JP2014077598A - Temperature controller, air conditioner, hot water supplier, and floor heating - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a temperature controller for securing user's comfort by preventing waste of energy without increasing or decreasing a room temperature more than necessary.SOLUTION: One of this invention is a temperature controller 100 which has a cable communication part 32A for communicating with a cable remote controller 1, a wireless communication part 32B for communicating with a wireless remote controller 2, a control object area inside/outside discrimination part 33 provided in an indoor unit 3 for discriminating whether the wireless remote controller 2 exists within a control object area on the basis of a response time of a signal at least between the wireless remote controller 2 and the wireless communication part 32B, and a room temperature control part 31 provided in the indoor unit 31 to perform room temperature control of the control object area on the basis of room temperature information detected by a room temperature detection parts of the cable remote controller 1 and the wireless remote controller 2 within the set range of the response time out of the cable remote controller 1 and the wireless remote controller 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature controller, an air conditioner, a water heater, and floor heating.

  In a temperature controller mounted on an air conditioner or the like, the room temperature is controlled based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. For this reason, if an abnormality occurs in the temperature sensor or a failure occurs, it is difficult to operate normally.

  In Patent Document 1, a plurality of temperature sensors are mounted in case an abnormality occurs in one temperature sensor or a failure occurs, and priorities are set for the plurality of temperature sensors, and the room temperature is set according to the priorities. A technique in which a temperature sensor to be detected is switched is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2, a temperature sensor is provided for each of the remote controller and the indoor unit, and when a signal from the temperature sensor mounted on the remote controller is not detected, the temperature sensor is detected by the temperature sensor mounted on the indoor unit. Is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-101897 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-83112

  According to the above conventional technique, even if a failure occurs in one temperature sensor, the temperature controller can be operated by detecting the room temperature with another temperature sensor. However, while the communication between the temperature sensor and the indoor unit is normally performed, the room temperature is controlled based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, so the temperature sensor itself is outside the control target area. In some cases, temperature control is also performed using the room temperature information of the temperature sensor outside the control target area, so that the room temperature is raised or lowered more than necessary, which wastes energy and at the same time comforts the user There was a problem of damage.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and prevents the temperature regulator from raising or lowering the room temperature more than necessary, thereby preventing energy waste and ensuring user comfort. The object is to obtain a temperature controller that can do this.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the temperature controller of the present invention is provided in a wired communication unit that communicates with a wired remote controller, a wireless communication unit that communicates with a wireless remote controller, and an indoor unit, The indoor unit includes a control target area inside / outside identification unit that identifies whether or not the wireless remote control exists in the control target area based on at least a response time of a signal between the wireless remote control and the wireless communication unit. The room temperature of the control target area is controlled based on room temperature information detected by a room temperature detector of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller that is within the set response time of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller. And a control unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent energy from being wasted and to ensure user comfort by preventing the temperature controller from raising or lowering the room temperature more than necessary.

Drawing 1 is a figure showing an example of the block diagram of the air harmony machine containing the temperature regulator of an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a model diagram illustrating an example of an aspect in which the air conditioner including the temperature controller of the embodiment includes a plurality of remote controllers. FIG. 3 is an image diagram of an example of an air conditioning system to which the temperature controller of the embodiment is applied.

  Embodiments of a temperature controller according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a block diagram of an air conditioner including a temperature controller 100 according to the present invention. The air conditioner including the temperature controller 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a wired remote controller 1, a wireless remote controller 2, an indoor unit 3, a wireless communication unit 32B, and an outdoor unit 4.

  The wired remote controller 1 includes a communication unit 11, a display unit 12, an operation unit 13, and a room temperature detection unit 14. The communication unit 11 transmits and receives signals to and from the indoor unit 3. Here, signal transmission / reception is bidirectional communication, and a request and a response are performed as a set. The display unit 12 has a configuration for displaying the current set temperature and the like. The operation unit 13 is a part used when a user performs an operation, and includes an operation button and the like. The room temperature detector 14 uses a temperature sensor or the like that detects the temperature around the wired remote controller 1.

  The wireless remote controller 2 includes a communication unit 21, a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, and a room temperature detection unit 24. These function similarly to the communication unit 11, the display unit 12, the operation unit 13, and the room temperature detection unit 14 provided in the wired remote controller 1.

  The indoor unit 3 includes a room temperature control unit 31, a wired communication unit 32A, a control target area inside / outside identification unit 33, and a room temperature detection unit 34. As will be described later, the room temperature control unit 31 includes at least one position information of the wired remote controller 1 and the wireless remote controller 2 (whether or not these remote controllers exist in the control target area), the room temperature detection unit 14, and the room temperature detection unit. The room temperature is controlled based on the room temperature detected by at least one of 24 and the room temperature detector 34. The wired communication unit 32A transmits and receives signals to and from the wired remote controller 1. The control target area inside / outside identification unit 33 identifies whether the wired remote controller 1 and the wireless remote controller 2 exist in the control target area. The room temperature detection unit 34 uses a temperature sensor that detects the temperature around the indoor unit 3. A wireless communication unit 32B is connected to the room temperature control unit 31 and the control target area inside / outside identification unit 33 of the indoor unit 3.

  The wireless communication unit 32B transmits and receives signals to and from the wireless remote controller 2. Here, as described above, signal transmission / reception is bidirectional communication, and a request and a response are performed as a set. Note that the wireless communication unit 32B may be included in the indoor unit 3.

  The outdoor unit 4 performs exhaust heat etc. of a refrigerant | coolant etc. according to the instruction | command of the room temperature control part 31 of the indoor unit 3. FIG.

  Next, a case where the wireless remote controller 2 is provided as an example of the operation of the air conditioner including the temperature controller 100 of the present invention will be described.

  First, the wireless remote controller 2 is arranged at a position farthest from the wireless communication unit 32B in the area to be controlled, and the operation unit 23 is operated to transmit and receive signals between the communication unit 21 of the wireless remote control 2 and the wireless communication unit 32B. Then, the distance is measured from the time taken to transmit / receive the signal at the position farthest from the wireless communication unit 32B.

  When the wireless remote controller 2 performs infrared communication, the distance from the wireless remote controller 2 to the wireless communication unit 32B is easily and accurately calculated from the time of flight of infrared rays used for bidirectional communication. Specifically, the wireless remote controller 2 receives infrared rays from the infrared transmitter (wireless communication unit 32B) to the wireless remote controller 2 and receives information contained in the infrared rays via the infrared receiver (communication unit 21) of the wireless remote controller 2. The processor adds the time information including the internal processing time in the remote controller 2 to the signal and returns it. As a result, the round trip flight time of the infrared rays is obtained by subtracting the internal processing time in the remote controller 2 from the time from the completion of infrared transmission to the start of infrared reception, and this half is the one-way flight time. And the distance can be calculated from the speed of light. The distance can be calculated in the same manner when infrared light is transmitted from the wireless remote controller 2.

  When there are a plurality of devices such as ZigBee (registered trademark) that performs wireless communication, a similar method may be used to provide two wireless communication units 32B and obtain the distance by trigonometry. In either case of infrared communication or wireless communication, a plurality of infrared light receiving units and antenna devices can be provided. Further, when a stereo camera or the like is used, the distance from the wireless remote controller 2 can be measured by the wireless communication unit 32B alone.

  When the measured distance is closer than the distance when the wireless remote controller 2 is arranged at the farthest position from the wireless communication unit 32B in the control target area, the wireless remote controller 2 exists in the control target area and is far away. In this case, it is identified that the wireless remote controller 2 does not exist in the control target area.

  The wireless remote controller 2 transmits the room temperature detected by the room temperature detector 24 of the wireless remote controller 2 to the room temperature controller 31 via the communication unit 21 and the wireless communication unit 32B at predetermined intervals. At this time, the control target area inside / outside identification unit 33 identifies whether or not the wireless remote controller 2 exists in the control target area, and if the wireless remote controller 2 exists in the control target area, the room temperature control unit 31 The room temperature is controlled based on the received room temperature information.

  In addition, although the form which identifies whether the wireless remote control 2 exists in a control object area | region by the time until the response signal of the wireless remote control 2 is received was demonstrated here, this invention is not limited to this.

  For example, an RFID tag is mounted on the wireless remote controller 2, an RFID tag reader is installed at the boundary of the control target area, and the wireless remote controller 2 is within the control target area depending on whether the RFID tag passes through the reader. It may be identified whether or not it exists.

  The room temperature information from the wireless remote controller 2 identified as not existing in the control target area is not used for the room temperature control performed by the room temperature control unit 31. When there is another remote controller in the control target area, room temperature control is performed based on room temperature information from the remote controller. When there is no other remote controller in the control target area, room temperature control is performed based on room temperature information from the room temperature detector 34 provided in the indoor unit 3.

  Note that the display unit 22 of the wireless remote controller 2 may be configured to display an alert so as to notify the user that the remote controller is outside the control target area.

  When the wired remote controller 1 is used, since the wired remote controller 1 is fixedly installed, the user can set whether or not the remote controller is within the control target area by operating the operation unit 13. That's fine. The other points are the same as when the wireless remote controller 2 is used.

  As described above, one of the temperature controllers of the present invention is provided in a wired communication unit that communicates with a wired remote controller, a wireless communication unit that communicates with a wireless remote controller, and an indoor unit, and at least the wireless remote controller A control target area inside / outside identification unit that identifies whether or not the wireless remote control exists in a control target area based on a response time of a signal between the wireless communication units; A room temperature control unit that performs room temperature control of the control target area based on room temperature information detected by the room temperature detection unit of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote control that are within the range in which the response time is set among the wireless remote controllers; It is characterized by having.

  Moreover, when the air conditioner including the temperature controller of the present invention has a plurality of remote controllers, one or a plurality of remote controllers can be selected as a remote controller for acquiring room temperature information. Here, when one remote controller is selected, it is preferable that priorities are assigned to a plurality of remote controllers.

  FIG. 2 is a model diagram showing an example of an aspect in which an air conditioner including a temperature controller of the present invention includes a plurality of remote controllers. FIG. 2 shows the wireless remote controllers 2a to 2d and the wireless communication unit 32B. In FIG. 2, a communicable area 50 exists around the wireless communication unit 32 </ b> B, and a control target area 51 narrower than this exists inside the communicable area 50.

  In FIG. 2, the wireless remote controllers 2 a to 2 c exist in the control target area 51, but the wireless remote controller 2 d exists in the communicable area 50 and outside the control target area 51.

  In FIG. 2, when the priority of the wireless remote controller 2a is first, the priority of the wireless remote controller 2b is second, the priority of the wireless remote controller 2c is third, and the priority of the wireless remote controller 2d is fourth, The room temperature information acquired by the room temperature detector 24 of the wireless remote controller 2a is used.

  Here, when the wireless remote controller 2a moves to a place within the communicable area 50 and outside the control target area 51 (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2), the priority is increased in the control target area 51. The remote controller with the highest priority is the wireless remote controller 2b.

  As described above, one of the temperature regulators of the present invention is provided in an indoor unit, a wired communication unit that communicates with a plurality of wired remote controllers, a wireless communication unit that communicates with a plurality of wireless remote controllers, and at least A control target area inside / outside identification unit that identifies whether or not the wireless remote control exists in a control target area based on a response time of a signal between the wireless remote control and the wireless communication unit; Based on room temperature information detected by any one of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller having the highest priority within the set response time of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller. And a room temperature control unit for performing room temperature control of the control target region.

  Alternatively, when the air conditioner including the temperature controller of the present invention has a plurality of remote controllers, all the room temperature information from the plurality of remote controllers in the control target area is acquired, and an average value of these room temperature information is calculated. The room temperature may be controlled based on this value. Such a form will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the wireless remote controllers 2 a to 2 c exist in the control target area 51, but the wireless remote controller 2 d exists in the communicable area 50 and outside the control target area 51. Therefore, the value acquired by the room temperature detection unit 24 of the wireless remote controllers 2a to 2c is transmitted to the room temperature control unit 31 via the communication unit 21 and the wireless communication unit 32B, and the room temperature control unit 31 uses this value. An average value or the like is obtained by calculation. And based on this value, the room temperature control part 31 controls the indoor unit 3, and performs room temperature control.

  Here, when the wireless remote controller 2a moves within the communicable area 50 and out of the control target area 51, the values acquired by the room temperature detector 24 of the wireless remote controller 2b and the wireless remote controller 2c are used as the values acquired by the communication section 21 and the wireless remote controller 2c. It transmits to the room temperature control part 31 via the communication part 32B, and the room temperature control part 31 acquires an average value by calculation, for example using this value. And based on this value, the room temperature control part 31 controls the indoor unit 3, and performs room temperature control.

  That is, one of the temperature controllers of the present invention includes a wired communication unit that communicates with a plurality of wired remote controllers, a wireless communication unit that communicates with a plurality of wireless remote controllers, and an indoor unit, and at least the wireless remote controller A control target area inside / outside identification unit that identifies whether or not the wireless remote control exists in a control target area based on a response time of a signal between the wireless communication units; The control room temperature is calculated based on room temperature information detected by all the room temperature detectors of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller that are within the set response time of the wireless remote controller, and the room temperature control of the control target area And a room temperature control unit for performing the above.

  In the present invention described above, when all of the remote controllers exist outside the control target area 51, the room temperature control of the control target area 51 is performed based on the room temperature detected by the room temperature detection unit 34 of the indoor unit 3. Also good. When the temperature controller of the present invention is applied to an air conditioner, the room temperature detector 34 detects the suction temperature. When the temperature controller of the present invention is applied to a hot water heater, floor heating, or the like, the room temperature detector 34 detects the hot water temperature or the return temperature.

  The application range of the temperature controller of the present invention is not limited to an air conditioner, and can be used in various modes. For example, it can be used as radiator heating or floor heating.

  FIG. 3 is an image diagram of an example of an air conditioning system to which the temperature controller of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 3, the indoor unit 3 and the outdoor unit 4 are controlled by a plurality of living rooms. In FIG. 3, the wired remote controller 1 is connected to the indoor unit 3 and fixedly installed. The radiator 5 and the floor heating 6 function as cooling / heating, and warm or cool the control target area. In FIG. 3, the control target area is within a sphere centered on the wireless communication unit 32B. In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the remote controller disposed in the hallway is not used as a control target.

  As described above, the temperature regulator according to the present invention is useful for air conditioners, radiator heating, or floor heating.

  1 wired remote control, 2, 2a to 2d wireless remote control, 3 indoor unit, 4 outdoor unit, 5 radiator, 6 floor heating, 11, 21 communication unit, 12, 22 display unit, 13, 23 operation unit, 14, 24, 34 Room temperature detection unit, 31 Room temperature control unit, 32A Wired communication unit, 32B Wireless communication unit, 33 Control target region inside / outside identification unit, 50 Communication possible region, 51 Control target region, 100 Temperature controller.

Claims (8)

A wired communication unit that communicates with a wired remote control;
A wireless communication unit for communicating with the wireless remote control;
A control target area inside / outside identification unit that is provided in an indoor unit and identifies whether or not the wireless remote control is present in the control target area based on at least a response time of a signal between the wireless remote control and the wireless communication unit;
The control target area based on room temperature information detected by a room temperature detection unit of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller that is included in the indoor unit and is within the set response time of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller And a room temperature controller for performing room temperature control. A wired communication unit for communicating with a plurality of wired remote controllers;
A wireless communication unit for communicating with a plurality of wireless remote controllers;
A control target area inside / outside identification unit that is provided in an indoor unit and identifies whether or not the wireless remote control is present in the control target area based on at least a response time of a signal between the wireless remote control and the wireless communication unit;
The object to be controlled based on room temperature information detected by any one of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller with the highest priority that is included in the indoor unit and within the set response time. And a room temperature controller for performing room temperature control of the region. A wired communication unit for communicating with a plurality of wired remote controllers;
A wireless communication unit for communicating with a plurality of wireless remote controllers;
A control target area inside / outside identification unit that is provided in an indoor unit and identifies whether or not the wireless remote control is present in the control target area based on at least a response time of a signal between the wireless remote control and the wireless communication unit;
Controlled on the basis of room temperature information detected by all the room temperature detectors of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller that are included in the indoor unit and are within the set response time of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller And a room temperature controller that calculates the room temperature of the control target region. The indoor unit includes a room temperature detection unit,
When all of the wired remote controller and the wireless remote controller are outside the control target area, room temperature control of the control target area is performed based on a room temperature detected by the room temperature detection unit of the indoor unit. The temperature regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The wired remote control or the wireless remote control includes a display unit,
When the wired remote controller or the wireless remote controller is outside the control target area, the display unit displays that the wired remote controller or the wireless remote controller is outside the control target area. The temperature controller as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4. The temperature controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is mounted on an air conditioner that uses a refrigerant supplied from a heat source unit,
The air conditioner characterized in that the room temperature detector of the indoor unit detects a suction temperature. The temperature controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is mounted on a water heater,
The water heater according to claim 1, wherein the room temperature detector of the indoor unit detects a hot water temperature. The temperature controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is mounted on floor heating,
The room temperature detecting unit of the indoor unit detects a return temperature.

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