JPH083382B2 - Control device for air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for an air conditioner that is preferably used when controlling a large number of indoor units with a single centralized control device.

2. Description of the Related Art In a factory or a building, a plurality of indoor units are arranged in each room or each place, and a technology of commonly controlling them using a centralized control device is used. As one of such techniques, a so-called centralized control method is used in which individual operations of each indoor unit are centrally controlled using a centralized control device. As another control method, for example, a plurality of indoor units are cascade-connected, only one of them is provided with a remote control device as a master unit, and all the indoor units cascade-connected to each other have a common mode. A controlled group control scheme is also used.

When both of these methods are used together, the centralized control device can individually specify this not only in the master unit but also in the slave unit and transmit the command. As such a conventional example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
62-280538. In this conventional example, when the transmitting side (unit A) transmits data, the same data is transmitted twice. Then, the side receiving this data (unit B) checks whether the data sent twice match, and sends the result as a confirmation signal.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart simply showing the operation of such a conventional example. In step a1 of FIG. 7, the above-mentioned centralized control device issues an operation / stop instruction to an arbitrary indoor unit, and in step a2 a command is transmitted to the indoor unit. At step a3, the indoor unit that has received the command returns a confirmation signal and executes the command. In step a4, the number of operation / stop indicators installed in the central control device corresponding to the indoor unit is turned on / off in response to such a confirmation signal.

That is, when the confirmation signal indicates the start of operation, the indicator light is turned on, and when it is stopped, the indicator light is turned off.
Such a confirmation signal is given from the above-mentioned base unit.
On the other hand, when the centralized control device transmits such an operation / stop command to the child device, it does not cause a contradiction with the group control method by the remote operation device connected to the parent device in the child device. It is configured to reject the command regarding the air conditioning operation from the central control device. When such an operation instruction is given to the child device, the child device returns a confirmation signal indicating that the instruction is incompatible. The indicator lamp of the centralized control device is once turned off by such a confirmation signal, but when the child device is actually operating, the operation display data is sent from the child device, so it is turned on again.

In the conventional technology as described above, when the centralized control device transmits an operation command related to the air conditioning operation to the indoor unit and the target indoor unit is a slave unit, the centralized control device. There is a problem that the operation / stop indicator light provided in the above will blink, and it is not possible for the operator to confirm whether the indoor unit is in the operating or stopped state. In addition, since the display mode can be switched by turning on / off the operation / stop indicator light by using the confirmation signal for the operation command, when the number of indoor units is relatively large, the responsiveness is relatively poor and the operation is prompt. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to confirm.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above technical problems and to provide a control device for an air conditioner that is excellent in operability.

Means for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, at least one of a plurality of indoor units 12 is provided with a remote control device 16 to 18 as a master unit 19, and the indoor unit 12 connected to the master unit 19 is a slave unit 20. , The air conditioning operation is controlled in the same operation mode as the parent device 19, each parent device 19 is individually connected to the central control device 21, and can be operated / stopped by the central control device 21,
In the controller of the air conditioner in which each slave unit 20 cannot be operated / stopped by the centralized control device 21, the centralized control device 21 includes an individual operation / stop operation switch 35 for each indoor unit 12 and each indoor unit 12. An operating / stop status indicator light 36 for displaying the operating / stop status of each of the indoor units 12 is provided, and first identification information for mutually identifying each indoor unit 12,
A storage means 48 for storing a pair of second identification information for identifying the master unit 19 and the slave unit 20 is provided, and when the operation / stop operation switch 35 is operated, the second unit corresponding to the indoor unit 12 to be operated is provided. Read the identification information and
In the case of 19, the operation command is sent and the display of the operation / stop status indicator lamp 36 is switched at the same time, and the switched display is held until the operation status of the master unit 19 is switched, and in the case of the slave unit 20, the operation is performed. The control device for an air conditioner is characterized in that no command is transmitted.

Operation According to the present invention, the indoor unit 12 is separately connected to the central control device 21 and is divided into a master unit provided with the remote control devices 16 to 18 and a slave unit 20 connected to the master unit 19. To be The master device 19 can be operated / stopped by the centralized control device 21, and the slave device 20 cannot be operated / stopped by the centralized control device 21. Central control device 21
Is an individual operation / stop operation switch for each indoor unit 12 (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as individual operation key) 35 and each indoor unit
It has a run / stop status indicator lamp 36 for displaying according to the individual run / stop status of each 12 and also has first identification information for mutually identifying each indoor unit 12, a master unit 19 and a slave unit 20. Second to identify
A storage means 48 for storing a pair with the identification information is provided. When the centralized control device 21 operates the operation / stop operation switch 35 corresponding to any indoor unit 12, the centralized control device 21 forms a pair with the first identification information corresponding to the indoor unit 12 to be operated. The second identification information is read out and the indoor unit 12 is the master unit.
In the case of 19, the operation command generated with the operation of the operation switch 35 is sent and at the same time the operation / stop status indicator light
The display of 36 is switched, and the switched display is held until the operating state of the master device 19 is switched. Also, the indoor unit 12 is a slave unit.
In the case of 20, the operation command generated with the operation of the operation switch 35 is not transmitted. Therefore, when the operation command is sent to the master device 19, it is possible to quickly turn on / off the operation / stop status indicator lamp 36, and to prevent the operation command from being sent to the slave device 20. You can As a result, it is possible to prevent the situation where the operation / stop status indicator lamp 36 blinks undesirably.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a configuration example of an air conditioner 11 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an air conditioner
11 has a plurality of (10 in this embodiment) indoor units 12, and these indoor units 12 are, for example, 6 units, 3 units, and 1 unit.
It is divided into three groups 13, 14 and 15, respectively. Remote operation devices (hereinafter, referred to as remote controllers) 16, 17 and 18 are connected to the single indoor unit 12 in each of the groups 13 to 15. An indoor unit to which the remote controls 16-18 are connected in this way
The device 12 is hereinafter referred to as a master device 19. Base unit within each group 13-15
The indoor unit 12 different from 19 is referred to as a slave unit 20.

A series of numbers U0, U1, ..., U9 is assigned to each indoor unit 12. This allocation work is performed using, for example, a DIP switch or the like provided in each indoor unit 12, and hereinafter this number is referred to as a unit number. On the other hand, the indoor units 12 divided into groups 13 to 15 are given a series of numbers G0, G1, ... Within each group. Such a number is hereinafter referred to as a group number. In this embodiment, the group number G0 is given to the parent device 19. The method of giving the group number to the remaining slave units 20 is arbitrary.

As shown in FIG. 1, indoor units 12 within the same group
Are continuously connected to each other, and the parent devices 19 of the groups 13 to 15 are individually connected to the central control device 21. This embodiment is the first
Remote controllers 16-18 for a plurality of indoor units 12 as shown
Each group 13 ~ in the indoor unit 12 in the group 13 ~ 15 using
In addition to performing group control that performs common operations for each 15,
The centralized control device 21 also intends to perform individualized centralized control for each group.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the centralized control device 21. The centralized control device 21 has a function (hereinafter, referred to as a weekly timer function) capable of setting a start time and an end time for one week, for example, and time data set under this function, etc. Displays weekly timer display area 22
Is provided. Also, a group number display section 23 for displaying serial numbers given to the groups connected to the centralized control device 21.
And a group number selection button 24 in which the displayed group number is updated by a pressing operation.

The above-mentioned weekly timer function can be set for each group, and the weekly timer operating section 25 for performing such setting operation, and the operation code for operating each indoor unit 12 in a predetermined operation mode are provided. A driving operation code key 26 for inputting, an inspection key 27, and an abnormality code memory clear key 28 are provided.

Further, a temperature setting key 29 for setting the operating temperature of each indoor unit 12, the operation key 30, an operation key 31 for switching the operation mode between the air conditioning operation and the air blowing operation, and a filter reset key 32. And are placed. Further, an operating state display section 33 for displaying operating states such as operating device codes and set temperatures set for each of the groups 13 to 15 and a filter sign display section 34 are provided by such various keys.

Also, for example, a maximum of 16 connected to this central control device 21
16 individual operation keys corresponding to each indoor unit 12 35
And a status indicator that is an operation / stop status indicator that displays the individual operation / stop status of each indoor unit 12 in the on / off status.
36 are provided. An individual setting unit 37 for setting a driving operation in such an individual operation of each indoor unit 12 and a collective operation key for collectively starting / stopping all the indoor units 12 connected to the centralized control device 21. 38 and a collective stop key 39 are provided.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the centralized control device 21. The centralized control device 21 includes a transmission control unit 40 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the indoor unit 12, and transmits / receives data via the transmission / reception unit 41. Such a transmission control unit 40 is controlled by a central control unit 42 including, for example, a microprocessor and the like.
42 is a key input section such as various operation keys shown in FIG.
43 and the DIP switch input unit 44 provided in the individual setting unit 37 or the like are connected.

Further, the central control unit 42 includes an LED control unit 45 for controlling lighting / extinction of LEDs (light emitting diodes) such as a filter indicator display unit 34 and a status display lamp 36, a group number display unit 23 and an operation status display unit 33, etc. Liquid crystal display control units 46 and 47 for controlling the display of the liquid crystal display device are connected. In addition, a storage unit 48 including an EEPROM (read-on-write readable / writable memory) or the like is connected to store time data and the like relating to the above-mentioned weekly timer input from the key input unit 43 or the like.

On the other hand, the centralized control device 21 is provided with a separate timer control unit 49 for the weekly timer, and this timer control unit 49 also includes various operation keys such as the weekly timer operation unit 25. The key input unit 50 and the storage unit 48 that stores the timer data and the like are connected to the storage unit 51 having the same configuration, for example. Further, a liquid crystal display control unit 52 for controlling the display of the weekly timer display unit 22 realized by a liquid crystal display device or the like is connected. Further, a clock signal generating unit 53 that generates a clock signal that defines the operation of the timer control unit 49 and the like, and an internal power supply 54 that supplies back-up power at the time of power failure are connected to the clock signal generating unit 53. .

When the air conditioner 11 having the structure shown in the first drawing is installed in, for example, a building, the unit number Ui is set in each indoor unit 12 by using, for example, a DIP switch, as described above. Group number Gj is set. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a process of storing a pair of the unit number Ui and the group number Gj in the centralized control device 21, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of the table 48a configured in the storage unit 48. is there.

In step b1 of FIG.
For example, the unit number Ui is specified by polling in order. In step b2, the indoor unit 12 specified by polling has its own unit number Ui and group number set.
Gj and is sent back to the central control unit 21. At step b3, the centralized control unit 21 determines the unit number Ui in the order of the step b2.
In FIG. 5, a table of data regarding presence / absence of connection depending on presence / absence of reply and discrimination of parent / slave unit depending on reply contents is configured as shown in FIG.

For each unit number Ui of the unit number column 48b of FIG. 5, "1" is given in the "connection" column 48c if it is connected, and "0" is given if it is "not connected". Further, in the "master / slave" column 48d, "1" is given for the master 19 and "0" for the slave 20. In addition, it is possible to select the type of message that can be transmitted depending on whether the main unit / slave unit is selected.
Remembered in 48e. At step b4, it is judged whether or not the polling for all indoor units 12 is completed, and if it is completed, the process proceeds to other processing.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of this embodiment. Referring also to FIG. 2 together, in step c1, it is detected whether or not the individual operation key 35 shown in FIG. 2 is operated,
If this judgment is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step c2, where it is judged whether or not the individual operation key 35 is, for example, the unit number Ui (for example, Ui = Uo). If this determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step c3 to determine whether or not the indoor unit 12 with the unit number Ui is the master unit 19. This judgment is made with reference to the table 48a.

When it is determined that the indoor unit 12 is the master unit 19, the process proceeds to step c4, and it is determined whether or not the status indicator 36 corresponding to the unit number Ui is the operation display. If it is an operation display, it will be switched to stop by the operation of the individual operation key 35, and accordingly, the state indicator lamp 36 is turned off at step c5. This post-processing is the same as the above step.
Return to c1. If the determination at step c2 is negative, the process proceeds to step c6, where the unit number is incremented by +1 and the individual operation key corresponding to this unit number is entered.
It is determined whether the 35 has been operated. After that, the same processing is repeated until the unit number where the individual operation key 35 is operated. On the other hand, if the determination in step c4 is negative, that is, if it is a stop display, the operation is switched to the operation by operating the individual operation key 35, and in step c7 the indicator lamp 36 is turned on.

If the determination at step c3 is negative, that is, if it is determined that Ui is the child device 20, the process proceeds to step c8,
It is determined whether or not the data representing the operating state from the indoor unit 12 can be obtained. This is a slave unit even if the operation switch 35 is operated.
This is because the 20 operating states are not switched. That is, a child machine
Turning on / off of the status display lamp 36 corresponding to 20 depends only on the operation status display data from the indoor unit 12. If the determination at step c8 is affirmative, the status indicator lamp 36 is turned on at step c9, and if not, it is turned off at step c10. After this processing, the process returns to step c1. In this way, depending on whether the indoor unit is the master unit 19 or the slave unit 20, turning on / off of the status indicator lamp 36 when the individual operation key 35 is operated is controlled.

On the other hand, in the normal case where the operation of the individual operation key 35 is not performed, the determination in step c1 is negative, the process proceeds to step c11, and whether the indoor unit 12 of unit number Ui is the master unit 19 is determined. To judge. If this judgment is negative, the process immediately shifts to step c8 and the same process as the above-mentioned process is performed.

If the determination in step c11 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step c.
Moving to 12, it is determined whether or not the display state of the state indicator light 36 of the unit number Ui and the operating state display data from the indoor unit 12 of the unit number Ui match. If the determination in step c12 is negative, the process returns to step c1 and the processes of steps c1, c11 and c12 are repeated until the operation status display data of the master device 19 and the display status of the status indicator light 36 match. If the determination in step c12 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step c8, and the same process as the above-mentioned process is performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the individual operation key 35 is operated, it is determined whether the indoor unit corresponding to the operated individual operation key 35 is the parent device 19 or the child device 20. Base unit
If it is 19, the operation / stop state indicator lamp 36 is switched and displayed at the same time when an operation command is issued, and a prompt display operation is realized. In this case, without the processes of step c11 and step c12, for example, when the master device 19 operates by inputting the individual operation key 35, the central control unit 42 cannot receive the operating status display data during operation from the master device 19. During this time, the indicator light 36 that was lit up is temporarily turned off, and the operating status display data is sent from the master unit 19 to the central control unit.
After the signal is received by 42, the indicator light 36 is turned on again. If the indoor unit 12 corresponding to the operated individual operation key 35 is a slave unit, the operation command is not accepted and the corresponding status indicator lamp 36 is not normally switched. However, for some reason, the slave unit 20 sends the operation status display data different from the status display light 36 to the central control unit 42.
When replying to, lights up according to the display data /
The off state changes. In this way, the usability of the centralized control device 21 is significantly improved.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the operation / stop operation switch 35 corresponding to any indoor unit 12 in the central control device 21 is operated, the central control device 21 determines that the indoor unit 12 to be operated is Whether the master unit 19 or the slave unit 20 is read out, when the indoor unit 12 is the master unit 19, the operation command generated accompanying the operation of the operation switch 35 is transmitted, and at the same time the operation / stop status is displayed. The display of the lamp 36 is switched, and the switched display is held until the operating state of the master device 19 is switched. Further, in the case of the child device 20, the operation command generated with the operation of the operation switch 35 is not transmitted. As a result, it is possible to prevent the operation command from being sent to the child device 20, prevent the operation / stop status indicator light 36 from being turned on or off undesirably, and promptly operate / drive the parent device. The stop state indicator lamp 36 can be switched.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an air conditioner 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a centralized control device 21, and FIG. 3 is a centralized control device.
21 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the initial transmission operation, and FIG. 5 is a table 48a.
6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a typical conventional example. 11 …… Air conditioner, 12 …… Indoor unit, 13 ～ 15 …… Group, 19 …… Main unit, 20 …… Slave unit, 21 …… Centralized control device, 35
...... Individual operation key, 36 ...... Status indicator, 40 ...... Transmission control unit, 42 ...... Central control unit, 48 ...... Storage unit, 48a ...... Table

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. At least one of a plurality of indoor units 12 is provided with a remote control device 16-18 as a master unit 19, and the indoor unit 12 connected to the master unit 19 is a slave unit 20 and is the same as the master unit 19. The air conditioning operation is controlled in the operation mode, each master device 19 is individually connected to the centralized control device 21, and can be operated / stopped by the centralized control device 21,
In the controller of the air conditioner in which each slave unit 20 cannot be operated / stopped by the centralized control device 21, the centralized control device 21 includes an individual operating / stopping device switch 35 for each indoor unit 21 and each indoor unit. An operating / stop status indicator light 36 for displaying the operating / stop status of each of the indoor units 12 is provided, and first identification information for mutually identifying each indoor unit 12,
A storage means 48 for storing a pair of second identification information for identifying the master unit 19 and the slave unit 20 is provided, and when the operation / stop operation switch 35 is operated, the second unit corresponding to the indoor unit 12 to be operated is provided. The identification information is read and the master unit 19
In the case of, the display of the operation / stop status indicator lamp 36 is switched at the same time as the operation command is sent, and the switched display is held until the operating state of the master unit 19 is switched, and in the case of the slave unit 20, the operation command is maintained. A control device for an air conditioner, which is characterized in that no air is sent out.