KR20200111342A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an air conditioner comprises: a connection unit having at least one communication terminal; a communication unit which transmits and receives a signal with at least one external communication unit connected through the connection unit; a resistance circuit unit connected to the connection unit; and a control unit. The resistance circuit unit includes at least one resistance element connected to the at least one communication terminal, and at least one switching element connected to the at least one resistance element. The control unit checks data on an external device related to the at least one external communication unit based on a signal received through the communication unit, and can control the operation of the at least one switching element. Accordingly, a master device may be adaptively determined according to a connection relationship between devices connected to a communication line, and the resistance circuit unit provided in the master device may be connected to the communication line. Various other embodiments are possible.

Description

Air conditioner {AIR CONDITIONER}

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner capable of adaptively reducing noise transmitted through a communication line according to a connection relationship between devices connected to a communication line.

The air conditioner is installed to provide a more comfortable indoor environment to humans by controlling the indoor temperature by discharging cold and hot air into the room, and purifying the indoor air in order to create a pleasant indoor environment.

In general, an air conditioner includes an indoor unit configured as a heat exchanger and installed indoors, and an outdoor unit configured with a compressor and a heat exchanger to supply refrigerant to the indoor unit. Specifically, the air conditioner is connected to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit through a refrigerant pipe, and the refrigerant compressed from the compressor of the outdoor unit is supplied to the heat exchanger of the indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe, and the refrigerant exchanged by the heat exchanger of the indoor unit is again passed through the refrigerant pipe. It flows into the outdoor unit's compressor. Accordingly, the indoor unit discharges hot and cold air into the room through heat exchange using a refrigerant.

Meanwhile, the multi-type air conditioner is configured to further include a central controller connected to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit through a communication line and controlling the operation of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. For example, a central controller disposed in a management room located in the basement of a building is connected to an outdoor unit disposed outside the building through a communication line, and a plurality of indoor units disposed indoors of the building and outdoor units are connected through a communication line.

In addition, in order to reduce the noise transmitted along with the signal through the communication line, a configuration for noise removal such as a terminating resistor is installed by the installer directly to the communication line or noise It is common that a configuration for removal is provided in a central controller, an outdoor unit, or the like.

However, when the installer directly connects the configuration for noise reduction, there is an inconvenience that the installer must connect to the communication line at the time of installation, and the noise reduction effect may be changed due to the installer's mistake.

In addition, when the location of the device equipped with the terminating resistor is changed, for example, when the location of the central controller with the terminating resistor is changed from the outdoor unit end communication line to the indoor unit end communication line, the existing outdoor unit end communication line is terminated. There may be a problem in the absence of resistance.

In addition, when the connection state of the devices is changed, for example, when the number of devices connected to the communication line increases and the number of termination resistors connected to the communication line increases, the combined impedance of the communication line ) Is changed, the waveform of the signal may be greatly distorted, which may cause unexpected communication errors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner capable of adaptively determining whether to use a configuration for removing noise provided in each device based on the priorities of devices connected to a communication line.

In order to achieve the above object, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a configuration for removing noise connected to a communication terminal and a control unit for controlling the operation of the configuration for removing noise, and the control unit is connected to the communication line. By checking the priorities between devices, it is possible to determine whether to use a configuration for removing noise connected to the communication terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a connection unit having at least one communication terminal, a communication unit for transmitting and receiving signals with at least one external communication unit connected through the connection unit, and a resistance circuit unit connected to the connection unit. And a control unit, wherein the resistance circuit unit includes at least one resistance element connected to at least one communication terminal and at least one switching element connected to at least one resistance element, and the control unit includes a signal received through the communication unit On the basis of, data on an external device related to at least one external communication unit may be checked, and an operation of at least one switching element may be controlled based on data on an external device related to at least one external communication unit.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to adaptively determine whether to use a configuration for noise reduction for each of the devices according to the connection relationship of devices connected to the communication line, and thus, when a device is added to a communication line, Likewise, even when a connection relationship between devices is changed, noise transmitted through a communication line can be effectively reduced.

In addition, according to various embodiments of the present invention, a configuration for removing noise provided in each of the devices connected to the communication line is not collectively used, and priority is checked among devices connected to the communication line to remove noise. Since the use of the configuration is determined for each of the devices, distortion of a waveform of a signal transmitted and received through a communication line and a communication error accordingly can be prevented.

In addition, according to various embodiments of the present invention, it is determined whether or not a configuration for noise removal is used in an address setting step for each device connected to the communication line, and the configuration for noise removal is automatically transferred to the communication line. It can be connected to, it is possible to improve the installation convenience of the installer, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of various problems that may be caused by the error of the installer.

In addition, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, whether or not to use a configuration for removing noise can be determined and changed by an installer and/or a user easily through a remote control.

In addition, according to various embodiments of the present invention, since relatively simple circuit elements such as resistors and relays are used instead of complex and expensive circuit elements, the implementation is easy and cost is low.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an internal block diagram of a control device and a communication modem according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating a communication line to which a plurality of communication modems are connected according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a control device provided in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication line for devices included in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication line for devices provided in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication line for devices included in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8A and 8B are diagrams referred to for explanation of distortion of a waveform of a signal transmitted and received through a communication line according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9A and 9B are diagrams referred to for explanation of noise transmitted through a communication line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, in order to clearly and briefly describe the present invention, the illustration of parts not related to the description is omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for identical or extremely similar parts throughout the specification.

The suffixes "module" and "unit" for the constituent elements used in the following description are given in consideration of only the ease of writing in the present specification, and do not impart a particularly important meaning or role by themselves. Therefore, the "module" and "unit" may be used interchangeably with each other.

In the present application, terms such as "comprises" or "have" are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features. It is to be understood that the presence or additional possibility of additions or numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof, is not preliminarily excluded.

In addition, in this specification, terms such as first and second may be used to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the air conditioner 100 may include, for example, a central controller 110, an outdoor unit 120 and/or an indoor unit 130. In this drawing, the indoor unit 130 is illustrated as a ceiling indoor unit, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The central controller 110 may control operations of components included in the air conditioner 100, for example. For example, the central controller 110 may transmit a control command to the outdoor unit 120 and/or the indoor unit 130. Here, the control command may be, for example, a command related to on/off of the device, switching of an operation mode, and temperature control.

The central controller 110 may transmit and receive signals to and from the outdoor unit 120 and/or the indoor unit 130, for example. For example, the central controller 110 may transmit a signal including a control command to the outdoor unit 120 and/or the indoor unit 130. For example, the central controller 110 may monitor the operation state of the outdoor unit 120 and/or the indoor unit 130 based on a signal received from the outdoor unit 120 and/or the indoor unit 130.

The central controller 110 may perform communication according to, for example, a predetermined communication method with components included in the air conditioner 100. In this case, the central controller 110 may perform wired communication through, for example, a communication line, or may perform wireless communication.

In this drawing, although the central controller 110 is shown to be connected to the outdoor unit 120 side, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be connected to the indoor unit 130 side.

For example, when the central controller 110 is connected to the outdoor unit 120, the central controller 110 transmits a signal to the outdoor unit 120 to control the indoor unit 130 connected to the outdoor unit 120. have.

Meanwhile, for example, when the central controller 110 is connected to the indoor unit 130, the central controller 110 may control the indoor unit 130 by directly transmitting a signal to the indoor unit 130.

Meanwhile, the central controller 110 may be communicatively connected with a user terminal (not shown), for example. For example, the central controller 110 may receive a command from a user terminal through a wired/wireless communication method, and control the operation of each component provided in the air conditioner 100 according to the received command. have.

The outdoor unit 120 includes, for example, a compressor (not shown) that receives and compresses a refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) that heats the refrigerant with outdoor air, and extracts gaseous refrigerant from the supplied refrigerant and supplies it to the compressor. It may include an accumulator (not shown) and/or a four-way valve (not shown) for selecting a flow path of the refrigerant according to the heating operation. In addition, the outdoor unit 120 may further include, for example, a plurality of sensors (not shown), valves (not shown), and an oil recovery device (not shown).

The outdoor unit 120 may compress the refrigerant through a compressor provided, for example, and may heat-exchange the refrigerant through an outdoor heat exchanger and supply the refrigerant to the indoor unit 130. The outdoor unit 120 may be driven, for example, at the request of the central controller 110 or the indoor unit 130, and as the cooling/heating capacity is varied in response to the driven indoor unit 130, the outdoor unit 120 The number of compressors installed in the operating system can be changed.

Meanwhile, the outdoor unit 120 may be provided with an input device (not shown) for inputting power, setting a master, setting an address, and the like.

The indoor unit 130 may be connected to, for example, the outdoor unit 120 to receive a refrigerant, and may discharge cold or hot air into the room. For example, a plurality of indoor units 130 may receive refrigerant from one outdoor unit 120.

The indoor unit 130 may include, for example, an indoor heat exchanger (not shown), an indoor fan (not shown), and/or a plurality of sensors (not shown). Meanwhile, the indoor unit 130 may be provided with an input device (not shown) for setting operation, such as operation, temperature setting, air volume, wind direction, and locking. Meanwhile, the indoor unit 130 may include an output device (not shown) capable of outputting information on operation settings, such as operation, temperature setting, air volume, wind direction, and lock.

Meanwhile, the outdoor unit 120 and/or the indoor unit 130 may further include, for example, an expansion valve (not shown) for expanding the refrigerant. The expansion valve may include, for example, an electric expansion valve (EV).

The central controller 110, the outdoor unit 120, and the indoor unit 130 are connected by, for example, a communication line, and may transmit and receive signals including various data to and from each other. For example, the central controller 110, the outdoor unit 120, and the indoor unit 130 may transmit a device identifier (ID) to each device connected to the communication line, and are unique from each device connected to the communication line. It is possible to receive an identifier (ID). For example, the outdoor unit 120 may transmit a signal including address data for transmitting and receiving signals between devices connected to a communication line to the indoor unit 130.

The outdoor unit 120 and the indoor unit 130 may operate under the control of the central controller 110, for example. Meanwhile, the outdoor unit 120 may operate according to the control of the indoor unit 130, for example.

Meanwhile, although not shown in this drawing, the air conditioner 100 may further include, for example, a remote control (not shown).

The remote control, for example, is connected to the indoor unit 130 and may transmit a user's control command to the indoor unit 130. For example, the remote control may transmit a control command for an operation mode to the indoor unit 130.

The remote control may include, for example, an input device such as a keypad or a touch pad, and may include an output device that outputs numbers, characters, special characters, or images. For example, a user can input a target temperature through a remote control. In this case, the remote control may transmit a user input for the target temperature to the indoor unit 130. In this case, the indoor unit 130 may control a configuration included in the indoor unit 130 based on a user input for the transmitted target temperature. In addition, the indoor unit 130 may transmit a user input for the received target temperature to the central controller 110 and/or the outdoor unit 120.

The remote control may communicate by wire or wirelessly according to a connection type with the indoor unit 130, for example. To this end, the remote control may include a communication module (not shown) capable of transmitting and receiving a signal including data.

The remote control may include a temperature sensing unit (not shown) and/or an occupant detecting unit (not shown) capable of sensing the indoor temperature. Meanwhile, the remote control may transmit information on the indoor temperature sensed through, for example, a temperature sensor to the indoor unit 130. The occupant detection unit may include, for example, an infrared (IR) sensor or an ultrasonic (Ultrasonic) sensor. The infrared sensor, for example, may detect the movement of a heat source (eg, a person indoors; a occupant). The ultrasonic sensor may detect the position of the occupant based on, for example, a signal returned by reflecting an ultrasonic signal to an object (occupant).

2 is an internal block diagram of a control device and a communication modem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the air conditioner 100 may include a control device 200 and a communication modem 300.

The control device 200 may be provided in, for example, a device provided in the air conditioner 100 (eg, the central controller 110, the outdoor unit 120, and the indoor unit 130). The communication modem 300, for example, may be provided inside a device provided in the air conditioner 100, may be disposed outside the device provided in the air conditioner 100, and may be connected for communication, Hereinafter, it will be described that the communication modem 300 is provided inside a device provided in the air conditioner 100. Meanwhile, the apparatus provided in the air conditioner 100 may include, for example, at least one control device 200 and at least one communication modem 300.

The control device 200 may include, for example, an input unit 210, an output unit 220, a memory 230 and/or a control unit 240.

The input unit 210 may include, for example, an input device (eg, a key, a touch panel, etc.) capable of receiving a user input.

The input unit 210 may receive a user input through an input device, for example, and may transmit a command corresponding to the received user input to the control unit 240. For example, the control unit 240 may determine the mode of the air conditioner 100 based on a user input for selecting a mode of the air conditioner 100 inputted through the input unit 210.

The output unit 220 may include, for example, a display capable of outputting numbers, characters, special characters, or images, and a display device such as a light emitting diode (LED), and the air conditioner 100 ) Operation status, error occurrence, etc. can be displayed.

The output unit 220 may include, for example, an audio device such as a speaker or a buzzer, and may output sound effects for the driving state of the air conditioner 100, and may output a predetermined warning sound when an error occurs. have.

The memory 230 may store various data for the overall operation of the control device 200, such as, for example, a program for processing or controlling the controller 240.

The memory 230 may store, for example, data on a device including the control device 200 (eg, the central controller 110, the outdoor unit 120, or the indoor unit 130 ). For example, the memory 230 stores a device identifier (ID) of a device having the control device 200, an address allocated to a device having the control device 200 for transmitting and receiving signals through a communication line, etc. I can.

The memory 230 may store data on an external device (eg, the central controller 110, the outdoor unit 120, and the indoor unit 130) connected to a communication line, for example. For example, the memory 230 may store device identifiers (IDs) of external devices connected to a communication line, addresses allocated to external devices connected to a communication line, and the like.

The control unit 240 may be connected to each component provided in the control device 200, for example. The control unit 240 may transmit/receive signals to and from each component provided in the control device 200, for example, and control the overall operation of each component. Meanwhile, the controller 240 may be connected to the communication module 300, for example, and may control the overall operation of each component provided in the communication module 300.

The control unit 240 may perform communication with the communication unit 310 using, for example, a predetermined communication method. For example, the controller 240 may perform communication with the communication unit 310 through UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) communication.

The control unit 240 may transmit and receive data to and from an external device connected to a communication line through the communication unit 310, for example.

The controller 240 may store data received from an external device connected to, for example, a communication line in the memory 230.

The control unit 240 may, for example, check the priority of an external device connected to a communication line for each device type. Here, the priority for each type of device may mean, for example, a priority according to the type of configuration provided in the air conditioner 100, and the central controller 110 has a priority for each device type than the outdoor unit 120 High, and the outdoor unit 120 may have a higher priority for each device type than the indoor unit 130.

For example, based on the device identifier (ID) of the device including the control device 200 and the device identifier (ID) of the external devices connected to the communication line, the control unit 240 may determine the types of external devices connected to the communication line. And, based on this, the priority of each device type for external devices connected to the communication line can be checked.

For example, based on the address assigned to the device including the control device 200 and the address assigned to each device connected to the communication line, the control unit 240 may be configured by device type for external devices connected to the communication line. You can also check priorities.

The control unit 240 may, for example, check priorities between devices for external devices connected to a communication line. Here, the priority between devices may mean priority between devices having the same priority for each device type. In this case, devices having the same priority for each device type may have different priorities between devices.

For example, the control unit 240, based on a device identifier (ID) of a device including the control device 200 and/or a device identifier (ID) of external devices connected to the communication line, the external device connected to the communication line. Among them, it is possible to check the priority between devices having the same priority for each device type.

For example, the control unit 240 may prioritize each device type among external devices connected to the communication line based on the address assigned to the device including the control device 200 and the address assigned to each device connected to the communication line. Priorities among devices with the same priority can be checked.

The control unit 240 may control the resistance circuit unit 320 provided in the communication modem 300 based on, for example, a priority for each device type and/or a priority between devices for external devices connected to the communication line. I can.

The control unit 240 may include at least one switching element sw1 provided in the resistance circuit unit 320 on the basis of, for example, a priority for each device type and/or a priority between devices for external devices connected to the communication line. sw2) operation can be controlled. For example, when the device with the control device 200 is determined as the master device according to the device type and/or the device-to-device priority, at least one switching element provided in the resistance circuit unit 320 (sw1, sw2) can be controlled to be turned on, and when the device with the control device 200 is determined to be a slave device, at least one switching element sw1, provided in the resistance circuit unit 320, is sw2) can be controlled to turn off.

Meanwhile, the controller 240 may control an operation of at least one switching element sw1 and sw2 provided in the resistance circuit unit 320 according to a user command received through the input unit 210. For example, when a user command for controlling at least one switching element (sw1, sw2) provided in the resistance circuit unit 320 to be turned on is input through a remote control (not shown), the user command is transmitted from the remote control. The control unit 240 of the received indoor unit 130 may control at least one switching element sw1 and sw2 provided in the resistance circuit unit 320 to be turned on.

The communication modem 300 may include, for example, a communication unit 310, a resistance circuit unit 320 and/or a connection unit 330.

The communication unit 310 may include, for example, at least one communication module. For example, the communication unit 310 may include a communication method using a power line, a serial communication method (eg, RS-485 communication, UART communication), a wired communication method through a refrigerant pipe, as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth ( At least one communication module supporting wireless communication methods such as Bluetooth), beacon, and zigbee may be provided.

The communication unit 310 may perform communication with, for example, the control unit 240 provided in the control device 200. For example, the communication unit 310 may be connected to the control unit 240 through a UART communication line, and may transmit and receive data to and from each other.

The communication unit 310 may be connected to, for example, at least one communication terminal 331, 332 provided in the connection unit 330, and may transmit and receive signals to and from an external device connected to a communication line.

The communication unit 310 may transmit/receive signals to and from external devices connected to the communication line using, for example, a predetermined communication method.

The communication unit 310 may transmit and receive signals with an external device connected to a communication line using, for example, an RS-485 communication method. The RS-485 communication method uses a differential mode signal transmission method that transmits and receives data using the potential difference between two lines.If the potential difference between the two lines is more than the first reference value, the logical value is 1, and the potential difference between the two lines is zero. If it is less than the 2 reference value, it may mean a logical value of 0.

The communication unit 310, for example, in the case of using the RS-485 communication method, through a communication line connected to each of the first communication terminal 331 and the second communication terminal 332 provided in the connection unit 330, the communication line It is possible to transmit and receive signals with external devices connected to each other.

The resistance circuit unit 320 may be connected to the connection unit 330, for example, and may be configured to reduce noise included in a signal transmitted and received through the connection unit 330. For example, the resistance circuit unit 320 may be connected between the communication unit 310 and the connection unit 330.

The resistance circuit unit 320 includes, for example, at least one resistance element R1, R2 and at least one resistance element R1, which are connected to at least one communication terminal 331, 332 provided in the connection unit 330. At least one switching element sw1 and sw2 connected to R2) may be provided.

When the communication modem 300 uses the RS-485 communication method, the resistance circuit unit 320 may include, for example, a pull-up resistor and a pull-down resistor.

For example, the resistance circuit unit 320 has one end connected to the first communication terminal 331 provided in the connection unit 330 and the other end of the first resistance element R1 A first switching element sw1 connected to the other end of which the reference voltage Vcc is input, a second resistance element R2 having one end connected to the second communication terminal 332 provided in the connection part 330, and a second A second switching element sw2 having one end connected to the other end of the resistance element R1 and the other end connected to the ground terminal GND may be provided.

At least one of the switching elements sw1 and sw2 provided in the resistance circuit unit 320 may be turned on/off under the control of the controller 240, for example.

3 is a diagram illustrating a communication line to which a plurality of communication modems are connected according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first to fifth communication modems 300a to 300e may configure a communication line through, for example, a communication line connected to the connection units 330a to 330e.

The first to fifth communication modems 300a to 300e may include, for example, communication units 310a to 310e, resistance circuit units 320a to 320e, and connection units 330a to 330e, respectively.

The first to fifth communication modems 300a to 300e, for example, may transmit and receive signals with each other. For example, in the case of using the RS-485 communication method, the first to fifth communication modems 300a to 300e have a potential difference between the communication lines connected to the two communication terminals 331 and 332 provided in the connection units 330a to 330e, respectively. You can transmit and receive signals using.

Meanwhile, one of the devices connected to the communication line may be determined as a master device, and the remaining devices may be determined as slave devices, based on the priority for each device type and/or the priority between devices.

For example, when the device having the first communication modem 300a is the outdoor unit 120 and the device having the second to fifth communication modems 300b to 300e is the indoor unit 130, the first communication modem Since the priority for each device type of the outdoor unit 120, which is a device having 300a, is the highest among devices connected to a communication line, a device having the first communication modem 300a may be determined as the master device.

On the other hand, for example, when all devices including the first to fifth communication modems 300a to 300e are the outdoor unit 120 and have the same priority for each device type, among devices connected to the communication line, the device identifier (ID) The device having the lowest number corresponding to the number or the device having the lowest number corresponding to the assigned address may be determined as the master device.

On the other hand, when the device having the first communication modem 300a is determined as the master device, the switching elements sw1 and sw2 of the resistance circuit unit 320a provided in the first communication modem 300a are turned on, Current may flow through the first and second resistance elements R1 and R2, and the switching elements sw1 of the resistance circuit units 320b to 320e provided in the remaining communication modems 300b to 300e excluding the first communication modem 300a , sw2) can be turned off.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a control device provided in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the control device 200 may check data on an external device connected to a communication line in operation S410. For example, the control device 200 may check a device identifier (ID) of an external device connected to the communication line and/or an address allocated to an external device connected to the communication line stored in the memory 230. Meanwhile, the control device 200 may perform operation S410 after, for example, an auto addressing operation for each device connected to the communication line is completed.

In operation S420, the control device 200 can check the priority of each device type for the external device connected to the communication line, and, among external devices connected to the communication line, the device type has priority over a device having the control device 200. It is possible to check whether there is at least one external device having a high value.

For example, the control device 200, based on the device identifier (ID) of an external device connected to the communication line and/or an address assigned to an external device connected to the communication line, stored in the memory 230, You can check the priority of each device type for the connected external device.

Meanwhile, when the device including the control device 200 is the central controller 110, the control device 200 may skip the operation S420 and perform the operation S430.

On the other hand, the control device 200, in operation S430, when an external device having a higher priority for each device type than the device having the control device 200 is not connected to the communication line, among the external devices connected to the communication line, control It is possible to check whether there is at least one device including the device 200 and an external device having the same priority for each device type.

In operation S440, when at least one external device having the same priority for each device type is connected to the communication line as a device having the control device 200, at least one external device having the same priority for each device type. Priority between devices for a device and a device having the control device 200 can be checked, and among at least one external device having the same priority for each device type, the priority between devices is higher than that of a device having the control device 200. It is possible to check whether there is at least one high external device.

For example, the control device 200, based on the device identifier (ID) of the external device connected to the communication line and/or the address allocated to the external device connected to the communication line, stored in the memory 230, prioritizes each device type. Priorities between devices for at least one external device having the same priority can be checked.

The control device 200 is, in operation S450, when at least one external device having a higher priority for each device type than the device having the control device 200 is connected to the communication line, or a device including the control device 200 When at least one external device having a higher priority between devices is connected to the communication line, the switching elements sw1 and sw2 of the resistance circuit unit 320 provided in the communication modem 300 may be controlled to be turned off. .

For example, when the device including the control device 200 is the outdoor unit 120 and the central controller 110 is connected to the communication line, the control device 200 is a resistance circuit unit provided in the communication modem 300 The switching elements sw1 and sw2 of 320 may be controlled to be turned off.

On the other hand, the control device 200, in operation S460, when the device having the control device 200 in the communication line has the highest priority for each device type, or the device having the control device 200 has priority between devices. When is the highest, the switching elements sw1 and sw2 of the resistance circuit unit 320 provided in the communication modem 300 may be controlled to be turned on.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication line for devices included in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, in the first communication line 510, the central controller 110 having the highest priority for each device type may be determined as a master device, and a plurality of outdoor units 121a, 122, 123 may be determined as slave devices. I can.

On the other hand, in the second communication line 520, since all of the plurality of outdoor units 121a to 121d have the same priority for each device type, any one of the plurality of outdoor units 121a to 121d (eg: The outdoor unit 121a may be determined as a master device, and the remaining outdoor units may be determined as slave devices.

Meanwhile, in the third to fifth communication lines 530 to 550, since the priority of each device type of the outdoor units 121a, 122, and 123 is the highest in each communication line, the outdoor units 121a, 122, and 123 are It may be determined as a master device of, and the plurality of indoor units 131a to 131e, 132a to 132e, and 133a to 133e may all be determined as slave devices.

6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication line for devices provided in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the first communication line 610, the plurality of outdoor units 121a, 122, and 123 have the same priority for each device type. Therefore, the plurality of outdoor units 121a, 122, and 123) (for example, the outdoor unit 121a) may be determined as a master device, and the remaining outdoor units may be determined as slave devices.

In addition, in the second communication line 620, as in the first communication line 610, all of the plurality of outdoor units 121a to 121d have the same priorities for each device type. Therefore, according to the priority between devices, the plurality of outdoor units ( 121a to 121d) (for example, the outdoor unit 121d) may be determined as a master device, and the remaining outdoor units may be determined as slave devices.

Meanwhile, in the third communication line 630, the central controller 110 having the highest priority for each device type may be determined as a master device, and the outdoor unit 121a and a plurality of indoor units 131a to 131e may be determined as slave devices. have.

Meanwhile, in the fourth and fifth communication lines 640 to 650, since the priority of each device type of the outdoor units 122 and 123 is the highest in each communication line, the outdoor units 122 and 123 are the master devices of each communication line. It may be determined, and all of the plurality of indoor units 132a to 132e and 133a to 133e may be determined as slave devices.

7 is, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A diagram showing an example of a communication line for devices provided in an air conditioner.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the first communication line 710, the plurality of central controllers 110a and 110b have the same priority for each device type. Therefore, among the plurality of central controllers 110a and 110b, according to the priority between devices, Any one (for example, the central controller 110a) may be determined as a master device, and the outdoor units 121a, 122, and 123 may all be determined as slave devices.

On the other hand, in the second communication line 720, all of the plurality of outdoor units 121a to 121d have the same priorities for each device type, and thus any one of the plurality of outdoor units 121a to 121d (eg: The outdoor unit 121a may be determined as a master device, and the remaining outdoor units may be determined as slave devices.

On the other hand, in the third to fifth communication lines 730 to 750, since the priority of each device type of the outdoor units 121a, 122, and 123 is the highest in each communication line, the outdoor units 121a, 122, and 123 are each communication line. It may be determined as a master device of, and the plurality of indoor units 131a to 131e, 132a to 132e, and 133a to 133e may all be determined as slave devices.

8A and 8B are diagrams referred to for explanation of distortion of a waveform of a signal transmitted and received through a communication line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a case in which a waveform of a signal is distorted by noise transmitted through a communication line, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a case in which the resistance circuit unit 320 provided in the master device is connected to the communication line. This is a diagram when the waveform of the signal is not distorted.

In addition, reference numeral (a) in FIGS. 8A and 8B is a graph representing a signal output from the control unit 240a provided in the transmitting-side device that transmits a signal through a communication line, and reference numeral (b) is a communication It is a graph showing the potential difference of the communication lines respectively connected to the first communication terminal 331 and the second communication terminal 332 of the communication modem 300, provided in the receiving-side device receiving a signal through the line, reference numeral (c ) Is a graph showing a signal input to the control unit 240b provided in the receiving-side device for receiving a signal through a communication line.

8A and 8B, when the waveform of the signal input to the communication modem 300 of the receiving device is distorted by noise transmitted through the communication line, the control unit 240a provided in the transmitting device outputs it. The time difference between the signal and the signal input to the control unit 240b provided in the receiving-side device may increase.

On the other hand, as the number of components for removing noise connected to the communication line (for example, the resistance circuit unit 320) increases, the combined impedance of the communication line may decrease, and thus, the reference value for the potential difference between the two communication lines (V+ , V-) can be shortened. In other words, the master device is determined among the devices connected to the communication line, and not only the resistance circuit unit 320a provided in the master device is connected to the communication line, but the resistance circuit units 320b to the resistance circuit units 320b provided in the external devices connected to the communication line. When at least one of 320n) is further connected to the communication line, even when the amplitude of noise transmitted through the communication line is small, a signal due to noise may be input to the control unit 240b provided in the receiving-side device. A detailed description of this will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B.

9A and 9B are diagrams referred to for explanation of noise transmitted through a communication line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, FIG. 9A is a diagram when the width between the reference values (V+, V-) for the potential difference between the two communication lines is small as the combined impedance of the communication line decreases, and FIG. 9B is This is a diagram when the width between the reference values V+ and V- is large.

In addition, reference numeral (a) of FIGS. 9A and 9B is a graph showing the potential difference between two communication lines connected to the first communication terminal 331 and the second communication terminal 332 of the communication modem 300, respectively, and the reference numeral ( b) is a graph showing a signal input to the control unit 240 according to a potential difference between two communication lines.

Referring to FIG. 9A, when the width between the reference values (V+, V-) of the potential difference between the two communication lines is small, not only the signal transmitted from the external device through the communication line but also the noise transmitted through the communication line Since a signal may be input to 240, a communication error may occur and the operation of the air conditioner 100 may be stopped.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 9B, when the width between the reference values (V+, V-) for the potential difference between the two communication lines is large, the control unit 240 is provided with an external device through the communication line even if the noise transmitted through the communication line is large. It can accurately receive the signal transmitted from

As described above, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the master device may be adaptively determined according to a connection relationship between devices connected to the communication line, and the resistance circuit unit 320 provided in the master device may be connected to the communication line. . Through this, even when the connection relationship between devices connected to the communication line is changed, noise transmitted through the communication line can be effectively reduced, and distortion of the waveform of signals transmitted and received through the communication line and communication errors accordingly can be prevented. have.

The accompanying drawings are only for making it easier to understand the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, and the technical idea disclosed in the present specification is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all changes and equivalents included in the spirit and scope of the present invention It should be understood to include water or substitutes.

Likewise, while depicting the actions in the drawings in a specific order, it should not be understood that such actions should be performed in that particular order or sequential order shown, or that all illustrated actions should be performed in order to obtain a desired result. . In certain cases, multitasking and parallel processing can be advantageous.

In addition, although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the technical field to which the present invention belongs without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. In addition, various modifications are possible by those of ordinary skill in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or prospect of the present invention.

Claims (10)

In the air conditioner,
A connection unit having at least one communication terminal;
A communication unit for transmitting and receiving signals with at least one external communication unit connected through the connection unit;
A resistance circuit part connected to the connection part; And
Including a control unit,
The resistance circuit unit,
At least one resistance element connected to the at least one communication terminal; And
Having at least one switching element connected to the at least one resistance element,
The control unit,
Based on the signal received through the communication unit, check data on an external device related to the at least one external communication unit,
And controlling the operation of the at least one switching element based on data on an external device related to the at least one external communication unit. The method of claim 1,
The control unit,
An air conditioner, characterized in that checking the priority of each device type for an external device related to the at least one external communication unit. The method of claim 2,
The control unit,
When there is at least one external device having a higher priority for each device type than a device equipped with the communication unit among the external devices related to the at least one external communication unit, controlling the at least one switching element to be turned off. Air conditioner made with. The method of claim 3,
The control unit,
If there is no external device having a higher priority for each device type than a device equipped with the communication unit among the external devices associated with the at least one external communication unit, an external device having the same priority as the device equipped with the communication unit An air conditioner, characterized in that it determines whether or not is present. The method of claim 4,
The control unit,
And controlling the at least one switching element to be turned on when there is no external device having the same priority for each device type as the device equipped with the communication unit. The method of claim 5,
The control unit,
When there is at least one external device having the same priority for each device type as the device equipped with the communication unit, the priority between the external device and the device having the communication unit having the same priority for each device type is checked. Air conditioner. The method of claim 6,
The control unit,
When the priority between devices of the device equipped with the communication unit is the highest, the at least one switching element is controlled to be turned on,
When there is at least one external device having a higher priority than the device provided with the communication unit, the at least one switching element is controlled to be turned off. The method of claim 7,
The resistance circuit unit,
A first resistance element having one end connected to a first communication terminal provided in the connection portion;
A first switching element having one end connected to the other end of the first resistance element and inputting a reference voltage to the other end;
A second resistance element having one end connected to a second communication terminal provided in the connection portion; And
An air conditioner comprising a second switching element connected between the other end of the second resistance element and the ground terminal. The method of claim 8,
The control unit,
An air conditioner, characterized in that controlling the first and second switching elements to be turned on or off. The method of claim 1,
Further comprising an input unit,
The control unit,
When receiving a command for the operation of the at least one switching element through the input unit, the air conditioner controls the operation of the at least one switching element according to the received command.

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