JPH05333942A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the change with time of a humidity sensor due to its use for a long period of time by increasing the pause time of energization to the humidity sensor when the frequent detection of humidity in the air is not required, compared with the time when frequent detection is necessary. CONSTITUTION:A microcomputer 27 reads the detection value H0 of the indoor air obtained by a humidity sensor 21 out of a humidity/electricity converter circuit 26. Then, a humidity range deciding circuit 28 decides whether the value H0 is less than a prescribed level or not. If not, the energizing interval of an interval timer 25 is set at a long period of 60 seconds. If so, the detection value is read out of the sensor 21. Then, the energizing interval of the timer 25 is set at 60 seconds if a changed variable is less than a prescribed level per prescribed time. If not, the energizing interval is set at a short period of 10 seconds. As a result, the pause time of energization is increased to the sensor 21 when its frequent detection is not necessary and the change with time is suppressed for the sensor 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner in which a humidity sensor and an air purifier are built in an air conditioner body,
In particular, the present invention relates to an air conditioner that can maintain the accuracy of a humidity sensor for a long period of time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of this type of air conditioner, there is an air conditioner configured as shown in FIG. This includes an air filter 2, a temperature sensor 3, a humidity sensor 4, an air cleaner 5, an indoor heat exchanger 6, in an air conditioner body 1.
The microcomputer box 7 and the like are built in, and the temperature sensor 3 and the humidity sensor 4 are fixed to the microcomputer box 7.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional air conditioner, the humidity sensor 4 is arranged between the air filter 2 and the indoor heat exchanger 6 as shown in FIG. , Relatively large dust to the air filter 2
Although relatively small dust, tobacco smoke, oil smoke, etc. pass through the air filter 2, they adhere to the sensor element of the humidity sensor 4 on the downstream side and accumulate for a long time. As a result, there is a problem that the humidity detection accuracy of the humidity sensor 4 deteriorates due to long-term use.

Conventionally, the humidity sensor 4 is operated by continuously energizing it or intermittently energizing it with a predetermined energization pause time (energization interval). Since the humidity sensor 4 is energized irrespective of
The change over time of the humidity sensor 4 due to energization is easily promoted.

For this reason, there is a problem in that the humidity detection accuracy is greatly reduced due to long-term use of the humidity sensor 4.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an air conditioner capable of maintaining a predetermined accuracy of a humidity sensor for a long period of time.

[0007]

The first invention of the present application improves the method of energizing the humidity sensor 4, and the second invention of the present application improves the installation location of the humidity sensor 4 to improve the humidity sensor 4.
The predetermined accuracy of is maintained for a long period of time and is configured as follows.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application (hereinafter, referred to as the first
In the air conditioner having a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity in the air and an energizing means for intermittently energizing the humidity sensor with an energization pause time, the energizing means may be the humidity sensor. When the detected value detected by is outside the predetermined humidity range, and when the detected value is within the predetermined humidity range and the fluctuation amount per predetermined time is less than or equal to the predetermined value, An air conditioner having an energization suspension time control means for controlling the energization suspension time at a time longer than a time other than the time.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application (hereinafter referred to as the second invention) includes a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity in the air and an air purifier for purifying the air in the main body of the air conditioner. In the air conditioner built in, the humidity sensor is arranged downstream of the air cleaner.

[0010]

[Action]

<First Invention> The humidity sensor is not energized continuously, but is energized intermittently by an energizing means with an energization pause time, and operates only when energized to detect humidity in the air, The humidity detecting operation is suspended during the power-off period.

Then, when the detected humidity value detected by the humidity sensor is outside the predetermined humidity range, and when the detected value is within the predetermined humidity range and the fluctuation amount of the detected value is below the predetermined value. Is longer than the energization rest time of the humidity sensor at times other than this time.

Therefore, since the energization integration time of the humidity sensor is reduced by the extension of the energization suspension time, the decrease over time is suppressed by the reduced amount and the predetermined accuracy of the humidity sensor is maintained for a long time. Can be held.

<Second Invention> Since the humidity sensor is arranged on the downstream side of the air purifier, clean air which is purified by the air purifier to smoke, oil smoke, and minute dust is passed through the humidity sensor. ..

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the accuracy of the humidity sensor from being deteriorated by the fact that cigarette smoke, oil smoke, minute dust and the like adhere to the sensor element such as the humidity sensor and accumulate for a long period of time. That is, the predetermined accuracy of the humidity sensor can be maintained for a long period of time.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of an embodiment including the first and second inventions of the present application, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part thereof. In the figure, an air conditioner 11 is an indoor unit 12 The indoor unit 12 includes an outdoor unit (not shown), and the indoor unit 12 has a front panel 13 having a suction grill 13a opened on the front side and an outlet grill 13b opened on the lower side, and a rear plate for closing the rear opening of the front panel 13. 14 together form an indoor casing.

In the interior casing, a pair of left and right air filters 1 are arranged from the front side toward the rear side.
5a, 15b, a pair of upper and lower wind direction grills 16a, 16
b, an air purifier 17, an indoor heat exchanger 18 that is bent in a substantially V shape, a drain pan 19 that receives and stores drainage thereunder, and a cross-flow fan 20 are sequentially installed in this order.

The indoor heat exchanger 18 is connected to an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a four-way valve, etc. built in an outdoor unit (not shown) by a refrigerant pipe to form a closed refrigeration cycle for circulating the refrigerant. Therefore, a cooling operation and a heating operation can be freely switched by a switching operation of a four-way valve (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a humidity sensor 21 for detecting the humidity in the air is provided between the air cleaner 17 and the indoor heat exchanger 18 together with a room temperature sensor 22 for detecting the room temperature. These are arranged and fixed to the microcomputer box 23.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, many relatively small dusts d, such as cigarette smoke and oil smoke, in the air ventilated through the air filters 15a and 15b in the direction of the arrow in the figure.
d ... is almost captured and removed by the air purifier 17,
Since it is purified to clean air, clean air is passed through the humidity sensor 21 located downstream of the air cleaner 17.

For this reason, it is possible to significantly reduce the deterioration of the sensor accuracy due to the relatively small dust particles d, d ... Adhering to the sensor element of the humidity sensor 21 and accumulating over a long period of time. That is, the predetermined accuracy of the humidity sensor 21 can be maintained for a long period of time.

FIG. 6 shows an electric circuit of an energizing circuit for energizing the humidity sensor 21 intermittently. The electric circuit is a power supply circuit 24 via an interval timer 25.
Are electrically connected.

The interval timer 25 is the humidity sensor 21.
The time for stopping the energization to the device (energization interval) is measured, and the humidity-electric conversion circuit 2 for converting the humidity detection value detected by the humidity sensor 21 into an electric signal on its output side.
6. The microcomputer 27 is electrically connected sequentially in this order. The output side of the humidity-electricity conversion circuit 26 is connected to a part of the input side of the interval timer 25 by the feedback circuit 26a, and the humidity range determination circuit 28 and the humidity change amount determination circuit 2 are provided in the middle of the feedback circuit 26a.
9, the humidity range determination circuit 28, the humidity change amount determination circuit 29, and the microcomputer 27 constitute an energization pause time control means for controlling the energization interval of the interval timer 25.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the humidity range determination circuit 28 determines whether the detected value H detected by the humidity sensor 21 is within a predetermined humidity range of 30 to 80% RH, that is, 30% RH≤H≤. It is to determine whether or not 80% RH is established.

When this equation is established, the energization interval of the interval timer 25 is set to, for example, 60 seconds.
On the other hand, when the formula is not satisfied, the energization interval is set to a short period of 10 seconds (seconds), for example.

The humidity change amount determination circuit 29 is composed of the humidity sensor 21.
When the detection value H of 30% RH ≦ H ≦ 80% RH is satisfied, it is further determined whether or not the change amount of the detection value H of the humidity sensor 21 per predetermined time is within ± 5% RH. However, when H ≦ ± 5% RH is satisfied, the humidity in the room is stable, so that the energization interval of the interval timer 25 is set to a long period of 60 seconds, while H ≦
When ± 5% RH is not established, the energization interval of the interval timer 25 is set to a short period of 10 seconds, for example.

Next, the operation of this energizing circuit will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that P1 to P16 in FIG. 7 indicate the steps of the flowchart.

First, immediately after the operation of the air conditioner is started, the microcomputer 27 reads the detected value H0 of the indoor air detected by the humidity sensor 21 from the humidity-electricity conversion circuit 26 at P1.

Next, at P2, it is determined whether or not the read detection value H0 is within the predetermined humidity range shown in FIG.
The humidity range determination circuit 28 determines whether or not 30% RH ≤ H0 ≤ 80% RH is satisfied, and NO, that is, the detected value H0.
Is outside the specified humidity range (30 to 80% RH), the energization interval of interval 25 is set to 60 in P3.
Set to the long term of sec.

For this reason, as shown by A in FIG. 1, the humidity sensor 21 receives 60 sec each time a predetermined energization (ON) time elapses.
A long-term interval (OFF) of c is given, and humidity is detected every 60 seconds. For this reason, the energization integration time of the humidity sensor 21 is shortened.

On the other hand, when YES in P2, that is, when the detected value H0 is within the predetermined humidity range of 30 to 80% RH, the energization interval of the interval timer 25 is set to a short period of 10 sec in P4.

For this reason, as shown by B in FIG. 1, the humidity sensor 21 receives 10 seconds each time a predetermined energization (ON) time elapses.
The short-term interval (OFF) is given, and the humidity is detected every 10 seconds.

Next, the detected value H1 is again detected from the temperature sensor 21.
If the detected value H1 is within 30 to 80% RH, and whether the change amount ΔH1 of the detected value H1 per predetermined time is within a predetermined change amount, for example, within ± 5% RH. Judge whether or not.

That is, at P5, the second detection value H1 of the humidity sensor 21 is read out, and at P6, the number of detection times C1 is counted by the detection number integration counter.

Next, when the number of times of detection C1 is less than 6, that is, when C1 <6, the process proceeds to P7, and when C1 = 6, the process proceeds to P8. In P7, the detection count C1
Is once, that is, when C1 = 1, the detected value H1 is stored in the memory at P9 and then the process returns to P4 to set the energization interval to a short period of 10 sec.

On the other hand, in P8, when the detection number integration counter counts six times (C1 = 6) and a predetermined time has elapsed, this integration counter is cleared and then in P10, the sixth detection value H1 is detected. -6 is the first read from the memory
Difference from the first detected value H1 (ΔH1 = | H1-6-H1-1 |
Then, it is determined whether this ΔH1 is equal to or more than ± 5% RH of the predetermined change amount, that is, whether ΔH1 ≧ ± 5% RH is satisfied. If YES, the process returns to P2 again and the interval is set. Let's set it to short 10 seconds.

However, when P10 is NO, that is, ΔH
When 1 ≧ ± 5% RH is not established, it is judged that the humidity condition in the room is stable, and at P11, the energization interval of the interval timer 25 is set to 60 seconds for a long time (see C in FIG. 1). ..

Further, in order to determine whether or not this humidity change amount is stable, first, at P12, the humidity sensor 2 is again turned on.
The detected value H2-1 during energization of 1 is read out, and the number of times of detection is counted by the detection number integration counter at P13. P14
Then, the first detected value H2-1 is stored in the memory.

On the other hand, when the detection number integration counter counts two times (C2 = 2), this integration counter is cleared at P15, and then the first detection value H2-1 and the second
Difference from the second detected value H2-2 (| H2-1 −H2-2 | = ΔH
2) is calculated, and this variation ΔH2 is ± 5% RH at P16.
It is judged whether or not it is within the range, and if YES, it is judged that the humidity condition is still stable and the process returns to P11 again.
As shown by C in FIG. 1, the energization interval of the interval timer 25 is set to a long period of 60 seconds.

On the other hand, when ΔH 2 ≤ ± 5% RH is not established in P16, the humidity condition is not stable. Therefore, in order to perform the humidity detection by the humidity sensor 21 finely, the interval of the interval timer 25 is shortened to 10 seconds. Let it set.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, only when the detected value H of the humidity sensor 21 is within the predetermined humidity range and the variation ΔH of the detected value per predetermined time is ± 5% or more of the predetermined value. In addition, since the humidity sensor 21 is set to a short current-carrying interval of, for example, 10 seconds to detect the humidity finely, it is possible to prevent a decrease in humidity detection accuracy.

When the detected value H of the humidity sensor 21 is outside the predetermined range, when the detected value H is within the predetermined humidity range of 30 to 80% RH, and the change amount of the detected value per a predetermined time period. When ΔH is a predetermined value ± 5% or less, the humidity in the room is stable and it is not necessary to detect the humidity in detail, so the energization interval of the humidity sensor 21 is set to, for example, 6
The long time of 0 sec is set to reduce the energization time of the humidity sensor 21. For this reason, since the energization integration time of the humidity sensor 21 is reduced, it is possible to suppress a change with time of the humidity sensor 21 over a long period of time and maintain the predetermined detection accuracy for a long period of time.

[0043]

As described above, the first invention of the present application is
Under humidity conditions where it is not necessary to detect the humidity in the air in detail by the humidity sensor, the energization stop time to suspend the energization to this humidity sensor is extended more than the energization stop time to detect the humidity in detail with the humidity sensor. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a change with time of the humidity sensor due to long-term use and maintain the predetermined detection accuracy for a long time.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the humidity sensor is arranged on the downstream side of the air cleaner, the humidity sensor allows ventilation of clean air that has been cleaned up to minute dust by the air cleaner. It is possible to significantly reduce the deterioration of the detection accuracy of the dust that adheres to the sensor element of the humidity sensor and accumulates over a long period of time. Therefore, the humidity sensor can maintain its predetermined detection accuracy for a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a time chart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the air conditioner according to the first invention of the present application shown in FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of an embodiment of the air conditioner according to the first and second inventions of the present application.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of main parts of the indoor unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the first invention of the present application.

5 is a schematic side view of a main part for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the first invention of the present application.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of a conventional air conditioner.

9 is a schematic side view for explaining the operation of the conventional example of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Air Conditioner 12 Indoor Unit 13 Front Panel 14 Rear Plates 15a, 15b Pair of Air Filters 17 Air Purifier 18 Indoor Heat Exchanger 20 Cross Flow Fan 21 Humidity Sensor 22 Temperature Sensor 23 Microcomputer Box 24 Power Supply Circuit 25 Interval Timer 26 Humidity Electric conversion circuit 27 Micro computer 28 Humidity range judgment circuit 29 Humidity change amount judgment circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A humidity sensor for detecting humidity in air,
In an air conditioner having an energizing means for intermittently energizing the humidity sensor with an energization rest time, the energizing means, when the detection value detected by the humidity sensor is outside a predetermined humidity range, When the detected value is within a predetermined humidity range and the amount of fluctuation per predetermined time is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the energization suspension time is controlled to be longer than the energization suspension time at other times. An air conditioner having a time control means. 2. A humidity sensor for detecting humidity in air,
An air conditioner in which an air cleaner for purifying air is built in an air conditioner main body, wherein the humidity sensor is arranged on the downstream side of the air cleaner.