JP2022051010A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner enabling sound notification of information related to a function of the air conditioner in conjunction with sound notification of information related to a state of the air conditioner.SOLUTION: In an air conditioner, when a user uses a function of the air conditioner, information related to a state of the air conditioner is notified from a sound unit mounted to the air conditioner, and sound notification of function information on the air conditioner is made in accordance with behavior data, such as operation details and operation history of the user. This configuration enables provision of information corresponding to a use behavior of the user using the air conditioner, and thus makes it easy for the user to grasp the function of the air conditioner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner.

Patent Document 1 provides a voice unit as an individual unit that can be connected to and detached from the indoor unit of the air conditioner via a jack and a plug, and when connected to the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the air conditioner is used. Discloses an air conditioner that informs by voice state information regarding the state of the air conditioner including the abnormal state, self-diagnosis result, and operating state.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-81242

The present disclosure provides an air conditioner that makes it easy for the user to grasp the functions of the air conditioner by transmitting the functional information of the air conditioner by voice in conjunction with the voice notification of the state information.

When the user uses the function of the air conditioner, the air conditioner in the present disclosure notifies the state information of the air conditioner from the voice unit mounted on the air conditioner, and also informs the user's operation contents and operation history. In response, voice notification of the functional information of the air conditioner is performed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to provide information according to the usage behavior of the user who uses the air conditioner, so that the user can easily understand the functions of the air conditioner.

The figure which shows the structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner in Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. A flowchart showing the operation of voice guidance of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The figure which shows the structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner in Embodiment 2 of this disclosure. A flowchart showing the operation of voice guidance of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The figure which shows the structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner in Embodiment 3 of this disclosure. A flowchart showing the operation of voice guidance of the air conditioner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. A flowchart showing the operation of voice guidance of the air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

(Knowledge, etc. that became the basis of this disclosure)
In the conventional technology, the voice unit is mounted on the air conditioner, and when the user operates the air conditioner, the operation state, the abnormal state, and the self-diagnosis result from the air conditioner are included in the air conditioner. The status information was notified. In recent years, the functions installed in air conditioners have become complicated, and it has become difficult for users to understand the functions installed in air conditioners. To resolve this, we have come up with the subject matter of this disclosure.

Therefore, the present disclosure provides an air conditioner that voice-notifies the functional information of the air conditioner in conjunction with the voice notification of the state information.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or duplicate explanations for substantially the same configuration may be omitted.

It should be noted that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2.

[1-1. Constitution]
The air conditioner of the present embodiment is a separate type air conditioner including an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected to each other by a refrigerant pipe, a power line for supplying electric power from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit, and a communication line which is a control wiring (not shown respectively).

The indoor unit has an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan that blows air to the indoor heat exchanger, and the flow direction of the air that blows out from the outlet inside the main body that has a suction port that sucks in air and an outlet that blows out air. It is equipped with wind direction control blades to control. 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-right direction, a plurality of upper and lower blades that control the vertical direction, and the like (each not shown).

The outdoor unit is a compressor that puts the refrigerant enclosed 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 releases heat from the compressed refrigerant to the outdoor air during cooling operation. It is equipped with an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor fan that blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant that has released heat to a low temperature and low pressure state (not shown).

The compressor, four-way valve, outdoor heat exchanger, expansion valve, and indoor heat exchanger are connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a refrigeration cycle circuit. The compressor compresses the refrigerant enclosed in the refrigeration cycle circuit into a high temperature and high pressure state. The outdoor or 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 heat, and reduces the pressure to a low temperature and low pressure state. The indoor or outdoor heat exchanger absorbs heat from the indoor or outdoor air to the decompressed refrigerant (not shown respectively).

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a component device electrically connected to an indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment.

The indoor unit 1 includes an indoor unit control device 2, an actuator unit 3, a voice notification unit 4, a remote controller receiving unit 5, and a sensor unit 6.

An actuator unit 3, a voice notification unit 4, a remote controller receiving unit 5, and a sensor unit 6 are connected to the indoor unit control device 2.

The actuator unit 3 is composed of an indoor fan motor for rotationally driving the indoor fan, a stepping motor for changing the angle of the wind direction control blade, and the like, and is driven according to an instruction from the indoor unit control device 2.

The voice notification unit 4 is composed of a speaker for reproducing voice, an amplifier for amplifying voice, and the like, and is driven according to an instruction from the indoor unit control device 2.

The remote controller receiving unit 5 receives a signal transmitted by infrared rays or the like from an operation device 7 for a user to operate, represented by a remote controller, converts the received data into an electric signal, and transmits the signal to the indoor unit control device 2. do.

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

The user can issue an operation instruction to the indoor unit 1 by operating a button on the operating device 7. When the indoor unit control device 2 receives an electric signal from the remote controller receiving unit 5, the indoor unit control device 2 starts the air conditioning operation based on the received signal. At this time, the indoor unit control device 2 controls the operation of the actuator unit 3 based on the control data received from the outdoor unit via the sensor unit 6 and the communication line.

[1-2. motion]
The operation of the voice guidance of the air conditioner configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of voice guidance in the first embodiment.

First, it is determined whether or not the operation instruction has been received from the remote controller 7 (S101). When the operation instruction is received (S101-YES), the state information is notified by reproducing the state information voice 9 from the voice notification unit 4 (S102). The state information is information on the state of the air conditioner, such as information on operation instructions and settings instructed by the indoor unit, information indicating the current state of the indoor unit, and information on the surrounding environment acquired by the sensor unit 6. including. This status information is notified by a received sound and a message. In the notification of the state information by the received sound, the state of the indoor unit 1 that has received the operation instruction can be notified by changing the type of the received sound. In the notification by message, the state of the indoor unit 1 that has received the operation instruction can be notified by changing the wording of the message.

Next, it is determined whether or not the received operation instruction is an operation instruction related to the function A (S103). When the operation instruction is related to the function A (S103-YES), the function information is notified by reproducing the function information voice 8 from the voice notification unit 4 (S104).

[1-3. Effect, etc.]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the indoor unit 1 includes an electronic control device 2, a voice notification unit 4, a remote control receiving unit 5, and a remote controller 7. The indoor unit 1 receives the operation instruction transmitted by the user operating the remote controller 7, and reproduces the function information voice 8 related to the operation instruction content from the voice notification unit 4.

As a result, the air conditioner can notify the user of the functional information of the air conditioner by voice. Therefore, it becomes easier for the user to grasp the functions of the air conditioner in more detail and easily.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, the air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 4. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[2-1. Constitution]
The difference in the configuration between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the indoor unit 2 is provided with the remote communication unit 10, and the indoor unit control device 2 and the remote communication unit 10 are connected to each other.

The remote communication unit 10 can communicate with an external device such as a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, or a home appliance controller via short-range wireless communication, wireless LAN, or the like. When the indoor unit control device 2 receives an electric signal from the remote communication unit 10, the indoor unit control device 2 starts the air conditioning operation based on the received signal.

With this configuration, the user can issue an operation instruction to the indoor unit 1 by operating the application software of the mobile phone or tablet terminal or the home appliance controller.

[2-2. motion]
The operation of the voice guidance of the air conditioner configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of voice guidance in the second embodiment.

First, it is determined whether or not an operation instruction has been received from an external device (S201). When the operation instruction is received (S201-YES), the state information is notified by reproducing the state information voice 9 from the voice notification unit 4.

Next, it is determined whether or not the received operation instruction is an operation instruction related to the function A (S203). When the operation instruction is related to the function A (S203-YES), the function information is notified by reproducing the state information voice 8 related to the function A from the voice notification unit 4 (S204).

[2-3. Effect, etc.]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the indoor unit 1 includes an electronic control device 2, a voice notification unit 4, and a remote communication unit 10. The indoor unit 1 reproduces the function information voice 8 from the voice notification unit 4 by receiving the operation instruction transmitted by the user operating the external device.

As a result, the air conditioner can notify the user of the functional information of the air conditioner by voice. Therefore, it becomes easier for the user to grasp the functions of the air conditioner in more detail and easily (Embodiment 3).
Hereinafter, the air conditioner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 6. In the third embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[3-1. Constitution]
The difference in the configuration between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the indoor unit control device 5 includes an indoor unit non-volatile memory 5 composed of an EEPROM or the like as a storage area.

The indoor unit non-volatile memory 11 stores indoor unit control data and operation history data, which are control parameters used when the indoor unit control device 2 controls the indoor unit 1.

[3-2. motion]
First, it is determined whether or not the operation instruction is received from the remote controller 7 (S301). When the operation instruction is received (S301-YES), the state information is notified by reproducing the state information voice 9 from the voice notification unit 4 (S302).

Next, it is determined whether or not the received operation instruction is an operation instruction related to the function A (S303). When the operation instruction is related to the function A (S303-YES), it is determined whether or not the function A has been used so far by referring to the operation history information (S304). If the function A has never been used (S304-YES), is the voice notification of the function information related to the function A exceeding the specified number of times specified in the control parameter by referring to the operation history information? Judgment (S305). When the number of voice notifications of the function information related to the function A does not exceed the specified number (S305-YES), the function information is notified by playing the state information voice 8 from the voice notification unit 4 (S204).

[3-3. Effect, etc.]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the indoor unit 1 includes an electronic control device 2, a voice notification unit 4, a remote control receiving unit 5, a remote controller 7, and a non-volatile memory 11. The indoor unit 1 makes a determination with reference to the operation history information of the indoor unit 1, and reproduces the function information voice 8 from the voice notification unit 4.

As a result, when the air conditioner notifies the user of the function information of the air conditioner by voice, it is possible to give priority to guidance other than the functions that the user has used so far. Therefore, it becomes easier for the user to grasp the functions of the air conditioner in more detail and easily.

(Embodiment 4)
Hereinafter, the air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the fourth embodiment, the same parts as those in the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[4-1. Constitution]
There is no difference in the configuration between the fourth embodiment and the second embodiment.

[4-2. motion]
The operation of the voice guidance of the air conditioner configured as described above will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of voice guidance in the second embodiment.

First, it is determined whether or not an operation instruction has been received from an external device (S401). When the operation instruction is received (S401-YES), the state information is notified by reproducing the state information voice 9 from the voice notification unit 4 (S402).

Next, it is determined whether or not a signal related to the functional information is supplied from the external device (S403). When a signal related to the function information is received (S403-YES), the function information is notified by reproducing the state information voice 8 from the voice notification unit 4 (S204). The signal related to the functional information is a signal for identifying a message held by the indoor unit control device reproduced by the voice notification unit 4. Alternatively, it is also possible to supply the voice data to be reproduced by the voice notification unit 4.

[4-3. Effect, etc.]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the indoor unit 1 includes an electronic control device 2, a voice notification unit 4, and a remote communication unit 10. The indoor unit 1 reproduces the function information voice 8 from the voice notification unit 4 by receiving the operation instruction transmitted by the user operating the external device. The functional information voice 8 is determined based on a signal received from an external device via the remote communication unit 10.

Thereby, the air conditioner can determine the functional information from the external device. Therefore, the content of the functional information notified to the user can be changed after the air conditioner is shipped to the market.

The present invention is not limited to an air conditioner, but can be applied to a device having a voice notification unit and notifying a user of its own state information.

1 Indoor unit 2 Indoor unit control device 3 Actuator unit 4 Voice notification unit 5 Remote control receiver 6 Sensor unit 7 Remote control 8 Function information Voice 9 Status information voice 10 Remote communication unit 11 Non-volatile memory

Claims (4)

An air conditioner having a voice notification means for changing operation settings based on a command supplied from the remote control of the air conditioner and notifying the user of the operation change information by voice utterance, wherein the air conditioner is An air conditioner characterized by notifying a user of functional information having a function information by voice utterance from the voice notifying means. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the operation setting is changed based on an instruction supplied from a means for communicating with an external device such as a wireless device or a wired communication interface. The non-volatile memory mounted on the air conditioner stores the history of the operation setting and the history information of the number of notifications associated with the operation setting, and the functional information is determined based on the operation history information of the air conditioner. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is notified to the user when the number of times of voice notification of the history information is equal to or less than a predetermined number of times. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the functional information is supplied by communication with the external device.

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