KR20090030985A - Air conditioner and operating method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An air-conditioner and an operation method thereof are provided to maintain previous set up data in a new control program by applying set up data on the new control program after backing up the set up data of an indoor unit or an outdoor unit. An air-conditioner comprises one or more outdoor units(O1,O2) and a plurality of indoor units(I11,I12,I13,I21,I22,I23) connected to the outdoor unit. In case a control program for controlling the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is updated, a remote controller(RC1) renews the control program after backing up set up data for the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. The remote controller controls the outdoor unit and the indoor unit by applying data backed up to the updated new control program.

Description

Air conditioner and operating method for it {Air conditioner and operating method for the same}

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a method of operating the same, and more particularly, to an air conditioner and an operating method of updating a control program of a remote controller for controlling an indoor unit and an outdoor unit.

In general, an air conditioner is installed to purify indoor air to create a more comfortable indoor environment for humans, and is provided for cooling, heating, and air purification, and discharges cold and warm air into the room. The air conditioner is separated and controlled by an indoor unit composed of a heat exchanger and an outdoor unit composed of a compressor and a heat exchanger, and is operated by controlling power supplied to the compressor or the heat exchanger. In some cases, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit may be configured as a single unit.

The air conditioner includes at least one outdoor unit and is connected to at least one indoor unit outdoors. When a plurality of indoor units are connected to the plurality of outdoor units, the number of outdoor units may vary according to the number of indoor units, and the outdoor unit is operated according to the driven indoor unit.

The air conditioner includes a remote controller for controlling the outdoor unit and the indoor unit remotely, thereby controlling the operation of the air conditioner by setting a cooling and heating operation mode of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit and controlling the indoor temperature. The remote controller transmits and receives data with the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, thereby monitoring the current operating state of the air conditioner and transmitting a command corresponding to the input data to each indoor unit and the outdoor unit. At this time, the remote controller includes a control program that provides a menu for controlling the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, outputs input / output commands to predetermined output means, and transmits and receives data. When such a control program is updated, if a program is deleted and a new program is installed, it is necessary to connect a device for program installation directly to each remote controller. Therefore, the update of the control program is not easy and the convenience is low. There is a hassle to do again.

An object of the present invention, when updating a program installed in a remote controller for controlling at least one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units included in the air conditioner, backup the setting data according to the indoor and outdoor air control separately, the setting data is applied after updating the control program The present invention provides an air conditioner and a method of operating the same, which improve convenience.

An air conditioner according to the present invention comprises at least one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, wherein the air conditioner is configured to update the outdoor unit and a control program for controlling the indoor unit. After backing up the setting data for the indoor unit, the control program is updated, and the remote control unit controls the outdoor unit and the indoor unit by applying the backed up setting data to the updated new control program.

In addition, the operation method of the air conditioner according to the present invention comprises the steps of backing up the setting data for a plurality of indoor units and outdoor units, deleting previously stored control program, updating a control program by executing a new control program, Calling the setting data and applying it to the updated new control program.

The air conditioner and its operation method according to the present invention configured as described above are updated to a new control program by backing up the setting data for the indoor unit or the outdoor unit when the control program for controlling the indoor unit or the outdoor unit is updated. By maintaining the existing settings in the control program, the trouble of data backup and reset is eliminated, and the control program is updated by comparing the automatic search of the control program and the version of the control program so that the user can easily update the control program. There is an effect of improving the convenience.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner is connected to at least one indoor unit (I11 to I13, I21 to I23), the indoor unit (I), and includes at least one outdoor unit (O1, O2), an indoor unit, and a compressor and a heat exchanger. It is connected to the outdoor unit includes a remote controller (RC1) for monitoring and controlling the operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit by transmitting and receiving data according to a predetermined communication method.

In addition, the air conditioner may include a plurality of remote controllers. Connected to the first remote controller and connected to the second remote controller RC10 and the first remote controller RC1 for monitoring the outdoor unit and the indoor unit through data transmission and reception with the first remote controller and inputting a control command through the Internet. Further comprising a third remote controller (RC20) for monitoring the outdoor unit and the indoor unit by using the data transmitted and received.

The first remote controller RC1 controls the connected indoor unit or the outdoor unit according to a control command input through an input / output interface provided therein, or a control command received from the second remote controller RC10 or the third remote controller RC20. . In some cases, when a separate input / output interface is not provided in the first remote controller RC1, an operation state of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit is output through the connected second or third remote controllers RC10 and RC20. The control command is input through the third remote controllers RC10 and RC20.

In this case, the air conditioner may further include a unit such as a ventilation unit, an air cleaning unit, and a humidification unit in addition to the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, and may be controlled through a remote controller.

The outdoor unit is a compressor for receiving and compressing a refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger for exchanging refrigerant and outdoor air, an accumulator for extracting a gaseous refrigerant from the supplied refrigerant, and supplying it to the compressor, and a four-way valve for selecting a refrigerant flow path according to a heating operation. It includes. In addition, a high pressure pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a low pressure pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the refrigerant supplied to the compressor, and further includes a plurality of sensors, valves and oil recovery.

The indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan, an expansion valve for expanding the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit, and a plurality of temperature sensors. The outdoor unit (O) and the indoor unit (I) are connected through a refrigerant pipe, and perform cooling or heating operation according to the flow of the refrigerant according to the flow of the refrigerant in the outdoor unit and the indoor period, and are connected by a communication line to transmit and receive data with each other. . Hereinafter, the description of the configuration of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit will be omitted.

The air conditioner may be provided with at least one indoor unit in one room, and the outdoor unit is driven by the request of at least one of the plurality of indoor units (I), and the cooling and heating capacity of the outdoor unit is changed according to the driven indoor unit. The number of operations and the number of operations of the compressor installed in the outdoor unit are variable.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote controller of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first remote controller RC1 displays an input unit 30 to which a user command is input, a control menu for controlling an indoor unit or an outdoor unit, and an output unit displaying an operation state of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit. 40, the data unit 20 for storing the setting data for the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the communication unit 60 for transmitting and receiving data with the indoor unit or outdoor unit, the data transmitted and received through the communication unit 60, the control command input And a control unit 10 for generating a control signal according to the control unit and controlling the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, backing up the setting data for the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and updating the control program for controlling the indoor unit or the outdoor unit.

In addition, the first remote controller RC1 further includes an interface unit 50 to which the external storage device 100 is mounted and detached, and reads data from the mounted external storage device 100 and applies the data to the controller 10.

The communication unit 60 includes at least one communication module to transmit and receive data to and from the outdoor unit and the outdoor period, as well as to transmit and receive data to and from the second remote controller RC10, and to communicate with the third remote controller RC20 through the Internet. Send and receive. In addition, the communication unit 60 accesses the control program providing server DS through an Internet connection and downloads the control program. In this case, the communication unit 60 may be the same or different from the communication module for data transmission and reception of the outdoor unit or indoor period, and the communication module for the communication between the second remote controller, using a predetermined connection service when connecting to the Internet, It may further include a predetermined connection device for the connection.

The input unit 30 includes at least one button or touch input means, and a user command according to a user operation is input. The output unit 40 includes a control menu and operation state data for controlling the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, including at least one of a display means, a speaker, and a lamp, on a screen, and a predetermined warning sound or a notification sound is output through the speaker. The operating status of the remote controller is indicated by the flashing of the lamp.

The data unit 20 includes a control program for controlling the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the control program unit 21 for storing the setting data for the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the general data or the data for storing temporary data according to data transmission and reception. The storage unit 22 includes a backup data unit 230 in which setting data of the control program unit 21 is backed up and stored when the control program is updated, and the data unit 20 is backed up with the control program unit 21. The data unit 23 may be separately provided in different areas in the same storage means, and may be provided in separate storage means in some cases.

At this time, the setting data for the indoor unit and the outdoor unit stored in the control program unit 21 includes address information for communication with the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, schedule data of the indoor unit, schedule group information, management group information, and a user to which the indoor unit control authority is granted. At least one of authentication information for the indoor unit or outdoor unit control record, an error occurrence record, and environment setting information of the control program. Such setting data may be deleted together with data related to execution of the control program when the control program is deleted.

The interface unit 50 includes a detachable terminal for connecting the external storage device 100, and includes a connection detecting means for detecting whether the external storage device 100 is connected to the external storage device 100. When the detection signal is applied to the control unit 10. In addition, the predetermined data is stored in the external storage device 100 in response to the control signal of the controller 10, and the data stored in the external storage device 100 is called and applied to the controller 10.

The controller 10 stores the data received from the indoor unit or the outdoor unit in the data unit 20, and in particular, a control program for controlling the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is installed in the control program unit 21, and the setting for the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is performed. The data is stored in the control program section 21.

In addition, when the new control program is downloaded from the control program providing server DS through the communication unit 60, the control unit 10 stores the new control program in the data storage unit 22, and the new control program is stored in the data storage unit 22. If present, the version of the new control program is read out to cause the control program to be updated. In addition, when the external storage device 100 is connected, the controller 10 searches the external storage device 100 to determine whether a new control program exists, and when the new control program exists, reads and controls the version. Perform a program update.

The controller 10 backs up the setting data stored in the control program unit 21 to the backup data unit 23 when the control program is updated. In this case, the controller 10 may store the backup data in the external storage device 100 when the external storage device 100 is connected. The control unit 10 deletes an existing control program installed in the control program unit 21, executes a new control program of the data storage unit 22, and installs a new control program in the control program unit 21.

When the new control program is installed, the control unit 10 calls the backup data stored in the backup data unit 23 to be applied to the new control program. The control unit 10 deletes the new control program stored in the data storage unit 22 when the control program update is completed. At this time, the control program includes a firmware of a predetermined program or a remote controller that provides a control menu for controlling an indoor unit or an outdoor unit.

When a command is input from the outside or data is input through the input unit 30 during the control program update, the controller 10 outputs a guide message through the output unit 40 and updates through the communication unit 60. The signal is transmitted, and the input data is temporarily stored in the data storage unit 22, and when the update is completed, the temporary stored data is called to perform a corresponding predetermined task.

In addition, when the control unit 10 receives data regarding a new control program update from the control program providing server DS through the communication unit 60, the control unit 10 connects to the control program providing server DS through the communication unit 60 to generate a new data. Allow the control program to download.

Here, the second or third remote controllers RC10 and RC20 also include a control program for controlling the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, like the first remote controller RC1, and backs up and controls the setting data like the first remote controller. You can update the program.

3 is an exemplary view showing a remote controller control screen of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The first remote controller RC1 controls the indoor unit and the outdoor unit through a control program provided with a control menu as shown in FIG. 3, and monitors an operation state. 3 is an example of a screen on which the control program of the first remote controller RC1 is executed, and the shape and configuration of the control menu provided by the control program is not limited to the drawings. In addition, the second remote controller RC10 or the third remote controller RC20 also includes a control program provided with a control menu as shown in FIG. 3.

The controller 10 executes a control program to be output on the screen through the output unit 40, and controls each control menu and inputs data according to a user command input of the input unit 30. At this time, when the setting is changed by the second or third remote controller, the changed setting is also reflected and output to the first remote controller RC1.

The first remote controller RC1 displays the basic screen 11, a management menu for controlling the operation of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit through execution of a control program, peak power control, schedule control, control history, or error history controlled according to power consumption. Provides a control menu 12 including a history menu to manage, implements the indoor unit or outdoor unit connection state 13 through the communication unit 60, whether the external accessibility 14 through the Internet as an image or text displayed on the screen do. In addition, an authentication menu for user authentication may be provided.

Looking at the operation according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a program update method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the control program update method may be applied to the second or third remote controller.

As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 10 of the first remote controller RC1 searches the data unit 20 to determine whether a new control program exists (S110). If no new control program exists, the currently running control program is maintained.

If a new control program exists, it reads the version of the new control program, compares it with the version of the pre-installed control program, and determines whether it is a new version of the control program (S120). At this time, when the searched new control program is the old version of the control program or the same version as the pre-installed control program, the searched new control program is deleted from the data unit 20 (S130).

If the found new control program is a new version of the control program, the setting data for the previously installed control program is backed up (S140).

At this time, the controller 10 backs up the setting data for the indoor unit or the outdoor unit and stores the data in the backup data unit 23 of the data unit 20. The setting data includes address information for communication with the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, schedule data of the indoor unit, schedule group information, management group information, authentication information for a user to which indoor unit control authority is granted, indoor unit or outdoor unit control record, error occurrence record, control It includes at least one of the environment setting information of the program. In addition, the control unit 10 may back up data that is deleted together when the control program is deleted as data related to the execution of the control program.

When the setting data backup is completed, the controller 10 deletes the previously installed control program (S150), and executes the searched new control program so that a new version of the control program is installed (S160).

When the control program update is completed according to the installation of the new control program (S170), the backup setting data is called and applied to the newly installed new control program (S180). When the backup setting data is applied, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit can be controlled in the same manner as the existing setting without executing a separate setting when executing a new version of the control program.

Here, when predetermined data is received from the outdoor unit or the indoor unit or a control command is received from the second or third remote controllers RC10 and RC20 during the control program update, the controller 10 temporarily stores the received data. In addition, the guide message according to the control program update is output to the screen, and the guide message according to the update is transmitted to the outdoor unit or the indoor unit, the second or third remote controller (RC10, RC20). When the control program update is completed, the control unit 10 transmits a message about the completion of the update to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, the second or third remote controllers RC10 and RC20, and is received during the update and calls the temporarily stored data to the data. Perform a corresponding predetermined operation.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a new program of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, when it is determined that the external storage device 100 is connected according to the detection signal of the interface unit 50 (S210), the first remote controller RC1 determines whether a new control program exists. The apparatus 100 is searched for (S220). When a new control program exists in the external storage device 100 (S230), the controller 10 of the first remote controller RC1 compares the version of the searched new control program with a version of a previously installed control program. It is determined whether the control program (S240).

If the searched control program is a new version of the control program, as shown in FIG. 4, the setting data for the indoor unit or the outdoor unit is backed up, and the control program is updated (S250).

6 is a flowchart illustrating a program download method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the control program update information is received from the control program providing server through the communication unit 60 (S310), the first remote controller RC1 receives the control program providing server DS through the communication unit 60. (S320). At this time, a predetermined authentication process may be performed according to the access to the control program providing server.

If the control program according to the updater information is a new version of the control program, a new control program is downloaded (S340). In this case, the controller 10 may perform a process of determining whether the new control program is a control program applicable to the first remote controller RC1.

The controller 10 stores the downloaded new control program in the data unit 20 and updates the control program as shown in FIG.

As described above, the air conditioner and its operation method according to the present invention have been described with reference to the illustrated drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings disclosed in the present specification, and it is applied within the scope of the technical idea. Can be.

1 is a view showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote controller of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an exemplary view showing a remote controller control screen of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a program update method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a new program of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a program download method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

10: control unit 20: data unit

21: control program unit 22: data storage unit

23: backup data portion 30: input portion

40: output unit 50: interface unit

60: communication unit 100: external storage device

DS: control program providing server I, I11 to I23: indoor unit

O, O1, O2: Outdoor unit RC1, RC10, RC20: Remote controller

Claims (9)

An air conditioner including at least one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, When the air conditioner updates a control program for controlling the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, the air conditioner backs up the setting data for the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, updates the control program, and applies the backed up setting data to the updated new control program. And a remote controller for controlling the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. The method according to claim 1, The remote controller includes a control program for controlling the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and a data unit for storing backup data separately; And a control unit which updates the control program after backing up the setting data to the data unit. The method according to claim 2, If a new control program exists in the data unit, the controller deletes the previously stored control program, executes the new control program, and updates the control program for controlling the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. group. The method according to claim 2, The controller may include address information for communication with the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, schedule data of the indoor unit, schedule group information, management group information, authentication information for a user to which the indoor unit control authority is granted, and environment setting information of the control program. And backing up the setting data including at least one of the data to the data unit. Backing up setting data for a plurality of indoor units and outdoor units; Deleting a previously stored control program and executing a new control program to update the control program; Calling the backed up setting data and applying it to the updated new control program; Operation method of an air conditioner comprising a. The method according to claim 5, And before the setting data backup step, searching for the new control program stored in the storage device. The method according to claim 6, And when the new control program is searched, comparing the version of the new control program with a version of a previously stored control program and backing up the setting data in the case of a new version of the control program. The method according to claim 5, The operation method of the air conditioner further comprises the step of downloading a new control program through an external connection. The method according to claim 6, And searching for a new control program stored in the auxiliary storage device.

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