JPS60233438A - Centralized controller for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the centralized controller for air conditioners, having good workability, good maintenance and good usability, as well as having lesser number of control wires to reduce the number of malconnection wires by a method in which a radio type signal transmitter and a room temperature detector are provided, and plural air conditioners are controllably operated or stopped either separately or in groups by a centralized controller. CONSTITUTION:Plural air conditioners (e) and a centralized controller (c) for them are provided. The air conditioners (e) are provided with radio-type signal transmitters (f), (g) and (h), and also with a detector (d) to detect the temperature of room or its change. These air conditioners (e) are controllably operated or stopped either or in groups by the controller (c) while monitoring the operational conditions of them. The operation time of the corresponding air conditioners can also be set up controllably by a remote controller (b).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention is directed to controlling the operation and stopping of a plurality of air conditioners individually or for each group using at least one central control device. The operating status of the conditioner, and information such as temperature, light intensity, humidity,
The present invention relates to a central control device that monitors physical quantities from a detector that detects..., etc., and can further set the operating time of the air conditioner.

Conventional configurations and their problems In recent years, as the number of devices controlled using microcomputers has increased, it has become increasingly important to control multiple controlled devices with a single centralized control device and to collect physical quantities obtained from various detectors. In addition, there is a growing trend that the new media era is just around the corner, in which air conditioners and other controlled devices will be controlled using the physical quantities obtained from the various detectors. This wave has also spread into the home, and the use of centralized control devices is increasing, for example, in home automation using information from various detectors, including the control of air conditioners.

A conventional centralized control device will be explained below.

In the conventional centralized control device, for example, one control device is provided for each air conditioner in a pair, and each control device is provided with a control line.

Therefore, there are a large number of control lines, and as a result, the number of incorrect connections increases when connecting the control lines, and when the types of air conditioners to be connected are different, differences in the configuration of the air conditioners may occur. As a result, there were many problems in terms of workability and maintainability of the control lines, such as the need for different wiring methods, the addition of connections, and the need for man-hours for changes.

Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention reduces the number of control lines to reduce incorrect wiring that occurs during connection, and also solves the above-mentioned drawbacks caused by differences in the configuration of air conditioners. The present invention provides a centralized control device that can be freely connected to various air conditioners and is more user-friendly in terms of ease of construction and maintenance.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve this object, the central control device of the present invention includes a central control device main body that controls a plurality of air conditioners, a plurality of air conditioners, and a first wireless type that the air conditioners are equipped with. a signal transmission device and a second wireless signal transmission device respectively, the remote control for operating the air conditioner connected to the first wireless signal transmission device; and the central control of the plurality of air conditioners. A third wireless signal transmission device that is individually connected to the first wireless signal device included in the air conditioner in order to be controlled by the device main body, and a detector that detects at least room temperature or a change in room temperature, hereinafter a detector. It is called. and a transmission line connecting the air conditioner operating terminal device and the central control device main body. The central control device main body controls at least the operation and stopping of the plurality of air conditioners individually or for each group, monitors the operating status of the plurality of air conditioners, and can further set the operating time of the plurality of air conditioners. The air conditioner operating remote control is configured so that the corresponding air conditioner can be shared and controlled. Furthermore, the state of room temperature or changes in room temperature is monitored by a detector provided in the terminal device for operating the air conditioner. Further, the individual air conditioner operation terminal devices and the detector drive and detection power supplies are configured so that the detector alone can operate in case the centralized control device goes down.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a central control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a is a terminal device for operating an air conditioner, b is a remote control for operating an air conditioner, C is a main body of a central control device that controls a plurality of terminal devices 8 for operating an air conditioner, d is a detector, and e is a Showing an air conditioner.

1 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPUI), and 2 is a command signal transmission unit that connects a plurality of air conditioner operating terminal devices a and the central control device main body C. 3.4.19 is a transmission line that connects the plurality of air conditioner operation terminal devices a and the central control device main body C.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a memory section consisting of a program memory and a data memory. 6 is for operating the air conditioner e individually.
In the individual selection key switch input operation unit for stop control, a plurality of key switches are arranged to correspond one-to-one to the plurality of air conditioners described above, and the on/off state of the individual selection key switch is controlled by the CPU. The command to start and stop is read through the command signal transmission unit 2 and transmitted to each air conditioner operating terminal device d. 7 is multiple air conditioners e
In the group collective key switch input operation unit that performs the same control for each group, at least start/stop control, key switches set in advance in groups are arranged corresponding to the plurality of air conditioners e, Regarding the on/off state of the group collective key switch, operation/stop commands are transmitted to each air conditioner operating terminal device a via the CPUI. Reference numeral 8 denotes an automatic operation key switch input operation unit that operates the air conditioner e for a set time, and like the individual selection key switch input operation unit 6, it includes a plurality of keys that should correspond one-to-one with the air conditioner e. A switch is arranged, and the on/off state of the automatic operation key switch is read via the CPUI, and the command is transmitted to each air conditioner operating terminal device a via the command signal transmission section 2. 9 is air conditioner e
This is a time setting key switch operation section for setting the time to start and the time to stop. A system clock 10 is provided independently of the CPU 1 and is a system time generator that supplies current time information to the CPU. The time information from the time setting key switch is read via the CPUI, and whether the current time generated by the system clock 10 is outside the operating time of the air conditioner e set by the time setting key switch operating section 9 or the operating time The CPUIK determines whether the air conditioner is in the air conditioner or not, and a start/stop command is transmitted to each air conditioner operating terminal device a via the command signal transmission unit 2. Reference numeral 11 denotes a display unit that monitors the operating status of each of the plurality of air conditioners e, and if the air conditioner e is in operation, for example, an LED lights up in one-to-one correspondence with each air conditioner e, and when the air conditioner e is stopped. If inside, the above L
It is controlled by the CPUI so that the ED is turned off. 12
is a display unit that displays system time information. Reference numeral 13 denotes an operation signal transmission section of the terminal device a for operating the air conditioner.

22 is a display unit that displays the physical quantity of a detector provided in each of the air conditioner operating terminal devices a; for example, when a temperature detector is used as the detector, each of the air conditioner operating terminal devices a; However, a well-known smoke detector is used as a detector that detects the room temperature of the "room" in which the air conditioner e is placed, or the humidity of the "room" when a humidity detector is used as a detector. When used, a display section is shown that displays the content quantified by each detector, such as the degree of dirt in the "room" or the detection of a fire condition, for example. Also 2
1 indicates a power generation section, and 23 indicates a commercial power source.

FIG. 2 shows a centralized control device in an embodiment of the present invention,
A connection circuit between an air conditioner operating terminal device and an air conditioner operating remote control is shown.

Components that are the same as those in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers and their explanations will be omitted. In the figure, 14 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU1
4) 16 is an equipment number switch unit provided to assign different air conditioner numbers to each of the air conditioner operation terminal equipment 8, and is composed of at least one switch 17. are connected to the input terminals of the plurality of switches, and are controlled by the CPU 14 so that the device numbers are read by the combination of on/off states of the plurality of switches. A connection terminal 18 is connected to the air conditioner operating terminal device a and the central control device main body C. f is a wireless signal transmission device on the air conditioner operation terminal device a side, g is a wireless signal transmission device on the air conditioner C side, and h is a wireless signal transmission device on the air conditioner operation remote control b side. , equipped with a transmitter/receiver using radio waves or light, and attached to a part of each of the above-mentioned main bodies (not shown).

Reference character i indicates a control section that controls the air conditioner e based on the control of the refrigeration cycle) v (not shown) and the instructions from the air conditioner operating remote control b and the central control device C.

1 is a control unit of a remote control b for operating the air conditioner. In the air conditioner operating remote control b, reference numeral 15 controls a refrigeration cycle (not shown) constituted by a compressor, a blower, a four-way valve, a heat exchanger, etc. that constitute the air conditioner, and operates the air conditioner; For example, it collectively shows operation mode settings such as cooling, heating, and dry operation, switches for setting room temperature, etc., and a variable resistor (not shown).
14, and the air conditioners are controlled so as to share the corresponding air conditioners e by the central control device main body C, for example, so that post-operation control is given priority.

100 is a reference voltage supply terminal, and 101 is a light emitting current limiting resistor, one end of which is connected to the reference voltage supply terminal 100 and the other end connected to a contact 115 of a relay 113. 102 is an emitter resistor, and 103 is a noise removal capacitor, each of which is connected to a contact 116 of a relay 113. 10
4. 105 and 106 are resistors for generating a reference voltage, which are connected in series.The connection point between the resistor 104 and the resistor 105 is connected to the comparator 107, and the connection point between the resistor 105 and the resistor 106 is connected to the comparator 108. It is connected.

Note that the other end of the resistor 106 is grounded.

107 is a timing signal detection comparator, and 108 is an actuation signal detection comparator, each of which is connected to the CPU 1. 109 and 110 are light emitting current limiting resistors, one end of each of which is connected to a contact 119 of a relay 114. 11
1.112 are transistors, each base is CP
Connected to U1. Further, the collector of the transistor 111 is connected to the current limiting resistor 109 for light emission, and the collector of the transistor 112 is connected to the current limiting resistor 109 for light emission.
The collectors of are connected to the light emitting current limiting resistors 110, respectively. Reference numerals 113 and 114 indicate relays, and 116 to 120 indicate contacts of the relays 113 and 114.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a relay drive unit that controls relays 113 and 114 based on instructions from the CPUI, and is connected to the CPU 1. A photocoupler 200 optically couples a light emitting element 201 and a light receiving element 202.

The anode of the light emitting element 201 is connected to the connection terminal 18, and the cathode of the light emitting element 201 is connected to the anode of the diode 206. One terminal of the light receiving element 202 is connected to a reference voltage supply terminal 212, and the other terminal is connected to a comparator 217. 203 is also a photocoupler that connects the light emitting element 205 and the light receiving element 20.
4 are optically coupled, the anode of the light emitting element 205 is connected to the reference voltage supply terminal 212, the cathode of the light emitting element 205 is connected to the light emitting current limiting resistor 210, 211, one end of the light receiving element 204 is connected to the anode of the diode 207, and the other end is connected to the reference voltage supply terminal 212. terminal 18
are connected to each. 206 and 207 are diodes for preventing reverse breakdown voltage, and 208 and 209 are transistors. The collectors of the transistors 208 and 209 are connected to the light emitting current limiting resistors 210 and 211, respectively, and the bases of the transistors 208 and 209 are connected to the CPU 14, respectively. -213 is an emitter resistor, 214 to 216 are resistors for generating a reference voltage, 217 is a comparator for timing signal detection, 218 is a comparator for command signal detection, and the connection point between resistors 214 and 215 is the comparator. 217, the connection point between resistor 215 and resistor 216 is connected to comparator 218, and the outputs of comparators 217 and 218 are connected to CP
Connected to U14.

The wireless signal transmission devices (2) and (g) control the air conditioner e with a signal emitted from the air conditioner operating terminal device a via the central control device main body C, or control the air conditioner e with a signal emitted from the air conditioner. This is a device for receiving radio waves.

The wireless signal transmission devices f and g each include a transmitting section and a receiving section, and in one embodiment of the present invention, the transmitting section includes light emitting elements 220 and 225, and the light emitting elements 220.
The driving section 219,226 that drives the light receiving section 225, the receiving section is the light receiving system element 222,223, and the light receiving system element 222,22.
The light emitting element 220 and the light receiving element 22G, and the light emitting element 226 and the light receiving element 222 are optically coupled. Signals are exchanged between the wireless signal transmission devices f and g using the air conditioner #! control unit i of e and the CPU 14 of the air conditioner operating terminal device 8;
It is done mutually. 20 is a rechargeable power supply device, 229
is a rechargeable battery, for example, and a bypass diode 230,
Smoothing capacitor 231, backflow prevention diode 22
7. A power supply circuit for a terminal device for operating an air conditioner, which is composed of a charging resistor 228.

The rechargeable battery 229 is charged when the voltage of the rechargeable battery 229 drops, but when the air conditioner operating terminal device a is in the reception mode, that is, when the voltage is supplied from the reference voltage supply terminal 100 on the central control device main body C side. This is done by applying power to the power supply circuit 20 through relay contacts 118 and 120.

As described above, i is the wireless signal transmission device on the side of the air conditioner operating remote controller b, and j is the control unit of the air conditioner operating remote controller b that controls the air conditioner e according to the contents of the setting switch 15. show.

The wireless signal transmission device includes at least a driving section 234 that drives a transmitting section. The light emitting element 233 of the wireless signal transmission device 2 is optically coupled with the light receiving element 223 of the wireless signal transmission device g on the side of the air conditioner e, so that the light emitting element 233 of the wireless signal transmission device Signals are exchanged. d indicates a detector, and the detection contents obtained by the detector d are read by the CPU 14 and transmitted from the actuation signal transmitting section 13 to the command signal transmitting section 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of each waveform of signal transmission in the central control device in one embodiment of the present invention. In the same figure, A is a command signal and an actuation signal, a continuous signal encoded with "1" in the waveform diagram and rOJ, and the TS section indicates the first code of the signal to be transmitted, and the TD
The part is a signal component that is sent following the head code TS, and is a code that changes depending on the information content to be sent. In this embodiment, an example is shown where the code is sent in the order of 1.1.0.0.1. The TQ section is a signal for delimiting 1 bit, and in this embodiment, a signal of "1" is added and sent following the TD section. In other words, 1 Bit is formed, and signal components of this format are required below, and the number i is added to form a command signal and an operation signal. 2-B is a timing signal waveform diagram, which is transmitted in synchronization with the TD section of the command signal and actuation signal waveform diagrams. Figure-C is a signal waveform diagram propagating through the transmission line 4, Figure-D is the emitter resistor 2.
FIG. 13 shows a voltage waveform diagram at both ends of the voltage waveform 13. FIG. The operation will be explained below.

First, when operation command information is input to the central control device main body C, a command signal is supplied to the base of the transistor 112, the timing signal is supplied to the base of the transistor 110, and a constant voltage is supplied to the reference voltage supply terminal 100. Therefore, the current flows through the light emitting current limiting resistor 101, the relay contacts 115 and 117, the connection terminal 18, and the transmission line 3 to the light emitting element 201 in the operation signal transmission section 13 on the air conditioner operating terminal device a side, and vice versa. Via the diode 206 for preventing withstand voltage, and again through the transmission line 4, through the 177-contact 120.11g in the command signal transmission section 2 on the central control device main body side, the light emitting current limiting resistors 110 and 109, and the transistor 112.
and flows to 112. When current flows through the light emitting element 201 and the light emitting element 2α emits light, the light receiving element 202 becomes conductive.
A command signal is induced from the command signal transmission unit 2 across the emitter resistor 213, and the signal is input to the comparators 217 and 218, and the comparators 217 and 218 compare it with the reference voltage.
[The HIGHJ and l'-LOWJ signals enter the CPU 14, and a predetermined operation, for example, a compressor operation, is performed under the control of the CPU 14.

In addition, since the operation signal transmitting sections 13 on the air conditioner operation terminal device a side are connected in common, the type of information of the command signal sent from the command signal transmitting section 2 on the central control device main body C side Assume that at least the device number information of the air conditioner operating terminal device a is inserted, the CPU 14 of the air conditioner operating terminal device a side decodes the device number information, and the device number designation switch 16 and It compares and verifies and judges whether the signal sent from the command signal transmission unit 2 is issued to itself, that is, the air conditioner operation signal called by the CPU 1 on the central control device main body C side Only the terminal device a is developed so that the CPU 14 issues an operation signal corresponding to the contents of the command signal to perform the operation.

Next, for example, the operating state of the air conditioner e and the detector d are monitored.
From the relationship of physical quantity monitoring obtained from the above-mentioned air conditioner e
The operational/stop status of the air conditioner and the physical quantity obtained and quantified from the detector d are sent to the operation signal transmitting section 13 on the air conditioner operation terminal device a side and sent to the command signal transmitting section on the central control device main body C side. The receiving operation in step 2 will be explained.

Note that the circuit configuration of the command signal transmission unit 2 is such that the relay drive unit 121, that is, the relays 113 and 114 is connected to the C
Controlled by PU1.

An activation signal from the cPUi4 is provided to the base of transistor 209 and a timing signal is provided to the base of transistor 208 and flows to transistors 209 and 208 via reference voltage supply 210. The light emitting element 205 emits light when a current flows, makes the light receiving element 204 conductive, and connects the relay contact 1 to the connection terminal 18 and the transmission line 3.
A current flows through 102 through 17.116, and the actuation signal supplied to the base of transistor 209 is induced across the emitter resistor 102, and the command signal is applied to comparator 107.10.
8 and is compared with the reference voltage by comparators 107 and 108, outputs of "HIGHJ" and "LOWJ" are obtained.CPU
1 receives the operating signal from the CPU 14 and performs control so as to know the operating state of the air conditioner e and the physical quantity of the detector d.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the centralized control device of the present invention can provide the following effects.

(1) Since the main body of the central control device, the multiple air conditioners, and the remote controllers for operating the air conditioners are electrically isolated from each other, when the compressor of each air conditioner is turned on and off, For example, even if noise occurs, the air conditioners do not interfere with each other and are resistant to malfunctions.

■ Because the timing signal is superimposed on the command signal and operation signal component to transmit and receive signals between devices in the transmission signal component, complex processing is not required for signal transmission and reception.
Good transmission and reception can be performed with a small number of transmission lines, and the circuit configuration is also extremely simple.

■ Since the air conditioner is electrically separated from the transmission line, for example, with the configuration shown in this example, it is possible to centrally control the air conditioner even with equipment that is not directly related to the control of the air conditioner. It is easy to connect to the transmission line that is wired for the device, and special wiring for the device is not required.

(4) If the air conditioner and the air conditioner operation terminal device are configured to be connected wirelessly, as in this configuration, construction work and maintenance during installation and replacement of the air conditioner can be done only on the air conditioner. This is very advantageous as it eliminates the possibility of incorrect connections when connecting to the central control device. Furthermore, even if the air conditioner is of a different model, conditions for signal transmission and reception are provided to ensure smooth operation of the connection between the control unit of the air conditioner and the air conditioner operating terminal device, which are connected by the wireless signal transmission device. By configuring the system to satisfy the requirements, it is possible to support a large number of models.

6 Even if the number of terminal devices for operating air conditioners increases, if it is a rechargeable power supply device equipped with a rechargeable battery, as in the embodiment of the present invention, the power supplied from the central control device main body may be small. Furthermore, the rechargeable power supply device is backed up by the main body of the central control device, which has the effect of minimizing the need for replacing the rechargeable battery, periodic inspection, maintenance, etc. of the rechargeable power supply device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block wiring diagram of a central control device for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows the main body of the central control device, air conditioner operation terminal equipment, and air conditioner operation terminal equipment of the same central control device. FIG. 3 is a connection circuit diagram between the remote controllers and an operation waveform diagram of the central control device. 3.4.19... Transmission line, a... Terminal equipment for air conditioning operation, b... Remote control for air conditioner operation, C... Centralized Control device main body, d...
...Detector, e...Air conditioner, f, g, h
...Wireless signal transmission device, i...Control unit, i.Old...Control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a plurality of air conditioners, a central control device that centrally controls the plurality of air conditioners, and a first air conditioner included in the air conditioner;
a remote controller for operating an air conditioner that is individually equipped with a second wireless signal transmission device and connected to the first wireless signal transmission device; A third wireless signal transmission device that is individually connected to the first wireless signal transmission device included in the air conditioner for control by a control device.
a wireless signal transmission device, the air conditioner operating terminal device comprising at least a detector for detecting room temperature or a change in room temperature, and a transmission line connecting the air conditioner operating terminal device and the central control device. and the central control device controls at least the plurality of air conditioners individually or in groups.
The operating state of the plurality of air conditioners and the state of at least room temperature or room temperature change output from a detector connected to the terminal device for operating the plurality of air conditioners are monitored. Furthermore, the central control device for air conditioners is capable of setting the operation time of the plurality of air conditioners.