JP2020139664A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner capable of contributing to reduction in communication amount.SOLUTION: An air conditioner includes: a camera capable of imaging an inner state of the air conditioner; and a computer uploading image data imaged by the camera to a server. The computer holds an upload imaging condition for determining image data to be uploaded. The computer extracts an upload target corresponding to the upload imaging condition from the image data imaged by the camera and uploads the image data that is the uploaded target to the server. Alternatively, an image is taken by the camera at imaging timing corresponding to the upload imaging condition, and image data that is the upload target imaged by the camera is uploaded to the server.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner.

An air conditioner equipped with a camera capable of photographing the internal state of the air conditioner is known. In this air conditioner, in order to monitor the state of the parts installed in the air conditioner, the photographed data photographed by the camera is transmitted to the centralized monitoring device. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional air conditioner.

JP-A-2007-46864

When all the captured data periodically captured by the camera is transmitted to the centralized monitoring device, the amount of communication increases. Here, the problem is examined by taking the case where the shooting data is transmitted to the centralized monitoring device as an example, but the same problem exists even when the shooting data is transmitted to an external device such as a server.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an air conditioner that can contribute to a reduction in communication volume.

An air conditioner that solves this problem is an air conditioner including a camera capable of photographing the internal state of the air conditioner and a computer that uploads the photographed data photographed by the camera to a server. , The upload shooting condition that determines the shooting data to be uploaded is held, and the computer extracts the upload target according to the upload shooting condition from the shooting data shot by the camera, and the upload target. The shooting data is uploaded to the server, or the camera shoots at a shooting timing according to the upload shooting condition, and the shooting data of the upload target shot by the camera is uploaded to the server.

According to this configuration, the shooting data to be uploaded is extracted according to the upload shooting conditions, or only the shooting data shot at the shooting timing according to the upload shooting conditions is acquired, so only the necessary shooting data can be obtained. Can be uploaded to the server. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume.

In the air conditioner, the upload shooting condition includes a condition relating to the operating state of the air conditioner, and the computer uploads the shooting data while the air conditioner is operating according to the upload shooting condition. It is preferable to extract as a target or to take a picture by the camera while the air conditioner is operating.

According to this configuration, the shooting data during operation of the air conditioner is extracted as an upload target, or only the shooting data taken while the air conditioner is operating is acquired, so that the air conditioner is operating. Only shooting data can be uploaded to the server. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume.

In the air conditioner, the upload shooting condition includes a condition relating to the cloudiness of the camera, and the computer uploads the shooting data whose cloudiness is less than the predetermined cloudiness according to the upload shooting condition. It is preferable to extract as.

According to this configuration, the shooting data with low cloudiness of the camera is uploaded to the server, and unnecessary shooting data with high cloudiness of the camera is not uploaded to the server. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume.

In the air conditioner, the upload shooting condition includes a condition relating to a change in the shot image included in the shot data, and the computer causes the difference of the shot image from the reference image to be a predetermined difference according to the uploaded shooting condition. It is preferable to extract the above-mentioned photographed data as the upload target.

According to this configuration, the shooting data with a large change in the shot image is uploaded to the server, and the unnecessary shooting data with a small change in the shot image is not uploaded to the server. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume.

In the air conditioner, it is preferable that the computer extracts the imaging data in a state where water is flowing in the air conditioner as the upload target according to the upload imaging conditions.

According to this configuration, the shooting data in the state where water is flowing in the air conditioner is uploaded to the server, and the unnecessary shooting data in the state where water is not flowing in the air conditioner is not uploaded to the server. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume.

The air conditioner further includes a storage unit that stores the shooting data shot by the camera, and the computer uses the shooting data stored in the storage unit to upload the shooting data according to the upload shooting conditions. It is preferable to extract the data and upload the shooting data to be uploaded to the server.

According to this configuration, in the shooting data stored in the storage unit, the shooting data to be uploaded is extracted according to the upload shooting conditions, so that only the necessary shooting data can be uploaded to the server. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume.

In the air conditioner, it is preferable that the computer sets the shooting timing according to the upload shooting conditions.
According to this configuration, since the shooting timing according to the upload shooting condition is set by the computer, the element for setting the shooting timing can be omitted.

The plan view which shows the internal structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner of 1st Embodiment. The front view of the indoor unit of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the indoor unit of FIG. The block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the air conditioner of FIG. The flowchart which shows an example of the process executed by the computer of FIG. The flowchart which shows an example of the process which a computer executes in the air conditioner of 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of the process which a computer executes in the air conditioner of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by a computer in the air conditioner of the fourth embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of the process which a computer executes in the air conditioner of 5th Embodiment.

(First Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment will be described. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the examples described below, and is indicated by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims. To.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 includes a ceiling-suspended indoor unit 10. The indoor unit 10 is connected to the outdoor unit via a refrigerant pipe. The air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment constitutes a refrigerant circuit in which a vapor compression refrigeration cycle is performed by circulating the filled refrigerant. The outdoor unit includes a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger connected to a refrigerant circuit, and an outdoor fan that blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger. The air conditioner 1 takes in the indoor air RA, adjusts the temperature of the intake indoor air RA by a refrigerant circuit, and supplies the adjusted air to the room as the supply air SA.

The indoor unit 10 includes a casing 20 suspended from the ceiling, an indoor fan 30, an indoor heat exchanger 41, an electrical component box 42, a drain pan 50, and a drain pump 60. The indoor fan 30, the indoor heat exchanger 41, the electrical component box 42, the drain pan 50, and the drain pump 60 are housed in the casing 20.

The air conditioner 1 is configured to be capable of performing, for example, heating operation and cooling operation.
In the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor of the outdoor unit is condensed by the outdoor heat exchanger and depressurized by the expansion valve. The decompressed refrigerant evaporates in the indoor heat exchanger 41 of the indoor unit 10 and is compressed again in the compressor. When the indoor fan 30 is operated, the indoor air RA is sucked into the casing 20 from the suction port 25A of the casing 20. The air sucked from the suction port 25A passes through the indoor heat exchanger 41. In the indoor heat exchanger 41, the air is cooled by the refrigerant absorbing heat from the air. The cooled air passes through the outlet 26A of the casing 20 and is then supplied to the indoor space as supply air SA.

Here, when the air is cooled to the dew point temperature or lower by the indoor heat exchanger 41, the moisture in the air is condensed. The drain water, which is the condensed water generated in this way, is stored in the drain pan 50. The drain water stored in the drain pan 50 is discharged to the outside of the casing 20 by the drain pump 60.

In the heating operation, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor of the outdoor unit is condensed by the indoor heat exchanger 41 and depressurized by the expansion valve. The decompressed refrigerant evaporates in the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit and is compressed again in the compressor. Therefore, in the indoor heat exchanger 41, the refrigerant dissipates heat to the air, and the air is heated. When the indoor fan 30 is operated, the air heated by the indoor heat exchanger 41 is supplied to the indoor space as the supply air SA.

Next, the configuration of the indoor unit 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. A part of the indoor unit 10 in FIG. 1 is shown in cross section.
The casing 20 is formed, for example, in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped hollow box. An example of the material constituting the casing 20 is metal. The casing 20 includes a top plate 21, a bottom plate 22, and four side plates such as a front panel 23, a rear panel 24, a first side panel 25, and a second side panel 26. When the casing 20 is installed on the ceiling, the top plate 21 and the bottom plate 22 face each other in the vertical direction. The front panel 23 and the rear panel 24 face each other in a predetermined direction among the directions orthogonal to the vertical direction. The first side surface panel 25 and the second side surface panel 26 face each other in a predetermined direction and in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front panel 23 faces a maintenance space MS for a worker such as a service provider to maintain the indoor unit 10. The front panel 23 is provided with a first opening 23A and a second opening 23B. The first opening 23A is provided in a portion of the front panel 23 near the second side panel 26. The second opening 23B is provided in a portion of the front panel 23 near the first side panel 25. A suction port 25A is formed on the first side surface panel 25. The suction port 25A is connected to a suction duct. The inflow end of the suction duct is connected to the indoor space. An outlet 26A is formed on the second side surface panel 26. The outlet 26A is connected to the outlet duct. The outflow end of the outlet duct is connected to the indoor space. Inside the casing 20, an air flow path is formed between the suction port 25A and the air outlet 26A.

The first opening 23A is provided, for example, in a portion of the front panel 23 corresponding to the drain pan 50. The first opening 23A is configured as an inspection port for the operator to check the state of the drain pan 50 from the maintenance space MS. As shown in FIG. 2, the first opening 23A is composed of a rectangular portion 23X and a triangular portion 23Y continuous with one lower corner portion of the rectangular portion 23X in the vertical direction. The triangular portion 23Y projects from the rectangular portion 23X toward the second side panel 26 side of the casing 20. An inspection lid 27 is attached to the front panel 23 so as to cover the first opening 23A.

The inspection lid 27 has a shape substantially similar to that of the first opening 23A and larger than that of the first opening 23A. The inspection lid 27 is detachably attached to the front panel 23 so as to open and close the first opening 23A. The inspection lid 27 is attached to the front panel 23 by, for example, a plurality of bolts. By removing the inspection lid 27 from the front panel 23, the operator can inspect the inside of the drain pan 50 from the maintenance space MS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor fan 30 is provided in a portion of the casing 20 near the first side panel 25. The indoor fan 30 conveys the indoor air RA taken in from the suction port 25A. In the present embodiment, the indoor fan 30 is configured such that three sirocco fans 31 are driven by one motor 32. The arrangement of the motor 32 with respect to the sirocco fan 31 can be arbitrarily changed. In one example, the motor 32 may be arranged on the front panel 23 side or the rear panel 24 side of the sirocco fan 31.

The indoor heat exchanger 41 is provided in a portion of the casing 20 near the second side panel 26. The indoor heat exchanger 41 is composed of, for example, a fin-and-tube heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger 41 of the present embodiment is arranged so as to be diagonally placed so as to be inclined toward the bottom plate 22 side from the second side surface panel 26 toward the first side surface panel 25 (see FIG. 3).

The electrical component box 42 is provided in the casing 20 at a portion closer to the front panel 23 and closer to the first side panel 25. The electrical component box 42 includes a box body 42A that opens toward the front panel 23 side, and an electrical component lid 42B that opens and closes the opening surface of the box body 42A. The box body 42A is attached to the second opening 23B of the front panel 23. Inside the box body 42A, power is supplied to the printed circuit board 43 on which the power supply circuit, the control circuit, etc. are mounted, the wiring electrically connected to the power supply circuit, the control circuit, etc. via the printed circuit board 43, and the power supply circuit. It houses a high-power power supply unit, a low-power power supply unit that supplies power to the control circuit, and the like. The electrical component lid 42B is detachably attached to the front panel 23 so as to cover the second opening 23B and the opening surface of the box body 42A. The electrical component lid 42B constitutes a part of the front panel 23. By removing the electrical component lid 42B from the front panel 23, the inside of the box body 42A is exposed to the maintenance space MS.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drain pan 50 is provided in the casing 20 closer to the second side panel 26 than the indoor fan 30. The drain pan 50 is arranged below the indoor heat exchanger 41 in the vertical direction along the bottom plate 22 of the casing 20. The drain pan 50 includes a front wall 51 (see FIG. 1), a rear wall 52 (see FIG. 1), a first side wall 53, a second side wall 54, and a bottom wall 55. The front wall 51 is provided on the front panel 23 side of the casing 20. In one example, the front wall 51 is located closer to the front panel 23 than the indoor heat exchanger 41 (see FIG. 1). The rear wall 52 is provided on the rear panel 24 side of the casing 20. In one example, the rear wall 52 is located closer to the rear panel 24 than the indoor heat exchanger 41 (see FIG. 1). The first side wall 53 is provided on the indoor fan 30 side of the casing 20. In one example, the first side wall 53 is arranged on the upstream side of the indoor heat exchanger 41 in the air flow path in the casing 20. The second side wall 54 is provided on the second side panel 26 side of the casing 20. In one example, the second side wall 54 is arranged on the downstream side of the indoor heat exchanger 41 in the air flow path in the casing 20.

For example, the bottom wall 55 is inclined downward in the vertical direction from the rear wall 52 toward the front wall 51, and is inclined downward in the vertical direction from the first side wall 53 to the second side wall 54. It is configured. In the drain pan 50, the rear wall 52 and the first side wall 53 are on the upstream side of the drain water, and the front wall 51 and the second side wall 54 are on the downstream side of the drain water. In the drain pan 50, the portion closest to the front wall 51 and closest to the second side wall 54 is the most downstream of the drain water. A recess 56 is provided in a portion of the bottom wall 55 that is closest to the front wall 51 and closest to the second side wall 54. The recess 56 has a substantially trapezoidal shape in a cross-sectional view of the drain pan 50 cut in a plane parallel to the front panel 23. The height of the bottom surface of the recess 56 is the lowest in the bottom wall 55. In other words, the recess 56 constitutes the deepest and deepest part of the drain pan 50.

The drain pump 60 is provided inside the drain pan 50. In one example, the drain pump 60 is arranged above the bottom wall 55 of the drain pan 50 in the vertical direction and facing the recess 56. The suction portion 61 of the drain pump 60 is arranged inside the recess 56. The inflow end of the drain pipe 62 is connected to the discharge portion of the drain pump 60. The drain pipe 62 extends through the front panel 23 of the casing 20 (see FIG. 1). When the drain pump 60 is operated, the drain water stored in the drain pan 50 is pumped up. The pumped drain water is discharged to the outside of the casing 20 via the drain pipe 62.

The air conditioner 1 further includes a camera 70 capable of photographing the internal state of the air conditioner 1. The camera 70 is, for example, an analog camera. The camera 70 is housed in the casing 20 so as to capture the internal state of the indoor unit 10. The camera 70 is attached to the inner wall 27A of the inspection lid 27 via a stay 28 (see FIG. 1). The stay 28 is a mounting member for mounting the camera 70 on the inner wall 27A of the inspection lid 27, and is fixed to the inner wall 27A. In one example, the stay 28 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the inner wall 27A of the inspection lid 27.

The camera 70 takes a picture of the drain pan 50 from above the drain pan 50, for example. In one example, the camera 70 captures dirt on the drain pan 50, foreign matter contained in the drain water, and the like. The camera 70 takes a picture along the flow path of the drain pan 50. The camera 70 is provided, for example, above the drain pan 50 in the vertical direction, and is arranged so as to face diagonally downward from the first side wall 53 of the drain pan 50 toward the second side wall 54. The camera 70 includes a lens 71 and a light source. The lens 71 is, for example, an ultra-wide-angle lens. The light source is a flash light source that emits light at the timing when the camera 70 shoots the drain pan 50.

The lens 71 of the camera 70 is directed to the region including the most downstream of the drain water in the drain pan 50 with the inspection lid 27 attached to the front panel 23. Specifically, the lens 71 is directed to the recess 56 of the drain pan 50. The camera 70 is arranged at a position where the inspection lid 27 is attached to the front panel 23 and a region including the most downstream of the drain water in the drain pan 50 can be photographed. Specifically, the camera 70 is arranged above the bottom wall 55 of the drain pan 50 in the vertical direction and closer to the front wall 51. The camera 70 is preferably arranged vertically above the bottom wall 55 of the drain pan 50 so as not to be immersed in the drain water stored in the drain pan 50. In the present embodiment, the camera 70 photographs at least the region including the most downstream of the drain water in the drain pan 50 and the suction portion 61 of the drain pump 60. The region including the most downstream of the drain water in the drain pan 50 is a region around the recess 56 centered on the recess 56 of the drain pan 50.

Next, a detailed configuration of the air conditioner 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The electrical component box 42 houses a power supply unit 44 that supplies electric power to the camera 70. The power supply line 45 connecting the camera 70 and the power supply unit 44 is drawn out of the casing 20 through, for example, the first opening 23A of the casing 20, and is drawn into the electrical component box 42 from the outside of the casing 20. Through such wiring, the camera 70 in the casing 20 and the power supply unit 44 in the electrical component box 42 are electrically connected via the power supply line 45. As a result, power is supplied from the power supply unit 44 to the camera 70. The power supply unit 44 may also serve as a power source for other devices constituting the air conditioner 1. An example of another device is an indoor fan 30.

The camera 70 further includes a shooting control unit 72 and a transmission / reception unit 73. The shooting control unit 72 controls the shooting operation of the camera 70 in response to, for example, a preset shooting command. In the present embodiment, the shooting control unit 72 controls the shooting operation of the camera 70 so that the camera 70 periodically shoots the drain pan 50 in response to a preset shooting command. The imaging control unit 72 can also control the imaging operation of the camera 70 in response to an imaging command input from the outside of the communication terminal 100 or the like. The transmission / reception unit 73 is connected to, for example, a transmission line 74. In one example, the transmission / reception unit 73 outputs the photographed data photographed by the camera 70 via the transmission line 74. The transmission / reception unit 73 may output the photographed data photographed by the camera 70 by wireless communication.

The air conditioner 1 further includes a computer 80 that uploads the photographed data photographed by the camera 70 to the server SV. The computer 80 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The computer 80 may be mounted on the indoor unit 10 or may be mounted on the outdoor unit. The computer 80 may be mounted on an element different from the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit in various elements constituting the air conditioner 1. In one example, the computer 80 is housed in an outdoor unit. The computer 80 is connected to the server SV via the network N. An example of a server SV is a cloud server.

The computer 80 holds upload shooting conditions that determine the shooting data to be uploaded. The computer 80 extracts the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions from the shooting data shot by the camera 70. The upload shooting conditions include the conditions related to the air conditioner 1. In the present embodiment, the upload imaging condition includes a condition relating to the operating state of the air conditioner 1. The shooting data according to the conditions relating to the operating state of the air conditioner 1 are highly useful. Specifically, the photographed data while the air conditioner 1 is operating is highly useful. The computer 80 extracts the shooting data while the air conditioner 1 is operating as the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions. The shooting data while the indoor unit 10 is operating is extracted according to, for example, the rotation rate of the compressor of the outdoor unit. The computer 80 uploads the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV.

The air conditioner 1 further includes a storage unit 90 that stores captured data captured by the camera 70. The storage unit 90 may be mounted on the indoor unit 10 or may be mounted on the outdoor unit. The storage unit 90 may be mounted on an element different from the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit in various elements constituting the air conditioner 1. In one example, the storage unit 90 is housed in an outdoor unit. The storage unit 90 stores all the captured data captured by, for example, the camera 70. In the present embodiment, the computer 80 extracts the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions from the shooting data stored in the storage unit 90, and uploads the shooting data of the upload target to the server SV. The storage unit 90 may further store the upload shooting conditions. The computer 80 may store the extracted shooting data to be uploaded in the storage unit 90, and collectively upload the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV. The air conditioner 1 may be configured by omitting the storage unit 90.

The shooting data uploaded to the server SV can be acquired by, for example, the communication terminal 100. The communication terminal 100 is composed of a connectable smartphone such as a wireless LAN, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, a personal computer, and the like. The communication terminal 100 includes a microcomputer, software for operating the microcomputer, a memory device, a receiving unit for receiving shooting data, and a transmitting unit for outputting a predetermined command. Further, the communication terminal 100 further includes an operation unit 101 and a display unit 102. Workers such as service providers operate predetermined application software by operating units 101 such as keyboards and touch panels. On the application software displayed on the display unit 102, for example, the shooting data uploaded to the server SV can be downloaded.

Next, an example of the process executed by the computer 80 will be described with reference to FIG.
The computer 80 acquires shooting data in step S11. The computer 80 may directly acquire the photographing data photographed by the camera 70, or may acquire the photographing data stored in the storage unit 90. In step S12, the computer 80 determines whether or not the air conditioner 1 is the photographed data during operation. Specifically, the computer 80 determines whether or not the captured data acquired in step S11 is the captured data captured while the air conditioner 1 is operating. When the computer 80 determines in step S12 that the shooting data is stopped by the air conditioner 1, the process returns to step S11. In one example, the shooting data in which the air conditioner 1 is stopped is discarded without being uploaded to the server SV.

When the computer 80 determines in step S12 that the air conditioner 1 is the captured data during operation, the computer 80 shifts to the process of step S13. In step S13, the computer 80 extracts the photographed data while the air conditioner 1 is operating as an upload target. In step S14, the computer 80 uploads the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV. After the above processing, the processing of steps S11 to S14 is completed.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1-1) When all the captured data periodically captured by the camera 70 is uploaded to the server SV, the amount of communication required for uploading increases. In the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, since the shooting data to be uploaded is extracted according to the upload shooting conditions, only the necessary shooting data can be uploaded to the server SV. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume.

(1-2) The computer 80 extracts the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions from the shooting data stored in the storage unit 90. According to this configuration, only necessary shooting data is uploaded to the server SV, which can contribute to the reduction of communication volume. Further, since all the shooting data taken by the camera 70 is stored in the storage unit 90, it is unlikely that the extraction omission of the shooting data will occur.

(1-3) The computer 80 extracts the photographed data while the air conditioner 1 is operating as an upload target. According to this configuration, only the shooting data while the air conditioner is operating is uploaded to the server, which can contribute to the reduction of the communication volume. Further, the photographed data while the air conditioner 1 is in operation is highly useful. Therefore, it can contribute to the improvement of the work efficiency of the worker.

(Second Embodiment)
The air conditioner 1 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The processing content of the computer 80 of the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is different from that of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment. In the following description, for convenience, the components common to the functions of the components of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the functions will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the upload shooting condition includes a condition relating to the cloudiness of the camera 70. The cloudiness of the camera 70 is the cloudiness of the lens 71 of the camera 70. The shooting data according to the conditions relating to the cloudiness of the camera 70 are highly useful. Specifically, the shooting data with low cloudiness of the camera 70 is highly useful. The computer 80 extracts the shooting data in which the cloudiness of the camera 70 is less than the predetermined cloudiness as the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions. The captured data in which the cloudiness of the camera 70 is less than the predetermined cloudiness is extracted, for example, by comparing the captured image included in the captured data with the clear image. The clear image is, for example, a captured image taken by a camera 70 having a degree of cloudiness less than a predetermined degree. The clear image is stored in the storage unit 90 in advance. The computer 80 uploads the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV.

Next, an example of the process executed by the computer 80 will be described with reference to FIG.
The computer 80 acquires shooting data in step S21. The computer 80 may directly acquire the photographing data photographed by the camera 70, or may acquire the photographing data stored in the storage unit 90. In step S22, the computer 80 determines whether or not the cloudiness of the camera 70 is shooting data less than the predetermined cloudiness. Specifically, the computer 80 determines whether or not the shooting data acquired in step S21 is shooting data shot with the cloudiness of the camera being less than a predetermined cloudiness. When the computer 80 determines in step S22 that the cloudiness of the camera 70 is shooting data equal to or higher than the predetermined cloudiness, the process returns to step S31. In one example, the shooting data in which the cloudiness of the camera 70 is equal to or higher than the predetermined cloudiness is discarded without being uploaded to the server SV.

When the computer 80 determines in step S22 that the cloudiness of the camera 70 is less than the predetermined cloudiness, the process proceeds to the process of step S23. In step S33, the computer 80 extracts the shooting data in which the cloudiness of the camera 70 is less than the predetermined cloudiness as an upload target. In step S24, the computer 80 uploads the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV. After the above processing, the processing of steps S21 to S24 is completed.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the same actions and effects as in (1-1) to (1-2) of the first embodiment, the following actions and effects can be further obtained.
(2-1) The computer 80 extracts the shooting data in which the cloudiness of the camera 70 is less than the predetermined cloudiness as an upload target. According to this configuration, the shooting data with low cloudiness of the camera 70 is uploaded to the server SV, and unnecessary shooting data with high cloudiness of the camera 70 is not uploaded to the server SV. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume. Further, the shooting data having a low degree of cloudiness of the camera 70 is highly useful. Therefore, it can contribute to the improvement of the work efficiency of the worker.

(Third Embodiment)
The air conditioner 1 of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The processing content of the computer 80 of the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is different from that of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment. In the following description, for convenience, the components common to the functions of the components of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the functions will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the upload shooting condition includes a condition relating to a change in the shot image included in the shooting data. The captured data according to the conditions related to the change of the captured image is highly useful. Specifically, the captured data in which the photographed image changes significantly is highly useful. The computer 80 extracts the shooting data in which the difference between the shot images and the reference image is equal to or larger than a predetermined difference as the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions. The captured data in which the difference between the captured image and the reference image is equal to or greater than a predetermined difference is extracted, for example, by comparing the feature points of the captured image with the feature points of the reference image. The reference image is, for example, a captured image previously captured by the camera 70. The reference image is stored in advance in the storage unit 90. The computer 80 uploads the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV.

Next, an example of the process executed by the computer 80 will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
The computer 80 acquires shooting data in step S31. The computer 80 may directly acquire the photographing data photographed by the camera 70, or may acquire the photographing data stored in the storage unit 90. In step S32, the computer 80 determines whether or not the difference between the captured images and the reference image is the captured data equal to or greater than the predetermined difference. Specifically, the computer 80 determines whether or not the captured data acquired in step S31 is the captured data in which the difference between the captured images and the reference image is equal to or greater than a predetermined difference. When the computer 80 determines in step S32 that the difference between the captured images and the reference image is less than a predetermined difference, the processing returns to step S31. In one example, the captured data whose difference between the captured image and the reference image is less than a predetermined difference is discarded without being uploaded to the server SV.

When the computer 80 determines in step S32 that the difference between the captured images and the reference image is the captured data equal to or greater than a predetermined difference, the computer 80 proceeds to the process of step S33. In step S33, the computer 80 extracts the captured data whose difference between the captured image and the reference image is equal to or greater than a predetermined difference as the upload target. In step S34, the computer 80 uploads the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV. After the above processing, the processing of steps S31 to S34 is completed.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the same actions and effects as in (1-1) to (1-2) of the first embodiment, the following actions and effects can be further obtained.
(3-1) The computer 80 extracts the captured data whose difference between the captured image and the reference image is equal to or greater than a predetermined difference as an upload target. According to this configuration, the shooting data with a large change in the shot image is uploaded to the server SV, and the unnecessary shooting data with a small change in the shot image is not uploaded to the server SV. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume. Further, the photographed data in which the photographed image changes greatly is highly useful. Therefore, it can contribute to the improvement of the work efficiency of the worker.

(Fourth Embodiment)
The air conditioner 1 of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The processing content of the computer 80 of the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is different from that of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment. In the following description, for convenience, the components common to the functions of the components of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the functions will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the upload shooting condition includes a condition relating to a change in the shot image included in the shooting data. The captured data according to the conditions related to the change of the captured image is highly useful. Specifically, the captured data in which the photographed image changes significantly is highly useful. The computer 80 extracts the shooting data in the state where water is flowing in the air conditioner 1 as the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions. In one example, the computer 80 extracts the shooting data in the state where the drain water is flowing in the drain pan 50 as the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions. The shooting data in the state where the drain water is flowing in the drain pan 50 is extracted, for example, by comparing the shooting image included in the shooting data with the still water image. The still water image is, for example, a photographed image taken in a state where drain water does not flow through the drain pan 50. The still image is stored in advance in the storage unit 90. The computer 80 uploads the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV.

Next, an example of the process executed by the computer 80 will be described with reference to FIG.
The computer 80 acquires shooting data in step S41. The computer 80 may directly acquire the photographing data photographed by the camera 70, or may acquire the photographing data stored in the storage unit 90. In step S42, the computer 80 determines whether or not the shooting data is in a state where the drain water is flowing in the drain pan 50. Specifically, the computer 80 determines whether or not the shooting data acquired in step S41 is shooting data shot with drain water flowing through the drain pan 50. If the computer 80 determines in step S42 that the shooting data is in a state where the drain water is not flowing in the drain pan 50, the computer 80 returns the process to step S41. In one example, the shooting data in a state where the drain water does not flow in the drain pan 50 is discarded without being uploaded to the server SV.

When the computer 80 determines in step S42 that the shooting data is in a state where drain water is flowing in the drain pan 50, the computer 80 proceeds to the process of step S43. In step S43, the computer 80 extracts the shooting data in the state where the drain water is flowing in the drain pan 50 as an upload target. In step S44, the computer 80 uploads the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV. After the above processing, the processing of steps S41 to S44 is completed.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the same actions and effects as in (1-1) to (1-2) of the first embodiment, the following actions and effects can be further obtained.
(4-1) The computer 80 extracts the shooting data in the state where the drain water is flowing in the drain pan 50 as an upload target. According to this configuration, the shooting data in the state where the drain water is flowing in the drain pan 50 is uploaded to the server SV, and the unnecessary shooting data in the state where the drain water is not flowing in the drain pan 50 is not uploaded to the server SV. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume. Further, the photographed data in which the photographed image changes greatly is highly useful. Therefore, it can contribute to the improvement of the work efficiency of the worker.

(Fifth Embodiment)
The air conditioner 1 of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The processing content of the computer 80 of the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is different from that of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment. In the following description, for convenience, the components common to the functions of the components of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the functions will be omitted.

The computer 80 shoots the camera 70 at the shooting timing according to the upload shooting condition, and uploads the shooting data of the upload target shot by the camera 70 to the server SV. In the present embodiment, the upload imaging condition includes a condition relating to the operating state of the air conditioner 1. The computer 80 takes a picture of the camera 70 while the air conditioner 1 is operating, and uploads the pictured data of the upload target taken by the camera 70 to the server SV. In the present embodiment, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing according to the upload shooting conditions. Specifically, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing so that the air conditioner 1 is shot by the camera 70 while the air conditioner 1 is in operation according to the upload shooting conditions, and the shooting of the upload target shot according to the shooting timing is taken. Upload the data to the server SV.

The shooting control unit 72 controls the shooting operation of the camera 70 in response to a shooting command including information on the shooting timing input from the computer 80. When the shooting timing is established, the shooting control unit 72 controls the shooting operation of the camera 70 so that the camera 70 shoots. The photographing control unit 72 determines the establishment of the photographing timing based on the information acquired from, for example, the sensor mounted on the air conditioner 1. The shooting timing may be set by an element different from that of the computer 80 mounted on the air conditioner 1. In this case, the shooting control unit 72 controls the shooting operation of the camera 70 in response to a shooting command including information on the shooting timing input from an element different from the computer 80 mounted on the air conditioner 1.

Next, an example of the process executed by the computer 80 will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S51, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing according to the upload shooting conditions. Specifically, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing so that the air conditioner 1 is shot by the camera 70 while the air conditioner 1 is in operation. In step S52, the computer 80 transmits a shooting command including information on the shooting timing to the camera 70. The shooting control unit 72 controls the shooting operation of the camera 70 so that the camera 70 shoots while the air conditioner 1 is operating according to the shooting timing included in the shooting command.

The computer 80 acquires shooting data in step S53. The computer 80 may directly acquire the photographing data photographed by the camera 70, or may acquire the photographing data stored in the storage unit 90. The computer 80 uploads the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV. Specifically, the computer 80 uploads the shooting data acquired in step S53 to the server SV as shooting data to be uploaded. After the above processing, the processing of steps S51 to S54 is completed.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(5-1) When all the photographed data periodically photographed by the camera 70 is uploaded to the server SV, the amount of communication required for uploading increases. In the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, since only the shooting data shot at the shooting timing according to the upload shooting condition is acquired, only the necessary shooting data can be uploaded to the server SV. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction of communication volume.

(5-2) The computer 80 sets the shooting timing according to the upload shooting conditions. According to this configuration, since the shooting timing according to the upload shooting condition is set by the computer 80, the element for setting the shooting timing can be omitted.

(Modification example)
Each of the above embodiments is an example of possible embodiments of the air conditioner according to the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the embodiments. The air conditioner according to the present disclosure may take a form different from the form exemplified in each of the above embodiments. An example thereof is a form in which a part of the configuration of each of the above embodiments is replaced, changed, or omitted, or a new configuration is added to each of the above embodiments. In the following modification examples, the parts common to the embodiments of the above embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals as those of the embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

-In the first to fourth embodiments, the processing content of the computer 80 can be arbitrarily changed. The computer 80 extracts the shooting data according to the upload shooting conditions according to any one of the following first to fifth examples, and uploads the shooting data to be uploaded to the server SV. In the first example, the computer 80 extracts the shooting data during the cooling operation of the air conditioner 1 as the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions. In the second example, the computer 80 extracts the shooting data while the drain pump 60 is operating as the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions. In the third example, the computer 80 extracts the shooting data acquired after a predetermined period or more has elapsed from the previous upload as the upload target, according to the upload shooting conditions. In the fourth example, the computer 80 extracts the peculiar data corresponding to the upload shooting conditions as the upload target from the shooting data stored in the storage unit 90. In the fifth example, the computer 80 extracts the shooting data designated from the outside such as the communication terminal 100 as the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions.

-In the fifth embodiment, the processing content of the computer 80 can be arbitrarily changed. The computer 80 sets the shooting timing according to the upload shooting conditions according to any one of the following first to sixth examples. In the first example, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing so that the air conditioner 1 is shot by the camera 70 during the cooling operation according to the upload shooting conditions. In the second example, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing so that the drain pump 60 is shot by the camera 70 during operation according to the upload shooting conditions. In the third example, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing so that the camera 70 shoots a predetermined time after the air conditioner 1 is stopped, according to the upload shooting conditions. In the fourth example, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing so that the camera 70 shoots a predetermined time after the drain pump 60 is stopped, according to the upload shooting conditions. In the fifth example, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing so that the camera 70 takes a picture when the refrigerant temperature of the indoor unit 10 becomes an abnormal temperature according to the upload shooting condition. In the sixth example, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing so that the camera 70 shoots at a time zone in which the cloudiness of the camera 70 is expected to be less than the predetermined cloudiness, depending on the upload shooting conditions.

-In each of the above embodiments, the processing content of the computer 80 can be arbitrarily changed. In one example, the computer 80 sets the shooting timing according to the first upload shooting condition. Then, the computer 80 extracts the upload target according to the second upload shooting condition from the shooting data shot according to the shooting timing, and uploads the shooting data of the upload target to the server SV. The first upload shooting condition is the upload shooting condition corresponding to the fifth embodiment. The second upload shooting condition is the upload shooting condition corresponding to the first to fourth embodiments.

Although the embodiments of this device have been described above, it is understood that various changes in form and details are possible without departing from the purpose and scope of the device described in the claims. Let's go.

1 Air conditioner 70 Camera 80 Computer 90 Storage SV server

Claims (7)

An air conditioner (1) including a camera (70) capable of photographing the internal state of the air conditioner (1) and a computer (80) for uploading photography data photographed by the camera (70) to a server (SV). ) And
The computer (80) holds upload shooting conditions that determine the shooting data to be uploaded.
The computer (80)
From the shooting data shot by the camera (70), the upload target corresponding to the upload shooting condition is extracted, and the shooting data of the upload target is uploaded to the server (SV), or
An air conditioner in which the camera (70) shoots at a shooting timing according to the upload shooting condition, and the shooting data of the upload target shot by the camera (70) is uploaded to the server (SV). The upload shooting conditions include conditions relating to the operating state of the air conditioner (1).
The computer (80)
Depending on the upload shooting conditions, the shooting data while the air conditioner (1) is operating is extracted as the upload target, or
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the camera (70) takes a picture while the air conditioner (1) is in operation. The upload shooting condition includes a condition relating to the degree of cloudiness of the camera (70).
The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the computer (80) extracts the shooting data whose cloudiness is less than a predetermined cloudiness as the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions. The upload shooting condition includes a condition relating to a change in the shot image included in the shooting data.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the computer (80) extracts the shooting data whose difference between the shot image and the reference image is equal to or larger than a predetermined difference according to the upload shooting condition as the upload target. Air conditioner. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the computer (80) extracts the shooting data in a state where water is flowing in the air conditioner (1) as the upload target according to the upload shooting conditions. .. A storage unit (90) for storing the photographed data photographed by the camera (70) is further provided.
The computer (80) extracts the upload target according to the upload shooting condition from the shooting data stored in the storage unit (90), and transfers the shooting data of the upload target to the server (SV). The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5 to be uploaded. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the computer (80) sets the shooting timing according to the upload shooting conditions.