JP2020085391A - Wireless remote controller unit for air conditioner, and air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a wireless remote controller unit for air conditioner that makes air direction adjustments according to user's preference to provide comfortable air conditioning.SOLUTION: A wireless remote controller unit 7 for air conditioner comprises: a cruciform button 8 as a control switch for commanding control over positions of up/down flaps and/or right and left louvers provided at a blowout opening of an indoor unit; and a remote control-side control part 12 outputting a rotation command for the up/down flaps and/or right and left louvers by a predetermined quantity corresponding to an electric signal input time based upon ON operation on the cruciform button 8. ON operation is done by pressing the cruciform button 8 long.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless remote control unit for an air conditioner and an air conditioner.

For example, an air conditioner for home use is known in which the outlet of an indoor unit is provided with upper and lower flaps and/or left and right louvers. The rotation positions of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers can be operated by a remote controller (see Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).

JP, 2003-240325, A JP-A-2002-13792

In Patent Documents 1 and 2, on a remote controller provided with a cross-shaped button capable of controlling the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers provided at the outlet of an indoor unit, the upper and lower flaps and/or Alternatively, it is disclosed that the positions of the left and right louvers are rotated. At this time, when either the up, down, left or right of the cross button is pressed once, the up and down flaps and/or the left and right louvers rotate in that direction by a certain amount. For this reason, the turning positions of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers controlled by the switch-on operation of the cross-shaped button can be adjusted only stepwise. This does not necessarily mean that a comfortable wind direction can be realized for the user.

Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that the setting position (wind direction) of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers is displayed on the display of the wireless remote controller for the air-conditioning apparatus. However, displaying the set position accurately on the display must be simplified due to the screen space limitation, and often does not match the actual position. Therefore, it is difficult to adjust the wind direction according to the user's preference.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a wireless remote control unit for an air conditioner and an air conditioner capable of adjusting the wind direction according to a user's preference.

A wireless remote controller unit for an air conditioner according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a control switch that issues a control command for the positions of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers provided at an outlet of an indoor unit, and an ON operation of the control switch. And a control unit that outputs a command to rotate the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers by a predetermined amount corresponding to an electric signal input time based on the electric signal input time.

The positions of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers provided at the outlet of the indoor unit are rotated by a predetermined amount corresponding to the electric signal input time based on the ON operation of the control switch. Thus, the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers can be set at arbitrary positions according to the user's intention, and as a result, a comfortable wind direction according to the user's preference can be obtained.

Further, in the air conditioner wireless remote control unit according to an aspect of the present disclosure, the ON operation is performed by pressing and holding the control switch.

Since the positions of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers can be rotated by an arbitrary amount by long-pressing the control switch, it is possible to perform an operation according to the user's preference.
Specific control switches include, for example, a cross button and a joystick.

Furthermore, the wireless remote controller unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a display unit that three-dimensionally displays the flow direction of the air blown out from the outlet.

By displaying the flow of air blown out from the blowout port of the indoor unit on the display unit in three dimensions, the user can intuitively understand the flow of air. Thereby, the user can adjust the positions of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers according to his/her preference while looking at the display section.

Further, the wireless remote control unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a notification unit that notifies when the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers are maximum opened or closed.

By notifying the user when the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers are maximally opened or maximally closed, it is possible to prevent the user from holding the control switch for an excessively long time. The notification unit is controlled by the control unit and is configured to emit sound or light, for example.

Further, in the air conditioner wireless remote control unit according to an aspect of the present disclosure, a mode switching button capable of switching the position or the rotation speed of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers is provided, and the control unit is the When the mode after switching by the mode switching button is the rotation speed, the rotation speed is changed by the control switch.

By using a control switch, not only the positions of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers but also the rotation speed can be adjusted. This allows the user to perform a rotation speed operation according to the user's preference, such as setting the rotation speed at a high speed when roughly positioning the vertical flaps and/or the left and right louvers, and setting the rotation speed at a low speed during fine adjustment. ..

Further, in the air conditioner according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a light storage unit may be provided at the tips of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers.

By providing a light-storing portion at the tips of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers, the position can be visually recognized even when the room is dark. Therefore, the user can visually check the actual position while the wireless air conditioner wireless device. The position can be adjusted by operating the remote control. The light storage unit can be provided, for example, by applying a light storage coating to the tips of the upper and lower flaps and the left and right louvers.

In addition, when adjusting the positions of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers while observing the flow of air from the outlet of the indoor unit on the display unit of the wireless remote controller for the air conditioner, by visually observing the light storage unit. , The accuracy of position adjustment is improved.

Since the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers provided at the outlet of the indoor unit are rotated by a predetermined amount corresponding to the electric signal input time based on the ON operation of the control switch, the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers are rotated. Any position can be set, and comfortable air conditioning according to the user's preference can be realized.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an air conditioner using a wireless remote controller for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is a top view of the example of arrangement|positioning of the wireless remote control operation button for air conditioners shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of an arrangement example of operation buttons when a smartphone is used as a substitute for the wireless remote controller for the air-conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, an air conditioner 1 is installed outdoors on an indoor unit 2 installed on a wall surface of the room or the like, and is installed outdoors via a refrigerant pipe 5, and is provided with an outdoor unit including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger. The air conditioner 1 includes a machine 6, a bidirectional wireless remote controller (air conditioner wireless remote controller unit) 7 for operating the air conditioner 1, and the like.

The indoor unit 2 includes an indoor heat exchanger and a blower fan inside. The indoor unit 2 is provided with upper and lower flaps 3 and left and right louvers 4 at an outlet provided at the lower part of the front surface. The upper and lower flaps 3 are plate-shaped members extending in the horizontal direction, and the tip side (front side) is vertically rotated by a drive motor (not shown) about a horizontal rotation shaft. The upper and lower flaps 3 may be one piece or two or more pieces. The left and right louvers 4 are a plurality of plate-shaped bodies extending in the vertical direction. A plurality of plate-shaped members of the left and right louvers 4 are provided at intervals in the horizontal direction. The respective plate-like members of the left and right louvers 4 are arranged such that the tip end side (front side) thereof is rotated in the left-right direction by a drive motor (not shown) while being aligned by the links.

By adjusting the positions of the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4, the wind direction is set according to the user's preference. An indoor unit side control device (not shown) is built in the main body of the indoor unit 2, and the air conditioner 1 is operated by transmitting and receiving signals to and from the remote control side control unit (control unit) 12 of the wireless remote controller 7. The operation is controlled.

The wireless remote controller 7 is a bidirectional wireless remote controller 7 that is capable of performing a driving operation of the air conditioning apparatus 1 and displaying a driving status of the air conditioning apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body of the wireless remote controller 7 has a cross-shaped button (control switch) 8 for operation control command, operation switching, temperature, wind direction, air volume, timer, (mode switching or speed), etc. , A plurality of operation buttons 9 are arranged. A display unit 10 for displaying the operation content and the operating condition of the air conditioner 1 is provided in the upper portion when the main body is viewed from the front. Input signals of the cross-shaped button 8 and the operation buttons 9 are transmitted to the remote controller control unit 12.

Regarding the cross-shaped button 8 of the wireless remote controller 7, if the user selects a button in the wind direction that he/she prefers and presses it to turn it on, the transmitter 13 of the remote controller side controller 12 of the wireless remote controller 7 is pressed while the button is kept pressed. The signal is continuously transmitted from the indoor unit side control device. The transmitted signal is converted into an electric signal by the indoor unit side control device, and is input to a drive motor that rotates the upper and lower flaps 3 and the left and right louvers 4 as an operation control command.

The remote controller side control unit 12 and the indoor unit side control unit include, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a computer-readable storage medium. A series of processing for realizing various functions is stored in a storage medium or the like in the form of a program as an example, and the CPU reads the program into a RAM or the like to execute information processing/arithmetic processing. As a result, various functions are realized. The program is installed in a ROM or other storage medium in advance, provided in a state of being stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or delivered via wired or wireless communication means. Etc. may be applied. The computer-readable storage medium is a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like.

The indoor unit side control device continues to rotate the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4 during a period in which a signal is continuously input from the remote control side control unit 12. This enables detailed wind direction adjustment according to the user's preference.

The cross-shaped button 8 may be something other than the cross-shaped button 8, such as a joystick, as long as it is provided with an electric signal input means for rotating the cross-shaped button 8 vertically or horizontally or in any direction by a predetermined amount.
When the cross-shaped button 8 is pushed diagonally (the up and down buttons and/or the left and right buttons are pushed at the same time), the up and down flaps 3 and the left and right louvers 4 rotate simultaneously in accordance with the up and down direction input time and the left and right direction input time. Will be done.

On the display unit 10 of the wireless remote controller 7, the flow of air (air conditioning air) from the outlet of the indoor unit 2 is displayed three-dimensionally. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, when the indoor unit 2 is viewed from the front, the air flow is shown not only in the vertical and horizontal directions but also in the depth direction. The user may adjust the wind direction while looking at the display unit 10.

The wireless remote controller 7 is provided with a notification unit 15. The notification unit 15 notifies the user when the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4 are maximally opened or maximally closed in order to prevent the cross button 8 of the wireless remote controller 7 from being pressed for an excessively long time. As the notification unit 15, a light emitting unit (e.g., LED) that emits light or a reporting unit (e.g., speaker) that emits sound is suitable. Specifically, when the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4 reach the maximum opening time or the maximum closing time by continuously pressing the cross-shaped button 8 of the wireless remote controller 7, the remote controller control unit 12 causes the operation control command. Is detected, the sound or light is emitted from the indoor unit 2 by detecting that the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4 do not rotate.

The main body of the wireless remote controller 7 may be provided with a mode switching button capable of adjusting the rotation speed of the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4. The mode switching button switches between a rotation control mode that controls the rotation of the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4, and a rotation speed mode that changes the rotation speed of the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4. After switching to the rotation speed mode by the mode switching button, the rotation speed can be changed by continuing the ON operation of the cross-shaped button 8.

For example, if the upper portion of the cross-shaped button 8 is continuously pressed, the rotation speed becomes faster, and if the lower portion of the cross-shaped button 8 is continuously pressed, the rotation speed becomes slower. As in the case of adjusting the position of the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4, when the user presses the cross button 8 to turn it on, the indoor unit control device controls the remote controller while the button is held down. A signal is continuously transmitted from the unit 12 to the indoor unit side control device. The indoor unit side control device continues to change the rotation speed of the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4 during the period in which the signal from the remote control side control unit 12 is continuously input. By doing so, the user performs a rotating operation according to the user's preference, such as setting the rotating speed at a high speed when the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4 are roughly positioned, and setting the lower rotating speed at the time of fine adjustment. be able to.

Alternatively, the phosphorescent portion may be formed by applying phosphorescent paint to the tips (front side) of the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4. This allows the user to adjust the position by operating the wireless remote controller 7 while visually confirming the actual turning positions of the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4 even when the room is dark. Therefore, it is possible to perform the position adjustment more accurately while observing the display unit 10 of the wireless remote controller 7 than when performing the adjustment.

As shown as a modified example in FIG. 3, instead of the air conditioner wireless remote controller 7 shown in FIG. 2, a portable information terminal 7 ′ such as a smartphone or a tablet may be used for operation.

The portable information terminal 7 ′ can be set to perform information communication with the indoor unit 2. On the display surface of the portable information terminal 7', a cross-shaped button display portion 8'corresponding to the cross-shaped button 8 in FIG. 2, an operation button display portion 9'corresponding to the operation button 9 in FIG. A display unit 10' corresponding to the second display unit 10 is displayed.

The tap operation on the cross-shaped button display portion 8'displayed on the touch panel of the portable information terminal 7'has the same function as the long press of the cross-shaped button 8 shown in FIG. That is, the rotational position and the rotational speed of the upper and lower flaps 3 and/or the left and right louvers 4 can be adjusted by long-pressing the cross-shaped button display portion 8'.

1 Air conditioner 2 Indoor unit 3 Vertical flaps 4 Left and right louvers 5 Refrigerant piping 6 Outdoor unit 7 Wireless remote controller (wireless remote controller for air conditioner)
7'Portable information terminal (wireless remote controller for air conditioner)
8 Cross button (control switch)
8'Cross button display (control switch)
9 operation button 9'operation button display section 10, 10' display section 12 remote control side control section (control section)
13 Transmitter 15 Notifier

Claims (7)

A control switch for issuing a control command for the position of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers provided at the outlet of the indoor unit,
A control unit which outputs a rotation command for the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers by a predetermined amount corresponding to an electric signal input time based on an ON operation of the control switch;
Wireless remote control unit for air conditioner equipped with. The wireless remote control unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the ON operation is performed by pressing and holding the control switch. The wireless remote control unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a display unit that three-dimensionally displays a flow direction of the air blown out from the outlet. The wireless remote control unit for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a notification unit for notifying when the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers are maximum opened or closed. A mode switching button that can switch the position or rotation speed of the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers,
The wireless remote control unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the rotation speed by the control switch when the mode after switching by the mode switching button is the rotation speed. .. An air conditioner comprising an indoor unit and the wireless remote control unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1. The air conditioner according to claim 6, further comprising the upper and lower flaps and/or the left and right louvers each having a light storing portion at a tip thereof.

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