoor unit, and an automatic operation so that the room temperature approaches a target set temperature. Air that has a normal operation mode that is controlled automatically, an energy-saving operation mode that reduces power consumption by suppressing the operation capacity of the normal operation mode, and an energy-saving automatic operation mode that switches between the normal operation mode and the energy-saving operation mode according to the time zone In the conditioner, the air conditioner includes a room temperature detecting means for detecting a room temperature, a unit price of an electric charge for each time zone, and an operating temperature setting value that defines a threshold value of a room temperature for performing energy saving operation in the energy saving automatic operation mode. Storage means for storing, the remote control includes a key input unit that receives an operation from a user, a remote control communication unit that communicates with an indoor unit, and a remote control that controls these And the remote control unit detects the room temperature from the room temperature detection means at a predetermined time interval when the energy-saving automatic operation mode is determined and the unit price of the electricity bill is high. Energy saving operation is performed when the room temperature is within the threshold value of the operating temperature setting value, and normal operation is performed when the detected room temperature exceeds the threshold value of the operating temperature setting value.

  Further, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention includes an indoor unit, a remote controller that gives an operation instruction to the indoor unit, a normal operation mode that automatically controls the room temperature to approach the target set temperature, In an air conditioner having an energy saving operation mode for reducing power consumption by suppressing operation capacity in an operation mode, and an energy saving automatic operation mode for switching between a normal operation mode and an energy saving operation mode according to a time zone, the air conditioner is A room temperature detecting means for detecting a room temperature; and a storage means for storing a unit price of an electricity charge for each time zone and an operating temperature setting value that defines a threshold value of a room temperature for performing an energy saving operation in the energy saving automatic operation mode, The indoor unit includes an indoor unit communication unit that communicates with a remote controller and an indoor unit control unit that controls the indoor unit, and the indoor unit control unit is in the energy saving automatic operation mode and has an electric charge. When it is determined that the unit price is a high time zone, the room temperature is detected from the room temperature detection means at a predetermined time interval, and when the detected room temperature is within the threshold value of the operating temperature setting, energy saving operation is performed and the detected room temperature is detected. Is characterized in that a normal operation is performed when the operating temperature exceeds a threshold value of the operating temperature set value.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that the air conditioner has an energy saving operation capable of selecting the degree to suppress the operation capability in multiple stages, and the remote control unit or the indoor unit control unit includes: The room temperature is detected from the room temperature detecting means at a predetermined time interval, and when the detected room temperature exceeds the threshold value of the operating temperature setting value, the energy saving is reduced by one step from the current energy saving operation. It is characterized by performing driving.

By using the above means, according to the air conditioner of the present invention, in the energy-saving automatic operation mode, while the energy-saving operation is performed in the time zone when the electricity rate is high, the temperature exceeding the room temperature range set for the energy-saving operation is exceeded. In order not to become cold or cold, the user can switch to normal operation or energy-saving operation with a reduced degree of operation capacity, so that the user can select the energy-saving automatic operation mode with confidence and use it to save electricity charges.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the air conditioner by this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the setting of an electricity bill. It is explanatory drawing explaining the setting of the energy saving operation by this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the example of control of the energy saving automatic operation mode according to the unit price of the electricity bill for every time slot | zone by this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the example of control of the energy saving automatic operation mode according to room temperature and operation temperature setting value by this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process which concerns on the energy saving driving | operation of the remote control part by this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail as examples based on the attached drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner according to the present invention. The indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner includes an indoor unit communication unit 11 that performs communication with the remote controller 20 and an indoor unit control unit 14 that controls each component of the indoor unit communication unit 11 and the indoor unit 10 (not illustrated). I have.

The remote controller 20 includes a key input unit 21 for a user to operate the air conditioner, a remote control communication unit 22 for performing communication with the indoor unit 10, and a display unit for displaying settings and operating states of the air conditioner. 23, a room temperature detection means 24 for detecting the room temperature, a storage means 25 for storing data related to unit price of electricity charges for each time zone, operation method of energy saving operation, operation information of the air conditioner, and the like. And a remote control unit 26 for controlling.

The configuration of the room temperature detection means 24 and the storage means 25 provided in the remote controller 20 of FIG. 1 may be provided on the indoor unit 10 side, and either the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner according to the present invention or the remote controller 20 may be provided. Any device may be provided.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the setting of the electricity bill according to the present invention. (1) to (3) in FIG. 2 show examples of setting electricity charges for each electricity charge plan. The fixed plan in (1) is 23 yen / kWh all day regardless of the time zone. The late night plan is 9 yen / kWh in the midnight time zone from 23:00 to 7:00 the next time, 28 yen / kWh in the time zone other than midnight, and the peak shift plan of (3) is the midnight time zone from 23:00 to 7:00 Indicates that it is set at 9 yen / kWh, the daytime time zone from 13:00 to 16:00 is 45 yen / kWh, and the time zone other than midnight and daytime is 26 yen / kWh. The electricity price is set when the user sets or confirms the electricity price via the key input unit 21 and when a predetermined time (for example, every hour) is set in advance. Storage or reference to the storage means 25 is performed by the machine controller 12 or the remote controller 26.

In addition, (4) in FIG. 2 is a unit price graph for each price plan according to the time zone. The plans (1) to (3) are expressed as unit prices of electricity charges on the vertical axis and time of day on the horizontal axis. Yes. As shown in this graph, the unit price of electricity charges varies greatly between cheaper and more expensive time periods for non-fixed rate plans, so it is better to perform energy-saving operation during times when electricity charges are more expensive. Electricity charges can be further reduced. Note that (1) to (3) show an example in which one to three kinds of time zones and unit prices of electricity charges are set, but the present invention is not limited to this, and each day time zone shown in (4) The unit price of the electricity charge only needs to be set without omission, and does not limit the types to be set or the number of unit prices.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the setting of the energy saving operation according to the present invention. FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining setting of an operation mode for setting whether or not to perform an energy saving operation and whether or not to automatically perform an energy saving operation according to the unit price of the electricity charge for each time zone, and a switching method thereof. Yes, in the case of energy-saving operation with one level of reducing the driving capacity of (1), normal operation, energy-saving operation, and energy-saving operation during the time when the unit price of electricity is higher, and during the time when the unit price is lower There are three types of energy-saving automatic operation that automatically switches normal operation. This setting switching is performed by repeatedly displaying a cycle in which each of the three types of settings is changed on the display unit 23 every time a setting switching operation is performed by the user via the key input unit 21 of the remote controller 20. Select. In the case of energy-saving operation in which the degree of suppressing the driving capacity in (2) is a two-stage energy-saving operation, the energy-saving operation that reduces the power consumption by suppressing the operating capacity of the air conditioner slightly (for example, a quarter) and the normal operation Small), energy-saving operation (large) that reduces power consumption by reducing the driving capacity (for example, a half), and depending on the size of the unit price when the unit price of electricity charges is high, There are four types: energy-saving operation (small) when the unit price is small, energy-saving operation (large) when the unit price is large, and automatic operation switching automatically during normal time. For switching the setting, the operation mode is selected by repeatedly displaying a cycle of changing each of the four types of settings on the display unit 23 as in (1). In the case of an air conditioner capable of energy saving operation in three or more stages, although not shown, the types of energy saving operation increase according to (1) and (2). Is the same.

Further, B in FIG. 3 sets a threshold value used to determine whether or not to perform energy saving operation when the unit price of electricity bill is high when the energy saving automatic operation mode is set. The user sets the upper limit value of the room temperature used for the determination at the time of cooling and the lower limit value of the room temperature used for the determination at the time of heating via the key input unit 21 of the remote controller 20. Therefore, the user can set the room temperature that can be endured to reduce the electricity bill according to the preference of the person and the health condition of the family. Note that the room temperature upper limit value and the lower limit value are used to determine whether or not to perform energy saving operation compared to the room temperature detected by the room temperature detection means, so the room temperature set during normal operation is the upper limit of the room temperature during cooling. If the value exceeds the value, the upper limit of the room temperature is corrected to the room temperature set during normal operation.If the room temperature set during normal operation is less than the lower limit of the room temperature during heating, the room temperature Correct the lower limit value to the room temperature set during normal operation. Also, the operation temperature set value of the operation mode of FIG. 3A and the energy-saving automatic operation of FIG. 3B is stored in the storage means 25, and a predetermined interval (for example, 20 minutes) for determining a preset operation method not shown in the figure. The interval is referred to by the indoor unit control unit 12 or the remote control unit 26.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a control example of the energy saving automatic operation mode according to the unit price of the electricity bill for each time zone according to the present invention. Note that (1) and (2) in FIG. 4 are based on the assumption that the operating temperature of energy-saving automatic operation is not set, or that the room temperature is always within the threshold value between the upper and lower limits of the operating temperature of automatic operation. explain. (1) in FIG. 4 is the case of the late-night type plan of (2) in FIG. 2 in which the unit price of the electric charge is two, and the degree of suppressing the operating capacity of the air conditioner is one stage in FIG. It is an example of control to be performed, and shows an operation method selected according to the unit price of the electricity rate for each time zone. The indoor unit control unit 12 or the remote controller control unit 26 sets the unit price of the electricity rate stored in the setting storage unit for a predetermined time (for example, every hour) set in advance and the unit price other than that time. By comparing the size, normal operation is selected during the time when the electricity rate is cheap from 0:00 to 7:00, energy-saving operation is selected during the time when the electricity rate is high from 7:00 to 23:00, and after 23:00 The normal operation is selected again at the time when the electricity price is low.

(2) in FIG. 4 is the peak shift plan of (3) in FIG. 2 in which the unit price of the electricity rate is three, and in the case of FIG. 3B in which the degree of suppressing the operating capacity of the air conditioner is two stages. It is an example of control to be performed, and shows an operation method selected according to the unit price of the electricity rate for each time zone. The indoor unit control unit 12 or the remote control unit 26 is configured to store the unit price of the electricity bill stored in the setting storage unit for a predetermined time (for example, every hour) set in advance and the unit price other than that time. By comparing the size of the air conditioner, the normal operation is selected during the time when the electricity rate is low from 0:00 to 7:00, and the operating capacity of the air conditioner is adjusted during the time when the electricity rate is slightly high from 7:00 to 13:00. Select an energy-saving operation (small) for energy-saving operation to reduce power consumption by suppressing it a little (for example, one-quarter, etc.), and an air conditioner in the time zone with the highest electricity bill from 13:00 to 16:00 Select an energy-saving operation (large) for energy-saving operation that reduces the power consumption by reducing the operating capacity of the vehicle (for example, one-half), and the electricity bill from 16:00 to 23:00 is slightly higher Then, select the energy-saving operation (small) operation Electricity rates of 23 o'clock or later again to select a normal operation at a cheap time zone.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a control example of the energy saving automatic operation mode according to the room temperature and the operating temperature set value according to the present invention. The graph in FIG. 5 shows room temperature on the vertical axis and the time when the unit price of the electricity rate in (1) in FIG. 4 is high on the horizontal axis, and automatic energy-saving operation is started in a room at room temperature of 31 ° C at 11:00. Based on the assumption, the change pattern of the room temperature is shown in cases 1 to 3, and the energy saving operation is performed according to the change in the room temperature of each case based on the threshold of the operation temperature setting of the energy saving automatic operation described in FIG. In this case, the operation method selected in the energy saving automatic operation mode in which “ON” is selected and “OFF” is performed when performing normal operation is shown. Further, it is assumed that the predetermined interval at which the indoor unit control unit 12 or the remote control unit 26 determines the operation method based on the detected room temperature is 20 minutes.

Case 1 in FIG. 5 is a room temperature change pattern assuming a room where the air conditioner has sufficient operating capacity and is easy to be air-conditioned, and the room temperature of 31 ° C. at the time of starting operation at 11:00 is a threshold value for performing energy-saving operation during cooling. Because the temperature exceeds the room temperature upper limit of 28 ° C., the remote controller 26 selects normal operation. Then, at 11:20 when the operation method is determined based on the detected room temperature, the normal operation is performed for 20 minutes, so that the room temperature falls to a temperature lower than the room temperature upper limit of 28 ° C. Chooses energy-saving operation. Since the temperature below 28 ° C. is maintained after 11:40, the energy-saving operation is continued until the time period when the unit price of the electricity bill is reduced.

Case 2 in FIG. 5 is a room temperature change pattern that assumes a room in which the air conditioner has a little surplus in operating capacity and is less effective in cooling and heating than Case 1, and starts normal operation at 11:00, but is detected thereafter. The remote control control unit 26 continues normal operation until 11:40 when the operation method is determined based on the room temperature, and the remote controller control unit 26 continues the normal operation, and the operation method is determined based on the room temperature detected at 12:00. Since the room temperature becomes lower than 28 ° C., which is the room temperature upper limit value, by performing the normal operation for 60 minutes at the time of determination, the remote control unit 26 selects the energy saving operation. Since the temperature below 28 ° C. is maintained after 12:20, the energy-saving operation is continued until the time period when the unit price of the electricity bill is reduced.

Case 3 in FIG. 5 is a room temperature change pattern assuming a room in which the air conditioner has no capacity in operation capacity and is difficult to be air-conditioned. Although normal operation starts at 11:00, the operation method is determined based on the detected room temperature. Until the time of 12:20 to be determined, the temperature exceeds the room temperature upper limit of 28 ° C., and the remote controller 26 continues normal operation, and 100 is determined when determining the operation method based on the room temperature detected at 12:40. Since the room temperature is lower than the room temperature upper limit of 28 ° C. because the normal operation is performed for one minute, the remote controller 26 selects the energy saving operation. However, since Case 3 is a room where it is difficult to adjust the room temperature even during normal operation, the room temperature may increase in energy-saving operation with reduced driving capacity. The operation method is determined based on the room temperature detected at 13:00. At this time, the temperature again exceeds the room temperature upper limit of 28 ° C., and the remote controller 26 selects normal operation.

Case 4 in FIG. 5 is a room in which the room temperature is close to that of Case 1, and is a pattern in which the room temperature has greatly increased due to the user opening and closing the window at 12:10. The room temperature that has temporarily increased to 30 ° C. due to the opening and closing of the window is higher than the room temperature upper limit of 28 ° C. when determining the operation method based on the room temperature detected at 12:20. Selects normal operation. Then, at 12:40 when the operation method is determined based on the detected room temperature, the normal operation is performed for 20 minutes, so that the room temperature falls to a temperature lower than the room temperature upper limit of 28 ° C. Chooses energy-saving operation. In cases 1 to 4, the energy saving operation or normal operation method selected by the remote controller 26 has been described by taking the room temperature upper limit value during cooling operation as an example. However, the indoor unit controller 14 may select the operation method. In the case of room temperature lower limit during heating operation, select the operation method in the same way

As in Cases 1 to 4 described with reference to FIG. 5, the change in room temperature is not uniform depending on the operating capacity of the air conditioner and the room in which the air conditioner is installed. In some cases, it takes time to return to the original room temperature when the room temperature is suddenly increased or decreased due to a lack of driving ability that is difficult to reach the temperature or due to external factors such as opening / closing of the window.
The thresholds of the room temperature upper limit value and the room temperature lower limit value, which are the operating temperature settings of the energy-saving automatic operation of the present invention, are determined by how much heat and cold the user can tolerate. It can be used with peace of mind even for users who have abandoned the choice of energy-saving automatic operation mode because of concerns about deterioration of the state.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing related to the energy saving operation of the remote controller 26 according to the present invention. It is assumed that the operation of the air conditioner is started as a condition for starting the processing of FIG. The processing related to the energy saving operation in FIG. 6 can be performed by the indoor unit control unit 12, but since the processing content is the same, only the case of the remote control unit 26 will be described. Further, ST described in the flowchart represents a step, the number following the ST represents a step number, Y represents Yes, and N represents No.

The remote control unit 26 confirms the setting of the operation mode from the setting storage means, and confirms whether or not the energy saving automatic operation mode is set (ST1). When the setting is not the energy saving automatic operation mode (ST1-N), the setting of the operation mode is confirmed, and it is confirmed whether or not the normal operation is performed (ST2). When the setting is normal operation (ST2-Y), a normal operation start instruction is transmitted to the indoor unit 10 via the remote control communication unit 22 when the current operation method is energy saving operation (ST3). Next, it is confirmed whether or not the operation mode setting has been changed from the key input unit 21 (ST4). If the setting has not been changed (ST4-N), it is confirmed whether or not the operation stop operation has been performed from the key input unit 21 (ST5). When an operation for stopping the operation is performed (ST5-Y), an instruction to stop the operation is transmitted to the indoor unit 10 via the remote control communication unit 22 (ST6), and the process is terminated.

When the operation mode is not set to normal operation in ST2 (ST2-N), the remote control control unit 26 instructs the indoor unit 10 to start the energy saving operation via the remote control communication unit 22 when the current operation method is normal operation. Is transmitted (ST7). Then jump to ST4. In ST4, when the operation mode setting is changed (ST4-Y), the process jumps to ST1. In ST5, when the operation for stopping the operation is not performed (ST5-N), the process jumps to ST4.

On the other hand, if the operation mode is set to the energy saving automatic operation mode in ST1 (ST1-Y), the remote control unit 26 confirms the set value of the unit price of the electricity charge from the setting storage means, and the current time is It is confirmed whether or not it is a time zone when the unit price of the charge is high (ST8). When the unit price of the electricity bill is high (ST8-Y), the current room temperature is detected from the room temperature detection means, and it is confirmed whether or not the detected room temperature is within the operating temperature setting threshold of the energy saving automatic operation of the setting storage means. (ST9). If the room temperature is not within the operating temperature setting threshold (ST9-N), a normal operation start instruction is transmitted to the indoor unit 10 via the remote control communication unit 22 when the current operation method is energy saving operation (ST10). Next, it is confirmed whether or not the operation mode setting has been changed from the key input unit 21 (ST11). When the setting is not changed (ST11-N), the set value of the electricity charge is confirmed from the setting storage means, and it is confirmed whether or not the current time is the time when the unit price of the electricity charge changes (ST12). When it is not the time when the unit price of the electricity bill changes (ST12-N), it is confirmed whether or not the current time is a predetermined time for determining the driving method. (ST13). If it is not the predetermined time for determining the driving method (ST13-N), it is confirmed whether or not an operation for stopping the operation has been performed from the key input unit 21 (ST14). When the operation for stopping the operation is performed (ST14-Y), the process jumps to ST6.

If the current time is not a time zone in which the unit price of the electricity bill is high (ST8-N) in ST8, the remote control unit 26 jumps to ST10. In ST9, when the detected room temperature is within the threshold for setting the operating temperature of the energy saving automatic operation in the setting storage means (ST9-Y), the room is set via the remote control communication unit 22 when the current operation method is the normal operation. An instruction to start energy-saving operation is transmitted to the machine 10 (ST15). Then jump to ST11.

When the operation mode setting is changed in ST11 (ST11-Y), the remote control unit 26 jumps to ST1. In ST12, when it is time to change the unit price of the electricity bill (ST12-Y), the process jumps to ST8. In ST13, when it is a predetermined time for determining the driving method (ST13-Y), the process jumps to ST9. In ST14, when the operation for stopping the operation is not performed (ST14-N), the process jumps to ST11.

  In FIGS. 5 and 6, the case where the degree of suppressing the driving ability is one stage has been described. However, in an air conditioner that can select the degree of reducing the driving ability in multiple stages, the room temperature is saved when determining the driving method. You may control so that the grade which suppresses driving | running ability is eased in steps when it is outside the threshold value of the operating temperature setting of automatic driving | operation. When controlled in this way, the air conditioner can select an operation method that can save the most electricity charge so that the room temperature is within the threshold value of the operation temperature setting for energy-saving automatic operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Indoor unit 11 Indoor unit communication part 12 Indoor unit control part 20 Remote control 21 Key input part 22 Remote control communication part 23 Display part 24 Room temperature detection means 25 Setting storage means 26 Remote control part

Claims (3)

  Reduces power consumption by controlling the indoor unit, the remote control that gives instructions to the indoor unit, the normal operation mode that automatically controls the room temperature to approach the target set temperature, and the normal operation mode. In an air conditioner having an energy saving operation mode and an energy saving automatic operation mode that switches between a normal operation mode and an energy saving operation mode according to a time zone, the air conditioner includes a room temperature detection unit that detects a room temperature, Storage means for storing a unit price of an electricity bill and an operating temperature setting value that defines a threshold value of a room temperature for performing energy saving operation in the energy saving automatic operation mode, and the remote controller is a key input unit that receives an operation from a user A remote control communication unit that communicates with the indoor unit, and a remote control unit that controls these, and the remote control unit is in the energy saving automatic operation mode and is When it is determined that the unit price of the fee is a high time zone, the room temperature is detected from the room temperature detection means at a predetermined time interval, and when the detected room temperature is within the threshold of the operating temperature setting value, energy saving operation is performed, An air conditioner that causes normal operation to be performed when the detected room temperature exceeds a threshold value of an operating temperature setting value.   Reduces power consumption by controlling the indoor unit, the remote control that gives instructions to the indoor unit, the normal operation mode that automatically controls the room temperature to approach the target set temperature, and the normal operation mode. In an air conditioner having an energy saving operation mode and an energy saving automatic operation mode that switches between a normal operation mode and an energy saving operation mode according to a time zone, the air conditioner includes a room temperature detection unit that detects a room temperature, A storage unit that stores a unit price of an electricity charge and an operating temperature setting value that defines a threshold value of a room temperature for performing energy saving operation in the energy saving automatic operation mode, and the indoor unit communicates with a remote controller. And an indoor unit control unit that controls the indoor unit, and the indoor unit control unit is in the energy saving automatic operation mode and when it is determined that the unit price of the electricity rate is a high time zone, When the room temperature is detected from the room temperature detection means at regular time intervals, energy saving operation is performed when the detected room temperature is within the operating temperature set value threshold, and normal when the detected room temperature exceeds the operating temperature set value threshold. An air conditioner characterized by operating. The air conditioner has an energy saving operation capable of selecting the degree to suppress the driving ability in multiple stages, and the remote controller control unit or the indoor unit control unit detects the room temperature from the room temperature detection means at a predetermined time interval. 3. When the detected room temperature exceeds the threshold value of the operating temperature setting value, the energy-saving operation is performed by reducing the degree of suppressing the operation capacity of the air conditioner by one step from the current energy-saving operation. The air conditioner described.

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