JPS6244183B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to a multi-type air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected via piping to one outdoor unit, and includes power supply detection means for detecting the presence or absence of power supply to the outdoor unit or operation detection of a protection device for the outdoor unit. By using means or equipment abnormality detection means, the user can easily know the presence or absence of power supply, the operating status of the protective device, or equipment abnormality, and in addition, the air conditioner can be stopped in the event of equipment abnormality, etc. The objective is to realize a multi-type air conditioner that can be operated in various ways. Conventional multi-type air conditioners often do not display whether power is being supplied to the outdoor unit or whether protective devices (manual overcurrent relay, manual pressure switch, etc.) are operating. Furthermore, some multi-type air conditioners have a simple indicator such as a lamp, but there are many things that can be overlooked with just a lamp display, and users often operate the multi-type air conditioner and find that the room does not cool ( (or the unit is not getting warm), check the outdoor unit and find that there is no power to the outdoor unit,
I noticed that the protective devices were not working, so I reset them and started normal operation. In addition, those who do not know these operations have to go through the process of requesting a professional service person, which takes time from the start of operation to normal operation, and the burden of laborious inspection work. In addition, when there is a gas leak in a multi-type air conditioner, users often continue to operate it even though they feel that the room is not cooling (or heating) easily, consuming excess electricity and reducing efficiency. It is difficult to say that the equipment is operating in a safe manner, and stopping the equipment without notifying the user as a remedy for such situations is undesirable as it gives the user a sense of anxiety. The present invention uses a power supply detection means for detecting the presence or absence of power supply to the outdoor unit, a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of operation of the protection device of the outdoor unit, or an equipment abnormality detection means for detecting whether there is an equipment abnormality.
The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional system by clearly and easily informing the user of the presence or absence of power supply to the outdoor unit, the operating status of the protective device, an abnormality in the equipment, or the reason for the stoppage if the device is to be stopped. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in Figures 1 to 3.
This will be explained based on the diagram. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multi-type air conditioner as an embodiment of the present invention, in which indoor units 1A, 1
B has speakers 2A, 2B and indoor unit 1.
Indoor units and control devices 3A and 3 are installed inside A and 1B.
B is provided, and remote control parts 4A, 4
B is provided with run/stop switches 5A and 5B for controlling the start and stop of the multi-type air conditioner, and is connected to the outdoor unit 6 through connection pipes 7A and 7B, and also serves as a means of transmitting indoor and outdoor signals. An outdoor unit control device 9 is provided within the outdoor unit 6 and connected by transmission lines 8A and 8B. FIG. 2 is a block diagram according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a specific circuit configuration thereof.
It is also a configuration diagram of the indoor unit controllers 3A, 3B and the indoor unit controller 9 in FIG. 1. The indoor unit control devices 3A and 3B are input means 1 for inputting information for controlling the multi-type air conditioner.
0A, 10B, and room temperature detection means 1 for detecting room temperature
1A, 11B, indoor unit control means 12A, 12B for controlling the indoor units, voice synthesis means 13A, 13B for emitting sound, speakers 14A, 14B,
and voice memories 15A and 15B for storing data of spoken words; timer input means 16A and 16B for creating reference clocks for various timers that control the multi-type air conditioner; and input means 10A and 10B.
It is composed of indoor unit controllers 17A and 17B that control the entire indoor unit in a certain sequence based on information from room temperature detection means 11A and 11B. The outdoor unit control device also includes a power supply detection means 18 for detecting the presence or absence of a power supply outside the outdoor unit, a protection device operation detection means 19 for detecting the operating state of the protection device of the outdoor unit, and an outdoor unit control device for detecting an abnormality in the outdoor equipment. An equipment abnormality detection means 20, an outdoor unit control means 21 that controls the outdoor unit load, and an outdoor unit controller 22 that controls the entire outdoor unit in a certain sequence based on information etc. from the indoor unit.
and indoor unit controllers 17A, 17
Information is exchanged with B via indoor/outdoor transmission lines 8A and 8B in FIG. An example of control/speech synthesis of a multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention will be shown below. Information on starting/stopping multi-type air conditioners, etc. 1
The indoor unit controllers 17A, 17B take in the data through the input means 0A, 10B, and at the same time, room temperature data is also taken in by the room temperature detection means 11A, 11B. Then, the indoor unit control means 12A, 12B operate or stop the indoor blower using the indoor unit controllers 17A, 17B which store a certain sequence. Also, the outdoor control room from the indoor unit controllers 17A and 17B is taken into the outdoor unit controller 22, and in the same manner as described above, the outdoor unit controller 22 causes the outdoor unit control means 21 to operate the compressor 23 and the refrigerant valve to maintain the room temperature. Take control. Specifically, indoor unit controllers 17A, 17
B and outdoor unit controller 22 are realized by one-chip microcomputers 24A, 24B, 25, manual means 10A, 10B are realized by start/stop switches 5A, 5B, room temperature detection means 11A,
11B is realized by room temperature controllers 26A and 26B. Moreover, the indoor unit control means 12A, 12B are realized by the indoor blower relays 27A, 27B, and the outdoor unit control means 21 is realized by the compressor 23 relay 28 and the refrigerant valve relays 29A, 29B. Now, when the operation is started using the input information from the input means 10A and 10B, the indoor unit controller 17
A or 17B is a signal from the power supply detection means 18, the protection device detection means, or the outdoor equipment abnormality detection means 20, and the power outside the room is not being supplied, or
If a protective device is working or a device abnormality is detected, a message will be sent from speaker 14A or 14B saying ``No power'', ``Relay is working'', or ``Please call for service''. comes out. In addition, the timer and counter that generate the series of messages a certain number of times at a certain time interval are timer input means 16A, 16.
A timer is created in the indoor unit controllers 17A, 17B according to the clock signal generated by the clock signal B, and a counter is created in the internal data memory of the indoor unit controllers 17A, 17B, and messages such as "The power is not turned on" are sent to the speakers 14A, 17B. 14B
It is repeated a certain number of times at a certain time interval. In addition, the stop time after a certain period of time is created in the same way, and after a message such as "No power is coming in. It will stop" is output from the speakers 14A, 14B, the air conditioner is stopped by the command from the indoor unit controllers 17A, 17B. Operation will be stopped. Now, when it is detected that there is no power source outside the room and a voice notification is to be made, a case will be described in which, for example, a voice is synthesized to say ``No power source is supplied.'' First, voice data addressed by a voice select signal as shown in the table below is stored in the voice memories 15A and 15B.

[Table] The voice synthesis means 13A and 13B are the controller 17
In order to input the voice select signal and voice strobe signal output from A and 17B and synthesize the voice selected by the voice select signal, the voice address is output to the voice memory 15A and 15B and the voice data is input. The signals are synthesized into an audio signal, and the speakers 14A and 14B are sounded to produce a "human voice." Although voice data is a huge amount of digital data, it is possible to store as much data as the address of the port that outputs the voice select signal. The voice synthesis means 13A, 13B and the voice memories 15A, 15B are specifically replaced with LSIs called voice generators 30A, 30B. Also, during speech synthesis, the speech synthesis means 13A, 13B (LSI
30A, 30B), a busy signal is output to the controllers 24A, 24B. When outputting the message "Power is not supplied", the microcontrollers 24A and 24B first output "0000" as 4-bit binary data to the input port as a voice select signal, and then output a voice strobe signal. As a result, the voice generators 30A and 30B receive the voice select signal and synthesize the voice ``The power is not turned on''. When the message ``The power is not coming in, it will stop'' is sent, the voice select signal ``0000'' is sent and the voice ``The power is not coming in'' is output, and then the microcontrollers 24A and 24B indicate the end of voice synthesis. After detecting the busy signal and setting an appropriate pause, the voice select signal “0011” is sent, a voice saying “stopping” is output, and a series of messages saying “power is not supplied, stopping” is sent. becomes. Similarly, combinations of words such as ``The relay is working'' and ``Please call for service'' and the words ``Shut down'' are uttered. Furthermore, the reason why the above-mentioned words are repeated a certain number of times is that the microcomputers 24A and 24B periodically issue signals to the LSIs 30A and 30B. The power supply detection means 18 is implemented by a photocoupler 31, the protection device operation detection means 19 is implemented by an overcurrent relay 32, and the equipment abnormality detection means 20 is implemented by a discharge temperature thermostat 33. Also, the timer input means can be easily realized using AC6.3V and transistors 34A and 34B. As explained in detail above, according to the present invention,
Each of the multiple indoor units is equipped with a sound generator,
The sound from this sound generator allows the user to know whether the power is being supplied outside the room, the operating status of the protective device, and whether there is an abnormality in the equipment, so the user can operate the device from any room. You can easily find out about malfunctions in the air conditioner operation. As a result, even if a malfunction occurs in the operation of the air conditioner, the user can quickly take action according to the information being notified, and can determine if there is a true malfunction or if the user forgot to turn on the power. It doesn't cause any confusion. Furthermore, since the notification is made by voice, the reliability of communication to the user is also high. Furthermore, since the signal that notifies the abnormality is also used as the signal transmission line that exchanges operation control information between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the number of signal transmission lines between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit can be reduced, and wiring work etc. Also, incorrect wiring can be suppressed and construction work efficiency can be simplified. In addition, in the event of equipment abnormality, operation will be stopped,
Moreover, since the reason for the stoppage is expressed in words, it is possible to realize an air conditioner that can prevent anxiety about the equipment and help save energy. Further, by repeating the audio notification, it is possible to reliably grasp the operating status of the air conditioner.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-type air conditioner as an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a control device for the multi-type air conditioner, and Fig. 3 is an example of a specific circuit configuration thereof. FIG. 1A, 1B... Indoor unit, 2A, 2B...
Speaker, 3A, 3B...Indoor unit control device, 6...Outdoor unit, 9...Outdoor unit control device, 13A, 13B...Speech synthesis means, 15
A, 15B...Voice memory, 17A, 24A,
24B, 25...Microcomputer, 30
A, 30B...Voice generator, 31...Photocoupler, 32...Overcurrent relay, 33...Discharge temperature thermostat.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a multi-type air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit, each indoor unit is provided with an indoor unit control device for controlling the operation of the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit is provided with an indoor unit control device for controlling the operation of the indoor unit. An outdoor unit control device is provided that controls the operation of the outdoor unit via a signal transmission line based on signals from each indoor unit control device, and this outdoor unit control device is connected to a power source that detects the presence or absence of power supply to the outdoor side. a detection means, an outdoor equipment abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the outdoor unit equipment, an outdoor unit control means for controlling the equipment of the outdoor unit, and a signal from the indoor unit control attachment via the signal transmission line to detect the outdoor unit. The indoor unit control device comprises an outdoor unit controller that controls the control means, and the indoor unit control device further includes input means for inputting information for controlling the air conditioner, room temperature detection means for detecting the room temperature, and control equipment of the indoor unit. Signals from the indoor unit control means, the input means, the room temperature detection means, the indoor unit control means, the power supply detection means, the protection device operation detection means, and the equipment abnormality detection means are inputted, and the signals are input to the outdoor unit through the signal transmission line. An indoor unit controller that outputs an operation control signal to the machine controller, a voice memory that stores voice data to be notified, and a voice synthesis system that reads predetermined voice data from the voice memory based on the notification signal from the indoor unit controller. a voice synthesizing means for outputting a voice signal as a voice signal; a speaker for generating a voice based on the voice synthesized signal; and a speaker for outputting an operation stop signal for the air conditioner after a certain period of time has elapsed after output of the notification signal from the indoor unit controller. A multi-type air conditioner consisting of delay means.