JPH1183121A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently air-condition the specified region inside a room to be air-conditioned. SOLUTION: When the mode is set to physically sensitive mode and air current control is started, the swing range is set together with initial position (steps 200-204). After that, a main remote controller and a sub remote controller measure the temperature while performing initial swing, left-sided swing, and right-sided swing in order (steps 206-226). When the optimum swing mode for left and right flaps is selected (steps 212, 220, and 228), the air conditioning in the selected swing mode 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. More specifically, the present invention relates to an air conditioner that blows out conditioned air toward a predetermined range along the horizontal direction by reciprocating left and right flaps provided at an outlet.

[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] By the way, the installation position of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is preferably a position where the conditioned air can be blown out to the entire area of the room to be air conditioned, whereby the entire area of the room can be put in 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 perform air conditioning mainly in the area where people are present, and from this, it is conceivable to arrange temperature sensors for each area where people are present and control the air conditioning capacity based on the temperature detected by each temperature sensor.

[0008] However, the indoor unit is provided with left and right flaps as well as upper and lower flaps for controlling the wind direction, all of which swing at a constant speed.

On the other hand, the area to be air-conditioned is not always at the same distance from the indoor unit. Even if the left and right flaps are swung with the range limited toward the area to be air-conditioned, the area to be air-conditioned is It is difficult to make an accurate judgment.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object to propose an air conditioner for efficiently air-conditioning a plurality of areas in which respective temperature sensors are arranged. And

[0011]

The invention according to claim 1 is
An air conditioner that air-conditions a room to be air-conditioned by blowing air-conditioned air toward a predetermined range along a horizontal direction by reciprocating a flap provided at an outlet of an indoor unit in a left-right direction, wherein Storage means for storing a plurality of movement patterns for changing the movement speed of the flap at a predetermined position during reciprocation; temperature detection means arranged at at least two places in the room to be air-conditioned; Selecting means for measuring a temperature detected by the temperature detecting means in each moving pattern while sequentially moving the flaps in a plurality of moving patterns, and selecting a pattern in which a temperature difference between the measured temperatures is reduced. Features.

According to the present invention, a plurality of patterns in which the moving speed is changed at a predetermined position when the flap for changing the wind direction along the horizontal direction is reciprocated are stored.
For each pattern, the temperature is measured by temperature detecting means arranged at least at two places. From this measurement result, the pattern with the smallest temperature difference is selected. By controlling the flaps based on the selected pattern, at least two locations where the temperature detecting means are provided can be set to a desired air-conditioning state.

That is, if the amount of air blown out from the outlet is constant, the air conditioner can be uniformly air-conditioned by moving (swinging) the flap at a constant speed, and the moving speed (swing speed) of the flap can be reduced. By lowering, air conditioning can be performed with emphasis on the direction. From here, the direction of emphasis on the air outlet is stored in place of the flap movement pattern, and the most suitable pattern is selected from the stored movement patterns. Area can be efficiently air-conditioned.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the selecting means includes:
Each of the temperature detecting means determines whether or not the moving pattern is appropriate based on a change in temperature detected for each of the moving patterns.

According to the present invention, the appropriateness of the corresponding moving pattern is determined from the temperature change detected by the temperature detecting means. For example, if the temperature detected by the respective temperature detecting means decreases during heating, the movement pattern can be determined to be inappropriate, and if at least one of the temperatures rises before reaching the set temperature. If so, the movement pattern can be selected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the storage means includes:
It is characterized in that a plurality of reciprocating movement ranges and a movement pattern for each of the movement ranges are stored.

According to the present invention, a plurality of reciprocating movement ranges of the flap are set. That is, the moving range of the flap is the range for air conditioning, and the air conditioning efficiency is reduced in a region outside the moving range of the flap. In other words, by changing the reciprocating range of the flap, the range in which the air conditioning is intensively performed can be set.

By setting a movement pattern for each movement range, air conditioning can be performed by dividing the area into smaller areas.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, one of the temperature detecting means includes a position setting means for setting a relative position with respect to the indoor unit, and the selecting means sets the position according to a position set by the position setting means. The moving range of the flap stored in the storage means is selected.

According to the present invention, at least one of the temperature detecting means is provided with a position setting means for setting a relative position (direction) of an area where the temperature detecting means is arranged with respect to the indoor unit. The movement range of the flap is selected so that the set direction is air-conditioned. This makes it possible to more efficiently air-condition a desired area.

[0021]

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 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 operation or a 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 liquefied by being supplied to the heat exchanger 30, 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 a heating operation (heating mode) and a 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 in accordance with 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 to control the desired air volume and direction or to make the room comfortable. The air conditioned by the 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 in a range of an angle θ ₀ (total angle 2θ ₀ ) in the left and right direction centering on the front of the indoor unit 12. 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 opening and closing the electric expansion valve 36 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.

Also, the main remote controller 120
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) therein. 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,
The direction (wind direction) of the air blown out from the outlet 50 is deflected in the left-right direction based on a signal from the sub remote controller 140.

The main remote controller 120 is provided with a slide cover 134.
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 the operation switching button 136 of the operation panel 132 concealed 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 possible to select the air conditioning capacity such as high power and capacity saving. Further, the operation start time is determined by a switch operation on the operation panel 132,
Timer setting such as operation stop time is possible.

The main remote controller 120 transmits an operation signal corresponding to the operation content to the display section 82A of the indoor unit 12 every time each operation button is operated, and also detects the main remote controller 120 detected by the temperature sensor.
Send out the temperature around. Also, the main remote control 120
Is transmitted at regular time intervals during operation of the air conditioner 10 regardless of the operation of the operation button.

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 schematically show 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 "center" and "left". As shown in FIG. 9, for example, when the relative position of the indoor unit 12 is on the right side toward the sub remote controller 140, the position setting switch 14
6 can be slid to the right. The above-described adjustment knob 158A is also normally hidden by the slide cover 140A.

The conversion section 148 converts input signals from the temperature detection section 142, the human detection section 144, and the position setting switch 146, based on a preset code, and outputs the converted signals to the communication section 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
Is, by a position setting signal from the sub remote controller 140,
The position of the sub remote controller 140 is determined, and the left and right flaps 52 are swung so that the conditioned air is blown from the outlet 50 to this position. When the signal indicating that a person has been detected is stopped from the sub remote controller 140, the microcomputer 74 of the indoor unit 12 stops the swing of the left and right flaps 52 and again receives the signal indicating that the person has been detected. With this, the swing of the left and right flaps 52 is started. At this time, when the experience button 128 of the main remote controller 120 is operated and the microcomputer 74 is in the experience 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. That is, the indoor unit 12 is mounted so that the front is directed to the main area in the room to be air-conditioned, and is usually operated so that the main area is in a comfortable air-conditioning state.

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

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 initial position that is the center of the left and right flaps 52 when swinging is changed by the position setting switch 146 of the sub remote controller 140, and the swing width is also changed.

The microcomputer 7 provided in the indoor unit 12
4 operates the air-conditioning operation based on the set temperature, the room temperature detected by the main remote controller 120, and the room temperature detected by the sub remote controller 140 when the sensation button 128 of the main remote controller 120 is operated.

[0072] At this time, the microcomputer 74 is at room temperature T _{rt p} and the sub remote controller 1 for detecting the main remote controller 120
The swing speed of the left and right flaps 52 is changed so that the room temperature T _rts detected by 40 is substantially the same.

Table 1 shows an example of the swing mode of the left and right flaps 52 with respect to the setting of the position setting switch 146 of the sub remote controller 140. The swing speed of the left and right flaps 52 can be changed to three stages of high speed, middle speed and low speed. In the initial swing, the left and right flaps 52 are swung at a constant speed (for example, middle speed to low speed), and the left emphasis and the right With emphasis, the swing speeds on the left and right sides of the initial position toward the indoor unit 12 are lower. The pause stops the swing of the left and right flaps 52 for a certain period of time.

[0074]

[Table 1]

By changing the swing speed of the left and right flaps 52, the amount of air blown from the outlet 50 is changed. That is, as the swing speed of the left and right flaps 52 decreases, the amount of air blown toward the wind direction increases, so that the temperature rises more during heating and decreases more during cooling.

For example, as shown in FIG.
When set at the initial position R, the airflow on the front side (the initial position C side) of the indoor unit 12 is increased by swinging the left and right flaps 52 with emphasis on the right, as shown in FIG. , When set to the initial position L, the air volume directed to the left side of the indoor unit 12 is increased. That is, air conditioning is performed with emphasis on the left side within a predetermined swing width. Further, as shown in FIG. 11C, when the initial swing is performed when the initial position C is set, the conditioned air is blown out to the entire region of the blowout area of the blowout port 50 with a uniform airflow. Will be done.

Since the relative positions of the main remote controller 120 and the sub remote controller 140 with respect to the indoor unit 12 are not clear, the microcomputer 74 measures room temperature or a change in room temperature detected by the main remote controller 120 and the sub remote controller 140 while changing the swing speed. By doing, the optimal swing state of the left and right flaps 52 (swing mode)
Is determined, and the left and right flaps 52 are controlled based on the determination result.

The operation of this 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 room temperature is usually measured by the room temperature sensor 84 of the indoor unit 12.
Is operated, the operation 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 is performed. At this time, the sub remote controller 14
0 is turned on, and the temperature detector 142 of the sub remote controller 140 is turned on.
When receiving the room temperature measured by the
4. An operation in a multi-feeling mode for performing an air-conditioning operation based on the room temperature detected by each of the main remote controller 120 and the sub remote controller 140 is performed. The bodily sensation mode can be executed at the time of automatic operation in which the wind direction and air volume such as cooling, heating, and drying are automatically set.

On the other hand, the microcomputer 74 of the indoor unit 12
Is set to the main remote controller 120 when the experience mode is set.
Room temperature T _rts to be detected as substantially coincide (temperature difference within a predetermined range) is adapted to control the left and right flaps 52 by room temperature T _rtp and the sub remote controller 140 to be detected by. That is, since the approximate positions of the main remote controller 120 and the sub remote controller 140 are known but the exact positions are not clear, the swing speed of the left and right flaps 52 is adjusted to select an optimal swing state. In the present embodiment, the left and right flaps 52 are 5
When the wind direction changes at 2 ° / sec at 0 pps (pulse / sec), the swing is 60 pps at high speed, 30 pps at medium speed, and 15 pps at low speed. I have.

FIG. 12 shows an outline of the air flow control by the left and right flaps 52. In this flowchart, in the first step 200, it is confirmed that the air flow control conditions are satisfied and the air flow control is started (affirmative determination). ) Will be executed after. Note that the airflow control start condition is that the main remote controller 120 and the sub remote controller 140 are at least set to the automatic operation (cooling / heating and dry) and the experience mode.
Are in a state where a room temperature signal is transmitted from each of them.

When the airflow control is started, step 202
Then, the setting state of the position setting switch 146 sent from the sub remote controller 140 is read, and the initial positions of the left and right flaps 52 are set (step 204).

Thus, for example, the setting switch 146
Is set to “right”, the initial position R
(See FIGS. 9 and 11A), and when it is “center”, it is set to the initial position C (see FIGS. 9 and 11C). When the position setting switch 146 is "left", the initial position L is set (see FIGS. 9 and 11B).

Thereafter, at step 206, an initial swing is started. This initial swing is
It is continued for a fixed time (for example, about 10 minutes). In step 208 during the initial swing, a temperature difference determination is performed.

FIG. 13 shows an outline of the temperature difference determination. Note that FIG. 13 shows the time of the heating operation, and the judgment of the temperature change is reversed during the cooling operation.

[0089] In this flowchart, read room temperature T _rtp room temperature T _rts for detecting the swing starting the main remote controller 120 in the first step 240. Thereafter, in step 242, it is confirmed whether or not the swing has been performed for a predetermined time (for example, about 10 minutes), and if the swing has been performed for a predetermined time (affirmative determination), the process proceeds to step 244, and the main remote controller after the swing The room temperature T _rtp and T _rts detected by the sub remote controller 120 and the sub remote controller 140 are read.

Next, in step 246, the temperature difference between the room temperature _Trtp after the swing and the room temperature _Trts is confirmed. Here, if the temperature difference between the room temperature T _rtp and the room temperature T _rts after the swing is within a predetermined range (for example, within 2 ° C.), the sub area 162
Since the sensory temperatures of B and the main area 162A are substantially equal and the continuation of the current swing pattern is possible, an affirmative determination is made in step 246, and the process proceeds to step 248 to continue the current swing pattern. Set (OK determination).

On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 246, the routine proceeds to step 250, where the main remote controller 1
At step 20, the temperature change of the detected room temperature _Trtp is determined.
Here, in this determination, for example, if the temperature difference between the room temperature at the start of the swing and the room temperature at the end of the swing is within a predetermined value (for example, 0.5 ° C.), it is determined that they are the same. It is determined that the temperature is decreasing or increasing.

If the room temperature T _rtp detected by the main remote controller 120 has _fallen , the flow shifts to step 248 to set the current swing pattern to be continued. Also, when the room temperature _Trtp is the same or rising,
The process proceeds to step 252 to check whether or not the room temperature T _rts measured by the sub remote controller 140 has increased. At this time, the room temperature T detected by the sub remote controller 140
_{When rts} is increasing (Yes in step 252)
Then, the process proceeds to step 248 to set the current swing pattern to continue. Also, the sub remote controller 1
If the detected room temperature T _rts is equal to or lower than 40, a negative determination is made in step 252, and the process proceeds to step 254 to change the swing pattern.

On the other hand, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, when the temperature difference determination is completed, the process proceeds to step 210 to confirm the determination result. If it is determined that the current swing pattern is to be continued (OK), the process proceeds to step 210. 212
Then, the initial swing, which is the current swing pattern, is set.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the swing pattern has been changed, a negative determination is made in step 210 and the routine proceeds to step 214. In step 214, a temperature difference determination is performed in which the swing pattern is changed from the initial swing to the left emphasis swing and the swing of the left and right flaps 52 is started (step 216).

Thereafter, when a swing is made for a certain time in a swing mode emphasizing the left for a certain time and the temperature difference is determined,
In step 218, the determination result of the temperature difference determination is confirmed. If it is determined that the current swing pattern is to be continued (Yes in step 218), step 220
Then, the mode is shifted to the left swing mode, which is the current swing pattern.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the swing pattern has been changed, a negative determination is made in step 218, and the process proceeds to step 222. In this step 222, a right emphasis swing is started, and a temperature difference is determined by the right emphasis swing (step 224). As a result, when it is determined that the swing mode is to be continued (Yes in step 226), the process proceeds to step 228, and the swing mode of the left and right flaps 52 is set to the right emphasis.

On the other hand, even if the right emphasis swing is performed, it is determined that the swing pattern has been changed (negative determination in step 226).
If so, the process proceeds to step 230 to check whether or not to change the position of the upper and lower flaps 54.

In the automatic operation of the air conditioner 10 during cooling and heating,
Since the upper and lower flaps 54 are stopped (fixed) at predetermined positions, when the stop position of the upper and lower flaps 54 is changed, for example, by one step, an affirmative determination is made in step 230. Thereby, for example, at the time of heating, the upper and lower flaps 54 directed downward are directed upward by one stage, and
The initial swing of 06 starts.

When the change of the upper and lower flaps 54 is not performed, or when the change of the upper and lower flaps 54 is completed (negative determination in step 230), the process proceeds to step 232 to set the initial swing. The set swing mode of the left and right flaps 52 is adjusted again when a temperature change occurs or when a predetermined time has elapsed after the initial swing is set in step 232. Also,
The set swing mode of the left and right flaps 52 is released by releasing the bodily sensation mode, stopping the sub remote controller 140 (stopping room temperature measurement), and the like.

As described above, by changing the swing mode of the left and right flaps, it is possible to selectively select and set the air conditioning area.
0 can be set by selecting the wind direction or the swing state of the left and right flaps 52 for optimizing the main area 162A and the sub area 162B in the air-conditioned room 162 even if the position of the sub remote controller 140 is not clear. As a result, efficient air conditioning can be achieved.

On the other hand, in sub-remote control 140, human detection sensor 152 detects the presence or absence of a person in sub-area 162B at regular intervals. 16
Since the control of the left and right flaps 52 for air-conditioning both the 2A and the sub-area 162B is released, it is possible to prevent unnecessary air-conditioning of the sub-area 162B having no people.

As described above, by using the air conditioner 10 to air-condition the inside of the room to be air-conditioned 162, it is possible to efficiently air-condition only a desired area to be comfortable.
Thereby, energy saving can be achieved when the inside of the room to be air-conditioned 162 is air-conditioned. At this time, since the swing state of the left and right flaps 52 is selected, appropriate air conditioning of the corresponding area is possible even if the area to be air-conditioned is not clear.

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.

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.

[0105]

As described above, according to the present invention, the temperature of a plurality of locations in a room to be air-conditioned is detected by sequentially moving the flaps according to a plurality of preset movement patterns, thereby detecting each temperature. Even if the area where the temperature detecting means is provided is not clear, it is possible to select a flap movement pattern that can efficiently air-condition the area where the temperature detecting means is provided. Therefore, an excellent effect that a desired area in the air-conditioned room as well as the entire area in the air-conditioned room can be efficiently air-conditioned can be 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.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are schematic diagrams showing an initial position and a swing range according to the setting of a position setting switch. FIGS.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an outline of airflow control by left and right flaps.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of determination of suitability based on a temperature difference for selecting an optimal airflow position by left and right flaps.

[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 (flap) 74 microcomputer (selection means, storage means) 77 left and right flap motor 82 display board 120 main remote control (temperature detection) Means) 128 bodily sensation buttons 140 sub remote controller (temperature detecting means) 142 temperature detecting section (temperature detecting means) 144 person detecting section 146 position setting switch (position setting means) 150 communication section 152 person detecting sensor 160 power switch 162 air-conditioned room 162A Main area 162B Sub area

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masato Watanabe 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Mikiyasu Shinshi 2-5-2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazunobu Hosogai 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] An air conditioner for air-conditioning a room to be air-conditioned by blowing air-conditioning air toward a predetermined range along a horizontal direction by reciprocating a flap provided at an outlet of an indoor unit in a left-right direction. Storage means for storing a plurality of movement patterns for changing the movement speed of the flap at a predetermined position during reciprocation of the flap; temperature detection means arranged at at least two locations in the room to be air-conditioned; Selecting means for measuring a temperature detected by the temperature detecting means in each moving pattern while sequentially moving the flaps in a plurality of moving patterns stored in the means, and selecting a pattern in which a temperature difference between the measured temperatures is reduced; An air conditioner comprising: 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit determines whether or not the movement pattern is appropriate based on a change in temperature detected by each of the temperature detection units for each of the movement patterns. . 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of reciprocating movement ranges and a movement pattern for each of the movement ranges. . 4. One of said temperature detecting means includes a position setting means for setting a relative position with respect to said indoor unit,
4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the selection unit selects a movement range of the flap stored in the storage unit according to a position set by the position setting unit. 5.