JPH0735399A - Air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an air conditioning apparatus capable of easily changing over control details in response to the installation conditions of an indoor machine under the operation conditions of the indoor machine. CONSTITUTION:An indoor machine controller receiving an operation instruction of an operation condition set value writes the information on the instruction in a nonvolatile memory 18, and decides a control method on the basis of the set value stored in and transmitted from the nonvolatile memory 18. If the setting has been completed as a result of the decision, the controller controls the operation following the details of the set value, but if the transmitted set value has not yet been set, the controller controls the operation following the set value of a DIP switch 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner capable of switching the control contents only by an operation from a remote controller when the control contents of the indoor unit controller are switched and adjusted according to the installation condition of the indoor unit. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when an indoor unit is installed, a predetermined part of the installed room (mainly within a range of 2 m from a floor which is a living space for humans) can be controlled to a comfortable air volume and temperature. It is necessary to switch the control contents such as the air flow rate and the shift value of the suction temperature determination value according to the installation situation.

Conventionally, an air conditioner as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has been proposed for performing such adjustment. FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of the air conditioner, and FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an indoor unit controller of the conventional air conditioner. In the figure, 1 is a microprocessor that controls an indoor unit controller, 2 is a transmission I / F that is connected to a transmission line and that communicates with a remote controller or an outdoor unit, and 3 is a DIP switch that sets switching of control contents, Reference numeral 4 denotes a phase control output circuit for receiving the output from the microprocessor 1 and controlling the rotation speed of the fan 5, and 6 denotes the microprocessor 1
An expansion valve control output circuit for controlling the opening of the expansion valve 7 by receiving the output from the intake valve, an intake temperature input circuit 8 for taking in the intake temperature sensor 9 serving as a control reference, and an intake circuit 10 for taking in the pipe temperature sensor 11 A pipe temperature input circuit, 12 is an indoor unit installed on the ceiling for air conditioning of each room, 13 is an indoor unit controller installed in the indoor unit for controlling the indoor unit 12, 14 is the indoor unit controller 13 and the transmission line 1
A remote controller connected by 5 for operating and displaying operation contents, 16 is installed outdoors, an outdoor unit that supplies a refrigerant to the indoor unit 12, 17 is installed inside the outdoor unit 16, and is a compressor or an outdoor fan. It is an outdoor unit controller for controlling.

In the conventional indoor unit controller 17, when the ceiling on which the indoor unit 12 is installed is high and the amount of air near the floor is insufficient, the amount of air blown is made larger than usual, or is generated near the floor and near the ceiling during heating. When the temperature control is performed by a value obtained by subtracting a constant temperature from the suction temperature detected by the indoor unit 12 so that the temperature near the floor can be controlled to a target temperature in consideration of the temperature difference in advance, the DIP on the substrate 17 of the indoor unit controller 17
The control content was selected by inputting a switch.

[0005]

Since the conventional indoor unit controller of the air conditioner is configured as described above, if the control content needs to be changed due to a change in the indoor environment or an error in the initial setting, The DIP switch setting value of the indoor unit controller installed on the ceiling had to be manipulated, and the change operation was difficult. In addition, there is a problem that it is impossible to make fine grain settings because adjustments cannot be made while actually operating the indoor unit.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and provides an air conditioner capable of easily switching control contents according to the installation condition of an indoor unit while the indoor unit is operating. To do.

[0007]

An air conditioner according to the present invention comprises an indoor unit installed near the ceiling for air conditioning, an indoor unit controller for controlling the indoor unit, an indoor unit controller and a transmission means. A means is provided that includes a connected remote controller and a switching means for switching the control content of the indoor unit controller based on the setting content set by the remote controller. Further, the indoor unit installed near the ceiling for air conditioning, the indoor unit controller for controlling the indoor unit, the remote controller connected to the indoor unit controller by a transmission unit, and the indoor unit controller to switch control contents At this time, there is provided a switching means for selecting and switching either the setting content set in the remote controller or the setting content set by the content setting switch installed in the indoor unit controller.

Further, an indoor unit installed near the ceiling for air conditioning, an indoor unit controller for controlling the indoor unit,
A remote controller connected to the indoor unit controller by a transmission unit; a determination unit for determining the control content of the indoor unit; and a changing unit for changing the control content during operation of the indoor unit based on the determination result by the determination unit. I took measures to prepare. Also, an indoor unit installed near the ceiling for air conditioning, an indoor unit controller for controlling the indoor unit, a remote controller connected to the indoor unit controller by a transmission unit, and a control content of the indoor unit are determined. Judging means, changing means for changing the control contents during operation of the indoor unit based on the judgment result by the judging means, and trial operation for selectively changing the control contents by the judging means and changing means only during trial operation adjustment A means for providing adjustment switching means was taken.

[0009]

In the air conditioner according to the present invention, the switching means switches the control contents in the indoor unit controller based on the setting contents set by the remote controller. When switching the control content in the indoor unit controller, either the setting content set by the remote controller or the setting content set by the content setting switch installed in the indoor unit controller is selected and switched.

Further, the control means is changed by the changing means during the operation of the indoor unit based on the result of the judgment by the judging means.
Further, the changing means changes the control contents during the operation of the indoor unit based on the judgment result by the judging means. The change of the control contents by the judging means and the changing means is selected only by the trial operation adjustment switching means by the trial operation adjustment switching means. To be effective.

[0011]

【Example】

Example 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an indoor unit controller in one embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1
Is a microprocessor for controlling the indoor unit controller, 2 is a transmission I / F for communicating with a remote controller or an outdoor unit connected to a transmission line, 3 is a DIP switch for setting switching of control contents, and 18 is transmission The non-volatile memory for storing the switching set value of the control content set by 4 is a phase control output circuit for receiving the output from the microprocessor 1 and controlling the rotation speed of the fan 5, and 6 is the output from the microprocessor 1. An expansion valve control output circuit for receiving and controlling the opening of the expansion valve 7, an intake temperature input circuit 8 for taking in an intake temperature sensor 9 serving as a control reference, 1
Reference numeral 0 is a pipe temperature input circuit for taking in the pipe temperature sensor 11. In addition, the indoor unit 12 and the remote controller 1
4. The layout of the outdoor unit 16 and the like is the same as in the conventional example.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the remote controller 14 used in the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, 19 is a display unit that displays the operating state, set temperature, current suction temperature, etc. in the normal mode and displays the set control contents in the operating state adjustment mode, 20 is an operating switch, and 21 is a normal mode. An operation unit for switching the operation mode of the air conditioner in the mode and setting the target temperature, and for operating the switching of the control content in the operation state adjustment mode,
Reference numeral 22 denotes a DIP switch for switching the mode of the remote controller 14 to the normal mode, the operating state adjustment mode, or the like. The operation unit 21 corresponds to the switching means. The remote controller 14 operates as a normal remote controller when the DIP switch is in the normal mode, but when the DIP switch operates in the operation state adjustment mode, the current operation state set value is displayed on the display unit. Normally, the operating switch that is operated when setting the target temperature or changing the mode is changed, and the remote controller 14 reports this information to the indoor unit controller 13 by transmission.

Next, the operation of the indoor unit controller of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of a part for determining the control value of the suction temperature by the program stored in the memory in the microprocessor 1 for controlling the indoor unit controller 13.

The indoor unit controller 1 that has received a command to change the operating state set value from the remote controller 14
3 stores the information in the non-volatile memory 18. Next, the operation will be described by taking the case where the indoor unit controller 13 determines the suction temperature used for control as an example. First, step S1
In 7, the suction temperature input circuit 8 inputs the suction temperature. Next, it is determined whether or not heating is in progress (step S
18) Since the suction temperature does not need to be shifted except during heating, temperature control is performed according to the input suction temperature. (Step S22). If heating is in progress, first, determination is made based on the set value by transmission stored in the non-volatile memory 18 (step S19), and if the result of the determination is that the suction temperature is shifted, it is shifted from the input suction temperature. The temperature is controlled by the value obtained by subtracting the value (step S21), and if the temperature is not shifted, the temperature is controlled by the input suction temperature. If the set value by transmission is not set, the DIP switch 22
Is determined according to the set value of (step S20),
As a result of the determination, if the suction temperature is set to be shifted, the temperature is controlled by a value obtained by subtracting the shift value from the input suction temperature (step S21), and if the temperature is not shifted. , Temperature control is performed according to the input suction temperature. Similarly, when determining the control value of the air flow rate, first, the control value of the air flow rate is determined according to the set value of the transmission stored in the nonvolatile memory 18, and if it is not set, the set value of the DIP switch 22 is set. The air flow rate control value is determined in accordance with. As described above, since the adjustment of the indoor unit controller 13 can be switched by the remote controller 14, the adjustment can be performed without directly operating the setting switch inside the indoor unit controller 13 installed on the ceiling, and the installation trial run At the time of initial setting, it is possible to easily respond to a setting error, a secular change, or a request to change the setting mode.

Example 2. In the above embodiment, an example in which the operating condition is adjusted by a wired remote controller has been described, but the adjustment is performed by using a wireless remote controller or connecting a dedicated operating condition adjusting device on the transmission line. It is also possible to do so.

Embodiment 3. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the indoor unit controller 13 in one embodiment according to the present invention.
In the figure, 23 is a trial run adjustment switching means, 24 is an operation stop determination means, 25 is a cooling / heating determination means, 26 is an expansion valve fixed time control means, 27 is a control content optimum determination means, 28 is an expansion valve initial set value storage means, 29 is a control content changing means, 30
Is an expansion valve initial value storage means, 31 is an expansion valve initial opening-fan phase control table conversion correspondence means, 32 is a fan phase control table, and 33 is a fan phase control means. In addition,
The control content optimum determining means 27 corresponds to the determining means, and the control content changing means 29 corresponds to the changing means. The optimum change control of the expansion valve initial opening degree during the cooling operation will be described as the control content with reference to FIG.

The indoor unit 12 powered on in step S71 sets the expansion valve initial opening degree to a predetermined value in step S72, and proceeds to step S73. Operation /
If it is determined to be stopped, step S73 is repeated,
If it is driving, the process proceeds to step S74. In step S74, it is determined whether the operation state is normal operation or test operation. Then, in the case of normal operation, the process returns to step S73, and in the case of test operation, the process proceeds to step S75. In step S75, it is determined whether the operation is started or continued, and if it is started, step S7 is performed.
6, and if it is the continuation time, the process proceeds to step S84. In step S76, the number of continuous expansion valve opening operations and the maximum number of continuous expansion valve opening operations are compared. If the number of continuous expansion valve opening operations is greater, the processing proceeds to step S77, and if not, the processing proceeds to step S78. In step S77, the maximum number of continuous expansion valve opening operations is substituted for the maximum number of continuous expansion valve opening operations, and the process proceeds to step S78. In step S78, the number of continuous expansion valve closing operations and the maximum number of continuous expansion valve closing operations are compared. If the number of continuous expansion valve closing operations is greater, the process proceeds to step S79, and if not, the process proceeds to step S80. In step S80, the maximum number of continuous expansion valve closing operations is compared with the maximum number of continuous expansion valve closing operations. If the maximum number of continuous expansion valve opening operations is greater than or equal to, the process proceeds to step S81, and if not, the process proceeds to step S82. In step S81, the expansion valve initial opening degree is decreased by a predetermined change value, and the process proceeds to step S83. In step S82, the expansion valve initial opening is increased by a predetermined change value, and the process proceeds to step S83. In step S83, the maximum expansion valve opening operation continuous number, the maximum expansion valve closing operation continuous number, the expansion valve opening operation continuous number, the expansion valve closing operation continuous number, and the previous expansion valve change are cleared to 0, respectively, and the process proceeds to step S84.

In step S84, the expansion valve is controlled to open / close according to a predetermined algorithm, and the process proceeds to step S85. In step S85, it is determined whether the expansion valve is open / closed in the control in step S84, and if changed, the process proceeds to step S99.
Otherwise, it proceeds to step S86. Step S86
Then, it is determined whether the expansion valve is open / closed in the control in step S84. If it is open, the process proceeds to step S87, and if not, the process proceeds to step S93. In step S87, it is determined whether or not the previous expansion valve change = 1 (open). If yes, the process proceeds to step S88, and if not, the process proceeds to step S89. In step S88, the number of continuous expansion valve opening operations is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to step S92. In step S89, the number of continuous expansion valve closing operations and the maximum number of continuous expansion valve closing operations are compared. If the number of continuous expansion valve closing operations is greater, the process proceeds to step S90, otherwise the process proceeds to step S92. In step S90, the number of continuous expansion valve closing operations is substituted for the maximum number of continuous expansion valve closing operations, and the process proceeds to step S91. In step S91, the number of continuous expansion valve closing operations is cleared to 0, and the flow advances to step S92. In step S92, the previous expansion valve change is set to 1 (open), and the process proceeds to step S99. In step S93, it is determined whether or not the previous expansion valve change = 2 (closed). If yes, the process proceeds to step S94, and if not, the process proceeds to step S95. In step S94, the number of continuous expansion valve closing operations is incremented by +1.
Then, the process proceeds to step S98. In step S95, the number of continuous expansion valve opening operations and the maximum number of continuous expansion valve opening operations are compared,
If the number of continuous expansion valve opening operations is larger, step S96.
Otherwise, to step S98. Step S
At 96, the number of continuous expansion valve opening operations is substituted for the maximum number of continuous expansion valve opening operations, and the process proceeds to step S97. Step S97
Then, the number of continuous expansion valve opening operations is cleared to 0, and step S9 is performed.
Go to 8. In step S98, the previous expansion valve change is set to 2
(Closed), and the process proceeds to step S99. In step S99, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has passed in order to manage the timed control of the expansion valve for each predetermined time. In this way, each time operation starts,
Since the expansion valve initial opening is obtained in step 81 or step S82, by repeating this, the optimality of the expansion valve initial opening gradually increases.

A method of selecting the fan phase control table based on the expansion valve initial opening thus obtained will be described with reference to FIG. Generally, there is a relationship between the stable opening degree of the expansion valve and the optimum air volume of the fan as shown in Fig. 6 for each indoor unit model. Therefore, if a table corresponding to this figure is provided, the optimum expansion valve initial opening degree The optimum fan phase control table can be selected from (≈ stable opening).

Further, in the above description according to the first and second embodiments,
Although the optimization of the initial opening of the expansion valve during the cooling operation has been described, it goes without saying that the initial opening of the expansion valve can be similarly optimized during the heating operation. Further, since there is a relationship between the expansion valve initial opening degree during the cooling operation and the expansion valve initial opening degree during the heating operation as shown in the schematic diagram 7, the optimum expansion of either cooling or heating is shown from this relationship. If the initial valve opening is known, the other can be easily calculated.

In the above description of the first and second embodiments, the case where it is used for the adjustment in the installed state in the indoor unit has been described, but it goes without saying that it can also be used for performing the initial setting at the time of shipment at the factory. Absent.

[0022]

In the air conditioner configured as described above, the adjustment according to the installation condition of the indoor unit controller can be switched by the remote controller through the transmission line, so that the indoor unit controller installed on the ceiling can be adjusted. Adjustments can be made without directly operating the internal setting switches, and the effect of eliminating the hassle of changing settings can be obtained. Further, when there is no setting content set in the remote controller, a switching means for switching the control content according to the setting content set by the content setting switch installed in the indoor unit controller is provided. A system using a simple remote control can also be used.

Further, since the control contents can be changed during operation by the judging means and the changing means, adjustment can be performed in an actually operating state, and it becomes possible to operate with more optimal control contents. Also, when the air-conditioning load fluctuation is large, the optimum value does not change and is not determined every time, so by limiting this optimization control to the trial run, it is possible to selectively switch between the optimum value and a stable sub-optimal value. Therefore, the operating condition can be appropriately selected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an indoor unit controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the indoor unit controller in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an indoor unit controller in a third embodiment corresponding to claims 3 and 4 according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart in a third embodiment corresponding to claims 3 and 4 according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a correlation diagram between an expansion valve initial opening degree and a fan phase control table in a third embodiment according to claims 3 and 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a correlation diagram between an initial opening degree of the expansion valve during cooling and an initial opening degree of the expansion valve during heating in the third embodiment corresponding to claims 3 and 4 according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioner.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an indoor unit controller of a conventional air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Microprocessor 2 Transmission I / F 3 DIP switch 12 Indoor unit 13 Indoor unit controller 14 Remote controller 15 Transmission line 16 Outdoor unit 17 Outdoor unit controller 18 Non-volatile memory 21 Operation part 22 DIP switch 23 Test run adjustment switching means 24 Operation stop judgment Means 25 Cooling / Warming judging means 26 Expansion valve constant-time controlling means 27 Control content optimum judging means 28 Expansion valve initial set value storage means 29 Control content changing means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An indoor unit installed near a ceiling for air conditioning, an indoor unit controller for controlling the indoor unit, a remote controller connected to the indoor unit controller by a transmission means, and set by the remote controller. An air conditioner comprising: switching means for switching the control content of the indoor unit controller based on the set content. 2. An indoor unit installed near the ceiling for air conditioning, an indoor unit controller for controlling the indoor unit, a remote controller connected to the indoor unit controller by a transmission means, and control by the indoor unit controller. When the contents are switched, a switching means is provided for selecting and switching either the setting contents set in the remote controller or the setting contents set by the contents setting switch installed in the indoor unit controller. Air conditioner. 3. An indoor unit installed near a ceiling for air conditioning, an indoor unit controller for controlling the indoor unit, a remote controller connected to the indoor unit controller by a transmission unit, and control contents of the indoor unit. An air conditioner comprising: a determination unit that determines whether the control unit changes the control content during operation of the indoor unit based on a determination result by the determination unit. 4. An indoor unit installed near the ceiling for air conditioning, an indoor unit controller for controlling the indoor unit, a remote controller connected to the indoor unit controller by a transmission unit, and control contents of the indoor unit. Determination means, change means for changing the control content during operation of the indoor unit based on the determination result by the determination means, and selectively changing the control content by the determination means and the change means only during trial operation adjustment An air conditioner characterized by being provided with a trial operation adjustment switching means.