JPH1183112A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To put the desired region within on air-conditioned room efficiently in comfortable ambient condition. SOLUTION: When the mode is set to physical sensation mode, an air conditioner checks whether or not receives the temperature signal sent out from a main remote controller and also whether receives from a sub controller or not (steps 210-214). Here, when it has not received the temperature signal from the sub remote controller, this performs usual control based on the room temperature detected with the room temperature sensor of an indoor unit, or sets the mode to usual physical sensation mode using the main remote controller (steps 216 and 218). When receiving the temperature signals from the main and sub remote controllers, the multicontrol using the main remote controller and the sub remote controller is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner for controlling the air in a room to be air-conditioned provided with an indoor unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Air conditioners (hereinafter referred to as "air conditioners").
Air-conditioned air is blown into the room to be air-conditioned by passing through a heat exchanger of an indoor unit (indoor unit) provided in the room to be air-conditioned to blow air into the room to be air-conditioned. ing.

In such an air conditioner, a temperature sensor is provided in a remote control switch for operating the air conditioner, and this temperature sensor is mainly used (temperature sensor provided in the remote control sensor).
The air-conditioning control is performed so that the temperature detected by the above becomes the set temperature, so that the surroundings of a person in the room to be air-conditioned become the set temperature. That is, the remote control switch is operated by a person in the room to be air-conditioned, and the temperature of the remote control switch is close to the sensed temperature of the person in the room to be air-conditioned. Therefore, by setting the temperature detected by the temperature sensor of the remote control switch as the set temperature, it is felt that the room to be air-conditioned is in a comfortable air-conditioning state.

[0004] The installation position of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is as follows.
A position where the conditioned air can be blown out to the whole area of the room to be air-conditioned is preferable, whereby the whole area of the room can be put into a comfortable air-conditioning state.

[0005] In recent years, the room to be air-conditioned by the air conditioner has been increasing in size, and its shape has also been diversified, for example, it has been formed into an L-shape or the like. On the other hand, the mounting position of the indoor unit needs to avoid windows, doors, beams, and the like, and is often restricted. Therefore, in order to uniformly air-condition the entire area of a large room with one indoor unit, an air conditioner having a high air-conditioning capacity is required.

However, from the viewpoint of energy saving, it is not preferable to uniformly air-condition the entire area of a large room to be air-conditioned. In other words, even if the room to be air-conditioned is large, the space where people are present is often limited, and air-conditioning the entire area of the large room to be air-conditioned will allow temperature-controlled air to reach spaces where there are no people. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the air conditioning capacity.

[0007] Considering such energy saving during air conditioning,
It is preferable to mainly air-condition the space where people are.
For this reason, the indoor unit is installed so as to air-condition an area where a person stays for the longest time.

When an indoor unit is mounted so as to mainly air-condition an area where a person stays in a large room for a long time, the indoor unit is not located at a position (for example, a central portion) where the entire area of the large room can be seen. It will be attached to the area where people are long (or the area where people are always present).

However, even when such an indoor unit is installed in such a manner, it is sometimes necessary to air-condition the entire large room or air-condition an area other than the area to which the indoor unit is directed. At this time, even if the air-conditioning operation is performed in the same manner as when air-conditioning is performed only in an area where people are often present, the indoor units are not necessarily installed. It was not possible to reach a comfortable temperature in an area other than the area in which it was located.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to efficiently air-condition a desired area in a room to be air-conditioned by a single indoor unit to a comfortable temperature. The purpose is to propose an air conditioner that can do it.

[0011]

The invention according to claim 1 is
An air conditioner that air-conditions an air-conditioned room provided with an indoor unit by conditioned air blown from an outlet of the indoor unit, and includes an internal temperature detection unit provided in the indoor unit, and a range in which the conditioned air is blown from the outlet. Changing means for changing between the time of air-conditioning of the first area and the time of air-conditioning of the first area and the second area in the room to be air-conditioned, and first temperature detecting means for detecting the room temperature of the first area. A second temperature detecting means for detecting a room temperature in the second area, and the internal temperature detecting means when the air-conditioning air blowing range is switched to the first and second areas by the changing means. Air-conditioning control means for air-conditioning the room to be air-conditioned based on the detection results of the first and second temperature detecting means.

According to this invention, when air-conditioning the first and second areas in the room to be air-conditioned, the internal temperature detecting means provided in the indoor unit and the first temperature detecting means provided in the first area And the second temperature detecting means provided in the second area to control the operating capacity.

When the first area is air-conditioned, air conditioning is performed using the internal temperature detecting means or the first temperature detecting means and the internal temperature detecting means provided in the first area. When air-conditioning the area No. 2, only the internal temperature detecting means and the first temperature detecting means can detect only a part of the temperature of the air-conditioning area.

On the other hand, a second temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the second area is separately provided in the second area, and the second temperature detecting means is also used, whereby the air conditioning area is provided. Can be made uniform. Further, by arranging a plurality of temperature detecting means in the area to be air-conditioned, the area to be air-conditioned can be efficiently and comfortably put into an air-conditioned state.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the first temperature detecting means is provided in a remote control switch used for setting operating conditions including a set temperature.

According to the present invention, the first temperature detecting means is provided in the remote control switch for setting the operating condition. The remote control switch for setting these operating conditions
It is mainly used in air-conditioned areas in indoor units. That is, the first area is an area where normal air conditioning is performed, and the second area is an area where air conditioning is performed as needed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the blowing range of the blown air is changed to the first and second regions by the changing means, the air conditioning control means controls the first temperature detecting means. The detection result of the second temperature detecting means is used only when the detection result of (1) is input.

According to this invention, when air-conditioning the first area and the second area, the room temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means is input as the room temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means. Use only occasionally. That is, the first
When the room temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means is not input, the control of the air conditioning capacity using the room temperature is not performed even if the room temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means is input.

Since the indoor unit is usually mounted so as to mainly air-condition the first area, even if the first and second areas are air-conditioned under the same conditions, the air-conditioning efficiency of the second area is low. . At this time, if the first area is air-conditioned based on the room temperature of the second area, the first area may not be properly air-conditioned. That is, the first region is excessively cooled during cooling or excessively heated during heating.

On the other hand, if the first temperature detecting means does not detect an appropriate temperature when air-conditioning the first area and the second area, the temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means may be reduced. By not using, it is possible to prevent the first area from becoming in an appropriate air-conditioning state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the second temperature detecting means includes a human detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a person in the second area, and the changing means detects a detection result of the human detecting means. The air-conditioning air blowing range is changed based on

According to the present invention, air conditioning is performed so that the second area is comfortable only when the person detecting means detects that a person is present at the position where the second detecting means is attached.

Thus, it is possible to prevent unnecessary air conditioning in a state where no person is present in the area where the second detecting means is attached, and it is possible to achieve efficient air conditioning and energy saving.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 2 shows a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as "air conditioner 10") to which the present invention is applied. The air conditioner 10 includes an indoor unit 12 installed in a room to be air-conditioned and an outdoor unit 14 installed outside the room. The indoor unit 12 and the outdoor unit 14 have a thick refrigerant pipe 16A for circulating a refrigerant.
And a thin-tube refrigerant pipe 16B.

The indoor unit 12 is provided with a heat exchanger 18, and one end of each of the refrigerant pipes 16A and 16B is connected to the heat exchanger 18. The other end of the refrigerant pipe 16A is connected to a valve 20A of the outdoor unit 14. This valve 20A has a muffler 22A
Is connected to the four-way valve 24 via the. This four-way valve 24
Is connected to the compressor 26 via the accumulator 28 and via the muffler 22B.

Further, the outdoor unit 14 is provided with a heat exchanger 30. One end of the heat exchanger 30 is connected to the four-way valve 24 and the other end is connected to the capillary tube 32.
Valve 20 via strainer 34 and modulator 38
B. An electric expansion valve 36 is provided between the strainer 34 and the modulator 38, and the other end of the refrigerant pipe 16B is connected to the valve 20B.
Thereby, a closed circulation path of the refrigerant forming a refrigeration cycle is formed between the indoor unit 12 and the outdoor unit 14.

The air conditioner 10 can perform a cooling or heating operation by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle by operating the compressor 26.

That is, in the cooling mode, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 26 is supplied to the heat exchanger 30 to be liquefied, and the liquefied refrigerant is vaporized by the heat exchanger 18 of the indoor unit 12. The air passing through the heat exchanger 18 is cooled. In the heating mode, on the contrary, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 26 radiates heat by being condensed in the heat exchanger 18 of the indoor unit 12, and the air passing through the heat exchanger 18 by the heat radiated by the refrigerant. Is heated.

In FIG. 1, arrows indicate heating operation (heating mode) and cooling operation (cooling mode or dry mode) as indicated by arrows.
The operation mode is switched between a cooling mode (including a dry mode) and a heating mode by switching the four-way valve 24, and the valve opening degree of the electric expansion valve 36 is controlled to evaporate the refrigerant. The temperature is adjusted. Note that the present invention can be applied to an air conditioner having an arbitrary configuration, and the air conditioner 10 shows one example.

As shown in FIG. 3, the indoor unit 12
The heat exchanger 18 is provided in a casing 42 in which an inlet 48 and an outlet 50 are formed. The casing 42 is fixed to a wall or the like in a room by a base plate 40.

In the casing 42, the heat exchanger 18
A cross flow fan 44 and a filter 46 are arranged between the suction port 48 and the suction port 48, and the air in the room is sucked into the casing 42 by the operation of the cross flow fan 44,
After passing through the filter 46 and the heat exchanger 18, the air is blown into the room from the air outlet 50. At this time, the air blown into the room passes through the heat exchanger 18 so that heat is exchanged with the refrigerant circulated in the heat exchanger 18, resulting in temperature-controlled air for air-conditioning the room. .

The outlet 50 of the indoor unit 12 is provided with upper and lower flaps 54 together with left and right flaps 52.
The direction of the conditioned air (temperature-controlled air) blown out from the outlet 50 can be changed. That is,
The air blown into the room from the outlet 50 is changed in the vertical direction by the upper and lower flaps 54.
The left and right flaps 52 change the direction of the air blown from the outlet 50 along the left-right direction (horizontal direction). The air conditioner 10 can arbitrarily change the direction of the air blown from the outlet 50 by the upper and lower flaps 54 and the left and right flaps 52.

As shown in FIG. 4, the indoor unit 12
Is provided with a power supply board 56, a control board 58, and a power relay board 60. On a power supply board 56 to which electric power for operating the air conditioner 10 is supplied, a motor power supply 62, a control circuit power supply 64, a serial power supply 66, and a drive circuit 68 are provided. The control board 58 is provided with a serial circuit 70, a drive circuit 72, and a microcomputer 74.

The drive circuit 68 of the power supply board 56 is connected to a fan motor 76 (for example, a DC brushless motor) for driving the cross flow fan 44, and receives a control signal from a microcomputer 74 provided on the control board 58. Drive power is supplied from the motor power supply 62 accordingly. At this time, the microcomputer 74 controls so that the output voltage from the drive circuit 68 is changed in a range of 12 V to 36 V in 256 steps. Thus, the amount of the conditioned air blown out from the outlet 50 of the indoor unit 12 is adjusted.

The drive circuit 72 of the control board 58 is connected to a power relay board 60, a left and right flap motor 77 for operating the left and right flaps 52, and an upper and lower flap motor 78 for operating the upper and lower flaps 54. The power relay board 60 is provided with a power relay 80, a temperature fuse, and the like. The power relay 80 is operated by a signal from the microcomputer 74 to open and close a contact 80A for supplying power to the outdoor unit 14. Air conditioner 1
0 indicates that power can be supplied to the outdoor unit 14 by closing the contact 80A.

The left and right flap motors 77 and 78 are controlled according to control signals from the microcomputer 74 to operate the left and right flaps 52 and the upper and lower flaps 54, respectively. By swinging the left and right flaps 52 in the left and right direction, the blowing direction of air (conditioned air) blown out from the outlet 50 is changed in the left and right direction, and the upper and lower flaps 54 are swung in the vertical direction, thereby changing the indoor unit. The blowing direction of the air (air-conditioned air) blown out from the 12 blowing ports 50 is changed in the vertical direction. The operation of the left and right flaps 52 and the upper and lower flaps 54 can be fixed so that the blowing wind is directed in an arbitrary direction, and can be set so that the wind direction changes randomly.

In the indoor unit 12 of the air conditioner 10, the rotation of the cross flow fan 44 and the operation of the left and right flaps 52 and the upper and lower flaps 54 are controlled, so that a desired air volume and a desired air direction or a comfortable room can be obtained. The air conditioned at the controlled air volume and direction is blown into the room.

As shown in FIG. 9, the left and right flaps 52 are controlled so as to change the wind direction within a range of an angle θ ₀ (total angle 2θ ₀ ) around the front of the indoor unit 12 in the left and right direction. You. The angle 2θ ₀ is, for example, 100 ° to 100 ° in contrast to the conventional range of about 90 °.
It is set to be as wide as 120 °.

As shown in FIG. 4, a serial circuit 70 connected to the microcomputer 74 and the serial power supply 66 of the power supply circuit 56 is connected to the outdoor unit 14.
The microcomputer 74 performs serial communication with the outdoor unit 14 via the serial circuit 70, and controls the operation of the outdoor unit 14.

The indoor unit 12 is provided with a display circuit 82 having a receiving circuit for receiving an operation signal from the remote control switch 120 (see FIG. 1), a display LED for operation display, and the like. The board 82 is the microcomputer 7
4 is connected. As shown in FIG. 1, a display section 82A of the display board 82 is disposed on the front surface of the casing 42, and the display section 82A includes a remote control switch 120
A receiving unit for receiving an operation signal transmitted from the control unit. Thereby, the remote control switch 120 is set to the display unit 8.
By operating toward 2A, the remote control switch 1
An operation signal from 20 is input to the microcomputer 74.

As shown in FIG. 4, the microcomputer 74 includes a room temperature sensor 84 for detecting the room temperature and the heat exchanger 1.
8, a heat exchange temperature sensor 86 for detecting the coil temperature is connected, and further, a service LED provided on the control board 58 and an operation changeover switch 88 are connected. The operation changeover switch 88 switches between “normal operation” and “test operation” performed at the time of maintenance or the like, and “stop” that opens the contact of the power switch 88A and shuts off supply of operation power to the air conditioner 10. Can be Normally, the operation changeover switch 88 is set to "normal operation" and the contact of the power switch 88A is closed. The service LED is turned on during maintenance,
The service person is notified of the self-diagnosis result.

The indoor unit 12 includes an outdoor unit 14
A terminal block 90 is provided to which wiring is connected. Terminals 90A, 90B, 90 of this terminal block 90
To C, wiring for power supply from the indoor unit 12 to the outdoor unit 14 and wiring for performing serial communication between the indoor unit 12 and the outdoor unit 14 are connected.

As shown in FIG. 5, the outdoor unit 14
Is provided with a terminal block 92, and terminals 92A, 92B, 92C of the terminal block 92 are connected to terminals 90A, 90B, 9 of the terminal block 90 of the indoor unit 12, respectively.
0C.

The outdoor unit 14 includes a rectifying board 9
4. A control board 96 is provided. The control board 96 includes a microcomputer 98 and a noise filter 10.
0A, 100B, and 100C, a serial circuit 102, a switching power supply 104, and the like are provided.

The rectifying board 94 has a noise filter 100
The power supplied via A is double-voltage rectified, and the smoothed DC power is output to the switching power supply 104 via the noise filters 100B and 100C. The switching power supply 104 is connected to an inverter circuit 106 together with the microcomputer 98, and the inverter circuit 106 is connected to a compressor motor 108. Inverter circuit 1
Reference numeral 06 outputs electric power having a frequency corresponding to the control signal output from the microcomputer 98 to the compressor motor 108, and drives the compressor 26 to rotate.

The microcomputer 98 is connected to the inverter circuit 1
The frequency of the power output from 06 is off or 14Hz
The control is performed so as to be in the range described above (the upper limit is determined by the upper limit of the operating current).
08, that is, the rotation speed of the compressor 26 is changed,
The operating capacity of the compressor 26 (the cooling / heating capacity of the air conditioner 10) is controlled.

The control board 96 includes a four-way valve 2
4 and a fan motor 110 for driving a blower fan (not shown) for cooling the heat exchanger 30 and a fan motor condenser 110A. The outdoor unit 14 has an outside air temperature sensor 11 for detecting an outside air temperature.
2. A coil temperature sensor 114 for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant coil of the heat exchanger 30 and a compressor temperature sensor 116 for detecting the temperature of the compressor 26 are provided, and these are connected to the microcomputer 98.

The microcomputer 98 switches the four-way valve 24 in accordance with the operation mode, controls the control signal from the indoor unit 12, the outside air temperature sensor 112, and the coil temperature sensor 11.
4, and controls the on / off of the fan motor 110, the operating frequency of the compressor motor 108 (the capacity of the compressor 26), and the like based on the detection results of the compressor temperature sensor 116 and the compressor temperature sensor 116.

A motor 118 for driving the electric expansion valve 36 to open and close is connected to the control board 96. The microcomputer 98 controls the opening of the electric expansion valve 36 by the motor 118.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a remote control switch 120 for operating the air conditioner 10.
(Hereinafter, referred to as “main remote controller”). The main remote controller 120 is provided with a display unit 122. The display unit 122 displays operating conditions for operating the air conditioner 10, such as an operating mode, a set temperature, a room temperature (room temperature), and time, as well as a wind direction and an air volume.

The main remote controller 120 has a driving /
Stop button 124, temperature setting buttons 126A, 126B
In addition, a sensation button 128 and a wind direction button 130 are provided. The air conditioner 10 has a run / stop button 124
Is operated / stopped by the operation of. Further, the set temperature (target temperature for air conditioning) displayed on the display unit 122 can be changed by the temperature setting buttons 126A and 126B.

The main remote controller 120 is provided with a temperature sensor (not shown) inside. The main remote controller 120 measures the room temperature around the main remote controller 120 and sends it to the indoor unit 12. . Also, a temperature sensor is provided in a sub remote controller 140 described later, so that the room temperature around the sub remote controller 140 can be measured and transmitted to the indoor unit 12. The microcomputer 74 of the indoor unit 12 includes a room temperature sensor 84 provided in the indoor unit 12 and the main remote controller 12.
0 and the sub remote controller 140 can detect the indoor temperature.

The bodily sensation button 128 is used to switch a temperature sensor for measuring room temperature.
Is operated, the normal mode in which the room temperature is measured using the room temperature sensor 84 of the indoor unit 12, the main remote controller 120 (normal experience mode) or the main remote controller 120 and the sub remote controller 140 in addition to the room temperature sensor 84.
The mode can be switched to the experience mode in which the room temperature is measured using (multiple experience mode).

By operating the wind direction button 130,
An automatic mode in which the left and right flaps 52 are automatically swung within a preset range is selected. Further, by operating the wind direction button 130, the left and right flaps 52 can be fixed to any position.

In this embodiment, the left and right flaps 52 are fixed at an arbitrary position in the non-automatic mode. However, the swing range is arbitrarily selected and the swing is performed within the selected swing range. Is also good. That is, the center position when swinging the left and right flaps 52 may be selected by the wind direction button 130.

The main remote controller 120 is provided with a slide cover 130.
By the slide operation, the operation panel 132 having various operation buttons is exposed.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the operation mode of the air conditioner 10 is set to automatic, heating, dry, cooling, air purifying, or the like by operating the operation switching button 136 of the operation panel 132 hidden in the slide cover 134. The order is switched to drying. Further, by operating a switch in the operation panel 132, it is possible to switch the amount of air blown from the outlet 50 and the wind direction (vertical direction), and it is also possible to select the air conditioning capacity such as high power and capacity saving. . Further, a timer setting such as an operation start time and an operation stop time can be set by operating a switch on the operation panel 132.

The main remote controller 120 sends an operation signal corresponding to the operation content to the display unit 82A of the indoor unit 12 and sends the indoor temperature detected by the temperature sensor every time each operation button is operated. I do.
Further, the main remote controller 120 sends out this room temperature at regular time intervals regardless of the operation of the operation button.

The air conditioner 10 can perform an air conditioning operation based on the room temperature detected and sent by the main remote controller 120. That is, the main remote controller 120
By operating in the main area of the room air-conditioned by the air conditioner 10, the air-conditioning state (mainly temperature) of this main area can be detected, and the air-conditioning operation is performed so that the temperature detected by the main remote controller 120 becomes the set temperature. Will be

As shown in FIG. 1, display unit 82A of air conditioner 10 also receives a signal from a remote control sensor switch (hereinafter referred to as "sub remote control 140") provided separately from main remote control 120. It has become.

FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B show an outline of the sub remote controller 140. FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the sub remote controller 140
A human detection unit 144 and a position setting switch 146 are provided together with a temperature detection unit 142 that detects a temperature around the device and outputs a signal (for example, a voltage) corresponding to the detected temperature. It is connected to the. The conversion unit 148 is connected to the communication unit 150.

The human detection section 144 is provided with a human detection sensor 152 having a pyroelectric element for detecting far infrared rays collected by the Fresnel lens. 8 (A) and 8
As shown in (B), this human detection sensor 152
The dome cover 154 is disposed in a hemispherical dome cover 154 provided at the center of the sub remote controller 140, and detects surrounding infrared rays transmitted through the dome cover 154.

As shown in FIG. 7, the human detection sensor 152 is connected to a detection circuit 156. The human detection unit 144 determines whether there is a change in the far infrared ray detected by the detection circuit
This is a general human detection configuration for detecting the presence or absence of a person around 0.

The detection circuit 156 includes the sensitivity adjuster 1
58 are connected. As shown in FIG.
The sub-remote controller 140 is provided with an adjustment knob 158A for the sensitivity adjuster 158, and this adjustment knob 158A
Thereby, the sensitivity of the human detection sensor 152, that is, the detection distance can be adjusted.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, by sliding the slide cover 140A of the sub remote controller 140 downward, the position setting switch 1 is turned on.
46 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the position setting switch 146 sets the operation knob 146A to “right” in accordance with the position of the indoor unit 12 with respect to the sub remote controller 140.
The slide operation is performed to three display positions of "middle" and "left". Note that the adjustment knob 158 described above is used.
A is also normally hidden by the slide cover 140A.

The conversion unit 148 converts input signals from the temperature detection unit 142, the human detection unit 144, and the position setting switch 146 based on a predetermined code, and outputs the converted signals to the communication unit 150. .

Communication unit 150 transmits the signal output from conversion unit 148 to indoor unit 12. Also,
As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the sub remote controller 140 is provided with a power switch 160 for turning on / off the sub remote controller 140. Communication unit 150
Is operated by turning on the power switch 160.
An ON signal is transmitted, and a signal is transmitted according to inputs from the temperature detection unit 142, the human detection unit 144, and the position setting switch 146.

The sub remote controller 140 is connected to the power switch 16
When 0 is turned on, measurement of the room temperature by the temperature detection unit 142 and detection of the presence or absence of a person by the human detection unit 144 are performed. Position setting switch 14 together with the measured room temperature
6 sends the position signal set.

On the other hand, the microcomputer 74 of the indoor unit 12
When the automatic mode is selected by operating the wind direction button 130 of the main remote controller 120, the sub remote controller 14 is controlled based on the position setting signal from the sub remote controller 140.
The initial position is set by determining the position of “0”, and the left and right flaps 52 are swung within a predetermined range around the initial position. Also, the microcomputer 74 of the indoor unit 12
When the signal indicating that a person has been detected is stopped from the sub remote controller 140, the swing of the left and right flaps 52 centered on the initial position is stopped, and the signal indicating that the person has been detected is again input to the initial position. The swing of the left and right flaps 52 centered on is resumed. At this time, the microcomputer 74 operates the experience button 12 of the main remote controller 120.
When the device 8 is operated to be in the bodily sensation mode, the temperature and air volume of the conditioned air are controlled using the room temperature sent from the sub remote controller 140.

As shown in FIG. 10, the indoor unit 12 of the air conditioner 10 is
It is attached so as to blow out the conditioned air toward the main area 162A inside. The left and right flaps 52 are provided with air-conditioning air blown out from the outlets 50 in the main area 162A.
The direction is set so as to face (for example, by operating the wind direction button 130 of the main remote controller 120). That is, the indoor unit 12 is mounted with the front faced toward the main area 162A in the room to be air-conditioned, and is normally operated such that the main area 162A is in a comfortable air-conditioning state.

The sub remote controller 140 is attached to an area (hereinafter, referred to as “sub area 162B”) where air conditioning is to be performed at a position different from the main area 162A in the room 162 to be air conditioned.

As shown in FIG. 9, the air conditioner 10
Normally, the direction of the conditioned air blown by the left and right flaps 52 is such that the front of the indoor unit 12 is at an initial position (hereinafter referred to as “initial position C”), and the left and right flaps 52 are angled around the initial position C. θ
Swing left and right in the range of ₀ (for example, 50 ° left and right)
Swing in the range). When the position setting switch 146 of the sub remote controller 140 is set to “medium”, the left and right flaps 52 are similarly swung about the initial position C.

On the other hand, when the position setting switch 146 of the sub remote controller 140 is set to “left” or “right”, the initial positions R and L of the indoor unit 12 are respectively set to the angle θ.
_R and θ _L , and swing left and right within a range of an angle θ ₁ (for example, about 30 °). That is, the swing of the left and right flaps 52 is deviated rightward or leftward by the position setting switch 146 of the sub remote controller 140.

When the left and right flaps 52 are swung by a signal from the sub remote controller 140, the amount of air blown out from the outlet 50 is increased, whereby air conditioning is performed on the sub area 162B indicated by the sub remote controller 140. Make sure the wind reaches.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described below. In the air conditioner 10, when the operation / stop operation is performed in a state set to one of the cooling operation, the dry operation, the heating operation, and the like by the switch operation of the main remote controller 120, the operation in the set operation mode is started.

When the air conditioner 10 is operated to start the air conditioning operation, the set temperature and the room temperature are measured, and based on the measurement results, the operating frequency of the compressor 26, the air volume (the number of rotations of the cross flow fan) and the like are determined. The air conditioning operation is performed based on the setting result.

In the outdoor unit 14, the four-way valve 24 is switched according to the set operation mode. For example, when the cooling mode or the dry mode is set, the compressor 2
The refrigerant compressed by 6 is supplied to the heat exchanger 30 of the outdoor unit 14. Thereby, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 26 is liquefied by passing through the heat exchanger 30, and the liquefied refrigerant is supplied to the heat exchanger 18 of the indoor unit 12. The refrigerant supplied to the heat exchanger 18 of the indoor unit 12 evaporates when passing through the heat exchanger 18 and cools the air passing through the heat exchanger 18.

On the other hand, during the heating operation, the compressor 26
The four-way valve 24 is switched so that the high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the above is supplied to the heat exchanger 18 of the indoor unit 12. Thereby, when the high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor 26 is liquefied in the heat exchanger 18, the air passing through the heat exchanger 18 is heated. The room heated by the air heated by the heat exchanger 18 is blown out from the outlet 50 into the room.

In the air conditioner 10, the directions (or swing ranges) of the left and right flaps 52 are normally set so that the conditioned air is blown toward the main area 162 A, and the room temperature is detected by the room temperature sensor 84 of the indoor unit 12. Although the measurement is being performed, when the bodily sensation button 128 of the main remote controller 120 is operated, the air conditioning operation is performed in the bodily sensation mode using the room temperature measured by the main remote controller 120 in addition to the room temperature measured by the room temperature sensor 84. At this time, when the sub remote control 140 is turned on and receiving the room temperature measured by the temperature detection unit 142 of the sub remote control 140, the air conditioning is performed based on the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 84, the main remote control 120, and the sub remote control 140, respectively. Driving is performed in a multi-feeling mode for driving. The bodily sensation mode can be executed at the time of automatic operation in which the wind direction and the air volume such as cooling, heating, and dry are automatically set, and the wind direction (mainly the wind direction by the left and right flaps 52) is set to the automatic mode (wind direction button 130). May be set).

FIG. 11 shows an outline of the operation of sub remote controller 140. In the sub remote controller 140, when the power switch 160 is turned on, the temperature detection unit 142 starts measuring the room temperature around the sub remote controller 140, and the human detection sensor 152 detects the presence or absence of a human.

The detection of the presence or absence of a person is set to be unattended if the person detection sensor 152 is not turned on for a predetermined time or more (for example, 15 minutes).
If continues to detect people, it is set to manned.

On the other hand, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, when the power switch 160 is turned on, the sub remote controller 140 determines the position of the position setting switch 146 and the temperature detecting unit 14 in the first step 200.
Send out the room temperature measured in 2. At the same time, in the next step 202, a timer for measuring an interval for transmitting a signal is reset / started.

In the next step 204, it is confirmed whether or not the time measured by the timer has reached a predetermined time.
When the predetermined time has been reached (a positive determination in step 204), the process proceeds to step 206, and it is confirmed whether or not the human detection unit 144 has determined to be a person (set as a person).

Here, when the person is judged to be manned, an affirmative judgment is made in step 206 and the routine proceeds to step 200. Thereby, a predetermined interval (for example, time t
Every ₂ to about 10 minutes), the sub remote controller 140 surrounding the sub remote controller 140 at room temperature is sent.

When the setting is set to unattended (negative determination in step 206), the apparatus is in a standby state until the person detecting section 144 detects a person around the sub remote controller 140. An affirmative determination is made in step 200, and the execution of this flowchart is restarted.

On the other hand, the air conditioner 10
When the signal for shifting to the experience mode is input from 20, the experience mode using the room temperature detected by the sub remote controller 140 is executed. The flowchart of FIG. 12 shows an outline of a routine for switching to the bodily sensation mode.

This flowchart is based on the main remote controller 1
The operation is executed when the operation is started by operating the run / stop button 124 of 20. In the first step 210, it is confirmed whether or not the operation mode is set. If the main remote control 120 has been set to the bodily sensation mode during the previous operation, the main remote controller 120 stores this setting, and
When the driving operation is performed, an operation signal indicating the setting to the bodily sensation mode is transmitted.

If the mode is not set to the sensation mode (negative determination in step 210), step 212
Then, the normal control using only the room temperature measured by the room temperature sensor 84 provided in the indoor unit 12 is set. Note that, for this normal control, various conventionally known methods can be used, and a detailed description is omitted in the present embodiment.

On the other hand, when the mode is set to the bodily sensation mode (Yes at step 210), it is confirmed at step 212 whether or not the room temperature is transmitted from the main remote controller 120, and at step 214, the room temperature is transmitted from the sub remote controller 140. Check if it is done. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the room temperature for executing the bodily sensation mode is transmitted from each of the main remote controller 120 and the sub remote controller 140.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show flowcharts for making the determination in steps 212 and 214. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 13A, in the operation determination routine of the main remote controller 120, it is determined in the first step 230 whether or not the temperature signal transmitted from the main remote controller 120 has been received. When the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 232, where the main remote controller 120
Is operating as a temperature sensor.

Thereafter, in step 234, the temperature based on the received temperature signal is set as the room temperature _trtp detected by the main remote controller 120, and
The process goes to 36 to reset / start the timer.

In the next step 238, it is checked whether or not the timer has expired. In step 240, it is checked whether or not a temperature signal to be transmitted from the main remote controller 120 at regular intervals has been received. I do.

If the temperature signal sent from main remote controller 120 is received before the timer expires (negative determination in step 238, affirmative determination in step 240), the process proceeds to step 234 and receives the signal. The room temperature _trtp is updated based on the temperature signal. On the other hand, when the timer times out before receiving the temperature signal transmitted from main remote controller 120 (Yes in step 238), the process proceeds to step 242 and determines that main remote controller 120 is not operating as a temperature sensor. judge.

The time measured by the timer is t ₁ × 3 + β (for example, when t ₁ is about 5 minutes and β is about 2 minutes, with respect to time t ₁ , which is the interval at which the main remote controller 120 transmits the temperature signal. About 17 minutes) and the main remote control 120
When the transmission of the temperature signal from is stopped three times in a row or when the signal cannot be received, it is determined to stop using the main remote controller 120 as a temperature sensor.

As shown in FIG. 13B, in the operation determination routine of sub remote controller 140, it is determined in the first step 250 whether or not the temperature signal transmitted from sub remote controller 140 has been received. If the answer is YES, the process proceeds to step 252, where
Is operating as a temperature sensor.

Thereafter, at step 254, the temperature based on the received temperature signal is set as the room temperature t _rts detected by the sub remote controller 140, and at step 25
Then, the process goes to 6 to reset / start the timer.

In the next step 258, it is checked whether or not the timer has timed out. In step 260, it is checked whether or not a temperature signal to be transmitted from the sub remote controller 140 at regular intervals has been received. I do.

Here, when the temperature signal transmitted from sub remote controller 140 is received before the timer expires (negative determination in step 258, affirmative determination in step 260), the process proceeds to step 254, and the room temperature t Update _rts .

On the other hand, if the timer has timed out before receiving the temperature signal sent from sub remote controller 140 (YES at step 258), the routine proceeds to step 262, where sub remote controller 140 operates as a temperature sensor. It is determined that it has not been done.

Note that the measurement time of the timer is t ₂ × 2 + β (approximately 22 minutes when t ₂ is approximately 10 minutes) with respect to time t ₂ which is the interval at which the sub remote controller 140 transmits the temperature signal.
When the transmission of the temperature signal from the sub remote controller 140 is stopped twice consecutively or when the transmission is not possible, it is determined that the use of the sub remote controller 140 as the temperature sensor is stopped.

On the basis of this determination result, in the flowchart shown in FIG.
When 0 is in a state where operation as a temperature sensor is stopped, a negative determination is made in step 212 and
Move to. Thus, in the air conditioner 10, the air conditioning control using only the room temperature sensor 84 of the indoor unit 12 is performed.

When only the main remote controller 120 can be used as a temperature sensor, an affirmative determination is made in step 212 and a negative determination is made in step 214. Set. Note that a conventionally known method can also be used for the bodily sensation mode, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, if it is determined that both the main remote controller 120 and the sub remote controller 140 are operating properly (Yes at Steps 212 and 214), the process proceeds to Step 220 to set the multi-body experience mode. .

[0107] When a position setting signal (a signal corresponding to the operation position of the position setting switch 146) is input from the sub remote controller 140 to the left and right flaps 52, the initial position is changed according to this signal. Swing is performed in a swing range according to the position. Thus, the main area 162A and the sub area 16 are controlled by the air-conditioning air blown out from the outlet 50 of the indoor unit 12.
2B can be air-conditioned (see FIG. 10).

Thereafter, the flow shifts to step 222, and waits for a predetermined time (for example, about 5 minutes).
Move to. Note that when the bodily sensation mode is canceled during the standby at step 222, the normal mode is set (move to step 216).

[0109] When set to multi-sensory mode in this manner, the microcomputer 74 performs air conditioning control using a room temperature t _rts measured by RT t _rtp and the sub remote controller 140 as measured by the main remote controller 120.

In the multi-body experience mode, the left and right sides of the air-conditioned air blown out from the outlet 50 are controlled so that the room temperature _trtp and the room temperature _trts substantially match (for example, the temperature difference is within 1 ° C). The flap 52 is swung at a predetermined speed. In this case, by correcting, based mainly on the room temperature t _rtp and room temperature t _rts the set temperature, the sub-area 162B of sensible temperature and the sub remote controller 140 in the main area 162A of the main remote controller 120 is placed is attached The sensible temperatures are substantially matched, and the inside of the air-conditioned room 162 is air-conditioned to a comfortable room temperature.

[0111] The multi-bodied mode is the main remote control 12
By 0 and the sub remote controller 140 in a state of being continued at room temperature t _rtp, measurement of t _rts, temperature approximately identical to the state (e.g., deviation of the set temperature and the room temperature t _rtp measured by the main remote controller 120 is within 1 ° C ) along with continues for a predetermined time, is set in a state where the temperature of the room t _rtp room temperature t _rts becomes within a predetermined range, at least at room temperature t _rtp
And the room temperature t _rts is reset when the temperature exceeds a predetermined range.

In sub remote controller 140, human detection sensor 152 detects the presence or absence of a person in sub area 162B at fixed intervals.
When the person no longer detects the person, the blowing of the conditioned air toward the sub area 162B is stopped. At the same time, when the signal from the sub remote controller 140 is stopped or a signal indicating stop is transmitted, the initial positions of the left and right flaps 52 are returned, and the air conditioner is returned to the air conditioning centered on the main area 162A. As a result, the sub-area 16 without people
Unnecessary air conditioning of 2B can be prevented.

As described above, in the air conditioner 10, the sub remote controller 140 for setting a predetermined area of the room to be air conditioned 162 in which the indoor unit 12 is provided is provided, and the blowing air is blown toward the position set by the sub remote controller 140. By deviating, the air conditioning can be intensively performed so that a specific area in the room to be air-conditioned 162 is in a comfortable air-conditioning state.

As a result, it is possible to efficiently air-condition only a desired area or the entire area of a large room to be air-conditioned to be comfortable, so that it is possible to save energy when the air-conditioned room 162 is air-conditioned by the air conditioner 10.

In the present embodiment, one main remote controller 120 and one sub remote controller 140 have been described for one indoor unit 12.
A plurality of units 40 may be provided. Thus, a large room can be divided into a large number of areas, and only a specific area among them can be efficiently air-conditioned.

In the present embodiment, the main remote controller 120 and the sub remote controller 1 each having different functions are provided.
Although 40 is used, a remote control switch having both functions may be used. That is, the main remote controller 120 may have the position setting function of the sub remote controller 140, and may further have the human detection function and the on / off function of the remote control switch.

Thus, a specific area in the room to be air-conditioned set by the remote control switch can be maintained in a desired air-conditioning state.

The embodiments described above do not limit the configuration of the present invention. INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention is applicable to the air conditioner of an arbitrary structure which air-conditions the air-conditioned room in which an indoor unit is provided.

[0119]

As described above, according to the present invention, the room is air-conditioned based on the respective detected temperatures of the plurality of external temperature detecting means, so that the external temperature detecting means is arranged at a desired position in the room to be air-conditioned. Then, each of the plurality of areas where the external detection means is arranged can be set to a desired air-conditioning state. As a result, it is not necessary to air-condition the entire area of the room to be air-conditioned unnecessarily, so that efficient air-conditioning can be performed, and energy can be saved when air-conditioning the room to be air-conditioned by the air conditioner. The effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an indoor unit and a remote control switch applied to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner applied to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the inside of the indoor unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a substrate in the indoor unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a ban on an outdoor unit.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic plan views each showing a main remote controller, where FIG. 6A shows a state where a slide cover is opened, and FIG. 6B shows a state where the slide cover is closed. .

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sub remote controller according to the present invention.

8A and 8B are schematic plan views each showing a sub remote controller according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 8A shows a state where a slide cover is opened, and FIG. 8B shows a state where the slide cover is closed. Is shown.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a swing area of left and right flaps of an indoor unit with respect to a position designated by a sub remote controller.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a region in which air-conditioning air is blown from an indoor unit, and shows a state where both a main area and a sub-area are air-conditioned.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the sub remote controller.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a transition to a bodily sensation mode.

13A is a flowchart illustrating an example of determining whether a main remote controller is operating, and FIG. 13B is a flowchart illustrating an example of determining whether a sub remote controller is operating.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 air conditioner (air conditioner) 12 indoor unit 14 outdoor unit 18 heat exchanger 26 compressor 50 outlet 52 left and right flap (change means) 74 microcomputer (air conditioning control means, change means) 77 left and right flap motor (change means) 82 display board 84 room temperature sensor (internal temperature detecting means) 120 main remote controller (first temperature detecting means) 128 bodily sensation button 140 sub remote controller (second temperature detecting means) 142 temperature detecting section 144 human detecting section (human detecting means) 146 position setting Switch 150 Communication unit 152 Person detection sensor (person detection means) 160 Power switch 162 Room to be conditioned 162A Main area (first area) 162B Sub area (second area)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kanai 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Harutaka Minano 2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka 5-5-5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshimitsu Nakajima 2-5-5 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner for air-conditioning a room to be air-conditioned provided with an indoor unit by air-conditioning air blown from an outlet of the indoor unit, comprising: an internal temperature detecting means provided in the indoor unit; Changing means for changing the range in which the wind is blown between the time of air conditioning of the first area and the time of air conditioning of the first area and the second area in the room to be air-conditioned;
First temperature detecting means for detecting the room temperature in the first area, second temperature detecting means for detecting the room temperature in the second area, and air conditioning of the first and second areas by the changing means. Air-conditioning control means for air-conditioning the room to be air-conditioned based on detection results of the internal temperature detection means and the first and second temperature detection means when a wind blowing range is switched;
An air conditioner comprising: 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature detecting means is provided on a remote control switch used for setting operating conditions including a set temperature. 3. The air-conditioning control unit receives a detection result of the first temperature detecting unit when the blowing range of the blowing air is changed to the first and second regions by the changing unit. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the detection result of the second temperature detection unit is used only when the air conditioner is operating. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second temperature detecting means includes a person detecting means for detecting presence or absence of a person in said second area, and said changing means detects an air-conditioning wind based on a detection result of said person detecting means. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a blowing range is changed.