Air conditioner control method, air conditioner, device and storage medium

Abstract

The invention discloses a control method and device of an air conditioner, the air conditioner and a storage medium. The air conditioner comprises an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units, and the indoor units are connected with the two ends of an outdoor communication unit in the outdoor unit through relay circuits; the method comprises the steps that an indoor unit obtains communication state information with an outdoor unit; under the condition that the communication state information represents that communication between the indoor units and the outdoor unit is disconnected, the indoor units control the relay circuit to be in short circuit connection with the outdoor communication unit within a first duration so that communication between the multiple networking indoor units and the outdoor unit within the first duration can be disconnected, and the outdoor unit operates according to the communication state change information of the multiple networking indoor units; according to the method and the device, the indoor unit can control other networking indoor units to perform communication state change when the communication is disconnected, so that the outdoor unit can neglect the faulted indoor unit and continue to maintain the operation of the other networking indoor units, thereby avoiding the comprehensive shutdown of the system, and effectively improving the operation efficiency of the air conditioner and the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioner control technology, and in particular to an air conditioner control method, air conditioner, device and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, in multi-split air conditioning systems, indoor and outdoor units typically use the 485 communication protocol to exchange data in order to coordinate system operating status and energy demand. For example, in a single-pipe multi-split system, each indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit's 485 communication unit through its own 485 communication circuit to form a communication network, ensuring smooth information flow within the system.

[0003] In existing technologies, once the communication link between the indoor and outdoor units fails, such as due to signal interference, line damage, or communication protocol errors, the system often adopts a conservative strategy, causing the entire multi-split system to stop operating to prevent potential safety risks and equipment damage. However, while this approach ensures system safety, it also leads to resource waste. Even if only a single indoor unit experiences a communication failure, the entire system will stop, causing other normally communicating indoor units to be unable to continue providing services, affecting user experience and energy efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art, and to provide a control method, air conditioner, device and storage medium for an air conditioner, which enables the indoor unit to control the communication status changes of other networked indoor units when communication is disconnected, so that the outdoor unit can identify the fault mode and ignore only the faulty indoor unit while continuing to maintain the operation of other networked indoor units, thereby avoiding a complete system shutdown and effectively improving the operating efficiency of the air conditioner and the user experience.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a control method for an air conditioner, the air conditioner including an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units, the multiple indoor units being connected to both ends of an outdoor communication unit in the outdoor unit via relay circuits; the method includes: the indoor unit acquiring communication status information with the outdoor unit; when the communication status information indicates that the communication between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is disconnected, the indoor unit controlling the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a first duration, so that the multiple networked indoor units are all disconnected from the outdoor unit for the first duration; the outdoor unit operating according to the communication status change information of the multiple networked indoor units; wherein, the networked indoor unit is the indoor unit that is communicatively connected to the outdoor unit when the outdoor communication unit is not short-circuited.

[0006] The air conditioner control method provided by the embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: In an air conditioner including an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units, under normal operating conditions, each indoor unit is connected to the communication unit of the outdoor unit through its relay circuit, forming a communication network. When an indoor unit detects a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit, the indoor unit will activate the relay circuit and short-circuit the communication unit of the outdoor unit for a preset first time period, so that the other multiple networked indoor units connected to the outdoor unit lose communication with the outdoor unit at the same time, forming a communication status change of multiple networked indoor units, so that the outdoor unit operates according to the communication status change information of multiple networked indoor units; wherein, it is possible to Understanding this mechanism is that when a communication breakdown with the outdoor unit is detected, the indoor unit can control a relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a specific duration. This causes multiple networked indoor units to temporarily disconnect from the outdoor unit. This mechanism allows the outdoor unit to recognize changes in the communication status of multiple networked indoor units, determine the fault mode of the disconnected indoor unit based on these changes, and adjust its operating strategy accordingly. This allows the outdoor unit to ignore the faulty indoor unit and continue operating with other normally communicating indoor units, thus avoiding a complete system shutdown and ensuring the continuous service capability of the non-faulty networked indoor units. While ensuring system safety, this effectively improves the air conditioner's operating efficiency and user experience.

[0007] In some embodiments, after the indoor unit obtains the communication status information with the outdoor unit, the method further includes: when the communication status information indicates that the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected in communication and the indoor unit is powered on, the indoor unit starts up and sends energy demand information to the outdoor unit; the outdoor unit supplies energy according to the energy demand information.

[0008] In some embodiments, after the indoor unit controls the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit within a first duration, the method further includes: when the indoor unit is in operation, the indoor unit short-circuits the outdoor communication unit multiple times within a second duration according to a preset frequency, so that the multiple networked indoor units disconnect from the outdoor unit multiple times within the second duration; the outdoor unit operates according to the regular signal corresponding to the communication status change information of the multiple networked indoor units.

[0009] In some embodiments, before the indoor unit short-circuits the outdoor communication unit multiple times within a second time period according to a preset frequency, the method further includes: when the current operating mode is heating mode, the indoor unit controls the opening of the electronic expansion valve in the indoor unit to decrease to a preset opening; when the current operating mode is cooling mode, the indoor unit stops operating.

[0010] In some embodiments, the indoor unit controlling the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit within a first duration includes: when the indoor unit is powered on, the indoor unit controlling the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit within the first duration after a third duration; when the indoor unit is in operation, the indoor unit controlling the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit within the first duration after a fourth duration; wherein the third duration is longer than the fourth duration.

[0011] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit operates based on the communication status change information of the plurality of networked indoor units, including: the outdoor unit acquiring communication status information with the plurality of indoor units; when the communication status information indicates that some of the indoor units are disconnected from communication, the outdoor unit acquiring the communication status change information of the plurality of networked indoor units; when the communication status change information indicates that the plurality of networked indoor units are all disconnected from communication within the first time period, the outdoor unit operates based on the status of the outdoor unit.

[0012] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit operates according to its current state, including: when the outdoor unit is powered on, the outdoor unit starts up and supplies energy to the multiple networked indoor units according to the energy demand information sent by the multiple networked indoor units; when the outdoor unit is in operation, the outdoor unit acquires a regular signal corresponding to the communication status change information of the multiple networked indoor units, and if the regular signal meets preset requirements, it supplies energy to the multiple networked indoor units according to the energy demand information corresponding to the multiple networked indoor units.

[0013] In some embodiments, after the outdoor unit acquires communication status information with the multiple indoor units, the method further includes: if the outdoor unit is in operation, and the communication status information indicates that at least two of the networked indoor units are disconnected, then the outdoor unit stops operating.

[0014] In some embodiments, after the outdoor unit acquires the communication status change information of the plurality of networked indoor units, the method further includes: if the outdoor unit is in operation when the communication status change information indicates that at least one of the networked indoor units is in communication connection within the first time period, the outdoor unit stops operating.

[0015] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide an air conditioner, including an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units; the indoor unit includes an electronic expansion valve, an indoor main control unit, and an indoor communication unit connected in sequence; the outdoor unit includes an outdoor communication unit and an outdoor main control unit connected to each other; wherein, the indoor main control unit is connected to both ends of the outdoor communication unit in the outdoor unit through a relay circuit, and the indoor main control unit is connected to the control terminal of a relay switch provided in the relay circuit, and the air conditioner is used to implement the control method of the air conditioner as described in any one of the first aspects.

[0016] The air conditioner provided according to embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units. Under normal operating conditions, each indoor unit is connected to the communication unit of the outdoor unit via its relay circuit, forming a communication network. When an indoor unit detects a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit, that indoor unit activates its relay circuit and short-circuits the communication unit of the outdoor unit for a preset first time period. This causes the other networked indoor units connected to the outdoor unit to lose communication with the outdoor unit simultaneously, resulting in a change in the communication status of the multiple networked indoor units. This allows the outdoor unit to operate based on the communication status change information of the multiple networked indoor units. It is understood that... Yes, when a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit is detected, the indoor unit can control the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a specific period of time, causing multiple networked indoor units to temporarily disconnect from the outdoor unit. This mechanism allows the outdoor unit to recognize the communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units, determine the fault mode of the faulty indoor unit with disconnected communication based on the communication status change, and adjust the operating strategy accordingly. In this way, it can ignore only the faulty indoor unit and continue to maintain the operation of other normally communicating indoor units, thereby avoiding a complete system shutdown and ensuring the continuous service capability of non-faulty networked indoor units. While ensuring system safety, it effectively improves the operating efficiency of the air conditioner and the user experience.

[0017] Thirdly, embodiments of the present invention provide an operation control device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the computer program to implement the control method of an air conditioner as described in any one of the first aspects.

[0018] The operation control device provided by the embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: When the operation control device executes a computer program, it can implement a control method for the air conditioner, so that when a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit is detected, the indoor unit can control the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a specific period of time, thereby causing multiple networked indoor units to temporarily disconnect from the outdoor unit. This mechanism enables the outdoor unit to identify the communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units, determine the fault mode of the faulty indoor unit whose communication is disconnected based on the communication status change, and adjust the operation strategy accordingly. In this way, the faulty indoor unit can be ignored while the operation of other normally communicating indoor units can continue to be maintained, thereby avoiding a complete system shutdown and ensuring the continuous service capability of non-faulty networked indoor units. While ensuring system safety, it effectively improves the operating efficiency of the air conditioner and the user experience.

[0019] Fourthly, embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the control method as described in any one of the first aspects.

[0020] The computer-readable storage medium provided according to embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: When the computer-executable instructions in the computer-readable storage medium are executed, a control method for an air conditioner can be implemented, so that when a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit is detected, the indoor unit can control the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a specific period of time, thereby causing multiple networked indoor units to temporarily disconnect from the outdoor unit. This mechanism enables the outdoor unit to identify the communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units, determine the fault mode of the faulty indoor unit whose communication is disconnected based on the communication status change, and adjust the operating strategy accordingly. In this way, the faulty indoor unit can be ignored while the operation of other normally communicating indoor units can continue, thereby avoiding a complete system shutdown and ensuring the continuous service capability of non-faulty networked indoor units. While ensuring system safety, the operating efficiency of the air conditioner and the user experience are effectively improved. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the technical solutions of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the present invention to explain the technical solutions of the present invention, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of the present invention.

[0022] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments;

[0023] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the method steps of the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0024] Figure 2This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of sending energy demand information to the outdoor unit in the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of repeatedly short-circuiting the outdoor communication unit in the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention, prior to repeatedly short-circuiting the outdoor communication unit.

[0027] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of short-circuiting the outdoor communication unit in the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention.

[0028] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of operating the outdoor unit in the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention.

[0029] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the control method for an air conditioner provided in this embodiment of the invention, based on the state of the outdoor unit.

[0030] Figure 8 This is a step diagram of an example air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the modules of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the operation control device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0033] This section will describe in detail specific embodiments of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. The purpose of the drawings is to supplement the textual description with graphics, so that people can intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and overall technical solution of the present invention, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0034] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," "exceeding," etc. are understood to exclude the number itself, while "above," "below," "within," etc. are understood to include the number itself. "At least one" refers to one or more, and "at least one of the following" and similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or multiple items. If "first," "second," etc., are used in the description, they are only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features or the order of the indicated technical features.

[0035] It should be noted that the terms "setting," "installing," and "connecting" in the embodiments of this invention should be interpreted broadly. Those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution. For example, the term "connection" can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows for mutual communication; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium.

[0036] It should be noted that the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0037] Currently, in multi-split air conditioning systems, indoor and outdoor units typically use the 485 communication protocol to exchange data in order to coordinate system operating status and energy demand. For example, in a single-pipe multi-split system, each indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit's 485 communication unit through its own 485 communication circuit to form a communication network, ensuring smooth information flow within the system.

[0038] In existing technologies, once the communication link between the indoor and outdoor units fails, such as due to signal interference, line damage, or communication protocol errors, the system often adopts a conservative strategy, causing the entire multi-split system to stop operating to prevent potential safety risks and equipment damage. However, while this approach ensures system safety, it also leads to resource waste. Even if only a single indoor unit experiences a communication failure, the entire system will stop, causing other normally communicating indoor units to be unable to continue providing services, affecting user experience and energy efficiency.

[0039] Based on this, the present invention discloses a control method, an air conditioner, an apparatus, and a storage medium for an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units, each of which is connected to both ends of an outdoor communication unit in the outdoor unit via a relay circuit. The method includes: the indoor unit acquiring communication status information with the outdoor unit; when the communication status information indicates that the communication between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is disconnected, the indoor unit controls the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a first duration, so that all multiple networked indoor units are disconnected from the outdoor unit for the first duration, and the outdoor unit operates according to the communication status change information of the multiple networked indoor units. This invention enables the indoor unit to control the communication status changes of other networked indoor units when communication is disconnected, allowing the outdoor unit to ignore the faulty indoor unit and continue to maintain the operation of other networked indoor units, thereby avoiding a complete system shutdown and effectively improving the operating efficiency of the air conditioner and the user experience.

[0040] The embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 1This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a control method for an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present invention. In a first aspect, the present invention provides a control method for an air conditioner, the air conditioner including an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units, the multiple indoor units being connected to both ends of an outdoor communication unit in the outdoor unit via relay circuits. The method is applied to the air conditioner and includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0042] Step S110: The indoor unit obtains communication status information with the outdoor unit;

[0043] Step S120: When the communication status information indicates that the communication between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is disconnected, the indoor unit control relay circuit short-circuits the outdoor communication unit within a first duration, so that multiple networked indoor units are disconnected from the outdoor unit within the first duration.

[0044] Step S130: The outdoor unit operates based on the communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units;

[0045] Among them, the networked indoor unit is the indoor unit that communicates with the outdoor unit when the outdoor communication unit is not short-circuited.

[0046] In some embodiments, in an air conditioner including an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units, under normal operating conditions, each indoor unit is connected to the communication unit of the outdoor unit via its relay circuit, forming a communication network. When an indoor unit detects a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit, it activates its relay circuit and short-circuits the communication unit of the outdoor unit for a preset first time period. This causes the other networked indoor units connected to the outdoor unit to lose communication with the outdoor unit simultaneously, resulting in a change in the communication status of the multiple networked indoor units. The outdoor unit then operates based on this change in communication status information. It can be understood that when a communication disconnection is detected with the outdoor unit, the indoor unit... When the outdoor unit loses communication, the indoor unit can control the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a specific period of time, causing multiple networked indoor units to temporarily lose communication with the outdoor unit. This mechanism allows the outdoor unit to identify the communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units, determine the fault mode of the faulty indoor unit based on the communication status change, and adjust the operating strategy accordingly. In this way, it can ignore only the faulty indoor unit and continue to maintain the operation of other normally communicating indoor units, thereby avoiding a complete system shutdown and ensuring the continuous service capability of non-faulty networked indoor units. While ensuring system safety, it effectively improves the operating efficiency of the air conditioner and the user experience.

[0047] In some embodiments, corresponding to steps S110 to S130, it can be understood that in an air conditioning system, each indoor unit periodically checks its communication status with the outdoor unit. This process involves sending and receiving data packets. The communication link can be judged to be normal by comparing the expected response with the actual received response. If no response is received from the outdoor unit within a certain period of time, or if the received response does not meet expectations, the indoor unit considers the communication status with the outdoor unit to be disconnected. Conversely, when the indoor unit detects that the communication with the outdoor unit is disconnected, the indoor unit will activate the built-in relay circuit, causing the two ends of the communication unit of the outdoor unit to be short-circuited within a preset first time period. This short-circuiting operation causes all other normally communicating indoor units to temporarily lose communication with the outdoor unit, creating a unified communication status change. This status change will be detected by the outdoor unit, thereby triggering the outdoor unit to identify and isolate the faulty indoor unit.

[0048] In some embodiments, the relay circuit is an electronic switch that can be controlled by an electrical signal to connect or disconnect the circuit. In this invention, the relay circuit is used to short-circuit the communication unit of the outdoor unit to simulate the state where all indoor units are simultaneously offline. The outdoor communication unit is the part of the outdoor unit responsible for communicating with the indoor units, typically including a 485 communication circuit for data exchange. The networked indoor units refer to the collection of all indoor units that maintain communication with the outdoor unit under normal operating conditions. When one indoor unit malfunctions, the short-circuit operation causes all networked indoor units to temporarily lose communication with the outdoor unit, thus forming a unified communication status change. By allowing the outdoor unit to recognize the special state of all indoor units being offline simultaneously, the faulty indoor unit can be quickly located, the fault can be isolated, and a complete system shutdown can be avoided. This effectively solves the problem of the entire system shutting down due to a single indoor unit communication failure in traditional multi-split air conditioning systems such as single-pipe multi-split air conditioners.

[0049] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of sending energy demand information to the outdoor unit in the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention; in some embodiments, after the indoor unit obtains the communication status information with the outdoor unit, the method further includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0050] Step S210: When the communication status information indicates that the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected and the indoor unit is powered on, the indoor unit starts up and sends energy demand information to the outdoor unit.

[0051] Step S220: The outdoor unit supplies energy based on the energy demand information.

[0052] In some embodiments, energy demand information is a signal generated by the indoor unit and sent to the outdoor unit. It may include the energy level currently required by the indoor unit, such as the intensity of cooling or heating, which helps the outdoor unit to more accurately adjust its operating state to meet the specific needs of the indoor unit. Energy supply in an air conditioning system refers to the outdoor unit providing the necessary energy (such as electricity or cooling / heating capacity) to the indoor unit to achieve the temperature target set by the indoor unit. The efficiency of energy supply directly affects the overall performance and energy consumption of the air conditioning system. Power-on state refers to the state in which the indoor unit has been connected to the power supply and is ready to start running or is running. In the power-on state, the indoor unit can perform initialization checks, establish communication with the outdoor unit, and send or receive control signals.

[0053] Understandably, when the indoor unit confirms that the communication status with the outdoor unit is good and the indoor unit itself is powered on and ready to run, the indoor unit will send an energy demand information to the outdoor unit. This information may include the amount of cooling or heating energy required by the indoor unit, so that the outdoor unit can adjust its operating mode and power output according to this information to meet the needs of the indoor unit. This allows the outdoor unit to control energy distribution more precisely, avoid excessive or insufficient energy supply, and thus improve energy efficiency and system operating efficiency.

[0054] refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of repeatedly shorting the outdoor communication unit in the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention; in some embodiments, after the indoor unit control relay circuit shorts the outdoor communication unit within a first time period, the method further includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0055] Step S310: When the indoor unit is in operation, the indoor unit short-circuits the outdoor communication unit multiple times within a second time period according to a preset frequency, so that multiple networked indoor units disconnect from the outdoor unit multiple times within the second time period.

[0056] In step S320, the outdoor unit operates according to the regular signals corresponding to the communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units.

[0057] In some embodiments, the preset frequency refers to the number of times and the time interval between which the indoor unit controls the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit after detecting a communication fault. This frequency can be preset to generate a regular signal pattern. The second duration refers to the duration for which the indoor unit short-circuits the outdoor communication unit, and its specific duration can depend on the system design and fault handling strategy. The regular signal refers to the signal pattern generated when the indoor unit short-circuits the outdoor communication unit multiple times at the preset frequency, which will be recognized as a regular signal by the outdoor unit. This signal will help the outdoor unit determine which indoor units have communication faults and how to adjust its own operating strategy to adapt to this situation.

[0058] Understandably, when an indoor unit detects a communication interruption with the outdoor unit, to prevent the entire system from shutting down, that indoor unit will activate its relay circuit and short-circuit the outdoor unit's communication unit multiple times within a certain time interval (the second duration). This short-circuiting is not a one-time event but occurs at a preset frequency to create a recognizable, regular signal. The purpose of this is to allow the outdoor unit to identify this regular communication interruption and treat it as a specific fault mode. The outdoor unit can then adjust its operating strategy based on this regular signal, ignoring the faulty indoor unit and continuing to provide service to other indoor units with normal communication, thereby preventing a complete system shutdown.

[0059] It is conceivable that when the indoor unit detects a communication failure with the outdoor unit during operation, the indoor unit will repeatedly short-circuit the outdoor communication unit through a relay circuit within a specific time interval (i.e., the second duration mentioned above), generating a regular signal. The generation of this regular signal indicates that although the indoor unit has a communication failure, its internal circuitry and control logic still possess a certain degree of functionality and can execute the predetermined fault response program. Therefore, the outdoor unit can identify which indoor unit has a communication failure by detecting this regular signal and adjust its operating strategy accordingly, such as continuing to provide services to other indoor units with normal communication while ignoring the faulty indoor unit, thus preventing the entire system from shutting down.

[0060] It's conceivable that when an indoor unit detects a communication failure with the outdoor unit immediately upon power-on, it won't perform the detection and transmission of regular signals. This is because the indoor unit may not have completed initialization upon power-on, and its internal state is unstable, making it impossible to guarantee the accuracy and validity of regular signals. In this situation, the faulty indoor unit will remain powered on but will not enter the operating state. That is, the indoor unit will not send energy demand information to the outdoor unit, nor will it participate in the normal operation of the system. This avoids the system becoming chaotic due to a local fault in the initial stage and also provides conditions for fault diagnosis and repair. Once the indoor and outdoor units are successfully networked, the normal indoor units will send their energy demand information to the outdoor unit, guiding the outdoor unit to adjust its operating state according to the needs of each indoor unit, achieving reasonable energy distribution within the system. For indoor units that detect a communication failure upon power-on, the system defaults to not participating in the transmission of energy demand and only operates according to the needs of other normally communicating indoor units.

[0061] refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention, prior to the indoor unit repeatedly short-circuiting the outdoor communication unit; in some embodiments, prior to repeatedly short-circuiting the outdoor communication unit within a second time period according to a preset frequency, the method further includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0062] Step S410: When the current operating mode is heating mode, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve in the indoor unit is reduced to the preset opening degree.

[0063] In step S420, if the current operating mode is cooling mode, the indoor unit stops operating.

[0064] In some embodiments, it is understood that when the indoor unit detects a communication loss with the outdoor unit, it will adopt different control strategies depending on the current operating mode (cooling or heating). In heating mode, the indoor unit will adjust the opening of the electronic expansion valve to a preset small opening to slow down the refrigerant flow rate and prevent system instability caused by excessively rapid refrigerant circulation. In cooling mode, considering that the indoor unit cannot receive real-time control from the outdoor unit, the indoor unit will stop operating to prevent over-cooling and even evaporator icing.

[0065] refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of short-circuiting the outdoor communication unit in the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the indoor unit control relay circuit short-circuits the outdoor communication unit within a first time period, including but not limited to the following steps:

[0066] Step S510: When the indoor unit is powered on, the indoor unit controls the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit within the first time period after the third time period.

[0067] Step S520: When the indoor unit is in operation, the indoor unit controls the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit within the first time period after the fourth time period.

[0068] The third duration is longer than the fourth duration.

[0069] In some embodiments, when the indoor unit is in a powered-on state, i.e., just connected to the power supply but not yet running, if a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit is detected, the indoor unit will wait for a third period of time. After the third period of time ends, the indoor unit will control its relay circuit to short-circuit the communication unit of the outdoor unit within a first period of time to form a unified communication state change, prompting the outdoor unit to recognize the fault mode and adjust its operating strategy. Conversely, if the indoor unit detects a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit while it is running, the indoor unit will short-circuit the communication unit of the outdoor unit within the first period of time after a fourth period of time.

[0070] Understandably, the third duration is the waiting time from the detection of a communication fault to the start of the short-circuit operation on the outdoor unit's communication unit when the indoor unit is powered on. This duration takes into account the initialization and self-test process of the indoor unit, ensuring that the indoor unit is in a stable state before the short-circuit operation is performed. The fourth duration is the waiting time from the detection of a communication fault to the start of the short-circuit operation on the outdoor unit's communication unit when the indoor unit is in operation. The fourth duration is shorter than the third duration to reflect the stability and rapid response requirements of the indoor unit in operation. This ensures system safety while improving energy efficiency and user experience, enabling the air conditioner in this invention to maintain efficient operation even when some indoor units experience communication faults.

[0071] refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of operating the outdoor unit in the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention; in some embodiments, the outdoor unit operates based on communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units, including but not limited to the following steps:

[0072] Step S610: The outdoor unit acquires communication status information with multiple indoor units;

[0073] Step S620: When the communication status information indicates that the communication of some indoor units is disconnected, the outdoor unit obtains the communication status change information of multiple networked indoor units.

[0074] In step S630, if the communication status change information indicates that all the networked indoor units have lost communication within a first time period, the outdoor unit operates according to its current status.

[0075] In some embodiments, the indoor unit can acquire communication status information with multiple indoor units, and when the communication status information indicates that some indoor units are disconnected, it can acquire communication status change information of multiple networked indoor units. Furthermore, when the communication status change information indicates that multiple networked indoor units are disconnected within a first time period, the outdoor unit operates according to its current status. It can be understood that when the outdoor unit receives specific communication status change information triggered by a faulty indoor unit, the outdoor unit can identify the communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units and adjust its operating strategy according to its current status, ignoring only the faulty indoor unit and continuing to maintain communication and energy supply with the non-faulty indoor units, thereby avoiding a complete system shutdown. This ensures system safety while effectively improving the air conditioner's operating efficiency and user experience.

[0076] Understandably, communication status information includes indicators such as connectivity, data transmission quality, and latency of the communication link between indoor and outdoor units, used to assess the health of the communication link. Communication status change information refers to the brief, uniform communication disconnection experienced by all networked indoor units within the first period of time, triggered by a faulty indoor unit. The outdoor unit can analyze this change to identify the fault mode and make corresponding adjustments. It is conceivable that if the outdoor unit detects that all networked indoor units have experienced a brief communication disconnection within the first period of time, it indicates that the faulty indoor unit still has some control capabilities and can still control the connected load. Therefore, the outdoor unit adjusts its operating strategy according to its current status (such as whether it is powered on, operating mode, etc.), ignores the faulty indoor unit, and continues to provide services to other normally communicating indoor units, avoiding a complete system shutdown.

[0077] refer to Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a control method for an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present invention, based on the state of the outdoor unit. In some embodiments, the outdoor unit operates according to its state, including but not limited to the following steps:

[0078] Step S710: With the outdoor unit powered on, the outdoor unit starts up and operates, and supplies energy to the multiple networked indoor units according to the energy demand information sent by the multiple networked indoor units.

[0079] Step S720: When the outdoor unit is in operation, the outdoor unit obtains the regular signal corresponding to the communication status change information of multiple networked indoor units. If the regular signal meets the preset requirements, the outdoor unit supplies energy to the multiple networked indoor units according to the energy demand information corresponding to the multiple networked indoor units.

[0080] In some embodiments, when the outdoor unit is powered on and ready to run, it will adjust its energy distribution and operating parameters according to the energy demand information received from each normally communicating networked indoor unit, so as to meet the cooling or heating needs of each indoor unit. This process ensures that the system can operate efficiently according to the actual needs of the indoor units and avoids waste of resources.

[0081] In some embodiments, when the outdoor unit is in operation, if it detects a specific regular change in the communication status of all networked indoor units (i.e., a faulty indoor unit triggers a signal by shorting the outdoor communication unit), the outdoor unit will identify this change according to preset rules and continue to allocate energy according to the energy demand of other normally communicating indoor units, while ignoring the faulty indoor unit, in order to maintain the stable operation of the system.

[0082] In some embodiments, after the outdoor unit acquires communication status information with multiple indoor units, the method further includes: if the outdoor unit is in operation, and the communication status information indicates that at least two networked indoor units have lost communication with the outdoor unit, then the outdoor unit stops operating. This means that if the outdoor unit detects that the communication status information shows at least two networked indoor units have lost communication with the outdoor unit, the outdoor unit can decide to stop operating even if other indoor units in the system are operating normally. It is understood that when multiple communication failures exist in the system, it can be assumed that the system is facing a more serious failure or potential system-level problem, such as a communication bus failure, power supply problem, or widespread signal interference. Therefore, in this situation, to avoid further damage to the system or safety risks, the outdoor unit chooses to stop operating until the problem is resolved.

[0083] In some embodiments, after the outdoor unit acquires communication status change information of multiple networked indoor units, the method further includes: if the outdoor unit is in operation when the communication status change information indicates that at least one networked indoor unit is connected to the network within a first time period, the outdoor unit stops operating. It is understood that when the outdoor unit detects such inconsistent communication status changes, it can be considered that there are unstable factors or potential serious faults in the system. For the safety and integrity of the system, it is chosen to stop operating until the fault is completely diagnosed and repaired.

[0084] In some embodiments, each indoor unit, in addition to exchanging data with the outdoor unit via a communication line, also undertakes the function of directly serving the end user, that is, adjusting the indoor environment by connecting a load. After the indoor unit is turned on and sends its energy demand to the outdoor unit, the indoor unit load is turned on, the outdoor unit operates according to the energy demand of all indoor units, and the indoor units open the corresponding electronic expansion valve according to their respective energy demand and continue to operate until the indoor unit detects a communication failure with the outdoor unit, at which point it can shut down the connected load.

[0085] In some embodiments, when communication status information with multiple indoor units is obtained, and the communication status information indicates that communication with some indoor units is disconnected, the corresponding faulty indoor unit can be reported for repair through the interactive system.

[0086] refer to Figure 8 , Figure 8This is a step diagram illustrating an example of an air conditioner provided in this invention. As can be seen, in this invention, all indoor and outdoor units communicate normally through their respective relay circuits, forming a stable communication network. When an indoor unit detects a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit, it immediately activates its relay circuit. Within a preset first time period, the relay circuit short-circuits the communication unit of the outdoor unit, causing all networked indoor units to lose communication with the outdoor unit simultaneously. Furthermore, the outdoor unit detects changes in the communication status of all networked indoor units, identifies specific pattern signals, and determines the presence of a faulty indoor unit. Based on its current operating status and the identified fault mode, the outdoor unit adjusts its operating strategy, ignoring only the faulty indoor unit and continuing to provide energy and services to other normally communicating indoor units. This ensures that the non-faulty networked indoor units continue to maintain normal communication with the outdoor unit, receive energy from the outdoor unit, and continue to provide cooling or heating services to users.

[0087] refer to Figure 9 , Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner module provided in an embodiment of the present invention; secondly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioner, including an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units (such as...). Figure 9 The indoor unit comprises an indoor unit 1 to an indoor unit n; the indoor unit includes an electronic expansion valve, an indoor main control unit, and an indoor communication unit connected in sequence; the outdoor unit includes an outdoor communication unit and an outdoor main control unit connected to each other; wherein, the indoor main control unit is connected to both ends of the outdoor communication unit in the outdoor unit through a relay circuit, and the indoor main control unit is connected to the control terminal of the relay switch in the relay circuit, so that the air conditioner can be used to implement the air conditioner control method as described in any of the first aspects.

[0088] The electronic expansion valve is a key component for controlling refrigerant flow. Driven by the main control chip, it adjusts the refrigerant flow to meet different temperature requirements. The indoor main control unit is the main control chip circuit, responsible for controlling the operating status of the indoor unit, including load control and communication with the outdoor unit. The indoor communication unit includes a 485 communication chip and peripheral circuits, exchanging data with the outdoor unit to achieve coordinated system operation. The outdoor communication unit is paired with the indoor unit communication unit, responsible for signal transmission and reception, ensuring information flow between the indoor and outdoor units. The outdoor main control unit is responsible for the coordinated control of the entire air conditioning system, adjusting according to the needs of the indoor unit. The system distributes energy and monitors the system status. A relay circuit is installed between the indoor main control unit and the outdoor communication unit of the outdoor unit. It is used to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit under specific conditions to affect the system communication status, so that the outdoor unit can identify and make corresponding control decisions. The relay circuit includes a relay switch and a first core wire S1 and a second core wire S2. The first core wire S1 and the second core wire S2 are respectively connected to the two ends of the outdoor communication unit. The control terminal of the relay switch is connected to the indoor main control unit and is controlled by the indoor main control unit. After the relay is closed, S1 and S2 can be short-circuited. After short-circuiting, the entire communication system will be paralyzed. After disconnecting, it will return to normal.

[0089] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units. Under normal operating conditions, each indoor unit is connected to the communication unit of the outdoor unit via its relay circuit, forming a communication network. When an indoor unit detects a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit, it activates its relay circuit and short-circuits the communication unit of the outdoor unit for a preset first time period. This causes the other networked indoor units connected to the outdoor unit to lose communication with it simultaneously, resulting in a change in the communication status of the multiple networked indoor units. The outdoor unit then operates based on this change in communication status information. It can be understood that when a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit is detected... When the communication between the indoor and outdoor units is lost, the indoor unit can control the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a specific period of time, thereby causing multiple networked indoor units to temporarily lose communication with the outdoor unit. This mechanism allows the outdoor unit to identify the communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units, determine the fault mode of the faulty indoor unit based on the communication status change, and adjust the operating strategy accordingly. In this way, it can ignore only the faulty indoor unit and continue to maintain the operation of other normally communicating indoor units, thereby avoiding a complete system shutdown and ensuring the continuous service capability of non-faulty networked indoor units. While ensuring system safety, it effectively improves the operating efficiency of the air conditioner and the user experience.

[0090] Reference Figure 10 , Figure 10This is a schematic diagram of an operation control device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an operation control device 1000, including a memory 1010, a processor 1020, and a computer program stored in the memory 1010 and executable on the processor 1020. The processor 1020 executes the program to implement the air conditioner control method of the first aspect embodiment, for example, executing... Figure 1 Method steps S110 to S130 in the text Figure 2 Method steps S210 to S220, Figure 3 Method steps S310 to S320 in the text Figure 4 Method steps S410 to S420 in the text Figure 5 Method steps S510 to S520 in the text Figure 6 Method steps S610 to S630 in the text Figure 7 Method steps S710 to S720.

[0091] Understandably, when the operating control device executes the computer program, it can implement the control method of the air conditioner. This allows the indoor unit to control the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a specific period of time when a communication loss with the outdoor unit is detected. This causes multiple networked indoor units to temporarily lose communication with the outdoor unit. This mechanism enables the outdoor unit to recognize the communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units, determine the fault mode of the faulty indoor unit based on the communication status change, and adjust the operating strategy accordingly. As a result, it can ignore the faulty indoor unit and continue to maintain the operation of other normally communicating indoor units, thereby avoiding a complete system shutdown and ensuring the continuous service capability of non-faulty networked indoor units. While ensuring system safety, this effectively improves the operating efficiency of the air conditioner and the user experience.

[0092] The memory 1010, as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store non-transitory software programs and non-transitory computer-executable programs, such as the air conditioner control method in the above embodiments of the present invention. The processor 1020 implements the air conditioner control method in the above embodiments of the present invention by running the non-transitory software program and instructions stored in the memory 1010.

[0093] The memory 1010 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data required for executing the control method of the air conditioner in the above embodiments. Furthermore, the memory 1010 may include high-speed random access memory (RAM) 1010, and may also include non-transitory memory 1010, such as at least one disk storage device 1010, a flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state memory 1010. It should be noted that the memory 1010 may optionally include memory 1010 remotely located relative to the processor 1020, and these remote memories 1010 can be connected to the terminal via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, corporate intranets, local area networks (LANs), mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0094] Fourthly, embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-readable storage medium with computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a control method for an air conditioner as described in the first aspect embodiment, for example, executing... Figure 1 Method steps S110 to S130 in the text Figure 2 Method steps S210 to S220, Figure 3 Method steps S310 to S320 in the text Figure 4 Method steps S410 to S420 in the text Figure 5 Method steps S510 to S520 in the text Figure 6 Method steps S610 to S630 in the text Figure 7 Method steps S710 to S720.

[0095] It is understandable that when computer-executable instructions in a computer-readable storage medium are executed, a control method for the air conditioner can be implemented. This method enables the indoor unit to control a relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a specific duration when a communication disconnection with the outdoor unit is detected. This causes multiple networked indoor units to temporarily disconnect from the outdoor unit. This mechanism allows the outdoor unit to recognize the communication status changes of multiple networked indoor units, determine the fault mode of the faulty indoor unit with disconnected communication based on the communication status change, and adjust its operating strategy accordingly. As a result, it can ignore only the faulty indoor unit and continue to maintain the operation of other normally communicating indoor units, thereby avoiding a complete system shutdown and ensuring the continuous service capability of non-faulty networked indoor units. While ensuring system safety, this effectively improves the operating efficiency of the air conditioner and the user experience.

[0096] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all or some of the steps and systems in the methods disclosed above can be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and suitable combinations thereof. Some or all of the physical components can be implemented as software executed by a processor 1020, such as a central processing unit 1020, a digital signal processor 1020, or a microprocessor 1020, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software can be distributed on a computer-readable medium, which may include computer storage media or non-transitory media and communication media or transient media. As is known to those skilled in the art, the term computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technologies 1010, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc DVD or other optical disc storage, magnetic cartridges, magnetic tape, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired information and is accessible to a computer. Furthermore, as is known to those skilled in the art, communication media typically include computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in modulated data signals such as carrier waves or other transmission mechanisms, and may include any information delivery medium.

[0097] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units, each of the indoor units being connected to both ends of an outdoor communication unit in the outdoor unit via a relay circuit; the method includes: The indoor unit acquires communication status information with the outdoor unit; When the communication status information indicates that the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are disconnected from each other, the indoor unit controls the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit for a first duration, so that multiple networked indoor units are disconnected from the outdoor unit for the first duration. The outdoor unit operates based on the communication status changes of the multiple networked indoor units; The networked indoor unit is the indoor unit that communicates with the outdoor unit when the outdoor communication unit is not short-circuited.

2. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the indoor unit obtains the communication status information with the outdoor unit, the method further includes: When the communication status information indicates that the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected and the indoor unit is powered on, the indoor unit starts up and sends energy demand information to the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit supplies energy based on the energy demand information.

3. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the indoor unit controls the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit within a first time period, the method further includes: When the indoor unit is in operation, the indoor unit short-circuits the outdoor communication unit multiple times within a second time period according to a preset frequency, so that the multiple networked indoor units disconnect from the outdoor unit multiple times within the second time period; The outdoor unit operates according to the regular signals corresponding to the communication status changes of the multiple networked indoor units.

4. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that, Before the indoor unit short-circuits the outdoor communication unit multiple times within a second time period according to a preset frequency, the method further includes: When the current operating mode is heating mode, the indoor unit controls the opening of the electronic expansion valve in the indoor unit to decrease to a preset opening. When the current operating mode is cooling mode, the indoor unit stops operating.

5. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The indoor unit controls the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit within a first duration, including: When the indoor unit is powered on, the indoor unit controls the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit within the first time period after the third time period; When the indoor unit is in operation, the indoor unit controls the relay circuit to short-circuit the outdoor communication unit within the first time period after the fourth time period; The third duration is longer than the fourth duration.

6. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outdoor unit operates based on the communication status changes of the multiple networked indoor units, including: The outdoor unit acquires communication status information with the multiple indoor units; When the communication of the indoor unit is disconnected in the communication status information representation section, the outdoor unit obtains the communication status change information of the multiple networked indoor units; When the communication status change information indicates that all of the multiple networked indoor units have lost communication within the first time period, the outdoor unit operates according to its current status.

7. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 6, characterized in that, The outdoor unit operates according to its current state, including: When the outdoor unit is powered on, the outdoor unit starts up and operates, and supplies energy to the multiple networked indoor units according to the energy demand information sent by the multiple networked indoor units; When the outdoor unit is in operation, the outdoor unit acquires a regular signal corresponding to the communication status change information of the multiple networked indoor units. If the regular signal meets the preset requirements, the outdoor unit supplies energy to the multiple networked indoor units according to the energy demand information corresponding to the multiple networked indoor units.

8. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 6, characterized in that, After the outdoor unit acquires the communication status information with the multiple indoor units, the method further includes: If the communication status information indicates that at least two of the networked indoor units are disconnected, and the outdoor unit is in operation, then the outdoor unit will stop operating.

9. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 6, characterized in that, After the outdoor unit acquires the communication status change information of the multiple networked indoor units, the method further includes: If the communication status change information indicates that at least one of the networked indoor units is connected within the first time period, and the outdoor unit is in operation, then the outdoor unit stops operating.

10. An air conditioner, characterized in that, Includes an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units; The indoor unit includes an electronic expansion valve, an indoor main control unit, and an indoor communication unit connected in sequence. The outdoor unit includes an outdoor communication unit and an outdoor main control unit that are interconnected. The indoor main control unit is connected to both ends of the outdoor communication unit in the outdoor unit via a relay circuit, and the indoor main control unit is connected to the control terminal of the relay switch in the relay circuit. The air conditioner is used to implement the control method of the air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. An operation control device, characterized in that, The device includes a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the computer program to implement the control method for an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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