JP2017180942A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a comfortable environment for a user.SOLUTION: An air conditioner includes: an indoor machine 13 configured to perform air-conditioning in a room 12; and a portable good button 33 provided separately from the indoor machine 13, and configured to operate in a case where a user satisfies an air-conditioned environment in the room 12; a sensor unit 34 provided together with the good button 33, and configured to detect a temperature and a wind speed in the room 12; and a transmission unit 37 provided together with the good button 33, and configured to, when the good button 33 is operated, transmit to the indoor machine 13 the operation information of the good button 33, and the temperature information and wind speed information detected by the sensor unit 34. The indoor machine 13 is configured to store the temperature and the wind speed at the time when the good button 33 is operated, respectively as a target detection temperature and a target detection wind speed, and after that, operate so that a detected temperature approaches the target detection temperature and a detected wind speed approaches the target detection wind speed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

  A “hot switch” or “cold switch” that can be operated by the user is provided, and when these switches are operated, the set temperature and humidity are adjusted based on the temperature and humidity detected by the indoor unit. There is.

Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-92254

The “switch when hot” and “switch when cold” are operated when the user is not satisfied with the indoor air-conditioned environment. In this way, it is possible to take measures to bring it closer to a comfortable environment, but the air conditioner cannot always determine whether or not the environment is uncomfortable for the user based on temperature alone. In particular, because the comfort for humans depends on the wind speed, the air conditioner cannot determine whether it is truly comfortable simply by whether it is hot or cold, creating a comfortable environment for the user. Difficult to do.
The subject of this invention is providing the air conditioner which implement | achieves a comfortable environment for a user.

  An air conditioner according to an aspect of the present invention includes an indoor unit that performs indoor air conditioning, and a portable satisfactory operation unit that is provided separately from the indoor unit and that is operated when the user is satisfied with the air-conditioned environment. A sensor unit provided with the satisfaction operation unit for detecting temperature and wind speed, and a transmission unit for transmitting operation information of the satisfaction operation unit provided with the satisfaction operation unit and temperature information and wind speed information detected by the sensor unit to the indoor unit. The indoor unit stores the temperature and wind speed when the satisfactory operation unit is operated as the target detection temperature and the target detection wind speed, respectively, and thereafter the temperature detected by the sensor unit approaches the target detection temperature. In addition, the vehicle is operated so that the wind speed detected by the sensor unit approaches the target detected wind speed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to detect that the user is satisfied with the air-conditioned environment by operating the satisfaction operation unit, and the temperature and wind speed detected by the sensor unit at that time are used as the target detection temperature and the target detection wind speed. Can be stored as Thereafter, a comfortable environment for the user can be realized by operating so that the detected temperature and the target detected temperature are close to each other and the detected wind speed is close to the target detected wind speed.

It is the structure of an air conditioner. It is a functional block diagram of an indoor unit and a remote control. It is an image figure of an indoor unit (cooling). It is an image figure of an indoor unit (heating). It is a flowchart which shows a wind speed detection process. It is a flowchart which shows an operation control process. It is a table used for the update of driving | operation setting. It is a table when the operation setting is updated most simply (comparative example).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Each drawing is schematic and may be different from the actual one. Further, the following embodiments exemplify apparatuses and methods for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the configuration is not specified as follows. That is, the technical idea of the present invention can be variously modified within the technical scope described in the claims.

"Constitution"
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner.
The air conditioner 11 includes an indoor unit 13 attached to the wall surface of the room 12 and an outdoor unit 14 installed outdoors. The air conditioner 11 is remotely operated by a user by wireless communication via a remote controller (hereinafter simply referred to as a remote controller) 15.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner.
The indoor unit 13 includes a receiving unit 21, an indoor unit control unit 22, a main fan 23, a left side fan 24, and a right side fan 25.
The receiving unit 21 receives various signals from the remote controller 15.
The indoor unit control unit 22 receives various signals from the remote controller 15 and drives and controls the outdoor unit 14, the main fan 23, the left side fan 24, and the right side fan 25. Here, the main fan 23 corresponds to the “first fan”, and the left side fan 24 and the right side fan correspond to the “second fan”.

A refrigerant circuit is formed between the indoor unit 13 and the outdoor unit 14, and heat energy is exchanged between the air and the refrigerant by the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit. Warm air is supplied to the room 12. The indoor unit control unit 22 controls the cooling / heating switching and the cool air and warm air blown from the indoor unit 13 by driving and controlling the compressor and the four-way valve of the outdoor unit 14.
3 and 4 are image diagrams of the indoor unit.
The main fan 23 is provided in the indoor unit 13 and blows out cool air and warm air supplied through the refrigerant circuit. That is, the air exchanged with the refrigerant is blown. The blown-out direction of the air blown out by the main fan 23 can be adjusted by the orientation of the up-and-down wind direction plates provided at the blow-out port of the housing and the right and left wind direction plates.

  The left side fan 24 is provided on the left side surface of the main body of the indoor unit 13, and the right side fan 25 is provided on the right side surface, and both blow out only air at room temperature. In other words, air that is not heat exchanged with the refrigerant is blown. Each of the left side fan 24 and the right side fan 25 can be rotated around the same axis, and the blowing direction is adjusted depending on the rotation position of the left side fan 24 and the direction of the wind direction plate provided at the outlet of the casing. it can. The indoor unit 13 is installed in the room 12 so that the rotation axes of the main fan 23, the left side fan 24, and the right side fan 25 are horizontal.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the cooling operation. Here, as shown by the broken line, the cold air blown out by the main fan 23 is blown out in the horizontal direction, and as shown by the dotted line, the air blown by the left side fan 24 and the right side fan 25 is blown out obliquely downward. In this way, it is possible to feel a natural coolness even in a modest cooling operation by allowing the user to take air at a comfortable temperature while preventing the cool air from directly hitting the body.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the heating operation. Here, as indicated by the broken line, the warm air blown out by the main fan 23 blows out directly below, and as indicated by the dotted line, the air blown by the left side fan 24 and the right side fan 25 is blown obliquely downward. In this way, by suppressing the rising of warm air by blowing air from the left side fan 24 and the right side fan 25, the warm air spreads to the back of the room 12 and the entire floor surface can be warmed.

The remote controller 15 is portable, and as shown in FIG. 2, a hot button 31, a cold button 32, a like button 33 (satisfied operation unit), a sensor unit 34, a storage unit 35, and a remote control unit 36 and a transmission unit 37.
The hot button 31 is a button operated when the user feels hot.
The cold button 32 is a button operated when the user feels cold.
The like button 33 is a button that is operated when the user feels comfortable with respect to temperature, humidity, and wind speed, that is, when the user is satisfied with the air-conditioned environment of the room 12.

The sensor unit 34 includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature around the remote control and a wind speed sensor that detects the wind speed around the remote control. The temperature sensor uses a thermistor whose electrical resistance changes as the temperature changes. A wind speed sensor detects a wind speed (airflow) using a pair of thermistors.
The storage unit 35 stores various information such as operation settings made by the user, that is, temperature settings, wind speed settings, wind direction settings, and the like.
The remote control control unit 36 receives button signals from the buttons and sensor signals from the sensor unit 34 and sends them to the transmission unit 37. Specifically, a button signal when the hot button 31 is pressed, a button signal when the cold button 32 is pressed, a button signal (satisfaction signal) when the like button 33 is pressed, and the sensor unit 34 The detected temperature signal and wind speed signal.
Upon receiving the various signals, the transmission unit 37 transmits the various signals to the indoor unit 13. Moreover, the transmission part 37 is transmitting the sensor signal to the indoor unit 13 at a predetermined interval at any time.

Next, the wind speed detection process executed by the remote controller 36 will be described.
Here, the processing according to the present invention is mainly described, and general processing is omitted.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the wind speed detection process.
The wind speed detection process is started when the user performs an operation for instructing the indoor unit 13 to start operation, and thereafter repeatedly executed according to a predetermined calculation cycle.
In step S101, it is determined whether or not the temperature t detected by the temperature sensor of the sensor unit 34 has reached the set temperature ts. Here, when the temperature t has not reached the set temperature ts (S101-No), the process proceeds to step S103. On the other hand, when the temperature t has reached the set temperature ts (S101-Yes), it is determined whether a predetermined time (for example, several tens of minutes) has elapsed since the temperature t has reached the set temperature ts. (S102). If a predetermined time (for example, several tens of minutes) has elapsed (S102-Yes), the process proceeds to step S104. If not (S102-No), the process proceeds to step S103.

In step S103, it is determined whether the like button 33 has been operated. Here, when the like button 33 is not operated (S103-No), the process directly returns to step S101. On the other hand, when the like button 33 is operated (S103-Yes), the process proceeds to step S104.
In step S104, the transition of the wind speed u in a predetermined period T (for example, 2 to 3 minutes) is analyzed. The sensor unit 34 detects the wind velocity u at any time and stores the detection results in the storage unit 35 in time series.
In subsequent step S105, operation information, temperature information, and wind speed information of the like button 33 are transmitted to the indoor unit 13 via the transmission unit 37, and then the process returns to step S101.
The above is the wind speed detection process.

Next, the operation control process executed by the indoor unit control unit 22 will be described.
Here, the processing according to the present invention is mainly described, and general processing such as control of the refrigerant circuit is omitted.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation control process.
The operation control process is started when the user performs an operation for instructing the indoor unit 13 to start the operation, and is then repeatedly executed according to a predetermined calculation cycle.
In step S111, whether the indoor unit control unit 22 has received the operation information of the like button 33 from the remote control 15 (whether the remote control control unit 36 has performed the process of step 105 in FIG. 5), that is, is good. It is determined whether or not the button 33 has been operated. If the like button 33 is not operated (S111-No), the process proceeds to step S112. On the other hand, when the like button 33 is operated (S111-Yes), the process proceeds to step S114.

In step S112, it is determined whether the target detection temperature tg and the target detection wind speed ug are set. Here, when the target detection temperature tg and the target detection wind speed ug are not yet stored (S112—No), the process proceeds to step S113. On the other hand, when the target detected temperature tg and the target detected wind speed ug are already stored (S112—Yes), the process proceeds to step S115.
In step S113, the process returns to step S111 while maintaining the current operation setting. That is, the current temperature setting, wind speed setting, and wind direction setting stored in the storage unit 35 are maintained.

In step S114, the temperature t and the wind speed u when the like button 33 is operated are stored as the target detection temperature tg and the target detection wind speed ug, respectively.
In subsequent step S115, the operation is performed so that the temperature t detected by the sensor unit 34 is maintained at the target detection temperature tg, and the wind speed u detected by the sensor unit 34 is maintained at the target detection wind speed ug. After the setting is updated, the process returns to step S111. Specifically, the operation setting is updated with reference to a predetermined table.

FIG. 7 is a table used for updating the operation setting.
Here, two types of tables are prepared for the cooling operation / dehumidification operation and the heating operation. Each of the detected temperature t is classified as low, just, or high with respect to the target detected temperature tg, and whether the detected wind speed u is fast, just, or slow with respect to the target detected wind speed ug. ing.

First, the cooling operation / dehumidification operation will be described.
(1) When the temperature t is lower than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is faster than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is increased and the wind speed setting is decreased.
(2) When the temperature t is lower than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is equal to the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is increased and the wind speed setting is decreased.
(3) When the temperature t is lower than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is slower than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is increased and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(4) When the temperature t is lower than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is substantially no wind (for example, 0.2 [m / s] or less), the temperature setting is increased, the wind speed setting is increased, and the wind direction setting is maintained.

(5) When the temperature t is equal to the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is faster than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is increased and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(6) When the temperature t is equal to the target detected temperature tg and the wind speed u is equal to the target detected wind speed ug, the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(7) When the temperature t is equal to the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is slower than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(8) When the temperature t is equal to the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is substantially no wind (for example, 0.2 [m / s] or less), the temperature setting is maintained, the wind speed setting is increased, and the wind direction setting is changed. To do.

(9) When the temperature t is higher than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is faster than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is increased.
(10) When the temperature t is higher than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is equal to the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is increased.
(11) When the temperature t is higher than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is slower than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is increased.
(12) When the temperature t is higher than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is substantially no wind (for example, 0.2 [m / s] or less), the temperature setting is maintained, the wind speed setting is increased, and the wind direction setting is changed. .

Next, the heating operation will be described.
(1) When the temperature t is lower than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is faster than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is lowered.
(2) When the temperature t is lower than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is equal to the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is lowered.
(3) When the temperature t is lower than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is slower than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(4) When the temperature t is lower than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is substantially no wind (for example, 0.2 [m / s] or less), the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is increased.

(5) When the temperature t is equal to the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is faster than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is lowered and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(6) When the temperature t is equal to the target detected temperature tg and the wind speed u is equal to the target detected wind speed ug, the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(7) When the temperature t is equal to the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is slower than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(8) When the temperature t is equal to the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is substantially no wind (for example, 0.2 [m / s] or less), the temperature setting is maintained and the wind speed setting is maintained.

(9) When the temperature t is higher than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is faster than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is lowered and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(10) When the temperature t is higher than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is equal to the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is lowered and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(11) When the temperature t is higher than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is slower than the target detection wind speed ug, the temperature setting is lowered and the wind speed setting is maintained.
(12) When the temperature t is higher than the target detection temperature tg and the wind speed u is substantially no wind (for example, 0.2 [m / s] or less), the temperature setting is lowered and the wind speed setting is maintained.
The above is the operation control process.

<Effect>
Next, operational effects will be described.
The hot button 31 and the cold button 32 are operated when the user is not satisfied with the indoor air-conditioned environment. In this way, it is possible to take measures to bring it closer to a comfortable environment, but the air conditioner cannot always determine whether or not the environment is uncomfortable for the user based on temperature alone. In particular, because the comfort for humans depends on the wind speed, the air conditioner cannot determine whether it is truly comfortable simply by whether it is hot or cold, creating a comfortable environment for the user. Difficult to do.

The wind speed can be roughly estimated by the wind speed blown from the indoor unit 13, but since the user's whereabouts are not always determined, it is difficult for the air conditioner to accurately estimate the wind speed comfortable for the user. .
In addition, when the air blown from the air conditioner hits the user during heating, it becomes a draft feeling as if the gap air was hit by the user, which is likely to be one of the factors that make it uncomfortable. It is difficult to realize a comfortable environment.

  Therefore, the remote controller 15 of the present embodiment incorporates a sensor unit 34 that detects the temperature t and the wind speed u of the room 12, and further includes a like button 33. When the user operates the like button 33 (the determination in step S102 is “Yes”), the remote controller 15 detects the wind speed u in the room 12 by the sensor unit 34 (step S104). Then, the transmission unit 37 transmits the operation information of the like button 33, the temperature information of the room 12, and the wind speed information to the indoor unit 13 (step S105).

  In the indoor unit 13, when the like button 33 has never been operated (the determinations in steps S111 and S112 in FIG. 6 are both “No”), the current operation setting, that is, the temperature setting, the wind speed setting, and the wind direction setting are performed. This is maintained (step S113). On the other hand, when the like button 33 is operated (the determination in step S111 is “Yes”), the temperature t and the wind speed u at that time are stored as the target detected temperature tg and the target detected wind speed ug (step S114). Thereafter, the operation is performed so that the detected temperature t and the target detection temperature tg are close to each other, and the detected wind speed u and the target detection wind speed ug are close (step S115).

Here, a comparative example will be described.
FIG. 8 is a table when the operation setting is updated most simply.
That is, if the temperature t is lower than the target detection temperature tg, the temperature setting is increased, if the temperature t is equal to the target detection temperature tg, the temperature setting is maintained, and if the temperature t is higher than the target detection temperature tg, the temperature setting is decreased. ing. Further, when the wind speed u is faster than the target detected wind speed ug, the wind speed setting is lowered. When the wind speed u is equal to the target detected wind speed ug, the wind speed setting is maintained, and when the wind speed u is slower than the target detected wind speed ug, the wind speed setting is decreased. If the wind speed u is substantially no wind, the wind speed setting is considerably increased.

On the other hand, you may update an operation setting using the table of FIG. In the table of FIG. 7, in the cooling operation, as shown in (9) to (12), when the detected temperature t is higher than the target detection temperature tg, the relationship between the detected wind speed u and the target detection wind speed ug is shown. Regardless, the target detection wind speed ug is increased while maintaining the target detection temperature tg. In this way, the temperature of the sensible temperature can be lowered simply by increasing the wind speed, so that not only a comfortable environment for the user can be realized, but also an increase in power consumption can be suppressed to contribute to energy saving.
Further, in the heating operation, as shown in (1) and (2), when the detected temperature t is lower than the target detection temperature tg and the detected wind speed u is equal to or higher than the target detection wind speed ug, the target detection temperature The target detected wind speed ug is decreased without increasing tg. In this way, just by lowering the wind speed, it is possible to suppress the draft feeling like a breeze and raise the sensible temperature, so that not only a comfortable environment for the user can be realized, but also an increase in power consumption can be suppressed to save energy. To contribute.

  When changing the target detected wind speed, only the wind speed of the left side fan 24 and the right side fan 25 may be controlled while maintaining the rotation speed of the main fan 23. Thereby, it can suppress that the temperature t of the room | chamber 12 changes. As described above, since the left side fan 24 and the right side fan 25 that blow air that does not exchange heat with the refrigerant are provided separately from the main fan 23 that blows air that exchanges heat with the refrigerant, the indoor 12 The temperature and the wind speed can be individually controlled, and a comfortable environment for the user can be realized.

  The wind speed sensor of the sensor unit 34 needs to heat the thermistor in order to detect the wind speed u, and in order to reduce power consumption, it is desirable to suppress the detection frequency to a minimum. Therefore, the sensor unit 34 detects the wind velocity u after the temperature t in the room 12 reaches the set temperature ts (the determination in step S101 in FIG. 5 is “Yes”) or the like button 33 is operated. (Yes in step S103 in FIG. 5). Thus, by suppressing the detection frequency of the wind speed u to the minimum, an increase in power consumption can be suppressed.

Further, in a transitional state until the temperature t reaches the set temperature ts, the operation of the indoor unit 13 is not stable, and the airflow in the room 12 tends to be disturbed. Therefore, data after the operation of the indoor unit 13 is stabilized can be detected by detecting the wind speed u after the temperature t reaches the set temperature ts. Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy when updating the wind speed setting. In addition, by detecting the wind speed u after the like button 33 is operated, the wind speed u at which the user feels comfortable can be accurately grasped.
Further, by incorporating the sensor unit 34 into the remote controller 15, the user can easily carry the sensor unit 34. Since the remote controller 15 is often placed within the reach of the user's hand, it is possible to grasp the temperature and wind speed around the user, that is, the temperature and wind speed felt by the user. In addition, the like button 33 can be easily operated.

  Then, by updating the operation setting according to the temperature and wind speed when the like button 33 is operated, the operation state immediately before the previous operation stop can be taken over at the next operation. Thereby, the comfort for the user can be learned, and the environment that the user feels comfortable can be reproduced around the remote control. Therefore, for example, it is assumed that the living room and the dining room are integrated, and first the user operates the like button 33 in the living room. Thereafter, when the user moves to the dining room with the remote controller 15, the comfortable environment that the user feels comfortable in the living room can be reproduced in the dining room.

<Modification>
In the present embodiment, when the wind speed setting is updated, only the wind speeds of the left side fan 24 and the right side fan 25 are controlled, but the present invention is not limited to this. In order to control to achieve the target detected wind speed while maintaining the target detected temperature, it may be necessary to control the wind speed of the heat-exchanged air. In this case, while maintaining the temperature setting, only the wind speed of the main fan 23 is controlled so that the change in the wind speed detected by the sensor unit 34 is reduced. Thereby, a comfortable environment for the user can be realized.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to a limited number of embodiments, the scope of rights is not limited thereto, and modifications of the embodiments based on the above disclosure are obvious to those skilled in the art.

11 Air Conditioner 12 Indoor 13 Indoor Unit 14 Outdoor Unit 15 Remote Control 22 Indoor Unit Control Unit 23 Main Fan 24 Left Side Fan 25 Right Side Fan 31 Hot Button 32 Cold Button 33 Like Button 34 Sensor Unit 35 Storage Unit 36 Remote Control Unit 37 Transmitter

Claims (5)

An indoor unit that performs indoor air conditioning;
A portable satisfactory operation unit that is provided separately from the indoor unit and that is operated when the user is satisfied with the air-conditioned environment,
A sensor unit that is provided together with the satisfactory operation unit and detects temperature and wind speed;
A transmission unit that is provided together with the satisfaction operation unit and transmits operation information of the satisfaction operation unit and temperature information and wind speed information detected by the sensor unit to the indoor unit;
The indoor unit is
Store the temperature and wind speed when the satisfactory operation unit is operated as the target detection temperature and the target detection wind speed, respectively.
Thereafter, the air conditioner is operated so that the temperature detected by the sensor unit and the target detection temperature are close to each other, and the wind speed detected by the sensor unit is close to the target detection wind speed. The indoor unit is
2. The air conditioning according to claim 1, wherein in the cooling operation, when the temperature detected by the sensor unit is higher than the target detection temperature, the target detection wind speed is increased without changing the target detection temperature. Machine. The indoor unit is
In the heating operation, when the temperature detected by the sensor unit is lower than the target detected temperature and the wind speed detected by the sensor unit is equal to or higher than the target detected wind speed, the target detected temperature is not changed and the target detected temperature is not changed. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detected wind speed is lowered. The indoor unit is
A first fan that blows heat-exchanged air;
A second fan for blowing air that is not heat exchanged,
The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wind speed is controlled only by the second fan. The indoor unit is
A first fan that blows heat-exchanged air;
A second fan for blowing air that is not heat exchanged,
The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wind speed is controlled only by the first fan.

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