JP2531260B2 - Operation control device for air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an operation control device for an air conditioner configured to control a plurality of air conditioning units, and more particularly to individual and group control measures for each air conditioning unit. It is related.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as an operation control device in this type of air conditioner, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-63438, a large number of air conditioning units having a heat exchanger are provided, A single remote controller is provided for uniformly group-controlling a plurality of these units in the same operating state according to need. Depending on the presence or absence of an operation command signal output from the remote controller, It is known that the air conditioning unit is operated or stopped at the same time to air-condition the room.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the operation control device of the air conditioner described above, it is conceivable that each air conditioning unit can be controlled not only by a remote controller but also by a centralized controller to improve operability. .

At that time, the centralized controller sends and receives various control signals such as operation signals to and from the air conditioning unit which is the master unit among the air conditioning units of each group, while the other air conditioning units which are slave units transmit temperature signals and the like. It is configured to only receive status signals, allowing the control of the centralized controller to be displayed on the remote controller.

However, in this case, if each air conditioning unit is to be individually controlled in addition to the group control, a remote controller must be provided for each air conditioning unit, resulting in a large number of parts and a large mounting space. There is. Further, when a remote controller that can individually control each air conditioning unit is provided, there is a problem that the centralized controller cannot individually control. That is, since the centralized controller only receives from the air conditioner unit of the child device, there is a problem that the control signal cannot be transmitted and cannot be controlled by the centralized controller.

The present invention has been made in view of the above point, and when the remote control switches are individually controlled, each air conditioning unit can receive the control signal of the central controller, and group control is performed by the remote control switch and the central controller. And individual control can be performed.

(Means for Solving the Problem) As shown in FIG. 1, the means taken by the invention according to claim 1 to achieve the above object is as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 1, a central controller (2) is provided with a plurality of air conditioning units ( 1, 1, ...) are connected, each air conditioning unit (1,1, ...) is partitioned into a plurality of groups (G, G, ...), and each group (G, G, ...) Operation of the air conditioner that controls the air conditioning units (1,1, ...) by connecting the air conditioning units (1,1, ...) of each group (G) to the remote control switches (4,4, ...) It is based on the control device.

Then, the air conditioning unit (1, 1, 1) of each group (G)
...), one of the air conditioning units (1) is configured as a master unit with a master unit address, and the other air conditioning unit (1, 1, ...) is configured as a slave unit with a slave unit address. The air conditioner unit (1) of the master unit is configured to receive an operation signal from the remote control switch (4) and take in an operation signal of the centralized controller (2) to which the master unit address is added. .

The remote control switch (4) outputs an operation signal to the air conditioning unit (1) of the master unit during group control, and outputs an individual operation signal to each air conditioning unit (1, 1, ...) During individual control. It is configured.

Further, to the centralized controller (2), the operation means (21a) for outputting the operation signal of the air conditioning unit (1) to which the address for the master unit is added, and the state output by each air conditioning unit (1, 1, ...) State monitoring means (21b) for receiving signals are provided.

On the other hand, in the air conditioner unit (1, 1, ...) Of the child device, the air conditioner unit (1) of the parent device receives the operation signal for group control of the remote control switch (4) and the operation signal of the centralized controller (2). A receiver (14a) that receives the operation signal that is output based on it, and a transmitter (14b) that outputs the status signal
There is provided a first control means (14) having

In addition, the air conditioner unit (1, 1, ...) Of the slave unit has an address changing unit (15a) for changing the slave unit address to the master unit address and each air conditioner output by the remote control switch (4). The status signal and the receiving section (15b) for receiving the individual operation signal for each unit (1, 1, ...) And the operation signal output from the centralized controller (2) to which the master unit address is added Second control means (15) having a transmitting section (15c) for outputting is provided.

Moreover, in the air conditioner unit (1, 1, ...) Of the slave unit, when the remote control switch (4) is in group control, it is the first control means (14), and when it is in individual control, the second control means (15). A control switching means (16) for switching the control operation is provided in each.

In the invention described in claim 1, the means adopted by the invention described in claim 2 is that the control switching means (16) is a changeover switch for switching between the first control means (14) and the second control means (15). According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control switching means (16) performs the first control in response to the group control command signal and the individual control command signal output from each remote control switch (4). It is configured to switch the means (14) and the second control means (15).

(Operation) With the above configuration, in the invention according to claim 1, the centralized controller (2) transmits various operation signals such as operation signals to the air conditioning unit (1) of the parent machine, and the air conditioning unit (1) and the parent device. While controlling the other air conditioning units (1, 1, ...) Of the group (G) to which the machine belongs, the central controller (2) outputs status signals such as temperature signals output from each air conditioning unit (1,1, ...). Is received by the status monitoring means (21b).

Further, when the remote control switch (4) provided in each group (G) is for group control, the control switching means (16) is the one for the slave unit address of each of the air conditioning units (1, 1, ...). Switches the control operation to the first control means (14). Specifically, in the invention according to claim 2, the changeover switch is used for the changeover, and in the invention according to claim 3, the changeover is made by the command signal from the remote control switch (4).

The operation signals output from the remote control switch (4) and the centralized controller (2) are received by the air conditioning unit (1) of the parent machine, and the air conditioning units (1,1) of the child machines are received from the air conditioning unit (1). , ...) to the first control means (14), and each air conditioning unit (1, 1, ...) Is group-controlled.

On the other hand, when the remote control switch (4) is individually controlled, the control switching means (16) switches the control operation to the second control means (15), and each air conditioning unit is operated by the individual operation signal of the remote control switch (4). (1,
1, ...) are controlled individually. Then, regarding the operation signal of the central controller (2) to which the address for the master unit is added, the address changing unit (15a) of the air conditioning unit (1, 1, ...) Of the slave unit uses the address for the master unit. Since it has changed,
The second control means (15) receives the air conditioning units (1, 1, ...) Individually by the centralized controller (2).

In either group control or individual control, the air conditioning units (1, 1, ...), the centralized controller (2), and the remote control switch (4) are connected to each other in accordance with normal data transmission. Therefore, the transmission address is set between the air conditioning units (1, 1, ...), the centralized controller (2) and the remote control switch (4). Signal transmission / reception is performed based on the address and the slave unit address.

(Effect of the invention) Therefore, according to the inventions of claims 1 and 2, when the setting of the remote control switch (4) is changed from group control to individual control, the air conditioning unit (1,1 ... ), The control operation is switched from the first control means (14) to the second control means (15) so that an operation signal for individual control can be received. Therefore, each remote control switch (4) can be used to control each air conditioning unit ( 1,1,
...) can be performed in both group control and individual control, so that the number of parts can be reduced and
The mounting space can be reduced.

Further, since each air conditioning unit (1, 1, ...) Can be individually controlled by the centralized controller (2) without changing the function of the centralized controller (2), the operability can be improved.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, the first control means (14) and the second control means (15) are automatically switched by the command signal of the remote control switch (4), so that the operability is further improved. Can be improved.

(Example) Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described in detail based on drawing.

As shown in FIG. 2, (1,1, ...) is an indoor unit that achieves a plurality of air conditioning units equipped with an indoor heat exchanger and an expansion mechanism. …)
Are divided into, for example, 16 groups (G, G, ...), and each group (G) is provided with a maximum of 16 indoor units (1, 1, ...). Although not shown, each of the indoor units (1, 1, ...) Is connected in parallel to one outdoor unit to form a refrigerant circulation system.

In addition, the indoor units (1, 1, 1) of each group (G) above
...), one indoor unit (1) becomes the base unit (1a),
Other indoor units (1, 1, ...) Are set as slave units (1b), and each master unit (1a) is connected to a central controller (2) via a transmission line (3). The slave unit (1b) of each group (G) is connected to the centralized controller (2) via the master unit (1a). A remote controller switch (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) (4) is connected to each of the parent devices (1a) via a transmission line (5), while each of the child devices (1b, 1b, ...) Each group is connected to the remote controller (4) via the master unit (1a), and the master unit address (# 0) is assigned to the slave unit (1b, 1) in the master unit (1a).
Addresses for slave units (# 1) to (# 15) are set in b ,.

As shown in FIG. 3, the centralized controller (2) has a built-in CPU (21), a ROM (22) and a RAM (23) connected to the CPU (21), and The input unit (24) for inputting the operation and stop of the indoor unit (1,1, ...) and the display unit (25) for displaying the operation and stop of the indoor unit (1,1, ...) are built-in. The CPU (21) is connected to each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) Through the transmission section (26). Then, to the CPU (21), an operation signal of the indoor unit (1) to which the master unit address (# 0) is added, that is, an operation signal such as a start / stop signal for operating and stopping the indoor unit (1) Operation means for outputting (21a)
And a status monitoring means (21b) for receiving a status signal such as a temperature signal output from each indoor unit (1), and a display section (25) based on the received signal of the status monitoring means (21b). ) Is configured to display the status of each indoor unit (1,1, ...).

The remote controller (4) is configured to control each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) In group or individually,
A control microcomputer (41) for controlling the indoor units (1, 1, ...) Is incorporated and the control microcomputer (41) is also included.
And a transmission microcomputer (42) for transmitting and receiving control signals. Further, the remote controller (4) receives a control signal from the transmission microcomputer (42) in each indoor unit (1, 1, 1).
...) and a status signal from each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) to the transmission microcomputer (42) and a set temperature and the like for the control microcomputer (4).
The input means (6) for keying in 1) and the display means (7) for receiving the display signal from the control microcomputer (41) and displaying the set temperature and the like are incorporated.

The control microcomputer (41) sends and receives control signals to and from the indoor units (1, 1, ...) And controls the indoor units (1, 1, ...). (41a)
And a receiving means (41b) for outputting a reception signal for each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) When receiving a status signal of each indoor unit (1,1, ...), The receiving means (41b) ), The display means (7) displays the state of each indoor unit (1, 1, ...).

As shown in FIG. 4, the input means (6) and the display means (7) are provided on the front panel (44) of the remote controller (4), and the front panel (44) has an upper section (45). The lower section (46) is provided with an input means (6) and the upper section (45) is provided with a display means (7). The input means (6) has an operation switch (6a) for operating and stopping all indoor units (1, 1, ...).
And stop switch (6b) and each indoor unit (1,1, ...)
A blower switch (6c), a cooling switch (6d) and a heating switch (6e) for switching and setting the operation mode of No. 1 and a temperature setting switch (6f) for adjusting the set temperature are provided.

Furthermore, the indoor unit (1,
Group move switch (6g) and transfer switch (6h) for partitioning 1, ...) into groups, and control for setting the indoor unit (1,1, ...) to either individual control or group control mode The mode switch (6i) and the indoor unit (1,1, ...) that performs the setting and display at the time of display, including the time of setting the group and the control mode, and the indoor unit (1,1, ...) Is equipped with a unit switch (6j) that is specified by a preset address,
A check switch (6k) is provided.

On the other hand, the display means (7) has an operation mode display section (71) for displaying the operation mode of the displayed indoor unit (1) and a control mode for the displayed indoor unit (1) (group control). Control mode display section (72) for displaying (or individual control) and temperature display section (73) for displaying the set temperature.
And a group number display section (74) for displaying the group number. Furthermore, the display means (7)
Is provided with a unit display section (75) capable of individually displaying the addresses of the indoor units (1, 1, ...) At the same time. In this embodiment, 16 indoor units (1, 1, ...) Are provided. )
Since the units can be connected, the unit display (75) is arranged in two rows, upper and lower, so that the addresses from "# 0" to "# 15" set for each indoor unit (1,1, ...) are displayed. Has been formed.

Further, the display means (7) includes a unit display section (7
Corresponding to each address of 5), the operation display section (76) showing the operating indoor unit (1, 1, ...) and the indoor unit (1) surrounding the address and displaying the set temperature etc. ), And a group unit display section (78) showing the indoor units (1, 1, ...) belonging to the group displayed by the group number display section (74). The display means (7) is configured to display a liquid crystal.

On the other hand, the main unit (1a) of the indoor units (1, 1, ...)
Although not shown, a CPU has a built-in CPU, and the central controller (2) and the remote controller (4) are connected to the CPU via a transmission unit, and the central controller (2) and the remote controller (4) are connected to each other. It is configured to exchange an operation signal and a status signal between them.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the slave unit (1b) has a CPU
(11) is built-in, and the CPU (11) has a transmitter (1
It is connected to the transmission part (26, 43) of the centralized controller (2) and the remote controller (4) via (2, 13). And
The CPU (11) includes a first control means (14) and a second control means (15), and the remote control (4) controls the group control command signal based on the setting signal of the control mode switch (6i). Is provided with a control switching means (16) for switching the control operation so that the first control means (14) outputs the individual control command signal and the second control means (15) operates.

Furthermore, the first control means (14) outputs an operation signal output from the indoor unit (1) of the master unit based on the operation signal for group control of the remote controller (4) and the operation signal of the centralized controller (2). A receiving section (14a) for receiving and a transmitting section (14b) for outputting a status signal such as a temperature signal are configured.

On the other hand, the second controller (5) has a slave unit address (#
An address changing unit (15a) that changes 1) to (# 15) to the master unit address (# 0), an individual operation signal for each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) Output by the remote controller (4), and A receiving unit (15b) for receiving an operation signal output from the centralized controller (2) and having an address for the master unit (# 0) added thereto, and a transmission unit (15c) for outputting a status signal are configured. Has been done.

Next, the control operation of each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) Will be described based on the control flow of FIG.

First, in step ST1 after starting, it is determined whether the remote control (4) is set to group control or individual control, that is, the control mode switch (6
When the group control is set by i), the process proceeds from step ST1 to step 2, and when the individual control is set, the process proceeds from step ST1 to step ST3.

In the case of group control, in step ST2, for example, control is performed according to the addresses # 0 to # 15 set by the transmission microcomputer (42). continue,
Moving to step ST4, each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) Determines whether or not its own address is the master unit address # 0, and the air conditioning unit (1) to which the master unit address # 0 is set is In step ST5, the operation signal output from the centralized controller (2) is received and controlled based on the operation signal, and the operation is also performed by the operation signal from the remote controller (4).

On the other hand, the indoor units (1, 1, ...) To which the slave unit addresses # 1 to # 15 are set move from step ST4 to step ST6, and the control switching means (16) is operated by the group control command signal from the remote controller (4). Switches the control operation to the first control means (14), and the receiving unit (14a) of the first control means (14) has the centralized controller (2) and the remote control (4) as the indoor unit (# 0) for the master unit. Only the operation signal output to 1) is received, and each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) Is controlled for each group (G, G, ...).

That is, the slave unit (1b) of the indoor unit (1,1, ...)
Takes in only the operation signal of the centralized controller (2) and the operation signal for group control of the remote controller (4) output from the master unit (1a), and does not take in the operation signal with the centralized controller (2). Each indoor unit (1,1, ...)
Are group controlled.

During this group control, the status signals output from each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) Are received by the status monitoring means (21b) of the centralized controller (2) and the reception means (14b) of the remote controller (4), and the display section is displayed. (25) and display means (7).

On the other hand, when the remote controller (4) is set to the individual control, in step ST3, the slave unit addresses # 1 to # 15 are set.
The indoor unit (1, 1, ...) In which is set is switched to the control operation of the second control means (15) by the control switching means (16). Then, the address changing unit (15a) changes the slave unit addresses # 1 to # 15 to the new address # 0, and the step ST
Moving to 5, the receiving section (15b) receives the operation signals output from the centralized controller (2) and the remote controller (4), and they are individually controlled.

In other words, when the central controller (2) outputs an operation signal or a set temperature signal, the master unit address # 0 is added, but the slave unit (1b) uses its own address as the slave unit addresses # 1 to # 1. Since the address is changed from # 15 to the master unit address # 0, the slave unit (1b) receives the operation signal of the centralized controller (2) as the master unit (1a) and is individually controlled. On the other hand, when individual operation signals such as an operation signal and a set temperature signal are output from the remote controller (4), each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) Is operated individually.

And the remote controller (4) is for each indoor unit (1,1, ...)
The set temperature or the like is displayed on the display means (7) every time. For example, the address is displayed on the unit identification display section (77) and the set temperature is displayed on the temperature display section (73) including the case where the addresses are individually controlled by the centralized controller (2).

Even during this individual control, each indoor unit (1,1, ...)
The central controller (2) and the remote controller (4) receive the status signal output from the second control means (15) and display it on the display section (25) and the display means (7).

In addition, in either group control or individual control, the indoor units (1, 1, ...), the centralized controller (2), and the remote controller (4) follow the normal data transmission for the data transmission. Since the transmission address is set,
Each indoor unit (1,1, ...) and centralized controller (2)
And the remote controller (4), this transmission address and the above-described master unit address # 0 and slave unit addresses # 1 to #
Signals are being exchanged based on 15.

Therefore, when the remote control (4) is changed from the group control to the individual control, the control operation in the indoor unit (1, 1, ...) Of the slave unit address is changed from the first control means (14) to the second control means. One remote controller (4) because it switched to (15) and received the operation signal of individual control.
Therefore, since each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) Can perform both group control and individual control, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the mounting space.

Moreover, since each indoor unit (1, 1, ...) Can be individually controlled by the centralized controller (2) without changing the function of the centralized controller (2), operability can be improved. .

Further, since the first control means (14) and the second control means (15) are automatically switched by the command signal of the remote controller (4), the operability can be further improved.

In this embodiment, the control switching means (16) is automatically switched by the command signal of the remote controller (4), but it is constituted by a changeover switch as shown by the chain line in FIG. You may

Further, the remote controller (4) is composed of a group control dedicated one and an individual control dedicated one, and the first control means (14) and the second control means (14) are selected depending on which control remote controller (4) is mounted.
The control means (15) may be switched.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. 2 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner, FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram, FIG. 4 is a front view of a remote controller, and FIG. It is a control flow figure of an indoor unit. (1) …… Indoor unit, (2) …… Centralized controller, (4) …… Remote control, (11) …… CPU, (14) ……
First control means, (15) ... Second control means, (14a, 15b)
...... Reception unit, (14b, 15c) …… Transmission unit, (15a) …… Address change unit, (21) …… CPU, (21a) …… Operating means,
(21b) …… State monitoring means.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A central controller (2) is connected to a plurality of air conditioning units (1, 1, ...) While each air conditioning unit (1, 1, ...) Is a plurality of groups (G, G, ...). ), And the air-conditioning units (1, 1, ...) Of each group (G) are connected to remote control switches (4, 4, ...) provided for each group (G, G, ...). Air conditioning unit (1,1, ...)
In the operation control device of the air conditioner for controlling the air conditioner, one air conditioning unit (1) of the air conditioning units (1, 1, ...) Of each group (G) has a master unit address set to the master unit, The other air-conditioning units (1, 1, ...) Are configured as slave units with addresses for slave units respectively set, and the air-conditioning unit (1) of the master unit is remote control switch (4).
The remote control switch (4) is configured to receive an operation signal from the central controller (2) to which an address for the master unit is added and to receive the operation signal from the master unit. It is configured to output an operation signal to 1) and to output an individual operation signal to each of the air conditioning units (1, 1, ...) At the time of individual control, while the central controller (2) has an address for the master unit. One is provided with an operation means (21a) for outputting an operation signal of the air conditioning unit (1) to which the air conditioner is added and a status monitoring means (21b) for receiving a status signal output by each air conditioning unit (1, 1, ...). , In the air conditioner unit (1, 1, ...) of the child device, the air conditioner unit (1) of the parent device receives the operation signal for group control of the remote control switch (4) and the operation signal of the centralized controller (2). A receiver (14a) that receives the operation signal that is output based on it, and a transmitter (1a that outputs the status signal
4b) and a first control means (14) is provided, an address changing unit (15a) for changing a slave unit address to a master unit address, and a remote control switch (4).
(15b) for receiving the individual operation signal for each air conditioning unit (1, 1, ...) Output by the controller and the operation signal output by the centralized controller (2) to which the master unit address is added And a second control means (15) having a transmitter (15c) for outputting a status signal, and the air conditioner unit (1, 1, ...) Of the slave unit has a remote control switch (4). Control switching means (1) for switching the control operation to the first control means (14) when the control becomes group control, and to the second control means (15) for the individual control.
6) An air conditioner operation control device characterized by being provided. 2. A control switching means (16) is a first control means (1).
4. The operation control device for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the operation control device comprises a changeover switch for switching between 4) and the second control means (15). 3. The control switching means (16) corresponds to a group control command signal and an individual control command signal output from each remote control switch (4), and first control means (14) and second control means (15). 3.) The operation control device for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein