JP2019020092A - Refrigeration cycle device - Google Patents

Abstract

To read specific identification data of a connection destination from each unit, in a refrigeration cycle device for connecting a plurality of units such as an indoor unit and an outdoor unit in an air conditioner.SOLUTION: An air conditioner 1 operates by an indoor unit 2 and an outdoor unit 3 being connected via a communication wire 12. The indoor unit 2 includes: an indoor unit control device 4 for controlling the indoor unit 2; and an indoor unit nonvolatile memory 5 capable of storing specific identification data of the outdoor unit 3. The outdoor unit 3 includes: an outdoor unit control device 8 for controlling the outdoor unit 3; and an outdoor unit nonvolatile memory 9 capable of storing specific identification data of the indoor unit 2. When an operation is started in a state where the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 are connected by the communication wire 12, the specific identification data of the indoor unit 2 is transmitted to the outdoor unit 3, the specific identification data of the outdoor unit 3 is transmitted to the indoor unit 2, and the specific identification data of the connection destinations received respectively is stored in the respective nonvolatile memories.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus and a refrigeration cycle apparatus represented by a water heater that are used by connecting a plurality of units.

In general, in an air conditioner equipped with a refrigeration cycle device that is used by connecting an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, unique identification data such as the model name and model number of each unit is connected to the control device of each unit. It is stored in the nonvolatile memory at the manufacturing stage, and is taken out from the nonvolatile memory together with operation record data recorded in the market, or via an external communication device connected to the control device.
Further, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus provided with the remote communication means, the unique identification data stored in the non-volatile memory is transmitted using the remote communication means and utilized for service activities such as remote maintenance (for example, patents) Reference 1).

JP 2003-322390 A

However, in the conventional configuration, the units of the indoor unit and outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus are individually manufactured in the manufacturing process, and the combination is not determined until they are installed in the market. The unique identification data of the connected unit cannot be stored in the nonvolatile memory. For this reason, only the self-unique identification data can be stored in the nonvolatile memory of each unit, and the unique identification data of the units connected in the market cannot be taken out.
An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration cycle apparatus that can extract unique identification data of a connected unit from a control device of a unit in a refrigeration cycle apparatus that is connected and used in the market.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of units connected via a communication line, and each unit is a nonvolatile memory capable of holding a unique identification data and a control device including a microcomputer or the like. The unique identification data stored in the non-volatile memory is mutually transmitted / received via the communication line, and the received unique identification data is stored in the non-volatile memory of each unit. To do. And when the units are connected by communication lines in the market, the unique identification data of the connection destination is stored in both nonvolatile memories of each unit by transmitting and receiving the unique identification data to each other by communication. is there.

  The refrigeration cycle apparatus of the present invention obtains its own unique identification data and unique identification data of a connection destination from a non-volatile memory provided in a control unit of a single unit having experience of being connected and used in the market. Can be acquired.

The block diagram of the air conditioner in Embodiment 1 of this invention Timing chart of internal / external communication of air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the structure of the air conditioner in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the air conditioner in Embodiment 3 of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the air conditioner in Embodiment 4 of this invention. Schematic diagram showing the configuration of a conventional refrigeration cycle apparatus

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of units are connected via a communication line, and each of the units has a control device composed of a microcomputer or the like and a non-volatile memory capable of holding unique identification data, and is stored in the non-volatile memory It is possible to store the received unique identification data in a non-volatile memory by mutually transmitting and receiving the unique identification data, which is performed through the communication line, and a control device for one unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus The unique identification data of the connection destination unit can be acquired from the non-volatile memory provided in the.

  The second invention has means for communicating with an external device such as the wireless device of the first invention or a wired communication interface, and is connected with its own unique identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory. By transmitting the unique identification data of the existing device to the external device, the unique identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory can be transmitted to the external device, and the connection status of the device can be monitored remotely. .

  A third invention includes the control device of the first invention and a remote controller that transmits and receives signals, and the unit is nonvolatile by transmitting the unique identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory to the remote controller. The unique identification data stored in the memory can be transmitted to the remote controller, and the remote controller can acquire the unique identification data of the unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, by transmitting the unique identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory to an external terminal connected via a communication line connecting the plurality of units according to the first aspect of the invention. The unit transmits the unique identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory to the external terminal device, and the external terminal can acquire the unique identification data of the unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment of the present invention, an air conditioner is illustrated as an example of a refrigeration cycle apparatus. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of components that are electrically connected to the air conditioner according to the first embodiment.

  The air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is a separation type air conditioner that includes an indoor unit 2 and an outdoor unit 3. The indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 are connected to each other by a refrigerant pipe, a power line that supplies power from the indoor unit 2 to the outdoor unit 3, and a communication line 12 that is a control line.

  The indoor unit 2 includes an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan that blows air to the indoor heat exchanger, and a flow direction of the air that is blown out from the air outlet. The wind direction control blade | wing which controls is provided. The wind direction control blade is composed of a plurality of left and right blades that control the flow direction of the air blown from the outlet in the left and right direction, a plurality of upper and lower blades that are controlled in the up and down direction, and the like.

  The outdoor unit 3 includes a compressor that brings the refrigerant sealed in the refrigeration cycle circuit into a high-temperature and high-pressure state, a four-way valve that controls the flow direction of the refrigerant, and heat from the compressed refrigerant to the outdoor air during cooling operation. It includes an outdoor heat exchanger that discharges, an outdoor fan that blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant that has released heat, and reduces the pressure to a low temperature and low pressure state.

  The compressor, the four-way valve, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the indoor heat exchanger are connected by a refrigerant pipe to constitute a refrigeration cycle circuit. The compressor compresses the refrigerant sealed in the refrigeration cycle circuit into a high temperature and high pressure state. The outdoor heat exchanger or the indoor heat exchanger releases heat from the compressed refrigerant to the outdoor or indoor air. The expansion valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant that has released the heat, and reduces the pressure to a low temperature and low pressure state. An indoor heat exchanger or an outdoor heat exchanger absorbs heat from indoor or outdoor air into the decompressed refrigerant.

  The indoor unit 2 includes an indoor unit control device 4, an indoor unit sensor unit 6, an indoor unit actuator unit 7, and a remote control receiving unit 13.

  An indoor unit sensor unit 6, an indoor unit actuator unit 7, and a remote control receiving unit 13 are connected to the indoor unit control device 4. The indoor unit control device 4 includes an indoor unit non-volatile memory 5 constituted by an EEPROM or the like as a storage area.

  The indoor unit sensor unit 6 is a space in which an indoor unit 2 is installed, a temperature sensor that detects a suction temperature that is a temperature of air sucked into the indoor unit 2, a heat exchanger temperature that is a temperature of the indoor heat exchanger, and the like. It is composed of a human sensor that detects the human body in the room, and inputs data necessary for controlling the indoor unit 2 to the indoor unit control device 4.

  The indoor unit actuator unit 7 is configured by an indoor fan motor that rotationally drives the indoor fan, a stepping motor that changes the angle of the wind direction control blade, and the like, and is driven according to an instruction from the indoor unit control device 4.

  The remote control reception unit 13 receives a signal transmitted by infrared rays or the like from an operating device for a user represented by a remote control to convert the received data into an electrical signal and transmits it to the indoor unit control device 4 To do.

  The indoor unit nonvolatile memory 5 is an indoor unit control data that is a control parameter used when the indoor unit control device 4 controls the indoor unit 2, and an indoor unit identification that is unique data used for identifying the indoor unit 2. Areas for storing data, outdoor unit identification data that is unique data used for identification of the outdoor unit, and the like are secured, and the indoor unit 2 is manufactured for the indoor unit control data and the indoor unit identification data. At this stage, it is stored in the indoor unit nonvolatile memory 5.

  The outdoor unit 3 includes an outdoor unit control device 8, an outdoor unit sensor unit 11, and an indoor unit actuator unit 7. The outdoor unit sensor unit 11 and the outdoor unit actuator unit 10 are connected to the outdoor unit control unit 8.

  The outdoor unit sensor unit 11 includes an outside air temperature that is the temperature of the air around the outdoor unit 3, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, and the like, and stores data necessary for controlling the outdoor unit 3. Input to the outdoor unit control device 8.

  The outdoor unit actuator unit 10 includes an outdoor fan motor that rotationally drives the outdoor fan, an expansion valve that changes the refrigerant flow rate, a compressor, and the like, and is driven according to an instruction from the outdoor unit control device 8.

  The outdoor unit nonvolatile memory 9 stores outdoor unit control data, outdoor unit identification data, indoor unit identification data, and the like, which are control parameters used when controlling the outdoor unit 3, as with the indoor unit nonvolatile memory 5 described above. The outdoor unit control data and the outdoor unit identification data are stored in the outdoor unit non-volatile memory 9 when the outdoor unit 3 is manufactured.

  Next, the operation when the air conditioner 1 is stopped will be described. When the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 or the remote control receiver 13 of the indoor unit control device 4 receives a stop request for the air conditioner 1 from the remote control, the indoor unit control device 4 Standby power is reduced by cutting off the power supply from the indoor unit control device 4 to the outdoor unit control device 8. When power supply from the indoor unit control device 4 to the outdoor unit control device 8 is interrupted, communication between the indoor unit control device 4 and the outdoor unit control device 8 is not performed.

  An operation during normal operation of the air conditioner 1 will be described. The user can issue a driving instruction to the air conditioner 1 by operating a button on the remote controller. When the indoor unit control device 4 receives an operation request for the air conditioner 1 from the remote controller via the remote control receiver 13, first, the power supply disconnecting device of the indoor unit control device 4 is closed, and the indoor unit control device 4 is closed. Power supply to the outdoor unit control device 8 is started, air conditioning operation of the air conditioner 1 is started, and operation commands, control data, and the like are mutually communicated between the indoor unit control device 4 and the outdoor unit control device 8 To do.

  When the air conditioning operation is started, the indoor unit control device 4 and the outdoor unit control device 8 are based on the data obtained from the indoor unit sensor unit 6 and the outdoor unit sensor unit 11 and the control data obtained by the internal / external communication. The operations of the unit 7 and the outdoor unit actuator unit 10 are controlled. In the indoor unit 2, the indoor fan is rotated by driving the indoor fan motor, and the indoor air taken in through the filter from the suction port is heat-exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger and blown out from the air outlet. In the outdoor unit 3, the outdoor fan The outdoor fan rotates by driving the motor and blows outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger.

  In addition, the refrigerant sealed in the refrigeration cycle circuit is compressed to a high temperature and high pressure state by a compressor during cooling operation, and releases heat to the outdoor air by an outdoor heat exchanger. Thereafter, the pressure is reduced to a low temperature and low pressure state by the expansion valve, and heat is absorbed from the indoor air by the indoor heat exchanger. During the heating operation, the refrigerant is compressed into a high-temperature and high-pressure state by the compressor and releases heat to the indoor air by the indoor heat exchanger. Thereafter, the pressure is reduced to a low temperature and low pressure state by the expansion valve, and heat is absorbed from the outdoor air by the outdoor heat exchanger.

Next, the communication (internal / external communication) operation of the air conditioner 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a timing chart schematically showing the operation of internal / external communication.
Internal / external communication includes normal communication for transmitting control data performed during normal operation and unique identification data communication for communicating unique identification data. In internal / external communication, communication data is separated by distinguishing a normal communication command used for normal communication and a unique identification data communication command used for transmission of unique identification data.

In normal communication, which is communication performed during normal operation, control data such as the indoor temperature and humidity measured by the indoor unit sensor unit 6 and the operating state of the indoor unit 2 is transmitted from the indoor unit control device 4 to the outdoor using a normal communication command. The outdoor unit control device 8 transmits the control data such as the outdoor temperature measured by the outdoor unit sensor unit 11 and the operation state of the outdoor unit 3 by the normal communication command. To the indoor unit control device 4.
In the unique identification data communication, the indoor unit control device 4 transmits the indoor unit unique identification data stored in the indoor unit non-volatile memory 5 to the outdoor unit 3 by a unique identification data communication command, and the outdoor unit control device 8 receives the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit unique identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory 9 is transmitted to the indoor unit 2.

  When the indoor unit control device 4 receives an operation request for the air conditioner 1 from the user and power supply from the indoor unit control device 4 to the outdoor unit control device 8 is started, the indoor unit control device 4 is used for normal communication. By transmitting the communication command to the outdoor unit control device 8, the initial communication of the internal / external communication is started.

  After the completion of the initial communication, the indoor unit control device 4 transmits a unique identification data communication command to the outdoor unit control device 8, whereby the outdoor unit control device 8 starts transmission of the unique identification data. That is, when the outdoor unit control device 8 receives a communication command from the indoor unit control device 4, the outdoor unit control device 8 starts transmitting its own unique identification data held in the outdoor unit nonvolatile memory 9 of the outdoor unit 3.

  When all the unique identification data of the outdoor unit 3 is received, the indoor unit 2 returns to a state in which normal communication is performed, and returns to internal / external communication using a command for normal communication. At this time, the indoor unit control device 4 stores the outdoor unit unique identification data received from the outdoor unit 3 in the indoor unit non-volatile memory 5 of the indoor unit 2, and the outdoor unit control device receives the indoor unit specific data received from the indoor unit 2. The identification data is stored in the outdoor unit nonvolatile memory 9. Further, during the air conditioning operation, the internal / external communication of the normal communication is continued.

  The initial communication and the unique identification data communication are performed before the air conditioner 1 starts operation. More specifically, the completion of the unique identification data communication is performed before the compressor included in the outdoor unit actuator unit 10 of the outdoor unit 3 is driven.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the unique identification data of the connection destination unit that is not stored at the time of manufacture is stored in the nonvolatile memory, and therefore, for example, the indoor unit control of the indoor unit 2 collected from the market To improve the traceability of an air conditioner by identifying the outdoor unit connected and operated in the market from the unique identification data of the connection destination that can be acquired from the indoor unit non-volatile memory 5 provided in the device 4 I can do it.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, the air conditioner in Embodiment 2 of this invention is demonstrated, referring FIG. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the indoor unit 2 is provided with a remote communication device 14, and the indoor unit control device 4 and the remote communication device 14 are connected.

  The remote communication device 14 can communicate with a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, and the like via short-range wireless communication, wireless LAN, or the like.

  With this configuration, the unique identification data stored in the indoor unit nonvolatile memory 5 of the indoor unit 2 can be taken into a remote server through the network connected by the remote communication device 14. Thereby, the driving | running state of the air conditioner 1 can be managed from a remote place.

  Further, the unique identification data may be transmitted to a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like and displayed in accordance with an instruction from the maintenance worker. Thereby, a maintenance worker in the market can obtain the unique identification data of the air conditioner, and the maintenance information using the unique identification data can be easily searched.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, the air conditioner in Embodiment 3 of this invention is demonstrated, referring FIG. In the third embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the indoor unit includes a remote control transmission unit, and the indoor unit control device and the remote control transmission unit are connected.
With this configuration, when a user or a maintenance worker operates the remote control and presses a button for displaying the unique identification data, that is, the indoor transmission / reception unit of the indoor unit control device 4 issues a request for reading the unique identification data from the remote control. When received, the indoor unit unique identification data and the outdoor unit unique identification data held in the indoor unit nonvolatile memory 5 of the indoor unit 2 can be transmitted to the remote controller.
This also makes it possible for a maintenance worker in the market to obtain the unique identification data of the air conditioner, and to easily search for maintenance information using the unique identification data.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, an air conditioner according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The difference between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment is that the unique identification data is transmitted to the external terminal via the internal / external communication in response to the unique identification information read instruction from the external terminal connected to the communication line by the refrigeration cycle apparatus Has the ability to transmit.
The external terminal 15 includes an external terminal connection adapter 16. The external terminal connection adapter 16 is connected to the communication line 12 of the air conditioner 1 and is uniquely identified via the communication line 12 with respect to the indoor unit control device 4. A command requesting data transmission can be transmitted.
When the indoor unit control device 4 receives a command for requesting transmission of the unique identification data from the communication line 12, the indoor unit unique identification data and the outdoor unit unique identification data held in the indoor unit nonvolatile memory 5 are transmitted to the communication line. To the external terminal 15.
This also makes it possible for a maintenance worker in the market to obtain the unique identification data of the air conditioner 1, and to easily search for maintenance information using the unique identification data.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the refrigeration cycle apparatus which is an air conditioner configured by connecting an indoor unit and an outdoor unit on a one-to-one basis has been described. It is not limited to the air conditioner comprised by this, It can apply widely to the refrigerating cycle apparatus which can communicate between several units which comprise a refrigerating cycle apparatus. Therefore, the present invention is, for example, a refrigeration cycle apparatus that is a multi-type air conditioner configured by connecting and connecting a plurality of indoor units and outdoor units, and a refrigeration that is a water heater configured by connecting a heat pump unit and a tank unit. The present invention can be widely applied to cycle devices and the like.

The present invention is not limited to a refrigeration cycle apparatus, and can be applied to an apparatus that is produced and shipped in separate manufacturing processes and whose connection destination is first found in the market.

1 Air conditioner (refrigeration cycle equipment)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Indoor unit 3 Outdoor unit 4 Indoor unit control apparatus 5 Indoor unit non-volatile memory 6 Indoor unit sensor part 7 Indoor unit actuator part 8 Outdoor unit control apparatus 9 Outdoor unit non-volatile memory 10 Outdoor unit actuator part 11 Outdoor unit sensor part 12 Communication Line 13 Remote control receiver 14 Remote communication device 15 External terminal 16 External terminal connection adapter

Claims (4)

  A plurality of units are connected via a communication line, and each unit has a control device including a microcomputer and a non-volatile memory capable of holding unique identification data, and the unique identification stored in the non-volatile memory. Data is mutually transmitted / received via the communication line, and the received unique identification data is stored in the nonvolatile memory of each unit.   Having means for communicating with an external device such as a wireless device or a wired communication interface, and transmitting the unique identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory and the unique identification data of the connected device to the external device The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   2. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control device and a remote controller that transmits and receives signals, and transmitting the unique identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory to the remote controller. The refrigeration cycle according to claim 1, wherein the unique identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory is transmitted to an external terminal connected via a communication line connecting the plurality of units. apparatus.

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