KR20120004186A - Air conditioning system and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An air conditioning system and a control method thereof are provided to reduce a total of power consumption by systematically managing the multi-airconditioner in one building or a complex consisting of a plurality of buildings. CONSTITUTION: An air conditioning system comprises at least one indoor unit, at least one outdoor unit, and a central control unit(300). The outdoor unit is connected to the indoor unit. The central control unit receives input signals, generates control signals in response to the input signals depending on the authority of a manager who entered the input signals received, and controls the indoor and outdoor units depending on the control signals generated.

Description

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to an air conditioning system that can be systematically managed by a plurality of managers and a control method of the air conditioning system.

In general, an air conditioner is a device that cools or heats a room or purifies the air in order to create a more comfortable indoor environment for a user.

In recent years, as the use of air conditioners has rapidly increased, indoor units have been provided for each room in a home or an office in a building, and multi-air conditioners composed of outdoor units connected to the indoor units provided in each room have been installed.

An air conditioning system including a multi-air conditioner is basically connected to a multi-air conditioner consisting of at least one indoor unit and at least one outdoor unit connected to each indoor unit and connected to each outdoor unit built in a building, and the state of each outdoor unit and indoor unit. It is configured to include a controller that monitors and controls the operation integrated or individually.

Therefore, since the outdoor unit grasps state information, operation information or setting information of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit and transmits it to the controller, when a cooling command is directly input to one indoor unit, the controller is connected to any outdoor unit and the state and setting information of any indoor unit. The control command for adjusting the degree of condensation of the refrigerant may be transmitted to the outdoor unit.

1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system 1 according to the prior art including a central controller 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, when there are a plurality of managers controlling the multi-air conditioners through the central control unit 10, the manager 1 uses the central control unit 10 to save energy according to the government's green policy. Although the multi-air conditioner is set to limit the setting range or the air conditioner operating time, the manager 2 who does not recognize the intention of the manager 1 afterwards enters a setting arranged in the manager 1's setting to arbitrarily set the control of the manager 1 There was a problem that can be changed. That is, according to the central control apparatus of the air conditioning system according to the prior art, the air conditioning system setting contents are different or conflicted for each of the plurality of managers, which may cause confusion in controlling the multi air conditioners, as well as building management policies for the multi air conditioners. Or there was a problem that can not be consistently and systematically managed according to the management policy of each group.

As a result, there has been a need for an air conditioning system in which a plurality of managers can be systematically managed through a central control unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system and a control method of the air conditioning system that can solve the problems according to the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system and a control method of the air conditioning system that can be systematically managed by a plurality of managers.

An air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above object includes at least one indoor unit; At least one outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit; And a central control device which receives an input signal and generates a control signal according to an input signal according to an authority of an administrator who inputs the received input signal among a plurality of managers, and controls the indoor unit and the outdoor unit according to the generated control signal. It is an air conditioning system including.

In the control method of the air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above object, in the control method of the air conditioning system including a plurality of indoor units, a plurality of outdoor units and a central control unit, receiving an input signal of the administrator Receiving an input signal; A control signal generation step of generating a control signal in accordance with the authority of the administrator who inputs the input signal received in the input signal reception step; And an air conditioning system control step of controlling the air conditioning system according to the control signal generated in the control signal generation step.

According to the problem solving means of the present invention, the present invention has the effect that can systematically manage the multi-air conditioning in a complex consisting of a plurality of buildings or in one building. For this reason, the present invention can manage the multi-air conditioner more efficiently and more efficiently, and can expect economic effects such as reducing the total power consumption. In addition, the present invention has the effect of allowing a plurality of managers to manage the air conditioning system in accordance with the tightened energy regulation in accordance with the government's green policy.

1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system according to the prior art,
2 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system according to the present invention;
3 is a schematic diagram of control monitoring of the central control apparatus according to the present invention;
4 is a schematic diagram showing a control monitoring state of the central control apparatus according to the present invention when the manager's management level is LVL2;
5 is a schematic diagram showing a control mode state of the central control apparatus according to the present invention when the management grade of the manager is LVL2;
6 is a schematic diagram showing a control mode state of the central control apparatus according to the present invention when the manager management level is LVL2;
7 is a schematic diagram showing a control monitoring state of the central control apparatus according to the present invention when the management grade of the manager is LVL3,
8 is a flow chart of a control method of an air conditioning system according to the present invention;
9 is a flowchart illustrating an administrator registration step and an administrator's authority registration step according to the present invention;
10 is a detailed flowchart of the control signal generation step according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For reference, in describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may make the gist of the present invention unclear, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

2 schematically shows an air conditioning system 100 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioning system 100 includes at least one indoor unit I11, I12, I13, I21, I22, I23, I31, I32, I33, I41, I42, I43, and I44. At least one outdoor unit (O1, O2, O3, O4) connected to the indoor unit and the central control unit 200 for controlling the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. Here, the at least one indoor unit and the at least one outdoor unit may be indoor units and outdoor units in a complex consisting of a plurality of buildings, or indoor units and outdoor units of each room in a building, preferably the at least one At least one indoor unit and the at least one outdoor unit may be grouped for group-by-group control.

The indoor unit (I) is an indoor heat exchanger (not shown) disposed in each room to perform a cooling / heating function, an indoor fan (not shown) and an indoor fan disposed on one side of the indoor heat exchanger to promote heat dissipation of the refrigerant. An indoor blower (not shown) consisting of an electric motor for rotating the fan and a plurality of sensors (not shown), and control means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the indoor unit.

The indoor unit (I) includes a discharge port for discharging the heat-exchanged air, the discharge port is provided with a wind direction control means for controlling the direction of the discharged air opening and closing the discharge port. The indoor unit controls the rotation speed of the indoor fan to control the air intake and discharge air, thereby adjusting the air volume. In addition, the indoor unit may further include a human body detecting means for detecting a human body existing in the indoor space.

In this case, a vane for guiding air is provided while opening and closing at least one of each air inlet, the left outlet, the right outlet, and the upper outlet, and the vane opens and closes the air inlet and each outlet. Guide the direction of discharged air.

In addition, the indoor unit I may further include a display unit for displaying the operation mode and setting information of the indoor unit and an input unit for inputting setting data. The indoor unit main body may be connected to the local controller in a wired or wireless manner, and an operation may be set according to data input from the local controller, and an operation state may be displayed through the local controller.

The outdoor unit O operates in various operation modes such as a cooling mode or a heating mode in response to a request of the connected indoor unit I or a control signal of the central controller 200, and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of indoor units I. do.

The outdoor unit (O) is disposed on one side of a compressor that serves to compress the refrigerant, a motor for a compressor that drives the compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger that serves to dissipate the compressed refrigerant, and an outdoor heat exchanger. An outdoor blower consisting of an outdoor fan that promotes and an electric motor that rotates the outdoor fan, an expansion device that expands the condensed refrigerant, a cooling / heating switching valve that changes the flow of the compressed refrigerant, and a vaporized refrigerant to temporarily store moisture and foreign matter. After removal, it includes an accumulator for supplying a constant pressure refrigerant to the compressor. The outdoor unit further includes a number of other sensors, valves, subcooling devices, etc., and a description thereof will be omitted below.

The outdoor unit O is driven by at least one request of the connected indoor unit I or the control signal of the central controller, and the number of operation of the outdoor unit and the outdoor unit as the air / heating capacity is changed in correspondence to the driven indoor unit. The number of operation of the compressor installed in the variable.

As shown in FIG. 2, the central control apparatus 200 is a terminal configured to be managed by a plurality of managers. In addition, the central control apparatus 200 may be a web server accessible by a plurality of administrators. However, this is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The central control apparatus 200 according to the present invention may be any device that can be connected to a plurality of managers to manage the air conditioning system.

The central control apparatus 200 may generate a control signal according to the signal input unit 210 to which a plurality of managers input an input signal, an input signal input from the signal input unit 210, or generate the control signal or the input signal or the control signal. In the signal processor 230, the signal processor 230 for transmitting the control signal generated by the signal processor 230 to the indoor unit (I) or the outdoor unit (O), in the signal processor 230 The data storage unit 270 stores data required for signal processing, and a signal output unit 290 displaying a signal generated by the signal processor 230.

In particular, the central control apparatus 200 according to the present invention receives the input signal of the plurality of managers, and determines and generates a control signal according to the input signal according to the authority of the administrator who inputs the received input signal of the plurality of managers The indoor unit I and the outdoor unit O are controlled according to the generated control signal.

In the authority of the manager, a manager who inputs an input signal may classify the range of the indoor unit I or the outdoor unit O which can be controlled through the central control unit 200, the plurality of managers in a superior manner, and the plurality of managers. And a control signal that can be activated according to the management level assigned to each of them. To this end, the signal processor generates a lower control signal when the management level of the administrator who inputs the received input signal is a lower management level, and when the management level of the administrator who inputs the received input signal is a higher management level. Generate the upper control signal.

As shown in FIG. 2, the signal input unit 210 is a device for inputting an input signal by a plurality of managers, wherein the input signal is information about each of a plurality of managers and information about the authority of each manager of the plurality of managers. It includes. The input signal input through the signal input unit is processed by the signal processor 230 according to the manager who inputs the input signal to generate a control signal corresponding to the authority of the manager, and the control generated by the signal processor 230. The signal is transmitted to the outdoor unit O through the signal transmission unit 250 or stored in the data storage unit 270 to control the indoor unit I or the outdoor unit O, or the signal output unit for the administrator to recognize. 290 is displayed.

The signal input unit 210 and the signal output unit 290 of the central control unit 200 may be configured as separate devices such as a display unit of a monitor or a terminal and a keyboard or a mouse or a keypad, respectively. It may be configured as a device. Hereinafter, a touch screen type central control apparatus 300 in which the signal input unit and the signal output unit are configured as one device will be described in an exemplary manner for describing the present invention.

In order for the administrator who inputs the input signal to know his authority for the control of the air conditioning system 100, the signal processing unit may display the range of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit that the administrator can control in the signal output unit. Or control the signal output unit to display a control signal that can be activated in accordance with the management level assigned to the manager and the management level.

3 schematically illustrates a control monitoring mode of the central control apparatus 300 according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the touch screen type central control unit 300 includes a status display unit 310 displaying a current operating state of the central control unit 300, information on the authority of an administrator, and a current air conditioning system. An administrator's authority display unit 330 for displaying the current state and the execution information display unit 350 for controlling the indoor and outdoor units of the air conditioning system. As described above, the status display unit 310, the authority display unit 330 and the execution information display unit 350 of the administrator function as a signal input unit and a signal output unit of the central controller 300, and the state A plurality of manager input signals inputted through the display unit 310, the authority display unit 330 and the execution information display unit 350 of the administrator generates a control signal according to the authority of the administrator via a signal processing unit or generated control To control the signal.

The status display unit 310 is an area for informing the administrator of the current operating state of the central control unit. In FIG. 3, only the "control monitoring mode" state is displayed, but as described below, the status display unit 310 may include the central control unit ( Depending on the operating state of 300, "control mode" (see Figure 6) and "control mode" (see Figure 7) may be displayed.

The authority display unit 330 of the manager displays a range information display unit 331 for displaying to the manager the range of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit that the manager who inputs the input signal can control through the central control unit 300 and the management class of the manager. And a grade information display unit 335 for displaying a control signal that can be activated by the administrator according to the management grade.

The range information display unit 331 displays all indoor units I and outdoor units O managed or controlled by a plurality of managers as a plurality of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) such as icons or characters, and input signals among the plurality of managers. The indoor unit and the outdoor unit which have the authority to control the input unit are displayed in the activation method of the indoor unit and the indoor unit, and the indoor unit and the outdoor unit which do not have the authority to control the administrator who input the input signal are the GUI of the indoor unit and the indoor unit. Is displayed in an inactive manner. In this case, the activation method refers to a state in which an administrator can execute control of the air conditioning system 100 by touching it, and the deactivation method means a state in which the control of the air conditioning system 100 cannot be executed even if the administrator touches it. .

Preferably, at least one indoor unit (I) and at least one outdoor unit (O) displayed on the range information display unit 331 may be displayed as a group.

The rating information display 335 includes a " current management level " section 336 that displays the management level (LVL) of the administrator who inputs the input signal. In addition, the rating information display unit 335 is a control signal that can be activated according to the manager's management level "settable operation for displaying the operation mode of the air conditioning system that the administrator can set or control according to his management level Mode "section 337," settable temperature range "section 338, which indicates the temperature range of the air conditioning system that the administrator can adjust to his rating, the air that the administrator can adjust to his rating And " configurable air volume range " section 339, which indicates the air volume range of the conditioning system.

As shown in FIG. 3, the “settable operation mode” section 337 is a cooling / heating mode, a dehumidifying / humidifying mode, a ventilation mode, an air cleaning mode, and an operation reservation mode (ie, a scheduling mode) (not shown). ), And the operation mode lock state 337a indicating whether each operation mode is controlled by an administrator who is a higher management class than the administrator who inputs the input signal is activated by the GUI (that is, the operation mode is locked). ) Or in an inactive manner (i.e., the corresponding operating mode can be activated).

In addition, the "settable temperature range" section 338 and the "settable air volume range" section 339 are respectively indicated by bar-shaped gauge GUIs 338a and 339a, which are illustrated in the present invention. In general, the maximum range of "settable temperature range" section 338 is limited to 14 ° C to 30 ° C, and the maximum range of "settable air volume range" section 339 is 0 to 20 step by step. Such a GUI or numerical range is exemplary for the purpose of explanation of the invention and the invention is not limited thereto.

Execution information display unit 350 is a "full stop" section for generating a control signal through the signal processing unit for the administrator who inputs the input signal to stop all indoor or outdoor units within the range of the indoor unit or outdoor unit that can be controlled 351, a control signal for the administrator to control the on-off of the selected unit or group by selecting a group consisting of one unit or a plurality of units within the range of the indoor unit or outdoor unit that can be controlled by the manager Includes an "run" section 353 and a "stop" section 354 which generate a signal through the signal processor.

In addition, the execution information display unit 350 is a "control" section 357 for generating a control signal for controlling a manager of a lower management level than a manager for inputting an input signal through the signal processing unit, and the manager himself controls "Control" section that selects a group consisting of one unit or a plurality of units within the range of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, and generates a control signal through the signal processor to control the temperature or air volume of the selected unit or group ( 355).

Hereinafter, a process of controlling an air conditioning system through a central control apparatus according to the present invention and a manager controlling a manager being a lower management class by a manager who is an upper management class that inputs an input signal among a plurality of managers ( As will be described below, the relationship between the case where the management class is LVL2 (an example of a higher management class) and the case where LVL3 (an example of a lower management class) will be described).

4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a control monitoring state of the central control apparatus 300 according to the present invention when the management level of the manager who inputs the input signal among the plurality of managers is LVL2 (that is, level2).

When an administrator with a management level of LVL2 connects to the central control unit through a signal input unit of the central control unit 300 (eg, logs in with an ID and password), the authority of the administrator having LVL2 is transferred to the signal processing unit. Is received from the data storage and displayed on the signal output.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the management level of the manager is LVL2, the indoor units and the outdoor units that can be controlled by the LVL2 are O1, I11, I12, I13, O2, I21, I22, and I23, and the controllable indoor units and the outdoor units The range information display is activated. On the other hand, the indoor unit and outdoor unit which the LVL2 cannot control are O3, I31, I32, I33, O4, I41, I42, and I43, and the indoor unit and outdoor unit are displayed on the range information display unit 331 in an inactive manner. A manager who is LVL2 selects one unit of O1, I11, I12, I13, O2, I21, I22, I23, or consists of two or more units of O1, I11, I12, I13, O2, I21, I22, I23 When a group of is selected, information on the selected unit or group is displayed on the grade information display unit 335 and the execution information display unit 350.

On the rating information display section 335, the current management level of the manager who inputs the input signal is displayed as LVL2. In addition, in the " configurable operation mode " section 337, the dehumidification / humidification mode in which the LVL1, which is a higher management class than the LVL2, is controlled in a locked state as an operation mode in which the LVL2 cannot generate a control signal, That is, the GUI 337a displaying the locked state is activated), and the control signal that LVL2 can generate or activate through the signal processing unit is a cooling / heating mode, a ventilation mode, or an air cleaning mode. Is displayed.

Also, the "Settable Temperature Range" section 338 and the "Settable Airflow Range" section 339 are temperature ranges controlled by LVL1, a management class higher than LVL2, and LVL2 cannot input an input signal or control signals. The temperature range that cannot be generated (14 ° C. to 18 ° C. and 26 ° C. to 30 ° C. in FIG. 4) and the air flow rate range (15 to 20 in FIG. 4) are displayed in an inactive manner (hatched portion), so that the LVL2 is input signal. The temperature range that can be input or generate the control signal is 18 ℃ to 26 ℃, the LVL2 can input the input signal or the air volume range that can generate the control signal is 0 to 15 LVL2 Notify the administrator.

Preferably, information (337b, 338b, 339b) indicating that the manager controlling LVL2 to not generate an input signal or to generate a control signal is LVL1. Can be displayed.

Therefore, according to the air conditioning system according to the present invention, the manager of the lower management level of LVL2 can easily grasp the control policy and the management policy of the air conditioning system of the manager of the upper management level of LVL1, and the lower management level is LVL2. Since the manager cannot input the input signal which is inconsistent with the control policy and the management policy of the LVL1 air conditioning system, which is the upper management class, or generate a contradictory control signal, the air conditioning is performed even if multiple managers manage the air conditioning system. System can be managed systematically.

5 is a schematic diagram showing a control mode state of the central control apparatus according to the present invention when the management grade of the manager is LVL2. Specifically, when the administrator selects one unit or one group of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit that can be controlled by the LVL2 in the control monitoring mode shown in FIG. 4 and then selects the "control" section 355 included in the execution information display, the central control is performed. The device enters a control mode (shown in FIG. 5) that can generate control signals for the selected unit or group.

In the control mode, the cooling / heating mode, the dehumidifying / humidifying mode, the ventilation mode, and the air cleaning mode include the temperature setting unit 360 and the air volume setting unit 370.

As shown in Fig. 5, in the control mode, the operation mode (cooling / heating mode, ventilation mode, air cleaning mode in Fig. 5) in which the LVL2 can input an input signal or generate a control signal is activated. 4 and the dehumidification / humidification mode in which the LVL2 cannot input the input signal or generate the control signal as described above in FIG. 4 is displayed in an inactive manner.

The temperature setting unit 360 may include an input unit 361 for inputting an input signal for raising and lowering a temperature by the managers, which are LVL2, respectively, and a temperature range display unit 363, for which the manager, which is an LVL2, may generate a control signal for temperature control. And a temperature display unit 365 for displaying the temperature input by the manager. In FIG. 5, the temperature range display unit 363 in which the manager, LVL2, can generate a control signal for temperature control is displayed as a GUI 363a in the shape of a bar gauge having a maximum temperature of 26 ° C and a minimum temperature of 18 ° C. The temperature input by the manager is indicated by an arrow-shaped GUI 363b indicating a temperature corresponding to the bar gauge GUI 363a.

Similar to the temperature setting unit 360, the air volume setting unit 370 is an input unit 371 for inputting an input signal for raising and lowering the air volume by the manager, respectively, LVL2, and the control signal for controlling the air volume by the manager, LVL2, respectively. The air volume range display part 373 which can generate | occur | produce, and the air volume display part 375 which display the air volume input by the said manager are included. In Fig. 5, the air volume range display unit 373, in which the manager who is LVL2 can generate a control signal for the air volume control, has an upper limit air volume value of 15 and a lower limit air volume value of 0 bar gauge gauge GUI 373a. The air volume inputted by the manager is indicated by an arrow-shaped GUI 373b indicating the air volume corresponding to the bar-shaped GUI.

The upper limit temperature value, the lower limit temperature value, the upper limit air flow rate value and the lower limit air flow rate value are inputs in which an administrator whose management level is LVL1 higher than LVL2 is inferior to an input signal or control signal of the LVL1. It is a value that prevents input of a signal or generates a contradictory control signal.

Accordingly, even if the manager, for example, LVL2, inputs an input signal for adjusting the temperature to 17 ° C. through the input unit, the signal processing unit inputs an input signal of the manager, LVL1, or a higher control signal or control content, which is inputted by the manager, LVL2. The input signal is processed so that it does not generate a control signal for an input signal of 17 ° C. of the manager, LVL2.

Alternatively, even when the manager, LVL2, inputs an input signal for adjusting the temperature to 17 ° C. through the input unit, the signal processing unit is connected to the input signal of the manager LVL1 or the input signal of the manager LVL1. The control signal (i.e., upper control signal) generated by the controller or the control content is judged to be inconsistent with the input signal of 17 ° C of the manager of LVL2 and the control signal of the range not inconsistent with the input signal or higher control signal or control of the manager of LVL1. The control signal can be processed to be changed to a signal. In other words, even if the manager of LVL2 inputs an input signal of 17 ° C. through the input unit 361, the signal controller does not conflict with the input signal or upper control signal or control content of the manager of 17 ° C., which is LVL1. The control signal is processed to generate a control signal having a temperature value of 18 ° C.

In addition, when the manager who is LVL2 sets the temperature or air volume through the inputs 361 and 371, the signal processor is an input signal of the manager whose LVL2 is a control signal already generated by the manager's input signal which is lower than the LVL2. Process the control signal to be changed by. That is, the signal processing unit of the central control unit processes the control signal so that the input signal of the manager of the upper management level can change the control state of the air conditioning system set by the manager of the lower management level before the input of the manager of the higher management level. At the same time, the input signal of the manager of the lower management class processes the control signal so that the control state of the air conditioning system set by the manager of the upper management level cannot be changed before the input of the manager of the lower management class.

6 is a schematic diagram showing a control mode state of the central control unit 300 according to the present invention when the management grade of the manager is LVL2. Specifically, when the administrator selects one unit or group of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit which can be controlled by the LVL2 in the control monitoring mode shown in FIG. 4, and then selects the "control" section 357 included in the execution information display unit, The control device 300 is switched to the control mode (shown in FIG. 6) in which the LVL2 can control the control signal generated by the lower level management level than the signal processing unit.

The control mode includes an operation control section 381, an operation mode control section 383, a temperature range control section 385, and an air volume control section 387. Preferably, although not shown, the control mode may include a reserved mode control section.

In the operation control section 381, there is a "operation lock" section 381a, in which an administrator who is LVL2 controls a unit or group selected by the range information display unit 331 of the control monitoring mode from being operated by an administrator who is lower than LVL2. Included. Thus, if an administrator with LVL2 selects the "Operation lock" section 381a once, an administrator with a lower management level than LVL2 (for example, an administrator with LVL3) is restricted from executing the operation of that unit or group, If the manager of LVL2 selects the "lock operation" section 381a twice, the manager of the lower management class than LVL2 can execute the operation of the unit or the group.

In the operation mode control section 383, an "operation mode lock" section 383a, in which an administrator who is an LVL2, controls an operation mode of a unit or group selected in the range information display of the control monitoring mode to not be operated by an administrator whose management level is lower than that of the LVL2. ) Is included in each operation mode. Therefore, if the manager of LVL2 selects the "locking operation mode" section 383a once for a specific operation mode, the manager of lower management class than LVL2 cannot control the specific operation mode of the unit or the group. If the manager of LVL2 selects the "operation mode lock" section 383a twice, the manager of the lower management class than LVL2 can execute the specific operation mode of the unit or the group.

The temperature range control section 385 is configured to allow a manager of LVL2 to control the temperature range that can be controlled by a lower management class than himself / herself within the temperature range controlled by LVL1, which is higher than LVL2. The temperature range control section 385 includes a bar gauge GUI 385a, and the bar gauge GUI 385a has a temperature range controlled by an administrator having a higher management level LVL1 than LVL2 (in FIG. 6). , Hatching parts corresponding to 14 ° C. to 18 ° C. and 26 ° C. to 30 ° C.), and the manager of LVL2 is within the temperature range (18 ° C. to 26 ° C. in FIG. 6) not controlled by the manager of LVL1. The lower limit setting bar 385b and the upper limit setting bar 385c displayed in the bar gauge GUI 385a may be moved to control a temperature range that can be controlled by an administrator who is lower than LVL2. When the manager of LVL2 moves the lower limit setting bar and the upper limit setting bar to determine the temperature range that can be controlled by the manager lower than LVL2, and selects the "confirmation" section (385d), the control of LVL2 is confirmed and the lower management level is determined. The phosphor manager can control the temperature only within the temperature range set by the LVL manager.

The airflow control section 387 is also constructed in a manner very similar to the temperature range control section and operates in a similar manner except that no lower limit setting bar is included.

7 is a schematic diagram showing a control monitoring state of the central control unit 300 according to the present invention when the management grade of the manager is LVL3.

FIG. 7 shows that the manager of LVL2 can input an input signal or can be generated by the signal processor through the control monitoring mode and control mode of the central controller (see FIGS. 4 and 6). It shows the result of controlling the control signal.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the operation mode in which the manager of LVL3 is operable, the control monitoring mode of the central control unit is such that the manager of LVL1 cannot execute the dehumidification / humidification mode by the manager of lower management level than LVL1 in the control mode. The LVL3 manager provides information (337a, 337b) that it is controlling, and that the manager, LVL2, controls the managers who are in lower control level than LVL2 in the control mode to execute the ventilation mode and the air cleaning mode.

In addition, in the temperature range and air volume range of the air conditioning system that can be controlled by the manager LVL3, the control monitoring mode of the central control unit is 18 ℃ to 26 ℃ managers who are lower management class than LVL1 in the manager mode LVL1 control mode The temperature and air volume of the air conditioning system are controlled only in the temperature range of 0 to 15 and the air volume range of 0 to 15, respectively.In the control mode, the manager of LVL2 controls the temperature range of 21 ℃ to 26 ℃ and the managers who are lower management class than LVL2. The LVL3 manager is provided with information (338a, 338b, 339a, 339b) that the air conditioning system controls the temperature and the air volume only in the range of 0 to 12.

Therefore, even if the manager who is LVL3 inputs an input signal for adjusting the temperature to 19 ° C. through the input units 361 and 371 in the control mode of the central control unit 300, the signal processing unit is LVL2. The control signal generated by the manager's input signal or the LVL2 manager's input signal (that is, the upper control signal here) or the control signal is judged to be inconsistent with the control content. Process input signal to prevent generation.

Alternatively, even if the LVL3 manager inputs an input signal for adjusting the temperature to 19 ° C. through the input unit, the signal processing unit contradicts the input signal of the manager whose LVL3 is LVL2 or the upper control signal or the control content. The control signal may be processed to be generated by changing the input signal of 19 ° C. of the manager of LVL3 into an input signal of the manager of LVL2 or a higher control signal or a control signal in a range inconsistent with the control contents. That is, even if the manager of LVL3 inputs an input signal of 19 ° C. through the input unit, the signal controller is a lower limit temperature value within a range not inconsistent with the input signal of the manager of 19 ° C., which is LVL2, or an upper control signal or control content. The control signal is processed to generate a control signal of 21 ° C.

The above-described management level (LVL), temperature range, air volume range, operation mode and the like are all exemplary for clarity of description of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

As described above, when a plurality of managers manage at least one indoor unit and at least one outdoor unit through a central control unit, communication or disconnection between the plurality of managers due to the air conditioning system according to the present invention, etc. This can prevent the management of the air conditioning system is confused, a plurality of managers can manage or control the air conditioning system consistently and systematically in accordance with the management policy of the air conditioning system of the predetermined building or building complex. Due to the consistent and systematic management of the air conditioning system, it is possible to operate the air conditioning system efficiently, which can be expected to reduce the energy consumption.

Hereinafter, a control method of an air conditioning system according to the present invention will be described.

8 is a flow chart of a control method 400 of an air conditioning system according to the present invention. The air conditioning system includes a plurality of indoor units, a plurality of outdoor units, and a central controller.

First, the central controller receives an input signal of a specific manager among a plurality of managers through a signal input unit (410).

Thereafter, the central controller generates a control signal for controlling the air conditioning system according to the authority of the administrator who inputs the received input signal through the signal processor (430).

The authority of the manager includes a range of an indoor unit or an outdoor unit that the administrator can control through the central control unit, a management level given to a plurality of managers, and a control signal that can be activated according to the management level. Accordingly, the control signal that can be activated includes at least one of an on-off signal, an operation mode selection signal, a temperature control signal, a humidity control signal, and an air volume control signal of the air conditioning system. The operation mode of the operation mode selection signal may include at least one of a cooling / heating mode, a ventilation mode, an air cleaning mode, a dehumidification / humidification mode, and an operation reservation mode.

Preferably, the control method of the air conditioning system according to the present invention comprises the steps of displaying the range of the indoor unit or outdoor unit that the manager can control the signal output unit of the central control unit and the signal output unit of the central control unit The method may further include displaying a control signal that can be activated according to the management level and the management level.

Thereafter, the central controller controls the air conditioning system according to the control signal generated in the control signal generation step through the signal processor and the signal transmitter 450 (450).

9 is a flowchart illustrating an administrator registration step 401 and an administrator's authority registration step 403 according to the present invention.

In the control method 400 of the air conditioning system according to the present invention, a plurality of managers are registered through the signal input unit of the central control unit before the input signal receiving step 410 (401), and the authority of each manager of the plurality of managers is registered. 403, the administrator and the authority of the administrator are stored in the data storage of the central control unit.

As shown in FIG. 9, first, information (for example, ID and password) for the manager is input through the signal input unit of the central control unit to register the manager in the data storage unit (401).

Thereafter, the authority of the manager is registered in the data storage unit through the signal input unit (403). The registering of the authority of the manager 403 may include registering a range of indoor and outdoor units which can be controlled by the manager (404), registering a manager's management level (405) and the manager's management level. According to the control step 406 is to register a control signal that can be controlled by the administrator.

10 is a detailed flowchart of the control signal generation step 430 according to the present invention.

The control signal generation step 430 according to the present invention includes a manager authentication process 431 for determining whether the manager who inputs the input signal is the manager registered in the data storage unit (432). Preferably, the administrator authentication process 431 is performed by the administrator's ID and password login method, for example.

If the manager who inputs the input signal is not a registered manager, the signal processor does not generate a control signal corresponding thereto (439).

The control signal generation step 430 according to the present invention includes an authority decision process 433 for determining whether the input signal is an input signal included in the authority of the administrator who inputs the input signal. The authority judging process 433 is a process performed when it is determined that an administrator who inputs an input signal in the administrator authentication process 431 is a registered administrator.

In the authority judging process 433, the central controller first determines whether the indoor unit or the outdoor unit to be controlled by the administrator who inputs the input signal falls within the range of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit included in the authority of the administrator (434). If the indoor unit or outdoor unit to be controlled does not fall within the range of the indoor unit or outdoor unit within the authority of the manager, the signal processor controls the control signal so that a control signal is not generated from the input signal of the manager (439).

If the indoor unit or outdoor unit to be controlled falls within the range of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit within the authority of the administrator, the central controller determines whether the input signal of the administrator is a signal suitable for the management class of the administrator (435). If it is determined that the input signal of the manager is a signal suitable for the management class of the manager, the signal processor generates a control signal corresponding to the input signal of the manager (437) to control the air conditioning system.

If the indoor unit or outdoor unit to be controlled does not fall within the range of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit within the authority of the administrator, the central control unit may be the input signal of the administrator whose management level is higher than that of the administrator or the higher management class. In operation 436, it is determined whether there is a contradiction with the upper control signal or the control content generated by the input signal of the manager.

When it is determined that the input signal of the manager is an input signal of the manager of a higher management level or a signal that is inconsistent with the control contents of the manager of a higher manager, the signal processor is a control signal generated by the input signal of the manager. The control signal is processed so that the control signal is generated to be changed to an input signal of an administrator of a higher management level or an upper control signal or a control signal of a content that does not contradict the control contents of an administrator of an upper management level (438). On the contrary, if it is determined that the input signal of the manager is a signal that does not conflict with the input signal of the manager of the higher management level or the higher control signal or the control content of the manager of the higher management level, the input signal of the manager does not generate a control signal. The input signal is processed to prevent it (439).

Alternatively, when it is determined that the input signal of the manager is a signal inconsistent with the input signal of the manager of the higher management level or the control content of the higher control level or the manager of the higher management level, the signal processor is configured to generate an input signal of the manager. The input signal may be controlled so as not to generate a control signal.

Preferably, the control method of the air conditioning system according to the present invention, when the manager of the upper management class controls the manager of the lower management class, the type of control and the subject of the input signal of the manager of the lower management class to be controlled The method may further include displaying the higher management level on the signal output unit of the central controller.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the general knowledge in the field of the present invention without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the following claims. Anyone with a variety of modifications are possible, of course, such modifications are within the scope of the claims.

100: air conditioning system 200, 300: central control device
310: status display unit 330: authority display unit
350: execution information display unit 360: temperature setting unit
370: air flow setting unit
381, 383, 385, 387: control mode

Claims (27)

At least one indoor unit;
At least one outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit; And
A central control device which receives an input signal, generates a control signal according to the input signal according to the authority of the administrator who inputs the received input signal among a plurality of managers, and controls the indoor unit and the outdoor unit according to the generated control signal; Air conditioning system comprising a. The method of claim 1,
The central controller may include a signal input unit for inputting an input signal, a signal processor for generating a control signal according to an input signal input from the signal input unit, or processing the input signal or the control signal, and a signal processor generated from the signal processor. An air conditioning system comprising a signal output unit for displaying a signal. The method of claim 1,
The authority of the manager is an air conditioning system, characterized in that the manager includes a range of indoor or outdoor units that can be controlled through the central control unit. The method of claim 3,
The central controller includes a signal input unit, a signal processor, and a signal output unit, and the signal processor controls the signal output unit to display a range of an indoor unit or an outdoor unit that can be controlled by the manager. Air conditioning system. The method of claim 1,
The authority of the administrator is characterized in that the air conditioning system characterized in that it comprises a control level that is granted to each of the plurality of administrators and the control signal that can be activated according to the management level. The method of claim 5,
The central control apparatus includes a signal input unit, a signal processing unit, and a signal output unit, and the signal processing unit generates a lower control signal when the management grade of the administrator who inputs the received input signal is a lower management grade, and receives the received input. The air conditioning system, characterized in that to generate a higher control signal when the management level of the administrator who inputs the signal is a higher management level. The method of claim 6,
And the signal processing unit controls the signal output unit to display a control signal that can be activated according to the management level and the management level. The method of claim 6,
And the signal processing unit processes the input signal such that the input signal of the manager of the lower management class is controlled by the input signal or the upper control signal of the manager of the upper management class. The method of claim 8,
The signal processing unit controls the signal output unit such that the input signal of the lower management level controlled by the upper control signal and the upper management level which is the subject of control are displayed on the signal output unit. . The method of claim 8,
The signal processing unit, if the input signal of the manager of the lower management class among the input signals sequentially input by the plurality of managers contradict the input signal of the manager of the upper management class or the upper control signal, the input signal of the manager of the lower management class And an input signal to prevent the control signal from being generated. The method of claim 8,
The signal processing unit, if the input signal of the manager of the lower management class among the input signals sequentially input by the plurality of managers contradict the input signal of the manager of the upper management class or the upper control signal, the input signal of the manager of the lower management class The air conditioning system, characterized in that the control signal is processed so that is generated is changed to a control signal of a range that does not contradict the input signal or upper control signal of the manager of the higher management class. The method of claim 6,
The signal processing unit, the air conditioning system characterized in that for processing the control signal so that the lower control signal generated by the input signal of the manager of the lower management class can be changed by the input signal of the manager of the upper management class. The method of claim 6,
The control signal which can be activated in accordance with the management level is an air conditioning system, characterized in that at least one of the on-off signal, the operation mode selection signal, the temperature control signal, the humidity control signal, the air volume control signal of the air conditioning system. The method of claim 2,
The central controller further includes a signal transmitter for transmitting the control signal generated by the signal processor to the indoor unit or the outdoor unit and a data storage unit for storing data required for signal processing in the signal processor. Air conditioning system. The method of claim 14,
The manager and the authority of each manager is input through a signal input unit and registered in the data storage unit. In a control method of an air conditioning system including a plurality of indoor units, a plurality of outdoor units and a central controller,
An input signal receiving step of receiving an input signal of a manager;
A control signal generation step of generating a control signal in accordance with the authority of the administrator who inputs the input signal received in the input signal reception step;
And an air conditioning system control step of controlling an air conditioning system according to the control signal generated in the control signal generation step. The method of claim 16,
The control signal generation step of the control method of the air conditioning system, characterized in that it comprises a manager authentication process for authenticating the manager. The method of claim 16,
The control signal generation step of the control method of the air conditioning system, characterized in that it comprises the authority authority determination process for determining whether the input signal is an input signal included in the authority of the administrator who input the input signal. The method of claim 16,
Before the input signal receiving step,
The control method of the air conditioning system, characterized in that it further comprises a registration step of registering the authority of the administrator and each administrator through the signal input unit of the central control unit to the data storage unit of the central control unit. The method of claim 18,
The authority of the administrator is characterized in that it comprises a range of indoor or outdoor units that the administrator can control through the central control unit, a management level given to a plurality of administrators and a control signal that can be activated according to the management level. Control method of air conditioning system. The method of claim 20,
Displaying a range of an indoor unit or an outdoor unit that the manager can control in the signal output unit of the central controller; And displaying a control signal which can be activated according to the management level and the management level on the signal output unit of the central control unit. Control method of an air conditioning system, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 20,
In the control signal generation step, the input signal of the manager of the lower management class of the plurality of managers is controlled by the higher control signal generated by the input signal of the manager of the higher management level or the input signal of the manager of the higher management level. A control method of an air conditioning system, characterized in that for processing an input signal. The method of claim 22,
And displaying the input signal of the administrator, which is the lower management level, and the upper management level, which is the subject of control, on the signal output unit of the central control unit. The method of claim 22,
In the control signal generation step, the input signal of the manager of the lower management class among the input signals sequentially input by the plurality of managers is the higher signal generated by the input signal of the manager of the higher management level or the input signal of the manager of the higher management level If the control signal is inconsistent, the control signal of the air conditioning system, characterized in that for processing the input signal so that the input signal of the manager of the lower management class does not generate a control signal. The method of claim 22,
In the control signal generation step, the input signal of the manager of the lower management class among the input signals sequentially input by the plurality of managers is the higher signal generated by the input signal of the manager of the higher management level or the input signal of the manager of the higher management level If the control signal is inconsistent with the control signal, the input signal of the manager of the lower management level is not inconsistent with the higher control signal generated by the input signal of the manager of the higher management level or the input signal of the manager of the higher management level. Control method of an air conditioning system, characterized in that generated by changing. The method of claim 20,
In the control signal generating step, the control method of the air conditioning system, characterized in that the lower control signal generated by the input signal of the manager of the lower management class can be changed by the input signal of the manager of the upper management class. The method of claim 20,
The control signal which can be activated according to the management level includes at least one of an on-off signal, an operation mode selection signal, a temperature control signal, a humidity control signal, and an air volume control signal of the air conditioning system. Control method.

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