JP2024037000A - Control device, control method, computer program and storage medium of outdoor unit of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a control device, a control method, a computer program and a storage medium of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, capable of more accurately detecting an outdoor temperature by a sensor disposed on the outdoor unit.SOLUTION: A control device of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner controls the outdoor unit. The air conditioner includes the outdoor unit and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting an outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorption material for absorbing moisture from the air passing therethrough, and a heater for heating the air passing through the adsorption material. When the sensor detects the outdoor temperature, the control device determines whether the heater is operated or not. When determining that the heater is in operation, the control device determines whether or not the fan is in operation. When determining that the fan is not operated, the control device operates the fan and outputs a result of the detection by the sensor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present disclosure relates to a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, an air conditioner is known that includes an indoor unit placed inside a room to be air-conditioned and a humidifier (outdoor unit) placed outdoors. This air conditioner supplies humidified air into the room by desorbing moisture from the adsorbent of the humidifier.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-91000

In a conventional air conditioner, an outdoor unit is provided with a sensor for detecting the outdoor temperature in order to perform air conditioning based on the outdoor temperature. However, this sensor may not be able to accurately detect the outdoor temperature due to the influence of heat such as heat conduction, heat radiation, and/or air convection caused by heat exchange performed by the outdoor unit during cooling or dehumidifying operation. be. Further, in a conventional humidifying device for an air conditioner, a heater is provided to desorb moisture from the adsorbent. When the heater of the humidifier is in operation, the heat of the heater may be transferred to a sensor provided in the outdoor unit, and the sensor may not be able to correctly detect the outdoor temperature.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, in which a sensor provided in the outdoor unit can more accurately detect the outdoor temperature. .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure provides a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.

A control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure controls the outdoor unit. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from the air passing through it and a heater for heating the air passing through the absorbent material. The control device performs the following procedure when attempting to detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor. That is, the control device determines whether the heater is in operation. If it is determined that the heater is in operation, the control device determines whether or not the fan is in operation. If it is determined that the fan is not operating, the control device operates the fan and outputs the sensor detection result.

Further, a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to another aspect of the present disclosure controls the outdoor unit. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from the air passing through it and a heater for heating the air passing through the absorbent material. The control method includes the steps of determining whether or not the heater is operating when the outdoor temperature is detected by the sensor, and if it is determined that the heater is operating, determining whether or not the fan is operating. , including the steps of operating the fan if it is determined that the fan is not operating, and outputting a detection result of the sensor.

Further, a computer program according to another aspect of the present disclosure is a computer program for causing a control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner to execute a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.

Further, a storage medium according to another aspect of the present disclosure is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a processor, a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner is realized.

In the present disclosure, according to a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, a sensor that is provided in the outdoor unit and that can be influenced by a heater of a humidifier or a ventilation device detects the outdoor temperature. can be detected more accurately.

A block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an air conditioner in Embodiment 1 Schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 Flowchart of an example of a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in Embodiment 1 Flowchart of an example of a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in Embodiment 2 Flowchart of an example of a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in Embodiment 3 Flowchart of an example of a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in Embodiment 4 Flowchart of an example of step S300 in Embodiment 5 Flowchart of an example of a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in Embodiment 6

First, various aspects of a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner will be explained.

A control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first aspect of the present disclosure controls the outdoor unit. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from the air passing through it and a heater for heating the air passing through the absorbent material. The control device performs the following procedure when attempting to detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor. That is, the control device determines whether the heater is in operation. If it is determined that the heater is in operation, the control device determines whether or not the fan is in operation. If it is determined that the fan is not operating, the control device operates the fan and outputs the sensor detection result.

According to such a configuration, even if the heater of the ventilation device is in operation, by operating the fan of the outdoor unit, heat transfer from the heater to the sensor provided in the outdoor unit can be reduced. Therefore, the sensor can detect the outdoor temperature more accurately. That is, the accuracy of detection by the sensor can be improved.

In the control device of the second aspect according to the present disclosure, in the first aspect, the sensor may be provided at a position that receives heat conduction and heat radiation from the heater while the heater is in operation.

Controlling the fan of the indoor unit reduces the effects of heat transfer such as heat conduction and heat radiation, thereby improving the accuracy of sensor detection and increasing the degree of freedom in sensor placement.

In the control device of the third aspect according to the present disclosure, in the first aspect or the second aspect, the control device determines whether a first time has passed since the previous operation of the fan. If it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the fan last operated, the control device may detect the outdoor temperature using a sensor and output the detection result of the sensor.

Within a certain amount of time since the fan was last activated, the sensor is still in a state of reduced heat transfer, such as thermal conduction, thermal radiation, and/or air convection. Therefore, in such a case, even if the fan of the outdoor unit is not in operation, sufficient detection accuracy can be maintained while suppressing power consumption due to fan operation.

In the control device according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to third aspects, the control device may operate the fan periodically.

When the fan is operated periodically, the outdoor unit is periodically cooled. Therefore, the influence of heat transfer can be suppressed to a certain degree within the operating cycle of the fan. Therefore, no matter when the sensor performs detection, the accuracy of detection can be maintained to a certain degree.

In the control device of the fifth aspect according to the present disclosure, in the fourth aspect, the control device may further determine whether a second time period has passed since the last operation of the fan. If it is determined that the second time period has elapsed since the fan started operating, the control device may operate the fan.

In the control device of the sixth aspect according to the present disclosure, in the fifth aspect, if the control device determines that the second time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan, the control device detects the outdoor temperature with the sensor, and detects the outdoor temperature with the sensor. The detection results may be output.

According to the configurations of the fifth aspect and the sixth aspect, the fan of the outdoor unit can be operated periodically using the second time period. Therefore, the influence of heat transfer on the sensor can be suppressed to a certain level, and detection accuracy can be maintained at a certain level.

In the control device of the seventh aspect according to the present disclosure, in the fifth aspect, the control device may determine whether a first time has passed since the last operation of the fan. If it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the fan last operated, the control device may detect the outdoor temperature using a sensor and output the detection result of the sensor. The second time period may be longer than the first time period.

If the detection is performed before the first time period, which is shorter than the second time period that is the fan operation period, has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan, higher accuracy of the detection can be ensured.

In the control device of the eighth aspect according to the present disclosure, in the seventh aspect, when the control device determines that the second time has not elapsed and the first time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan, Previous detection results of the sensor may also be output.

By outputting a previously correctly detected detection result, for example, a previous detection result, the control device can output a sufficiently accurate detection result without actually detecting it with a sensor.

In the control device according to the ninth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the control device may operate the fan continuously. The control device may further determine whether a third period of time has elapsed since the fan was operated. If it is determined that the third period of time has passed since the fan was started, the control device may stop the fan.

According to such a configuration, the fan can be operated according to needs. For example, in hot weather, the fan can be operated for a relatively long time to sufficiently replace the hot air around the sensor before the outdoor temperature can be detected.

A method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure controls the outdoor unit. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from the air passing through it and a heater for heating the air passing through the absorbent material. The control method includes the steps of determining whether or not the heater is operating when the outdoor temperature is detected by the sensor, and if it is determined that the heater is operating, determining whether or not the fan is operating. , including the steps of operating the fan if it is determined that the fan is not operating, and outputting a detection result of the sensor.

In the control method of the eleventh aspect according to the present disclosure, in the tenth aspect, the sensor may be provided at a position where it receives heat conduction and heat radiation from the heater while the heater is in operation.

In the control method according to the twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, in the tenth aspect or the eleventh aspect, the step of outputting the detection result of the sensor includes determining whether a first time period has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan. It may also include the step of In the step of outputting the sensor detection result, if it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan, the outdoor temperature may be detected by the sensor and the sensor detection result may be output.

In the control method according to the thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects, the step of operating the fan may include periodically operating the fan.

In the control method according to the fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the thirteenth aspect, the step of operating the fan may include a step of determining whether a second time period has passed since the previous operation of the fan. In the step of operating the fan, the fan may be operated if it is determined that a second period of time has passed since the previous operation of the fan.

In the control method according to the fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the fourteenth aspect, in the step of outputting the detection result of the sensor, if it is determined that the second time period has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan, the sensor detects The temperature may be detected and the detection result of the sensor may be output.

In the control method according to the sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the fourteenth aspect, the step of outputting the detection result of the sensor includes the step of determining whether a first time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan; If it is determined that a first period of time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the device, the method may include a step of detecting the outdoor temperature using a sensor and outputting a detection result of the sensor. The second time period may be longer than the first time period.

In the control method according to the seventeenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the sixteenth aspect, the step of outputting the sensor detection result is performed when the second time has not elapsed and the first time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan. The method may further include the step of outputting a previous detection result of the sensor when it is determined that the sensor has detected the previous detection result.

In the control method according to the eighteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the tenth to seventeenth aspects, the step of operating the fan may include continuously operating the fan. The control method includes a step of determining whether or not a third time period has elapsed since the fan was started to operate, and a step of stopping the fan when it is determined that the third time period has elapsed since the fan was started to operate. It may further include.

For the effects of the control in the tenth to eighteenth aspects, refer to the effects of the configurations of the first to ninth aspects.

A computer program according to a nineteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of the tenth to eighteenth aspects. This is a computer program to be executed by the device.

A storage medium according to a twentieth aspect of the present disclosure is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of the tenth to eighteenth aspects is realized.

According to such a computer program or storage medium, even if the heater of the ventilation system is in operation, by operating the fan of the outdoor unit, the sensor can accurately detect the outdoor temperature.

《Technical concept》
Before describing specific embodiments of a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, we will first explain the technical aspects described in the present disclosure using an example. Explain concepts.

In this example, the air conditioner includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a control device, a fan, and a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature. When attempting to detect the outdoor temperature, if the controller of the outdoor unit determines that the sensor is affected by the operation of the heater included in the ventilation system, it operates the fan and outputs the detection result of the sensor. In this way, even if the heater is in operation, the outdoor temperature is detected after reducing heat transfer from the heater to the sensor, so the outdoor temperature can be detected more accurately. That is, the accuracy of detection by the sensor can be improved.

Each of the embodiments described below represents an example of the present disclosure. The numerical values, shapes, configurations, steps, order of steps, etc. shown in each of the following embodiments are examples and do not limit the present disclosure. Among the constituent elements in the first embodiment below, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the most significant concept will be described as arbitrary constituent elements.

In each of the embodiments described below, modifications may be shown for specific elements, and other elements may include combinations of arbitrary configurations as appropriate, and the effects of each of the combined configurations will be different. It is something that plays. In the embodiment, the effects of each modification can be achieved by combining the configurations of each modification.

In the following detailed description, terms such as "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and are not intended to express or imply relative importance or ranking of technical features. Not to be understood. Features defined as "first" and "second" are expressly or implied to include one or more such features.

《Embodiment 1》
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

<Overall configuration of air conditioner 10>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner 10 according to the first embodiment. The air conditioner 10 is a device that performs air conditioning control (air conditioning function) and ventilation control (ventilation function) for a room where a user is present. In this embodiment, air conditioning control refers to adjusting the temperature, humidity, cleanliness, airflow, etc. of the air in the room where the user is present. Ventilation control refers to adjusting the amount of ventilation when replacing the air in the room being controlled by air conditioning control with the air outside the room. The air conditioner 10 may further have a humidification function and a dehumidification function using ventilation control. The air conditioner 10 performs at least one of these functions based on a command received from a user or based on automatic judgment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 10 includes an indoor unit 12, an outdoor unit 14, and a ventilation device 16. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the indoor unit 12 includes a control section 12a and a communication section 12b. In order to perform an air conditioning function, a ventilation function, a humidification function and/or a dehumidification function, the indoor unit 12 further includes a storage unit, an indoor heat exchanger, a fan, and at least one sensor such as an indoor temperature sensor. But that's fine. The outdoor unit 14 includes a control section 14a, a fan 14b, and a sensor 14c. The sensor 14c is a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature. In order to perform the various functions described above, the outdoor unit 14 includes a storage unit, an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor that executes a refrigeration cycle, an expansion valve, a four-way valve, and other sensors such as an indoor humidity sensor. It may further include. Further, the ventilation device 16 includes an absorbent material 16a, a heater 16b, and a fan 16c, and also includes a ventilation conduit for introducing outdoor air into the room, and at least one sensor such as a sensor for detecting the temperature of the heater 16b. It may further include.

Note that the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is only an example, and the air conditioner 10 may further include other components, and the plurality of components illustrated can actually be integrated into one part. For example, one storage unit may be integrated into each of the control unit 12a and the control unit 14a, or the control unit 12a of the indoor unit 12 and the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 may be integrated together. In the present disclosure, the technology of the present disclosure will be explained using an example in which the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 is used as a control device for the outdoor unit 14; It can also be used as a control device for the outdoor unit 14.

<Control unit 12a of indoor unit 12 and control unit 14a of outdoor unit 14>
The control section 12a controls each component of the indoor unit 12, and the control section 14a controls each component of the outdoor unit 14. The control units 12a and 14a include, for example, a memory storing a program and a processing circuit corresponding to a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The functions of the control units 12a and 14a may be configured only by hardware, or may be realized by a combination of hardware and software. The control units 12a and 14a implement predetermined functions by reading data and programs stored in the memory and performing various arithmetic operations.

<Communication department 12b>
The control unit 12a and/or the control unit 14a of the air conditioner 10 can communicate with the terminal device 70 and/or the server 80 via the communication unit 12b. For example, the air conditioner 10 may be connected to a server 80 related to the air conditioner 10 via the Internet. The air conditioner 10 may be connected to a terminal device 70, which is a smartphone of a user of the air conditioner 10, via the Internet. The air conditioner 10 may be connected to a terminal device 70, which is a remote controller of the air conditioner 10, via infrared rays. The following description will be made using an example in which only the indoor unit 12 includes the communication section 12b, and the control section 14a can also communicate with the terminal device 70 and/or the server 80 via the communication section 12b. However, the outdoor unit 14 may include its own communication section.

The control unit 12a and/or the control unit 14a sends various commands and setting values (for example, activation commands for various functions, temperature setting commands, etc.) from the user or the server 80 to the terminal device 70 or the server via the communication unit 13a. It can be received from 80. The control unit 12a and the control unit 14a are configured to perform various functions of the air conditioner 10 based on these set values and detection values received from various sensors (for example, indoor temperature, user's location), etc. Each component of the air conditioner 10 is controlled. On the other hand, the air conditioner 10 can transmit the detection results of the sensor to the terminal device 70 and/or the server 80 via the communication unit 12b.

<Fan 14b>
The fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 is a fan that draws outdoor air into the casing of the outdoor unit 14 and blows out the outdoor air after exchanging heat with the outdoor heat exchanger. For example, during cooling operation, the refrigerant gas that absorbs indoor heat becomes a high-temperature gas by the compressor of the outdoor unit 14, and when passing through the outdoor unit heat exchanger, the fan 14b Cools hot gas. Further, the fan 14b can be operated by the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 before the sensor 14c performs detection based on the control method of the present disclosure.

<Sensor 14c>
The sensor 14c is a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature, and is also called an outdoor temperature sensor. In order to detect the outdoor temperature as accurately as possible, the sensor 14c may be provided in the outdoor unit 14 near the outdoor air intake port and at a location that is not exposed to rain. Further, the sensor 14c is provided at a position where the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 receives heat conduction and heat radiation from the heater 16b while the heater 16b is in operation as described later.

In one embodiment, the sensor 14c is provided within the casing of the outdoor unit 14 as far as possible from the heater 16b so as to receive as little heat conduction and radiation as possible from the heater 16b. In one embodiment, the ventilation system 16 includes a ventilation conduit that communicates the indoor space with the outdoor space, and hot indoor air can be blown out of the ventilation conduit. In this case, the sensor 14c may be provided within the housing of the outdoor unit 14 as far as possible from the outlet of the ventilation conduit. However, no matter how far away from the heater 16b and the outlet of the ventilation conduit, heat is conducted from the heater 16b etc. to the sensor 14c via the casing of the outdoor unit 14, the air inside the outdoor unit 14, and its convection. is possible. Similarly, since the size of the outdoor unit 14 is limited, the sensor 14c may receive heat radiation from the heater 16b or the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram drawn from the perspective of showing the mechanical configuration, in particular for carrying out ventilation, dehumidification and humidification functions. As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor unit 12 is placed in the room Rin to be air-conditioned, and the outdoor unit 14 and the ventilation device 16 are placed in the outdoor Rout.

The outdoor unit 14 is provided with a fan 14b that blows out the outdoor air A2 after heat exchange with the outdoor heat exchanger to the outdoor Rout. The air conditioner 10 performs an air conditioning operation that introduces outdoor air A3 into the indoor Rin in addition to an air conditioning operation using a refrigeration cycle. For this purpose, the air conditioner 10 includes a ventilation device 16. The ventilation device 16 is provided in the outdoor unit 14.

<Ventilation device 16>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ventilation device 16 includes an absorbent material 16a through which outdoor air A3, A4 passes. The absorbent material 16a of the ventilation device 16 is a member through which air can pass, and is a member that collects (absorbs) moisture from the passing air or imparts moisture to the passing air. On the other hand, when the absorbent material 16a is heated by the heater 16b, it desorbs the moisture it carries.

The heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 heats the outdoor air A3 and the absorbent material 16a before passing through the absorbent material 16a. In one embodiment, two heaters 16b are provided to heat the outdoor air A3. These two heaters 16b are preferably PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heaters whose electrical resistance increases when the temperature rises due to current flow, that is, which can suppress an excessive rise in heating temperature. In the case of heaters that use nichrome wire or carbon fiber, the heating temperature (surface temperature) continues to rise as current continues to flow, so it is necessary to monitor the temperature. In the case of a PTC heater, since the heater itself adjusts the heating temperature within a certain temperature range, there is no need to monitor the heating temperature.

The fan 16c of the ventilation device 16 can generate a flow of outdoor air A3 toward the indoor unit 12 or a flow of indoor air A1 discharged to the outdoor Rout. Further, the fan 16c of the ventilation device 16 can also generate a flow of outdoor air A4 that passes through the ventilation device 16 but does not flow toward the indoor unit 12 but flows out to the outdoor Rout. In the case of this embodiment, the fan 16c is arranged downstream with respect to the absorbent material 16a. When the fan 16c operates, outdoor air A3, A4 passes through the absorbent material 16a from the outdoor Rout. Further, the outdoor air A3 passing through the ventilation device 16 and heading into the indoor unit 12 is blown out into the indoor unit Rin by the fan of the indoor unit 12.

The ventilation device 16 selectively uses an absorbent material 16a, a heater 16b, a fan 16c, a motor, a damper device, etc. to selectively perform a ventilation operation, a humidification operation, and a dehumidification operation.

The ventilation operation is an air conditioning operation that includes intake ventilation in which outdoor air A3 is directly supplied to the indoor Rin (i.e., indoor unit 12) via the ventilation conduit, and exhaust ventilation in which indoor air A1 is discharged to the outdoor Rout via the ventilation conduit. It is.

The humidification operation is an air conditioning operation that humidifies the outdoor air A3 and supplies the humidified outdoor air A3 to the indoor Rin. During the humidification operation, the heater 16b is in an ON state (that is, in operation) and heats the outdoor air A3. The fan 16c is in an ON state, so that outdoor air A3 is flowing toward the interior of the indoor unit 12. According to such humidification operation, the outdoor air A3 is heated by the heater 16b and passes through the absorbent material 16a. At this time, the heated outdoor air A3 can remove a larger amount of moisture from the absorbent material 16a than when it is not heated. As a result, the outdoor air A3 carries a large amount of moisture. The outdoor air A3 that has passed through the absorbent material 16a and carries a large amount of moisture is blown toward the indoor unit 12 by the fan of the indoor unit 12 into the indoor Rin. Through such humidification operation, the outdoor air A3 carrying a large amount of moisture is supplied to the indoor Rin, and the indoor Rin is humidified.

As moisture is removed by the heated outdoor air A3, the amount of water retained in the absorbent material 16a decreases, that is, the absorbent material 16a dries. When the absorbent material 16a is dry, outdoor air A3 cannot remove moisture from the absorbent material 16a. To deal with this, the absorbent material 16a removes moisture from the outdoor air A4. Thereby, the amount of water retained in the absorbent material 16a is maintained substantially constant, and humidification operation can be continued.

The dehumidifying operation is an air conditioning operation that dehumidifies the outdoor air A3 and supplies the dehumidified outdoor air A3 to the indoor Rin (ie, the indoor unit 12). In the dehumidification operation, adsorption operation and regeneration operation are performed alternately.

The adsorption operation of the dehumidification operation is an operation in which moisture carried in the outdoor air A3 is adsorbed by the absorbent material 16a, thereby dehumidifying the outdoor air A3. During the suction operation, the heater 16b is in an OFF state and does not heat the outdoor air A3. The fan 16c is in the ON state, so that the outdoor air A3 flows, passes through the absorbent material 16a, and heads toward the indoor unit 12. According to such adsorption operation, the outdoor air A3 passes through the absorbent material 16a without being heated. At this time, moisture carried in the outdoor air A3 is adsorbed by the absorbent material 16a. As a result, the amount of moisture carried in the outdoor air A3 is reduced, that is, the outdoor air A3 is dried. The outdoor air A3 that has passed through the absorbent material 16a and is dried is blown toward the indoor unit 12 and into the indoor Rin by the fan of the indoor unit 12. Through such adsorption operation, the dry outdoor air A3 is supplied to the indoor Rin, and the indoor Rin is dehumidified.

As the adsorption operation continues, the amount of water retained in the absorbent material 16a continues to increase, and as a result, the ability of the absorbent material 16a to adsorb moisture carried by the outdoor air A3 decreases. A regeneration operation is performed to regenerate the absorbent material 16a in order to restore its adsorption capacity.

During the regeneration operation of the dehumidification operation, the heater 16b is in an ON state and heats the outdoor air A3. The fan 16c is in the ON state, so that the outdoor air A3 flows and flows out to the outdoor Rout. According to such regeneration operation, the outdoor air A3 is heated by the heater 16b and passes through the absorbent material 16a. At this time, the heated outdoor air A3 removes a large amount of moisture from the absorbent material 16a. As a result, a large amount of moisture is carried in the outdoor air A3. At the same time, the amount of water retained in the absorbent material 16a decreases, that is, the absorbent material 16a dries and its adsorption capacity is regenerated. The outdoor air A3 that has passed through the absorbent material 16a and carries a large amount of moisture is discharged to the outdoor Rout. Thereby, during the regeneration operation in the dehumidification operation, the outdoor air A3 carrying a large amount of moisture is not supplied to the indoor Rin due to the regeneration of the absorbent 16a.

By performing such adsorption operation and regeneration operation alternately, the adsorption capacity of the absorbent material 16a is maintained, and the dehumidification operation can be performed continuously.

As described above, by operating the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16, the indoor Rin of the room can be humidified and the absorbent material 16a can be regenerated. However, since the heater 16b may reach a high temperature of 80°C or higher during operation, the heat transfer from the heater 16b as well as the absorbent material 16a may also cause the air inside and around the ventilation device 16 and the outdoor unit 14 to Heat.

A sensor 14c provided in the outdoor unit 14 to detect the outdoor temperature measures the ambient temperature. If the air around the sensor 14c or the parts with which the sensor 14c comes into contact are affected by heat due to heat transfer from the heater 16b, the detection result may be higher than the actual outdoor temperature. In order to reduce such an influence, the control device (control unit 14a) of the outdoor unit 14 performs the following procedure when trying to detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c.

<Control of outdoor unit 14>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example of a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the first embodiment. When the outdoor unit 14 attempts to detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c, control including the following steps S100 to S400 is started. In some cases, the outdoor unit 14 attempts to detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c. For example, the outdoor unit 14 may periodically (for example, every 10 minutes) detect the outdoor temperature and transmit (push) the detection result to the indoor unit 12 and/or the server 80. Further, in response to an inquiry about the outdoor temperature from the indoor unit 12 and/or the server 80, the outdoor temperature may be detected and responded to. In these cases, the control unit 14a outputs the detected outdoor temperature to the indoor unit 12 and/or the server 80.

When trying to detect the outdoor temperature, the outdoor unit 14 determines whether the heater 16b is in operation (step S100). If it is determined that the heater 16b is not operating, the sensor 14c is not affected by the heater 16b, so the controller 14a may currently detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c. In this case (“NO” in step S100), step S400 is performed. In step S400, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c, and outputs the detection result to the indoor unit 12 and/or the server 80.

If it is determined that the heater 16b is in operation, the control unit 14a further determines whether or not the fan 14b is in operation (step S200). For example, the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 may be in operation under the current air conditioning control. Since hot air is blown out by the fan 14b while the fan 14b is operating, the hot air is not trapped around the sensor 14c and has a low influence on the detection of the sensor 14c. Therefore, when both the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 and the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 are in operation, the control unit 14a may currently detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c. In this case ("YES" in step S200), step S400 is performed, and the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c and outputs the detection result.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the heater 16b is operating and the fan 14b is not operating ("NO" in step S200), the control unit 14a operates the fan 14b (step S300). The control unit 14a can continuously operate the fan 14b. The continuous operating time of the fan 14b may be set to about several tens of seconds to several minutes. For example, the control unit 14a may operate the fan 14b at its maximum rotation speed for 2 minutes. In step S300, the rotation speed and operating time of the fan 14b may be fixed predetermined values, or may be variable based on the current provisional detection value of the sensor 14c or the current operation mode of the air conditioner 10. It's okay.

After that, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c, and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c (step S400). If "NO" in step S200, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature after operating the fan 14b, that is, after reducing the influence of heat transfer on the sensor 14c. Therefore, the accuracy of detection by the sensor 14c can be improved.

Upon receiving the outdoor temperature output from the outdoor unit 14, the control unit 12a of the indoor unit 12 and/or the server 80 can perform air conditioning control and ventilation control using the outdoor temperature. For example, the control unit 12a may use the outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature to determine whether to perform a cooling operation or a heating operation, or may determine a set value for the indoor temperature. Further, the output outdoor temperature history may be stored in the storage unit of the indoor unit 12 and/or the server 80.

In summary, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 determines whether or not the fan 14b needs to be operated based on the operation information of the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 and the operation information of the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14, and detects the sensor 14c. Output the results. In this embodiment, the operation information refers to information regarding the operation of the heater 16b or the fan 14b. The operating information includes the operating state of whether the heater 16b or the fan 14b is currently operating. In this way, the outdoor temperature can be correctly detected by the sensor 14c regardless of whether the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 is in operation.

In one embodiment, a computer program is provided that is used to execute the above-described control method on a control device (for example, the control unit 14a) of the outdoor unit 14.

In another embodiment, the computer program described above is stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. When the computer program is read and executed by the control device (for example, the control unit 14a) of the outdoor unit 14, the above-described control method is realized.

According to the configuration and control of the control device of the outdoor unit 14 of the air conditioner 10, and the related computer program and storage medium, the sensor 14c provided in the outdoor unit 14 can more accurately detect the outdoor temperature. can. Therefore, the indoor unit 12 and/or the server 80 that receive more accurate outdoor temperature can perform air conditioning control and ventilation control more appropriately.

Further, when the outdoor temperature or the set temperature set based on the outdoor temperature is determined to be abnormal, the air conditioner 10 can display a warning to the user or perform a protective operation to protect the compressor. Conventionally, when the sensor 14c receives a large amount of heat transferred from the heater 16b, there is a possibility that an abnormally high temperature is erroneously detected. According to the control device and control method for the outdoor unit 12 of the present disclosure, it is possible to avoid such erroneous detections, erroneous generation of warnings due to erroneous detections, and erroneous activations of protective operation.

Furthermore, conventionally, it is preferable that the sensor 14c be provided as far as possible from the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 and the outlet of the ventilation conduit in the outdoor unit 14. However, the control device and the like of the present disclosure can reduce heat transfer from the heater 16b to the sensor 14c provided in the outdoor unit 14 by operating the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14. Therefore, the sensor 14c can accurately detect the outdoor temperature even if it is placed in a location that is more susceptible to heat conduction, etc., and the degree of freedom in sensor placement is increased.

《Embodiment 2》
<If it is still sufficiently cold, detect without operating the fan 14b>
In the second embodiment, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 can detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c when it can be determined that the area around the sensor 14c is sufficiently cold. In this way, it is possible to save power for operating the fan 14b while maintaining detection accuracy. In the second embodiment, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 provides a threshold called a first time, and uses this threshold to determine whether the area around the sensor 14c is sufficiently cool.

Even if the fan 14b starts and then stops, the temperature within the housing of the outdoor unit 14, especially around the sensor 14c, will not rise immediately, but will gradually rise due to the operation of the heater 16b and the outdoor heat exchanger. go. Within a certain period of time (i.e., the first time) after the fan 14b starts operating, the temperature around the sensor 14c has not risen much yet, and it can be said that the temperature around the sensor 14c is sufficiently cool. Therefore, if the outdoor temperature is detected by the sensor 14c within the first time period, a more accurate detection result can be obtained than in the past.

Note that "being cold" in the present disclosure means that the influence of the heater 16b is reduced by operating the fan 14b, compared to the case where the fan 14b is not operating and the area around the sensor 14c becomes an unfavorable high-temperature environment due to the heater 16b. refers to the state in which Therefore, "the area around the sensor 14c is cold" does not mean that the air temperature around the sensor 14c is cooler than the actual outdoor temperature, but rather that the influence of the heater 16b has been reduced around the sensor 14c. means.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the second embodiment. The contents of steps S100 to S300 in FIG. 4 are the same as those of steps S100 to S300 in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, so a redundant explanation will be omitted here. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the control method includes steps S410 and S420.

When the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 determines that the heater 16b is in operation and the fan 14b is not in operation (“NO” in step S200), the control unit 14a determines whether a first time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan 14b. A determination is made (step S410). The first time refers to a time when the influence of the heater 16b is reduced by operating the fan 14b and the area around the sensor 14c is still sufficiently cool. For example, the first period of time may be 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes or 10 minutes. "Since the previous operation" may be from the start of the previous operation of the fan 14b, or may be from the time the previous operation was stopped.

If the first time has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan 14b ("NO" in step S410), the area around the sensor 14c is still sufficiently cool. Therefore, before the first time has elapsed, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c without operating the fan 14b, and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c (step S420).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the first time has already elapsed ("YES" in step S410), the control unit 14a operates the fan 14b (step S300), and then detects it with the sensor 14c and outputs the detection result. (S420).

From another perspective, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 determines whether or not the fan 14b needs to be operated, based on the operation information of the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 and the operation information of the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14. In the second embodiment, the operation information refers to information regarding the current or previous operation of the heater 16b or the fan 14b. For example, the operating information may include whether heater 16b is currently operating, whether fan 14b is currently operating, and the amount of time that has passed since fan 14b was last operated.

This completes the control using the first time. Since the area around the sensor 14c is still sufficiently cool before the first time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b, there is no need to operate the fan 14b again. Therefore, in such a case, even if the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 is not in operation, sufficient detection accuracy can be maintained while suppressing power consumption due to the operation of the fan 14b.

《Embodiment 3》
<Periodically operating the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14>
In the third embodiment, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 periodically operates the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 in order to maintain a state in which the thermal influence by the heater 16b is reduced.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the third embodiment. The contents of step S100, step S200, step 320, and step S420 in FIG. 5 are the same as steps S100 to step 300 and step S420 in FIG. 4 of the second embodiment, so a duplicate explanation will be omitted here. In the third embodiment, the control method further includes step S310 and step S320.

In the third embodiment, when the controller 14a determines that the heater 16b is in operation and the fan 14b is not in operation ("NO" in step S200), the controller 14a determines whether a second period of time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b. (Step S310). The second time refers to the cycle in which the fan 14b is operated. Since the fan 14b operates periodically, it can be said that the area around the sensor 14c is cooled to a certain degree.

Therefore, when the second time period, which is the operating cycle, has elapsed, the control unit 14a operates the fan 14b (step S320), and then detects it with the sensor 14c and outputs the detection result (step S420). On the other hand, if the second time has not yet elapsed, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c without operating the fan 14b, and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c (step S420).

Periodically operating the fan 14b refers to operating the fan 14b once at a fixed time interval (second time). The second time of the operating cycle of the fan 14b may be, for example, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes. The second time period may be preset according to experimental results regarding how long the cold state can be maintained. Further, the second time can be set and changed based on the maximum rotation speed of the fan 14b, the current season, the current date, the area where the air conditioner 10 is located, the current weather at the location of the air conditioner 10, etc. can be done.

When operating the fan 14b each time, the control unit 14a may, for example, operate the fan 14b at its maximum rotation speed for about several tens of seconds to several minutes. In step S320, the rotation speed and operating time of the fan 14b may be fixed predetermined values, or may be variable based on the current provisional detection value of the sensor 14c or the current operation mode of the air conditioner 10. It's okay.

Note that the periodic operation of the fan 14b can be performed regardless of whether or not detection by the sensor 14c is necessary. The control unit 14a checks whether the second time period has elapsed and periodically operates the fan 14b while the heater 16b is operating, even when the outdoor temperature is not being detected. I can do it.

This completes the control using the second time (the operating cycle of the fan 14b). When the fan 14b is operated periodically, the outdoor unit 14 is periodically cooled. Therefore, heat transfer from the heater 16b is suppressed to a certain level within the operating period of the fan 14b. Therefore, no matter when the sensor 14c performs detection, the accuracy of detection can be maintained to a certain degree. That is, in order to improve the accuracy of detection by the sensor 14c, it is not necessary to constantly operate the fan 14b, but it is sufficient to operate the fan 14b periodically.

《Embodiment 4》
<Detected only within a certain period of time within the operating cycle of the fan 14b>
In the fourth embodiment, in order to further improve detection accuracy, the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 is operated periodically, and the sensor 14c is operated only within a certain period of time (for example, the first time described above) after the operation. Perform detection. In this way, detection accuracy can be maintained better than the control in the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example of a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment. The contents of steps S100 to S320 and step S420 in FIG. 6 are the same as those of steps S100 to S320 and step S420 in FIG. 5 of the third embodiment, so a redundant explanation will be omitted here. In the fourth embodiment, the control method further includes step S410 and step S430.

When the control unit 14a determines that the heater 16b is in operation and the fan 14b is not in operation (“NO” in step S200), the control unit 14a determines whether or not a second time period, which is an operation cycle, has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b. A judgment is made (step S310). In the fourth embodiment, if it is determined that the second time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b ("NO" in step S310), the control unit 14a performs step S410. That is, the control unit 14a further determines whether a first time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b (step S410). Here, the second time is set to be longer than the first time. For example, the control unit 14a may set the first time to be 5 minutes and the second time to be 10 minutes.

If the first time has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan 14b ("NO" in step S410), the area around the sensor 14c has cooled down sufficiently. Therefore, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c without operating the fan 14b, and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c (step S420).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the first time has elapsed even though it is within the operating cycle ("YES" in step S410), the control unit 14a uses the previous detection result of the sensor 14c instead of performing detection with the sensor 14c. Output (step S430).

In the fourth embodiment, the outdoor unit 14 includes a storage section, and after the control section 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c, the controller 14a causes the storage section to store the detected outdoor temperature. In one embodiment, the control unit 14a causes the storage unit to store the latest detection result of at least one time. The "previous detection result" refers to a result actually detected by the sensor 14c previously and stored in the storage unit. The previous detection result may be, for example, the latest detection result stored in the storage unit, one of the plurality of stored detection results, or the average value, median value, or mode of the plurality of stored detection results. It's okay. In step S430, the control unit 14a outputs such previous detection results.

Since the outdoor temperature is detected only when the first time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b, its accuracy is ensured. That is, the stored detection results are highly reliable numerical values. In addition, in general, the outdoor temperature rarely rises or falls suddenly over a short period of time such as 10 minutes, and even if there is a change in the outdoor temperature, the range of change is within ±2°C (for example). is not large. Therefore, when there is a possibility that the influence of the heater 16b has not been reduced to the desired degree, that is, when the first time has passed since the last operation of the fan 14b, the previous detection result is output instead of the actual detection. I'll decide. In particular, when the outdoor unit 14 periodically (for example, every 10 minutes) detects the outdoor temperature and sends the detection results to the indoor unit 12 and/or the server 80, the detection is performed frequently, so the previous detection The time difference between time and now is small. For such detection needs, a method of substituting previous detection results is suitable.

Note that when the outdoor unit 14 periodically detects and outputs the outdoor temperature, the control unit 14a may start periodic operation of the fan 14b in accordance with the detection period. For example, the fan 14b may be operated periodically such that the detection period begins before a first time period has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b.

In one embodiment, when attempting to detect the outdoor temperature in response to an inquiry from the indoor unit 12 and/or the server 80, the controller 14a actually detects the sensor 14c without substituting the previous detection result. Detect and output.

This completes the control using both the first time and the second time. If the detection is performed before the first time period shorter than the operating cycle of the fan 14b has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b, higher detection accuracy can be ensured. Furthermore, by outputting the previous detection result that was correctly detected, for example, the previous detection result, the control unit 14a can output a sufficiently accurate detection result without actually detecting it with the sensor 14c. .

《Embodiment 5》
<Continuously operating the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14>
In the fifth embodiment, the control unit 14a continuously operates the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 in order to efficiently reduce heat transfer from the heater 16b. In the fifth embodiment, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 provides a threshold called a third time, and controls the operating time of the fan 14b using this threshold.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example of step S300 in the fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, step S300 includes steps S320 to S340.

In step S300, the control unit 14a first starts operating the fan 14b (step S320). Then, while continuing to operate the fan 14b, the control unit 14a determines whether a third period of time has elapsed since the fan 14b was operated (step S330). If it is determined that the third period of time has passed since the fan 14b was started operating ("YES" in step S330), the fan 14b is stopped (step S340).

The third time refers to the time during which the fan 14b is continuously operated, and is also referred to as the operating time of the fan 14b. The third time can be set to about several tens of seconds to several minutes. For example, the control unit 14a may set the third time to 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, or 5 minutes. Here, the third time is set to be longer than the first time, and the third time is set to be longer than the second time. For example, the control unit 14a may set the first time to 5 minutes, the second time to 10 minutes, and the third time to 2 minutes.

The third time can be preset based on the results of an experiment regarding how long the fan 14b should be operated to reduce the influence of the heater 16b to a desired degree. Further, the third time can be set and changed based on the maximum rotation speed of the fan 14b, the current season, the current date, the area where the air conditioner 10 is located, the current weather at the location of the air conditioner 10, etc. can be done.

This completes the control using the third time. According to such a configuration, the fan 14b can be operated depending on the model, time, and location of the air conditioner 10. For example, in hot weather, the fan 14b can be operated for a relatively long time to sufficiently replace the hot air around the sensor before the outdoor temperature can be detected.

《Embodiment 6》
<Comprehensive example>
The control device of the outdoor unit 14 (for example, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14) can comprehensively execute the combinations of the first to fifth embodiments described above. For example, in Embodiment 6, a combination of Embodiment 2, Embodiment 3, and Embodiment 5 is shown, that is, a combination of Embodiment 4 and Embodiment 5 is shown. In the sixth embodiment, the control unit 14a performs control for detecting the outdoor temperature using the first time, the second time, and the third time.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example of a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the sixth embodiment. The contents of steps S100 to S320 and steps 410 to S430 in FIG. 8 are the same as steps S100 to S320 and steps 410 to S430 in FIG. 6 of the fourth embodiment. The sixth embodiment further includes step S330 and step S340 in FIG. 7 of the fifth embodiment.

When trying to detect the outdoor temperature, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 determines whether the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 is in operation (step S100). If it is determined that the heater 16b is not operating, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c, and outputs the detection result (step S420). If it is determined that the heater 16b is in operation, the control unit 14a further determines whether or not the fan 14b is in operation (step S200). When both the heater 16b and the fan 14b are in operation, the control unit 14a performs step S420 to detect and output the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c.

While the heater 16b is operating, the controller 14a operates the fan 14b periodically and continuously each time. The control unit 14a sets a second time as the operating cycle of the fan 14b, and sets a third time as a single operating time of the fan 14b.

If it is determined that the heater 16b is operating and the fan 14b is not operating, the control unit 14a determines whether a second period of time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b (step S310). If it is determined that the second time period, which is the operating cycle, has elapsed, the control unit 14a operates the fan 14b (step S320), and then detects and outputs the fan 14b using the sensor 14c (step S420).

If it is determined that the second time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b, the control unit 14a further determines whether the first time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b (step S410). If the first time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature with the sensor 14c without operating the fan 14b, and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c (step S420).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the first time has passed although the second time has not passed since the last operation, the control unit 14a outputs the previous detection result of the sensor 14c without performing detection by the sensor 14c ( Step S430).

In order to start continuous operation of the fan 14b in step S320, the control unit 14a then determines whether a third period of time has elapsed since the fan 14b was started to operate (step S330). If it is determined that the third period of time has passed since the fan 14b was started, the fan 14b is stopped (step S340).

This completes the control using the first time, second time, and third time. Controlling in this manner can bring about all the effects described above.

From another perspective, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 determines whether or not the fan 14b needs to be operated, based on the operation information of the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 and the operation information of the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14. In the sixth embodiment, the operation information refers to information regarding the current or previous operation of the heater 16b or the fan 14b. For example, the operating information includes whether the heater 16b is currently operating, whether the fan 14b is currently operating, the time that has passed since the fan 14b last operated, and whether the currently operating fan 14b is currently operating. It may also include the time spent in operation.

It should be noted that the order of execution of each step shown in FIG. 8 is only one example, and other orders of execution are possible.

The above are only specific embodiments of the present disclosure, and the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Although the present disclosure includes the content described above in the drawings and the specific embodiments described above, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The various disclosed embodiments or examples may be combined without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Changes that do not depart from the functional and structural principles of the disclosure are within the scope of the claims.

10 Air conditioner 12 Indoor unit 12a Control unit 12b Communication unit 14 Outdoor unit 14a Control unit 14b Fan 14c Sensor 16 Ventilator 16a Absorbent material 16b Heater 16c Fan 70 Terminal device 72 Related application 80 Server A1 Indoor air A2 Outdoor air A3 Outdoor air A4 Outdoor air Rin Indoor Rout Outdoor

Claims (20)

A control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner,
The air conditioner includes the outdoor unit and a ventilation device,
The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature,
The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from the air passing through it, and a heater that heats the air passing through the absorbent material,
When the control device attempts to detect the outdoor temperature with the sensor,
determining whether the heater is in operation;
If it is determined that the heater is in operation, determining whether or not the fan is in operation;
If it is determined that the fan is not operating, operating the fan;
outputting a detection result of the sensor;
Control device for the outdoor unit of an air conditioner. The sensor is provided at a position that receives heat conduction and heat radiation from the heater while the heater is in operation.
The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1. The control device includes:
determining whether a first period of time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan;
If it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan, detecting the outdoor temperature with the sensor and outputting a detection result of the sensor;
The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1. The control device operates the fan periodically.
The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1. The control device further includes:
determining whether a second period of time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan;
operating the fan if it is determined that the second time period has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan;
The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 4. The control device includes:
If it is determined that the second time has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan, detecting the outdoor temperature with the sensor and outputting a detection result of the sensor;
The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 5. The control device includes:
determining whether a first period of time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan;
If it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan, detecting the outdoor temperature with the sensor and outputting a detection result of the sensor;
the second time period is longer than the first time period;
The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 5. The control device includes:
If it is determined that the second time has not elapsed and the first time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan, outputting a previous detection result of the sensor;
The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 7. The control device operates the fan continuously;
The control device further includes:
determining whether a third period of time has elapsed since the fan was operated;
If it is determined that the third time period has elapsed since the fan was started operating, the fan is stopped;
The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1. A method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, the method comprising:
The air conditioner includes the outdoor unit and a ventilation device,
The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature,
The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from the air passing through it, and a heater that heats the air passing through the absorbent material,
The control method includes:
determining whether the heater is in operation when the outdoor temperature is to be detected by the sensor;
If it is determined that the heater is in operation, determining whether or not the fan is in operation;
If it is determined that the fan is not operating, operating the fan;
outputting a detection result of the sensor;
including,
How to control the outdoor unit of an air conditioner. The sensor is provided at a position that receives heat conduction and heat radiation from the heater while the heater is in operation.
The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 10. The step of outputting the detection result of the sensor includes:
determining whether a first period of time has elapsed since the fan was last activated;
In the step of outputting the detection result of the sensor,
If it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan, detecting the outdoor temperature with the sensor and outputting a detection result of the sensor;
The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 10. In the step of operating the fan, the fan is operated periodically;
The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 10. The step of operating the fan includes:
determining whether a second period of time has elapsed since the fan was last activated;
In the step of operating the fan,
operating the fan if it is determined that the second time period has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan;
The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 13. In the step of outputting the detection result of the sensor,
If it is determined that the second time has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan, detecting the outdoor temperature with the sensor and outputting a detection result of the sensor;
The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 14. The step of outputting the detection result of the sensor includes:
determining whether a first period of time has elapsed since the fan was last activated;
If it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan, detecting the outdoor temperature with the sensor and outputting a detection result of the sensor;
including;
the second time period is longer than the first time period;
The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 14. The step of outputting the detection result of the sensor includes:
If it is determined that the second time has not elapsed and the first time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan, outputting a previous detection result of the sensor;
The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 16. In the step of operating the fan, operating the fan continuously;
The control method includes:
determining whether a third period of time has elapsed since the fan was operated;
If it is determined that the third time period has elapsed since the fan was started, stopping the fan;
further including,
The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 10. A computer program,
A computer program for causing a control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner to execute the method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of claims 10 to 18.
computer program. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the storage medium comprising:
When the computer program is executed by a processor, the method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of claims 10 to 18 is realized.
Non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

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