JP2015108487A - Air conditioner and data extraction equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably save data on an operating condition in the case of occurrence of an operation abnormality, and to enable the operation abnormality to be coped with by easily identifying the cause of the operation abnormality on the basis of the stored data.SOLUTION: A control board 5 of indoor equipment 3 has a data storage part 52 that stores logging data obtained by making time data and data on an operating condition of the indoor equipment 3 correspond to each other, in the case of occurrence of an operation abnormality in the indoor equipment 3. A control part 11 of extraction equipment 10 is configured so that the logging data can be extracted from the data storage part 52, in a state in which the data extraction equipment 10 and the control board 5 are connected together.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner that stores data relating to operating conditions, and a suction device that sucks data from the air conditioner.

  In a conventional air conditioner, by providing a data analysis device on an air conditioning network, the data analysis device receives and analyzes a message flowing on the air conditioning network to acquire the current operating state of the air conditioner. Yes. Then, the data analysis device generates measurement data in which the sensor data transmitted from the sensor data acquisition device, the detection date and time, and the current operation state are associated with each other, and stores the measurement data in a memory (for example, patent document). 1).

JP 2012-172930 A

  However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a failure occurs in the air conditioning network, data cannot be acquired and cause analysis of the failure cannot be performed. In addition, it takes time and cost to install the sensor data acquisition device and data analysis device, and it is necessary to have specialized knowledge to identify the correct cause from the data analyzed by the data analysis device and perform appropriate repair work. And the service manual had to be compared.

  An object of the present invention is to reliably store data relating to an operation state when there is an operation abnormality, and to easily identify the cause of the operation abnormality based on the stored data so that it can be dealt with.

  In order to solve the above problems, an air conditioner that is one embodiment of the present invention includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit that includes a control board including a central processing unit and a data storage unit, and a time measurement unit that measures time. A remote controller that accepts an instruction related to operating conditions, and the central processing unit acquires time data related to time from the time measuring unit when detecting an abnormal operation of the indoor unit, The time data and the data related to the operation state of the indoor unit when the operation abnormality occurs are associated with each other and stored in the data storage unit as logging data.

  Further, the data suction device according to one aspect of the present invention is configured to be connectable to a control board of an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and has a control unit. The control board of the indoor unit includes: A first data storage unit that stores logging data in which time data and data related to an operation state of the indoor unit are associated with each other when an operation abnormality occurs in the indoor unit; In a state where the suction device and the control board are connected, the logging data can be sucked out from the first data storage unit.

  According to the present invention, when there is a driving abnormality, it is possible to reliably store data relating to the driving state, and easily identify and deal with the cause of the driving abnormality based on the stored data.

It is a block diagram of the air conditioner by embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control board of an indoor unit. A schematic diagram of a logging data table is shown. It is a block diagram of a remote controller. It is a lineblock diagram of the data suction device concerning a 1st embodiment. The display part of a data suction analysis apparatus is shown. The display part of a data suction analysis apparatus is shown. It is a block diagram of the data suction apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the data suction device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the control board which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a multi-type air conditioner 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 mainly includes one outdoor unit 2, a plurality of indoor units 3A to 3C, and remote controllers 4A to 4C. Although FIG. 1 shows three indoor units, the number of indoor units may be more or less than three. In addition, alphabetic suffixes are basically used in the sense that they are individual components, but may be omitted when each component is handled as a representative.

  The outdoor unit 2 includes an unillustrated outdoor fan, a compressor, a refrigeration cycle component, a temperature / pressure sensor, an unillustrated blower, a compressor, and the like based on the operating state of the indoor unit 3 and the operating conditions of the remote control switch 4. And a control unit 2A for controlling. The outdoor unit 2 is controlled based on a control program stored in the control unit 2A.

  The indoor unit 3 includes control boards 5A to 5C that control an unillustrated blower and refrigeration cycle parts based on operation commands from indoor fans, refrigeration cycle parts, temperature / humidity sensors, and remote control switches 4A to 4C. With.

  The remote controller 4 gives operation commands such as switching between cooling and heating operation, temperature, and air volume setting to the corresponding indoor unit 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control board 5 includes a central processing unit 50, a data temporary storage unit 51, a data storage unit 52, an external setting unit 53, a sensor unit 54, and an external interface unit 55 (hereinafter referred to as an external interface). I / F section 55).

  The central processing unit 50 stores control software for controlling the indoor unit 2 and the refrigeration cycle of the indoor unit 3 based on the operating conditions set in the remote control switch 4, the temperature and pressure detected by each sensor, and the control software. Control parts. The data temporary storage unit 51 temporarily stores the processing data in the central processing unit 31.

  The data storage unit 52 stores a logging data table 60 shown in FIG. 3 and an indoor fan rotation speed table (not shown). The rotational speed table is a table for the rotational speed of the fan corresponding to the air volume “strong” and “weak”.

  The external setting unit 53 includes a plurality of switches. In this embodiment, it is comprised by three types of switches. For example, the external setting unit 53 sets a first switch that sets a data transmission method between the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 3, and a second system that sets a refrigerant system indicating the number of connected outdoor units 2. And a third switch for setting the capacity (capacity: Kw) of the indoor unit 3.

  The sensor unit 54 receives a signal from a temperature / humidity sensor (not shown). The external interface unit 36 is an interface for connecting the suction device 10 and the control board 5 described later.

  Next, the logging data table 60 stored in the data storage unit 52 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the logging data table 60, the alarm generation time 64, the alarm code 65, and the first to third setting information 66A are respectively provided for the columns of the shipping time 61, the trial operation time 62, and the normal operation time 63. To 66C and the first to eighth data 67A to 67H are stored.

  In the generation time 64, a time acquired from an RTC (Real Time Clock) 43 described later of the remote controller 4 is stored. The time stored in the generation time 64 corresponds to time data.

  The alarm code 65 stores an alarm code corresponding to the error that has occurred. In this embodiment, alarm code A corresponds to a transmission error, alarm code B corresponds to a fan rotation error, and alarm code C corresponds to an instantaneous power failure.

  The first setting information 66A stores the data transmission method set by the first switch of the external setting unit 53. The refrigerant system set by the second switch of the external setting unit 53 is stored in the second setting information 66B. The capacity of the indoor unit 3 set by the third switch of the external setting unit 53 is stored in the third setting information 66C.

  The first data 67A stores a zero-cross detection value indicating the number of times that the voltage of the AC power supply becomes 0 in a predetermined time. The second data 67B stores a BCC mismatch number indicating the number of times that a parity error has been detected by a BCC (Block Check Character) which is a horizontal parity bit added to the received data. The third data 67C stores the number of parity errors indicating the number of times that a parity error has been detected by the vertical parity bit added for each 1-byte received data. The fourth data 67D stores a fan target speed that is a target speed of the indoor fan at the time of occurrence of the alarm. The fifth data 67E stores a fan speed command, which is a signal issued to keep the indoor fan at the target speed for a predetermined period. The sixth data 67F stores a fan response pulse that is a signal of the rotational speed of the fan motor at the time of alarm occurrence. The seventh data 67G stores the number of instantaneous power failures that indicates the number of times that an instantaneous power failure has occurred within a predetermined period. The eighth data 67H stores a software reset count indicating the number of times the control software has been reset within a predetermined period.

  The zero cross detection value, BCC mismatch count, parity error count, fan target speed, fan speed command, fan response pulse, instantaneous power failure occurrence count, and soft reset count are always or periodically determined by the central processing unit 50 during normal operation. Detected and stored in the RAM of the central processing unit 50. The central processing unit 50 is configured to determine that an error (operational abnormality) has occurred and generate an alarm when the operating state satisfies a predetermined error condition. For example, an alarm is generated when the rotational speed of the fan falls below a predetermined rotational speed. Data stored in the logging data table 60 corresponds to logging data. Part or all of the data stored in the alarm code 65, the first to third setting information 66A to 66C, and the first to eighth data 67A to 67H corresponds to the data relating to the operation state.

  When an alarm occurs, the zero-cross detection value and the like are acquired from the RAM of the central processing unit 50 and stored in the logging data table 60. When a transmission error (alarm code A) occurs, the zero-cross detection value, the BCC mismatch number, and the parity error number related to the transmission error are stored in the first to third data 67A to 67C, respectively. When a fan rotation error (alarm code B) occurs, the fan target speed, fan speed command, and fan response pulse related to the fan rotation error are stored in the fourth to sixth data 67D to 67F, respectively. When an instantaneous power failure (alarm code C) occurs, the number of instantaneous power failures and the number of soft resets related to the instantaneous power failure are stored in the seventh to eighth data 67G to 67H, respectively. When an alarm is generated, the time data acquired from the RTC 43 of the remote controller 4 is the generation time 64, the alarm codes A to C are the alarm code 65, and the transmission method and refrigerant acquired from the first to third switches of the external setting unit 53 The system and capacity are stored in the first to third setting information 66A to 66C. As described above, the time data and the data relating to the operation state are stored in the logging data table 60 of the data storage unit 52 as the logging data in association with each other.

  The logging data table 60 stores operation state data other than the time of occurrence and alarm code at the time of shipment from the factory (operation in the shipping mode) and the trial operation at the place where the air conditioner 1 is installed (operation in the trial operation mode). Is done.

  In normal operation 63, the 0th 63A is the data related to the alarm that occurred most recently, the -1st 63B is the data that is the most recent previous alarm, and the -2nd 63C is the most recent 2nd previous time. The data to be used for the alarm, and the data to be used for the latest N times previous alarm are stored in the-(N-1) -th 63D. Therefore, the logging data table 60 is configured to store data related to the past N alarms.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the remote controller 4 includes a central processing unit 40, a data storage unit 41, an input unit 42, an RTC 43, a display unit 44, and an external interface unit 45 (hereinafter referred to as an external I / F unit 46). ).

  The central processing unit 40 controls the remote controller 4 by a control program. In the data storage unit 41, information on the language of each country is stored in order to display the driving situation corresponding to the language of each country on the display unit 44. The input unit 42 is provided for inputting operating conditions and the like. The RTC 43 is a real time clock and measures the date and time. The display unit 44 displays the driving situation and the like. The external I / F unit 45 is an interface for connecting the remote controller 4 and the indoor unit 3.

  Next, a first embodiment of the data suction device 10 configured to be connectable to the control board 5 of the indoor unit 3 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the data suction device 10 includes a control unit 11, a data storage unit 12, a data temporary storage unit 13, a display unit 14, and an external interface unit 15 (hereinafter referred to as an external I / F unit 15). )), A battery 16, a battery control unit 17, a power supply switch 18, a power button 19, a suction button 20, and a cross key 21.

  The control unit 11 controls the data suction device 10 based on the control program. For example, the cause of the alarm generated in the indoor unit 3 is analyzed, and a coping method is displayed. The data storage unit 12 stores data related to the failure analysis tree 71 (FIG. 6). The data related to the failure analysis tree 71 is data that associates a plurality of conditions for generating an alarm, a plurality of causes for the alarm, and a coping method for each cause. The data storage unit 12 stores a plurality of failure analysis trees 71 corresponding to each alarm. The data temporary storage unit 13 temporarily stores the processing result when analyzing the cause of the alarm.

  The display unit 14 displays the alarm analysis result. The external I / F unit 15 is an interface for connecting the data suction device 10 and the indoor unit 3 via a data suction cable, a power cable, and a GND cable.

  The battery 16 is a battery for operating the data sucking device 10 and supplying power to the control board 5 of the indoor unit 3. The battery control unit 17 includes a protection device for the battery 16 and a charge control device. The power supply switch 18 is a switch that switches whether power is supplied to the control board 5 of the indoor unit 3. The power button 19 is a button for supplying power to the data sucking device 10. The suction button 20 is a button for starting the suction of data from the control board 5.

  Next, a maintenance operation for sucking out data relating to an alarm from the indoor unit 3 using the data sucking device 10 and analyzing a countermeasure for the alarm will be described.

  First, the operator presses the power button 19 to supply power from the battery 16 to the data sucking device 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the data suction device 10 and the control board 5 of the indoor unit 3 are connected by a data suction cable, a power cable, and a GND cable. When power is not supplied to the indoor unit 3, the power supply switch 18 is switched to supply power from the battery 16 to the control board 5. The suction button 20 is pressed to suck out the data stored in the logging data table 60 of the data storage unit 52 of the control board 5.

  Next, the control unit 11 responds to an alarm based on the first to third setting information 66A to 66C and the first to eighth data 67A to 67H of the latest alarm stored in the 0th 63A column of the logging data table 60. Identify the corrective action. For example, since the alarm code 65 of the 0th 63A in FIG. 3 is the alarm code A, the control unit 11 stores the data stored in the first to third setting information 66A to 66C and the first to third data 67A to 67C. Based on this, the conditions for generating the alarm are analyzed as to which of the conditions 1 to 4, and the condition that generated the alarm, the cause corresponding to the condition, and the coping method are specified.

  Next, the control unit 11 causes the display unit 14 to display the alarm information table 70 and the failure analysis tree 71 as shown in FIG. The alarm information table 70 includes an alarm occurrence time 70A, an alarm code 70B, first setting information 70C, second setting information 70D, third setting information 70E, and a coping method 70F. The occurrence time, alarm code, and 1-3 setting information of the 0th 63A column (latest) sucked out from the control board 5 are displayed in each row of the alarm information table 70. The coping method 70F includes the control unit 11 The coping method specified by is displayed. Further, the failure analysis tree 71 displays a tree corresponding to the alarm code A, and highlights the conditions, causes, and countermeasures specified by the analysis of the control unit 11. In FIG. 6, condition 3, cause 3, and coping method 3 are highlighted. Further, by operating the cross key 21, it is possible to display on the display unit 14 setting information at the time of shipment and trial operation or a failure analysis tree for an alarm that has occurred in the past.

  Further, the failure analysis tree 71 shown in FIG. 6 is a failure analysis tree for the alarm code A, but the failure analysis tree for the alarm code B is, for example, a failure analysis tree 171 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the central processing unit 50 acquires time data acquired from the RTC 43 of the remote controller 4 when an alarm is generated, and associates the time data with data relating to the operation state and saves them in the logging data table 60 as logging data. To do. Therefore, even if there is a malfunction in the air conditioning network, the logging data can be reliably stored in the logging data table 60. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a timing circuit on the control board 5, the cost of the control board 5 can be suppressed. Moreover, since the data regarding the operation state at the time of the alarm occurrence is stored in the control board 5 of the indoor unit 3, the data sucking device 10 sucks out the data so that it can be used for maintenance work.

  Further, the central processing unit 50 stores data related to the operation state other than the generation time and the alarm code at the time of shipment from the factory and at the time of trial operation at the place where the air conditioner 1 is installed in the logging data table 60. Therefore, it is possible to compare the data relating to the operation state at the time of alarm occurrence with the data relating to the operation state at the time of shipment and trial operation, and to clarify the cause of the alarm occurrence.

  The control unit 11 of the data sucking device 10 is configured to suck logging data from the data storage unit 52 in a state where the data sucking device 10 and the control board 5 are connected. Therefore, even if there is a problem in the air conditioning network, the logging data can be sucked out by connecting the data sucking device 10 and the control board 5, and the maintenance work for the air conditioner 1 can be executed.

  The control unit 11 of the data sucking apparatus 10 analyzes the logging data sucked out from the data storage unit 52, specifies one coping method from a plurality of coping methods corresponding to the alarm, and displays the coping method on the display unit 14. . Therefore, the worker can perform maintenance work based on the coping method displayed on the display unit 14, and does not need to look at the service manual or the like. Therefore, the work efficiency of maintenance work can be improved.

  The data suction device 10 includes a battery 16 that can supply power to the control board 5. Therefore, even if power is not supplied to the control board 5 due to a power failure or the like, it is possible to supply power from the data suction device 10 to the control board 5 and suck out logging data from the data storage unit 52.

  Next, the data sucking device 110 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same members as those in the data suction device 10 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different portions will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of the data suction device 110 according to the second embodiment. In addition to the configuration of the data suction device 10 according to the first embodiment, the data suction device 110 includes an external storage medium interface 22 (hereinafter referred to as an external storage medium I / F 22) and an external storage medium control unit 23. Prepare.

  An external storage medium (not shown) is detachable from the external storage medium I / F 22. The external storage medium control unit 23 controls writing of logging data to the external storage medium attached to the external storage medium I / F 22.

  According to this configuration, logging data can be written to the external storage medium attached to the external storage medium I / F 22. Therefore, the external storage medium in which the logging data is written can be removed from the data sucking device 110 and taken out, and the logging data can be analyzed in another device as necessary.

  Next, a data suction apparatus 210 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same members as those in the data suction device 110 according to the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different portions will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a data sucking device 210 according to the third embodiment. The data sucking device 210 includes an indicator 24 and a processing confirmation lamp 25 in addition to the configuration of the data sucking device 110 according to the second embodiment. The indicator 24 corresponds to a progress status display unit. Note that the data suction device 210 of this embodiment does not include the display unit 14.

  The indicator 24 displays the progress rate of the logging data sucking process and the logging data writing process to the external storage medium. The process confirmation lamp 25 is a lamp that indicates whether or not the logging data sucking process and the writing process are normally completed. When the process is completed normally, the color of the process confirmation lamp 25 changes.

  According to such a configuration, the operator can confirm the progress of the process by the indicator 24 and can confirm that the process has been normally completed by the process confirmation lamp 25.

  Next, a data suction apparatus 310 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same members as those in the data suction device 210 of the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different portions will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a data sucking device 310 according to the fourth embodiment. The data sucking device 310 includes a short-range wireless communication module 26 in addition to the configuration of the data sucking device 210 according to the third embodiment. Note that the data suction device 310 of this embodiment does not include the external storage medium I / F 22 and the external storage medium control unit 23.

  The near field communication module 26 is configured to be able to wirelessly transfer logging data sucked out from the control board 5 to a portable device capable of near field communication. The indicator 24 displays the progress rate of the process of transferring the logging data to the portable device by the short-range wireless communication module 26. The process confirmation lamp 25 changes its color when the logging data transfer process is normally completed.

  According to such a configuration, the short-range wireless communication module 26 can transfer the logging data to a portable device capable of short-range wireless communication. Therefore, the logging data can be analyzed in the portable device as necessary. Further, the operator can confirm the progress status of the transfer process by the indicator 24 and can confirm that the transfer process has been normally completed by the process confirmation lamp 25.

  The embodiments and examples of the present invention described above are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments or examples. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, the data suction device 10 of the first embodiment may include the external storage medium I / F 22 and the external storage medium control unit 23 of the data suction device 110 of the second embodiment, or the third embodiment. The indicator 24 and the processing confirmation lamp 25 of the data sucking device 210 may be provided, or the short distance wireless communication module 26 of the data sucking device 310 of the fourth embodiment may be provided.

1: air conditioner, 2: outdoor unit, 3A-3C: indoor unit, 4A-4C: remote controller, 5A-5C: control board, 10, 110, 210, 310: data suction device, 11: control unit, 12 : Data storage unit, 14: Display unit, 16: Battery, 22: External storage medium I / F, 24: Indicator, 26: Short-range wireless communication module, 50: Central processing unit, 52: Data storage unit

Claims (8)

An air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit, an indoor unit having a control board including a central processing unit and a data storage unit, and a remote controller having a time measuring unit for measuring time and receiving instructions regarding operating conditions. ,
When the central processing unit detects an operation abnormality of the indoor unit, the central processing unit acquires time data related to the time from the time measurement unit, and acquires the time data and data related to the operation state of the indoor unit when the operation abnormality occurs. Correspondingly saved in the data storage unit as logging data,
Air conditioner. The said central processing part preserve | saves the data regarding the operation state at the time of the factory shipment of the said indoor unit, and the data regarding the operation state at the time of the test run of the said indoor unit in the said data storage part as said logging data. Air conditioner. A data suction device configured to be connectable to a control board of an indoor unit of an air conditioner and having a control unit,
The control board of the indoor unit has a first data storage unit that stores logging data in which time data and data related to the operating state of the indoor unit are associated with each other when an operation abnormality occurs in the indoor unit. And
The control unit is configured to be able to suck out the logging data from the first data storage unit in a state where the data sucking device and the control board are connected.
Data suction device. A display unit;
A second data storage unit that stores a plurality of coping methods for abnormal operation of the indoor unit,
The control unit analyzes the logging data sucked out from the first data storage unit, identifies one handling method from the plurality of handling methods of the second data storage unit, and the identified handling method Is displayed on the display unit,
The data suction device according to claim 3. The data suction device according to claim 3, further comprising a battery capable of supplying power to the control board. It has an external storage medium interface to which an external storage medium can be attached and detached,
The control unit writes the logging data sucked out from the first data storage unit to the external storage medium attached to the external storage interface.
The data sucking device according to any one of claims 3 to 6. A progress display unit for displaying the progress of sucking out the logging data and the progress of writing the logging data to the external storage medium;
The data suction device according to claim 6. A short-range wireless communication unit capable of short-range wireless communication with external devices
The control unit is capable of transferring the logging data sucked out from the first data storage unit to the external device via the wireless communication unit.
The data sucking device according to any one of claims 3 to 7.

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