JP2017048936A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that when a human detection sensor detects presence of a person during filter automatic cleaning, the filter automatic cleaning is suspended and in such a case, frequent entering/leaving of persons makes it impossible to maintain a comfortable room temperature, and thus provide an air conditioner enabling automatic cleaning of a filter to be executed without making a user feel uncomfortable.SOLUTION: An air conditioner includes: a human detection sensor for detecting persons; a temperature sensor for detecting a room temperature; a storage section for storing a preset temperature range of the room temperature; and a control section for controlling the sensors and the storage section. During automatic cleaning of a filter, when the human detection sensor detects presence of a person, if the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor is outside the room temperature range stored in the storage section, the automatic cleaning of the filter is ended, and if the room temperature is within the room temperature range, the automatic cleaning of the filter is continued.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner that automatically cleans a filter.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner is provided with a filter for capturing dust and the like at an air suction port in order to prevent dust and the like contained in the air from entering the apparatus. If this filter is not regularly cleaned, dust or the like will adhere and the filter will become clogged. If the filter is left running without being clogged, the driving ability will be reduced and the power consumption will increase.

In order to prevent such filter clogging, for example, when the accumulated time of the air conditioning operation reaches a predetermined time, there is a technology for automatically cleaning by moving a filter cleaning unit arranged in the indoor unit relative to the filter. Proposed. However, since air conditioning cannot be performed while the filter is being cleaned, if the user performs filter cleaning while the user is in the room, the user may not be able to maintain a comfortable room temperature, which may cause discomfort to the user. I gave it.

For this reason, when the person detection sensor detects that a person's absence time has reached a predetermined time, the filter cleaning is automatically started. When the person detection sensor detects the presence of a person during the automatic cleaning of the filter, the filter An air conditioner that stops automatic cleaning has been proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-224133 A (pages 19-22, FIG. 12)

In the air conditioner of Patent Document 1, when the person enters and exits frequently, the automatic filter cleaning starts and stops frequently. Along with this, the start and stop of the air-conditioning operation are repeated, so that a comfortable room temperature cannot be maintained, and there is a concern that the user may feel uncomfortable.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to provide an air conditioner that can execute automatic cleaning of a filter without causing discomfort to the user.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an air conditioner that performs automatic cleaning of a filter, wherein the air conditioner automatically captures dust and the like contained in the air, and dust and the like attached to the filter. A filter cleaning unit that cleanly cleans, a human detection sensor that detects a person, a temperature sensor that detects a room temperature, a storage unit that stores a preset temperature range of the room temperature, and a control unit that controls these When the human detection sensor detects the presence of a person while the filter cleaning unit performs automatic cleaning of the filter, the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor is outside the temperature range of the room temperature stored in the storage unit. In this case, the automatic cleaning of the filter is terminated.

According to the air conditioner of the present invention, automatic cleaning of the filter can be executed without causing discomfort to the user.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the air conditioner by this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process regarding the filter automatic cleaning 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. The air conditioner 1 of the present invention includes an indoor unit 10 installed indoors, an outdoor unit 20 installed outdoors that performs air conditioning operation in cooperation with the indoor unit 10, and a user can operate the air conditioner 1. A remote controller 30 is provided.

The indoor unit 10 detects the presence of a person and outputs a human detection signal, a temperature sensor 12 that detects a room temperature, and dust and the like contained in the air from entering the apparatus. , A filter 19 provided at the air suction port, a filter cleaning unit 13 that moves on the filter 19 and automatically removes dust and the like adhering to the filter 19, a time measuring unit 14 that measures time, and an automatic cleaning of the filter The accumulated time of the air conditioning operation used as a condition for determining when to perform the occupancy, the occupancy determination time used as a condition for determining that the person is present, and that the person is not present The absence determination time used as a condition for determination, the storage unit 15 that stores in advance the temperature range of room temperature used for determination of continuation or termination of automatic filter cleaning, and the outdoor unit 20 connected to the outdoor unit 20 via a communication line A communication unit 16 for communicating with the 20, and a remote control signal receiving unit 17 for receiving an operation signal from the remote controller 30, and a control unit 18 for controlling these.

The control unit 18 causes the time measuring unit 14 to measure the operation time from the start to the end of the operation every time the air conditioning operation is performed, and the time obtained by integrating the operation time measured by the time measuring unit 14 is stored in the storage unit 15. When the filter cleaning start time (for example, 40 hours) is exceeded, it is determined that it is time to execute automatic filter cleaning.

In addition, the control unit 18 causes the timer unit 14 to measure the elapsed time while the human detection sensor 11 is not detecting the presence of a person, and the elapsed time that is being measured by the timer unit 14 is stored in the storage unit 15. When the absence determination time (for example, 10 minutes) is reached, it is determined that the person is absent.

In this way, when the control unit 18 determines the timing for automatically cleaning the filter and determines that the person is absent, the control unit 18 causes the filter cleaning unit 13 to start automatic filter cleaning.

In addition, the control unit 18 causes the timer unit 14 to count the elapsed time since the human detection sensor 11 detected the presence of a person, and the elapsed time stored in the storage unit 15 is stored in the timer unit 14. Until the room determination time (for example, 1 minute) is reached, it is determined that the person is present when the human detection sensor 11 continues to detect the presence of the person. Accordingly, even when a person temporarily enters or exits the room, the presence of the person can be determined in a short time.

The room temperature range stored in advance in the storage unit 15 is a room temperature range that does not cause discomfort to the user (for example, a set temperature of 2 ° C. during heating operation and a setting during cooling operation). Temperature + room temperature between 2 ° C). The temperature range of the room temperature may be set in advance when the air conditioner 1 is shipped. Further, the temperature range that the user feels comfortable may be set via the remote controller 30.

The filter cleaning unit 13 inputs a signal for starting or ending the automatic cleaning of the filter from the control unit 18, thereby starting the automatic cleaning of the filter or ending the automatic cleaning of the filter. When ending the automatic cleaning of the filter, the filter cleaning unit 13 returns from the position moved for cleaning the filter to the original predetermined position before starting the automatic filter cleaning, and returns to the original predetermined position. A signal indicating completion of automatic cleaning is output from the filter cleaning unit 13 to the control unit 18.

During the filter cleaning by the filter cleaning unit 13, when the human detection sensor 11 detects the presence of a person, the control unit 18 determines whether the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 is within the room temperature range stored in the storage unit 15. Determine whether or not. Then, when the temperature is within the range, the filter cleaning is continued, and when it is outside the range, the filter cleaning unit 13 terminates the automatic cleaning of the filter because the room temperature is uncomfortable for the user.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining processing related to automatic filter cleaning of the air conditioner 1 according to the present invention. As a condition for starting the processing of FIG. 2, it is assumed that the control unit 18 has determined that the time to perform automatic cleaning of the filter has been reached. Note that ST described in the flowchart represents a step, and the subsequent numbers represent step numbers.

When it is determined that the time has come for automatic cleaning of the filter, the control unit 18 checks whether or not the human detection sensor 11 has detected the presence of a person (ST1). When the human detection sensor 11 has not detected the presence of a person (ST1-No), it is confirmed whether or not the time counting unit 14 has measured the elapsed time while the human detection sensor 11 has not detected the presence of a person. (ST2). When the timekeeping unit 14 is measuring the elapsed time during which the presence of a person is not detected (ST2-Yes), the elapsed time during which the timepiece 14 is not detecting the presence of a person being timed Then, it is confirmed whether or not the absence determination time for determining the absence of the person stored in the storage unit 15 has been reached (ST3). When the elapsed time measured by the timer unit 14 has not reached the absence determination time (ST3-No), the process returns to ST1.

In ST1, when the human detection sensor 11 detects the presence of a person (ST1-Yes), the control unit 18 counts the elapsed time while the timer 14 does not detect the presence of a person. The elapsed time is reset (ST4). Then, the process returns to ST1. Further, when the control unit 18 does not time the elapsed time during which the time counting unit 14 does not detect the presence of the person in ST2 (ST2-No), the control unit 18 does not detect the presence of the person. Start measuring the elapsed time. (ST5). Then, the process returns to ST1.

In ST3, when the elapsed time during which the timing unit 14 does not detect the presence of the person who has timed has reached the absence determination time stored in the storage unit 15 in ST3 (ST3-Yes) The timer unit 14 finishes counting the elapsed time and resets the elapsed time, and the filter cleaning unit 13 starts automatic filter cleaning. (ST6). Subsequently, the control unit 18 confirms whether or not the filter cleaning unit 13 has completed the automatic filter cleaning (ST7). When the filter cleaning unit 13 completes the automatic filter cleaning (ST7-Yes), the automatic filter cleaning process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the filter cleaning unit 13 has not completed automatic filter cleaning in ST7 (ST7-No), the control unit 18 checks whether the human detection sensor 11 has detected the presence of a person (ST8). When the human detection sensor 11 detects the presence of a person (ST8-Yes), the timer unit 14 starts to measure the elapsed time while detecting the presence of a person. Alternatively, when the time measuring unit 14 has already timed the elapsed time, the time keeping is continued (ST9). Subsequently, the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 is acquired (ST10). And it is confirmed whether the room temperature acquired from the temperature sensor 12 is in the range of the room temperature memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 15 (ST11).

When the room temperature acquired from the temperature sensor 12 is not within the room temperature range stored in the storage unit 15 in ST11 (that is, the room temperature is uncomfortable for the user) (ST11-No), the control unit 18 counts time. Confirm whether or not the elapsed time while detecting the presence of the person being timed by the unit 14 has reached the occupancy determination time for determining the occupancy of the person stored in the storage unit 15 (ST12).

In ST12, when the elapsed time while the timer 14 detects the presence of the person being timed has reached the occupancy determination time (ST12-Yes), the controller 18 in the timer 14 And the elapsed time is reset, and the filter cleaning unit 13 ends automatic filter cleaning. (ST13). Then, the process returns to ST1.

On the other hand, in ST8, when the human detection sensor 11 does not detect the presence of a person (ST8-No), the control unit 18 counts the elapsed time while the timer 14 detects the presence of a person. In this case, the elapsed time is reset (ST14). Then, the process returns to ST7.

Further, when the room temperature acquired from the temperature sensor 12 is within the room temperature range stored in the storage unit 15 (that is, within the room temperature range that the user feels comfortable) in ST11 (ST11- Yes) and in ST12, when the elapsed time while the timer 14 detects the presence of the person who is timing does not reach the occupancy determination time stored in the storage unit 15 (ST12-No) ) Continue the automatic cleaning of the filter and return to ST7.

By performing the processing described with reference to FIG. 2, when the human detection sensor 11 detects the presence of a person during the filter cleaning by the filter cleaning unit 13, the room temperature becomes uncomfortable for the user according to the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12. If the temperature is too high, the automatic cleaning of the filter is terminated. On the other hand, when the room temperature is a comfortable temperature for the user, the automatic cleaning of the filter is continued. For this reason, automatic cleaning of a filter can be performed without giving a user a discomfort.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner 10 Indoor unit 11 Human detection sensor 12 Temperature sensor 13 Filter cleaning part 14 Timekeeping part 15 Storage part 16 Communication part 17 Remote control signal receiving part 18 Control part 19 Filter 20 Outdoor unit 30 Remote control

Claims (1)

In an air conditioner that automatically cleans a filter, the air conditioner includes a filter that captures dust and the like contained in the air, a filter cleaning unit that automatically cleans dust and the like attached to the filter, and a person. A human detection sensor for detecting, a temperature sensor for detecting a room temperature, a storage unit for storing a preset temperature range of the room temperature, and a control unit for controlling these, and the filter cleaning unit automatically cleans the filter. When the human detection sensor detects the presence of a person during execution, if the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor is outside the room temperature range stored in the storage unit, the automatic cleaning of the filter is terminated. A featured air conditioner.

Images