JP2016151368A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner for issuing notification to promote a filter cleaning at an appropriate time in response to a living pattern of a user in order to prevent a period where a user cannot perform a filter cleaning from occurring even if the period requiring the filter cleaning elapses.SOLUTION: An air conditioner calculates estimated air conditioning operation hours ranging from a calculation starting date to a next cleanable week day multiplied by average calculated operation hours per one day ranging from the calculation starting date to the present date and the number of days up to a next cleanable weekday, on the basis of the present date and the present weekday counted at a timing section, a user's cleanable weekday stored at a storage part, calculated operation hours, and a calculation starting date of calculated operation hours. Then, the air conditioner issues a notification to promote a filter cleaning operation from a notification segment when the estimated calculated operation hours added with the calculated operation hours up to the present date to the estimated air conditioning operation hours is more than an upper limit value of the calculated operation hours.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner that provides notification for prompting cleaning of a filter.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner is provided with a filter at the air suction port in order to prevent dust or the like contained in the air from entering the apparatus. When the air conditioner is operated for a long time, a large amount of dust adheres to this filter and clogs it. If the clogging is left unattended and the operation is continued, the driving ability is reduced and the power consumption is increased.

In order not to cause such a problem, the air conditioner notifies the user to clean the filter when the accumulated time of the air conditioning operation reaches a predetermined time. In addition, an air conditioner has been proposed in which a strong reminder notification is given step by step in accordance with the elapsed time after the notification for prompting filter cleaning is performed until the filter is cleaned. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-177997 A (pages 6-7, FIG. 4)

According to Patent Document 1, in order to notify a strong reminder step by step according to the elapsed time from the notification that prompts filter cleaning to when the filter is cleaned, the user is informed of the importance of filter cleaning. Can be urged.

However, even if the importance of cleaning can be recognized depending on the user's life pattern, for example, the filter can only be cleaned on Saturdays and Sundays, the timing for cleaning is limited. Even if such a user is strongly encouraged to clean, there is little effect of advancing the cleaning time. In addition, when the timing for cleaning is limited, the filter may not be cleaned even after a predetermined accumulated operation time has elapsed, which causes a problem of a decrease in operating capacity and an increase in power consumption. It was.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to provide an air conditioner that performs notification for prompting filter cleaning at an appropriate time according to a user's life pattern.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an air conditioner that provides a notification for prompting cleaning of a filter when an accumulated operation time obtained by accumulating an air conditioning operation time reaches a predetermined upper limit value. A timekeeping unit that measures the date and time, the current day of the week, and the air conditioning operation time for obtaining the integrated operation time, an input unit that receives an input of a cleanable day of the week that can be cleaned by a filter, the cleanable day of the week and the integrated operation A storage unit that stores an upper limit value of the accumulated operation time and an accumulation start date of the accumulated operation time, a notification unit that notifies the filter to be cleaned, and a control unit that controls these, When the cleanable day of the week is stored in the storage unit, an average operation time per day is calculated by dividing the integrated operation time by the number of days from the integration start date of the integrated operation time to the date of the current date and time. The predicted air conditioning operation time predicted by the cleanable day is calculated by multiplying the number of days from the current date and time to the next cleanable day by the average operation time per day. A predicted integrated operating time obtained by adding the integrated operating time to the predicted air conditioning operating time, and when the predicted integrated operating time is equal to or greater than the upper limit value of the integrated operating time, the notification unit prompts cleaning of the filter. It is characterized by doing.

By using the above-described means, according to the air conditioner of the present invention, the user can filter the time when the accumulated operation time predicted by the day of the filter cleaning that the user can set reaches a predetermined upper limit. You can receive cleaning notifications. For this reason, it becomes easy to perform cleaning of a filter before the time which needs filter cleaning passes, and can improve the energy saving nature of air-conditioning operation.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the air conditioner by this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the determination method of the time which prompts the cleaning of the filter with respect to the day which can be cleaned of the air conditioner by this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process which concerns on the filter cleaning notification of the air conditioner 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. In FIG. 1, an air conditioner 1 includes an indoor unit 10 that is installed in a room that performs cooling and heating, an outdoor unit 20 that is installed outdoors, and a remote controller 30 that a user uses to operate the air conditioner 1. Is done.

The indoor unit 10 includes an input unit 11 that is a switch that receives operations from the user, a time measuring unit 12 that measures the current date and time, the current day of the week, and the time for obtaining the total operation time of the air conditioning operation, and a filter for the user. A notification unit 13 such as an indicator lamp for performing a notification for prompting cleaning, a storage unit 14 for preliminarily storing operation information such as an accumulated operation time and an upper limit value of the accumulated operation time which is a time when filter cleaning is required, and an outdoor unit 20 includes a communication unit 15 that performs communication with 20, a remote control communication unit 16 that performs communication with the remote control 30, and a control unit 17 that controls these.

The remote controller 30 can set the day of the week when the user can clean the filter, and the control unit 17 can perform the filter cleaning from the remote control 30 via the remote control communication unit 16. Is stored in the storage unit 14 as a filter-cleanable day of the week. Further, when the air-conditioning operation is started, the control unit 17 causes the time measuring unit 12 to start measuring the air-conditioning operation time, and the air-conditioning operation time measured by the time measuring unit 12 is sequentially added to the accumulated operation time stored in the storage unit 14. Add and store.

Further, the input unit 11 can perform an operation for canceling the notification for prompting the filter cleaning after the user performs the filter cleaning, and the control unit 17 receives the cancellation of the notification for prompting the filter cleaning from the input unit 11. And canceling the notification urging the filter cleaning by turning off the indicator lamp of the notification unit 13, resetting the air-conditioning operation time measured by the time measuring unit 12, and newly starting the time measurement of the air-conditioning operation time, The storage unit 14 stores the current date and time as the integration start date and time of the integrated operation time newly counted.

In addition, when the filter-cleanable day of the week is stored in the storage unit 14, the control unit 17, during the subsequent air-conditioning operation, the current date and time measured by the timer unit 12 and the filter stored in the storage unit 14. Calculates the predicted integrated operation time that is predicted from the start of integration of the cleanable day of the week, the integrated operation time, and the integrated operation time to the cleanable day of the week that comes next to the current date and time, and whether it is the notification time of filter cleaning These determinations are performed sequentially. Further, when it is determined that it is time to notify the filter cleaning, a notification for prompting the cleaning of the filter is made by turning on the indicator lamp of the notification unit 13 or the like.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method for determining a time for prompting cleaning of the filter for a cleanable day of the week of the air conditioner 1 according to the present invention. In the graph of FIG. 2, the vertical axis indicates the cumulative operation time, the horizontal axis indicates the date and day of the week, and the transition of the cumulative operation time stored in the storage unit 14 of the air conditioner 1 is indicated by a solid line.

The solid line shown in FIG. 2 indicates that the accumulated operation time is 8 hours on August 24, 18 hours on August 25, and 32 hours on August 26, with August 23 being the accumulation start date of the accumulated operation time. It is in the state which reached.

Further, as a precondition for the explanation, 64 hours is stored as the upper limit value of the cumulative operation time that requires filter cleaning, and Saturday as a cleanable day of the week is stored in the storage unit 14, and the time for prompting the cleaning of the filter sequentially during the air conditioning operation is stored. Assume that a determination is being made.

First, when the accumulated operation time reaches 18 hours on August 25, the control unit 17 predicts by the next cleanable day of the week (August 30) that comes after (August 25) of the current date. The calculation for predicting the integrated operation time indicated by the dotted line (1) in FIG.

Specifically, the control unit 17 refers to the data (Saturday) of cleanable days of the week stored in the storage unit 14 and reads the current day of the week (Monday) measured by the time measuring unit 12 and reads ( The number of days from Monday) to the referenced cleanable day (Saturday) (the number of days until the next cleanable day after the current date) is calculated as “6 days”.

Next, the control unit 17 refers to the accumulated start time data (August 23) stored in the storage unit 14 and refers to the current date (August 25) timed by the time measuring unit 12. ), And the number of days from (August 23) to (August 25) (the number of days elapsed from the integration start date to the current date) is subtracted from the current date. This is calculated as “3 days”.

Subsequently, the control unit 17 refers to the accumulated operation time data (18 hours) stored in the storage unit 14, and the number of days elapsed from the accumulated start date for which the accumulated operation time (18 hours) has already been calculated. By dividing by “3 days”, “6 hours” is calculated as the average integrated operation time per day. Further, by multiplying the average accumulated operation time per day “6 hours” by the number of days “6 days” until the next cleanable day of the week that has already been calculated, the double arrow (1 “36 hours” is calculated as the predicted air conditioning operation time from the current date shown in FIG.

Subsequently, the control unit 17 adds the accumulated operation time (18 hours) referred to from the storage unit 14 to the predicted air conditioning operation time “36 hours” from the calculated current date to the next cleanable day of the week. Then, “54 hours” is calculated as the predicted integrated operation time from the integrated start time of the integrated operation time indicated by the dotted line (1) in FIG. 2 to the next cleanable day of the week.

Then, the control unit 17 refers to the upper limit value data (64 hours) of the integrated operation time that requires filter cleaning and is stored in the storage unit 14, and starts from the integration start date of the already calculated integrated operation time. The upper limit of the cumulative operation time that requires filter cleaning by the next cleanable day because “54 hours” is less than (64 hours) compared to the predicted cumulative operation time “54 hours” until the cleanable day of the week. It is determined that the value has not been reached, and no notification is made to prompt the filter to be cleaned.

Next, at the time when the accumulated operation time becomes 32 hours on August 26, the control unit 17 does not stop until the next cleanable day of the week (August 30) that comes after (August 26) of the current date. A calculation for predicting the accumulated operation time indicated by the dotted line (2) in FIG. 2 is performed.

Specifically, the control unit 17 refers to the data (Saturday) of the days that can be cleaned stored in the storage unit 14, reads the current day of the week (Tuesday) timed by the timekeeping unit 12, and reads ( The number of days from (Tuesday) to the next cleanable day (Saturday) (the number of days until the next cleanable day after the current date) is calculated as “5th”.

Next, the control unit 17 refers to the integration start date data (August 23) stored in the storage unit 14 and refers to the current date (August 26) timed by the time measuring unit 12. ), And the number of days from (August 23) to (August 26) (the number of days elapsed from the integration start date to the current date) is subtracted from the current date. Therefore, “4 days” is calculated.

Subsequently, the control unit 17 refers to the accumulated operation time data (32 hours) stored in the storage unit 14, and is the number of days that have elapsed from the accumulation start date for which the accumulated operation time (32 hours) has already been calculated. By dividing by “4 days”, “8 hours” is calculated as the average integrated operation time per day. Further, by multiplying the average accumulated operation time per day “8 hours” by the number of days “5 days” until the next cleanable day of the week that has already been calculated, the double arrow (2 "40 hours" is calculated as the predicted air-conditioning operation time from the current date shown in FIG.

Subsequently, the control unit 17 adds the accumulated operation time (32 hours) referred to from the storage unit 14 to the predicted air conditioning operation time “40 hours” from the calculated current date to the next cleanable day of the week. Then, “72 hours” is calculated as the predicted integrated operation time from the integrated start time of the integrated operation time indicated by the dotted line (2) in FIG. 2 to the next cleanable day of the week.

Then, the control unit 17 refers to the upper limit value data (64 hours) of the integrated operation time that requires filter cleaning and is stored in the storage unit 14, and starts from the integration start date of the already calculated integrated operation time. The upper limit of the cumulative operation time that requires filter cleaning by the next cleanable day because “72 hours” is (64 hours) or longer compared to the predicted cumulative operation time “72 hours” until the cleanable day. It is determined that the value is reached, and the notification unit 13 is notified of the cleaning of the filter based on the determined result.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the processing related to the filter cleaning notification of the air conditioner 1 according to the present invention. As a condition for starting the processing of FIG. 3, an operation for starting the operation of the air conditioner 1 is performed from the remote controller 30, and the control unit 17 that receives the operation air-conditions each part of the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 20 (not shown). It shall be instructed to start driving. Note that ST described in the flowchart represents a step, and the subsequent numbers represent step numbers.

When the air-conditioning operation of the air conditioner 1 is started, the control unit 17 resets the air-conditioning operation time measured by the time measuring unit 12 and newly starts the time measurement of the air-conditioning operation time (ST1). The control unit 17 sequentially stores the air conditioning operation time measured by the time measuring unit 12 to the accumulated operation time stored in the storage unit 14. Subsequently, it is confirmed whether or not a setting operation for a cleanable day of the week has been received from the remote controller 30 (ST2).

When the control unit 17 does not accept the setting operation of the days that can be cleaned in ST2 (ST2-No), the control unit 17 refers to the accumulated operation time stored in the storage unit 14 and the upper limit value of the accumulated operation time that requires filter cleaning. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the accumulated operation time has reached the upper limit value of the accumulated operation time that requires filter cleaning (ST3). When the accumulated operation time has reached the upper limit value of the accumulated operation time that requires filter cleaning (ST3-Yes), notification is made to urge the filter to be cleaned by turning on the indicator lamp of the notification unit 13 (ST4). .

Subsequently, the control unit 17 confirms whether or not an operation for canceling a notification that prompts the user to clean the filter is received from the input unit 11 after the user cleans the filter (ST5). When the operation for canceling the notification is not accepted (ST5-No), it is confirmed whether an operation for stopping the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner 1 is accepted from the remote controller 30 (ST6). When the operation to stop the air conditioning operation is not accepted (ST6-No), the process returns to ST2.

When the control unit 17 receives a setting operation for a cleanable day of the week from the remote controller 30 in ST2 (ST2-Yes), the control unit 17 overwrites and stores the received information on the cleanable day of the week in the storage unit 14 (ST7). Then jump to ST3.

In ST3, when the accumulated operation time has not reached the upper limit value of the accumulated operation time that requires filter cleaning (ST3-No), the control unit 17 checks whether or not the days that can be cleaned are stored in the storage unit 14. Yes (ST8), when the days that can be cleaned are not stored (ST8-No), the process jumps to ST5.

On the other hand, when the cleanable day of the week is stored in the storage unit 14 in ST8 (ST8-Yes), the control unit 17 starts integration of the integrated operation time stored in the storage unit 14 as described in FIG. The elapsed time from the integration start date which calculated the elapsed operation time from the integration start date based on the date and the current date timed by the timer unit 12 and calculated the integrated operation time stored in the storage unit 14 By dividing by the number of days, the average accumulated operation time per day from the accumulation start date to the current date is calculated. Further, the calculated average accumulated operation time per day is the next day that comes after the current date calculated based on the cleanable day of the week stored in the storage unit 14 and the current day of the week clocked by the time measuring unit 12. Multiply the number of days until the cleanable day of the week to calculate the predicted air conditioning operation time from the current date to the next cleanable day of the week. (ST9).

Subsequently, as described in FIG. 2, the control unit 17 adds the accumulated operation time stored in the storage unit 14 to the predicted air conditioning operation time from the current date calculated in ST <b> 9 to the next cleanable day of the week. Then, the estimated integrated operation time from the integration start date of the integrated operation time to the next cleanable day is calculated. (ST10). Then, the upper limit value of the accumulated operation time that requires filter cleaning stored in the storage unit 14 is compared with the estimated accumulated operation time from the accumulation start date calculated in ST10 to the next cleanable day of the week. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the predicted integrated operation time is equal to or greater than the upper limit value of the integrated operation time that requires filter cleaning (ST11).

When the predicted integrated operation time is equal to or greater than the upper limit value of the integrated operation time requiring filter cleaning in ST11 (ST11-Yes), the control unit 17 jumps to ST4. On the other hand, when the predicted integrated operation time is not longer than the upper limit value of the integrated operation time that requires filter cleaning (ST11-No), the process jumps to ST5.

In ST5, when the control unit 17 receives an operation for canceling the notification for urging the filter from the input unit 11 (ST5-Yes), the control unit 17 counts the accumulated operation time stored in the storage unit 14 and the time measuring unit 12. The current air conditioning operation time is reset, the timekeeping unit 12 newly starts the time measurement of the air conditioning operation time, and the current date is stored in the storage unit 14 as the new integration start date of the integrated operation time (ST12). Then jump to ST6.

When the control unit 17 receives an operation to stop the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner 1 in ST6 (ST6-Yes), the integrated operation stored in the storage unit 14 is the air conditioning operation time measured by the time measuring unit 12. The time is added and stored, and the time measuring unit 12 stops the time for the air conditioning operation time (ST13). Then, the air conditioning operation is stopped in the outdoor unit 20 via each unit of the indoor unit 10 (not shown) and the communication unit 15, and the process is terminated.

By performing the processing described with reference to FIG. 3, the user reaches the upper limit value of the predetermined accumulated operation time that requires the filter cleaning, and the estimated operation time that is predicted by the day of the week when the filter cleaning that is set by the user can be performed. You can get notification of filter cleaning at the time. For this reason, even if the days when the filter cleaning can be performed by the user are limited, the filter cleaning is easily performed before the time when the filter cleaning is necessary, and the energy saving performance of the air conditioning operation is improved. be able to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner 10 Indoor unit 11 Input part 12 Timekeeping part 13 Notification part 14 Storage part 15 Communication part 16 Remote control communication part 17 Control part 20 Outdoor unit 30 Remote control

Claims (1)

In the air conditioner that gives a notification to prompt the cleaning of the filter when the accumulated operation time obtained by integrating the air conditioning operation time reaches a predetermined upper limit value, the air conditioner obtains the current date and time, the current day of the week, and the accumulated operation time. A time-counting unit for measuring the air-conditioning operation time, an input unit for receiving an input of a cleanable day of the week that is filter-cleanable, and the same as the upper limit value of the cumulative operation time and the cleanable day of the week A storage unit that stores the integration start date of the integrated operation time, a notification unit that notifies the filter to be cleaned, and a control unit that controls the storage unit, and the control unit stores the days that can be cleaned in the storage unit. If it is, the average operation time per day is calculated by dividing the integrated operation time by the number of days from the integration start date of the integrated operation time to the date of the current date and time. Multiply the average operation time per day by the number of days until the cleanable day of the week to calculate the predicted air conditioning operation time predicted by the cleanable day of the week, and add the accumulated operation time to the predicted air conditioning operation time The air conditioner is characterized in that the predicted integrated operation time is calculated, and when the predicted integrated operation time is equal to or greater than an upper limit value of the integrated operation time, the notification unit notifies the filter to be cleaned.

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