JPH04313635A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify installation work by a method wherein a signal indicating an operating condition of each of an outdoor device and an indoor device required for controlling an operation of an air conditioner is transmitted with wire-less means such as an electromagnetic wave or a laser or the like or a power supply line. CONSTITUTION:An outdoor device signal transmitting and receiving part 6 is fixed to an outdoor device 1. An indoor device signal transmitting and receiving part 7 is fixed to an indoor device 2. A signal relay 8 is fixed to a suitable location so as to enable a signal to be sufficiently transmitted. Each of the outdoor device signal transmitting and receiving part 6 and the indoor device signal transmitting and receiving part 7 performs transmittance and reception of a wireless communication means such as an electromagnetic wave or a laser or the like to each other. In the case where there is something that hinders communication or the like between the transmitter and the receiver, the signal relay part 8 placed at a proper location is relayed and the outdoor device signal transmitting and receiving part 6 and the indoor device signal transmitting and receiving part 7 performs a wire-less communication. Through such an arrangement, the outdoor device 1 and the indoor device 2 perform a transmittance of signal by a wireless communication means and so a wiring for use in transmitting a signal is eliminated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an air conditioner consisting of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, and particularly to a signal transmission device between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, which is necessary for controlling the operation of the air conditioner. Regarding.

0002

[Prior Art] In conventional air conditioners, wiring is installed between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in order to control operation, and signals expressing the operating status of the indoor unit are transmitted to the outdoor unit via the wiring. was being sent to. Note that related air conditioners of this type include, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 83836/1983.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned conventional technology uses wiring to transmit signals between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, which are essential for controlling the air conditioner. In some cases, wiring work was always involved, which was complicated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that does not use wiring for signal transmission between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, in order to further simplify the installation work of the air conditioner.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses wireless communication means such as lasers and radio waves to transmit signals between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit of an air conditioner.
This eliminates wiring.

[0006] Also, by transmitting signals using power lines connected to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit,
Wiring can be eliminated.

[0007]

[Operation] A signal expressing the operating status of the outdoor unit and indoor unit, which is necessary to control the operation of the air conditioner, is transmitted by wireless communication means.

Alternatively, the power line is used to communicate and transmit the operating status between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

[0009] Thereby, the air conditioner does not require special wiring for transmitting signals for controlling operation, and the air conditioner installation work is simplified.

0010

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a case where radio waves or lasers are used as a signal transmission means for an air conditioner, and FIG. , is a diagram showing an example of a system in which signals are sent via an electric wire source as a signal transmission means for an air conditioner.

As shown in FIG. 1, in an air conditioner consisting of one outdoor unit 1 and a plurality of indoor units 2, the outdoor unit 1
and the indoor unit 2 are connected by a power line 4 and a refrigerant pipe 3, respectively. The outdoor unit 1 includes an outdoor unit signal transmitting/receiving section 6.
is installed. An indoor unit signal transmitter/receiver 7 is attached to the indoor unit 2 . A signal relay unit 8 is installed at an appropriate position so that the signal can reach the user sufficiently.

The outdoor unit signal transmitting/receiving section 6 and the indoor unit signal transmitting/receiving section 7 mutually transmit and receive wireless communication means such as radio waves and lasers. If there is something interfering with communication, such as an obstacle, the outdoor unit signal transmitting/receiving section 6 and the indoor unit signal transmitting/receiving section 7 are connected to each other via a signal relay section 8 installed at an appropriate location. communicate. As a result, signals are transmitted between the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 using wireless communication means,
Wiring for signal transmission becomes unnecessary.

The embodiment of the above system shown in FIG. 2 is an air conditioner consisting of one outdoor unit 1 and a plurality of indoor units 2. , are connected by a refrigerant pipe 3. The power line is connected to the power supply box 5. A transformer 9 is attached to the power supply box 5. The outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 transmit signals for operation control via a power line 4. In order to prevent interference with other signals, a transformer 9 is provided for each indoor unit and each group of indoor units connected by one refrigerant pipe. Thereby, indoor unit 1 and indoor unit 2 do not require wiring for signal transmission.

[0014]

According to the present invention, the operating status signals of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, which are necessary for controlling the operation of the air conditioner, are transmitted by wireless means such as radio waves or lasers, or by transmitting signals from the power supply. Since signals are transmitted through wires, there is no need for specific wiring to transmit signals, and air conditioner installation work is reduced.
Simplified.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a case where radio waves or lasers are used as a signal transmission means for an air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a system that sends signals via a power line as a signal transmission means for an air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Air conditioner (outdoor unit), 2...Air conditioner (indoor unit)
, 3... Refrigerant piping, 4... Power line, 5... Power source, 6... Outdoor unit signal transmitting/receiving section, 7... Indoor unit signal transmitting/receiving section, 8... Signal relay section, 9... Transformer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, characterized in that there is no wiring for transmitting signals between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.