Control device, temperature adjustment system, temperature adjustment device control method, and program

Abstract

To suitably control operation of a compressor in a temperature adjustment device and reduce energy consumption while reducing any effect on a temperature adjustment function.SOLUTION: An embodiment comprises: an intake air temperature sensor 111 that is disposed in an air intake unit of an indoor unit 200 of an air conditioning device 400 serving as a temperature adjustment device and that detects the temperature of gas taken in; and an exhaust gas temperature sensor 112 that is disposed in an exhaust unit and that detects the temperature of gas discharged. After the elapse of a prescribed period of time or more from the start of operation of the air conditioning device 400, if the temperature detected by the intake air temperature sensor 111 reaches a prescribed first target temperature or lower, then a first control signal for causing a control unit 220 of the indoor unit 200 to perform control for stopping a compressor 311 is output to the control unit 220, and thereafter the output of the first control signal to the control unit 220 is stopped if the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature sensor 112 reaches a second target temperature or higher.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for controlling a temperature adjustment device, a temperature adjustment system including such a control device and a temperature adjustment device, a control method for a temperature adjustment device, and a program for causing a processor to execute a procedure for controlling the temperature adjustment device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, air conditioning devices with cooling and heating functions, and cooling devices such as refrigerators and freezers have been widely used as temperature adjustment devices that adjust the temperature of a specific area. In such temperature adjustment devices, a refrigerant sealed in a pipe is compressed and expanded using a compressor and a pressure reducer, and the heat on the heat absorption side is transferred to the heat exhaust side by transferring the heat of the refrigerant through two heat exchangers arranged on the heat absorption side and the heat of the refrigerant is discarded on the heat exhaust side. If the heat absorption side is inside a room or a storage unit, the temperature adjustment device functions as a cooling, refrigeration, or freezing device, and if the heat exhaust side is inside a room or a storage unit, the temperature adjustment device functions as a heating, heat retention, or heating device.

[0003] In such a temperature adjustment device, the main energy consumption occurs when driving the compressor, and the amount of energy consumed is also large. Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for reducing energy consumption by devising on / off control of compressors in refrigerant systems, refrigeration and heating systems. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6434910 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not necessarily achieve a sufficient reduction rate in energy consumption. The present invention has been made against this background, and aims to appropriately control the operation of a compressor in a temperature control device to reduce energy consumption while minimizing the impact on the temperature control function, and also to make it possible to easily add such a control function to an existing temperature control device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the control device of the present invention is a control device that controls a temperature adjustment device comprising a compressor, a heat exchanger, an intake section, an exhaust section, a temperature sensor and a control section, in which gas sucked in through the intake section is subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchanger and exhausted through the exhaust section, and the control section controls the operation of the compressor based on a signal supplied from the temperature sensor. The control device is provided with an intake temperature sensor that is disposed in the intake section and detects the temperature of the gas sucked in, an exhaust temperature sensor that is disposed in the exhaust section and detects the temperature of the gas exhausted, an operation detection section that detects whether the temperature adjustment device is operating or not, and a control signal output section that is capable of performing a first control that outputs a first control signal to the control section to cause the control section to control the compressor to stop or operate at a low speed when a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the start of operation of the temperature adjustment device and the detected temperature of the intake temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined first target temperature, and then, when the detected temperature of the exhaust temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than a second target temperature determined based on the first target temperature, stops outputting the first control signal to the control section.

[0007] In such a control device, a heat exchanger temperature sensor is provided that is placed in the heat exchanger and detects the temperature of the heat exchanger, and in the first control, when the detected temperature of the intake air temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than the first target temperature after the predetermined time has elapsed since the temperature adjustment device started operating, the control signal output unit stores the detected temperature of the heat exchanger temperature sensor, and thereafter, when the detected temperature of the heat exchanger temperature sensor rises by more than a predetermined first threshold value compared to the stored detected temperature and the detected temperature of the exhaust air temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than the second target temperature, the control signal output unit stops outputting the first control signal to the control unit.

[0008] Alternatively, the control signal output unit switches between cooling mode and heating mode depending on whether the detected temperature of the exhaust temperature sensor at the time when the predetermined time has elapsed since the temperature adjustment device started operating is equal to or higher than a predetermined second threshold, and performs the first control in the cooling mode, and in the heating mode, outputs the first control signal to the control unit when the detected temperature of the intake air temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined third target temperature after the predetermined time has elapsed since the temperature adjustment device started operating, and then performs a second control to stop outputting the first control signal to the control unit when the detected temperature of the exhaust temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a fourth target temperature determined based on the third target temperature.

[0009] Alternatively, the control signal output unit switches between cooling mode and heating mode depending on whether the detected temperature of the exhaust temperature sensor at the time when the predetermined time has elapsed since the temperature adjustment device started operating is equal to or higher than a predetermined second threshold, and performs the first control in the cooling mode, and in the heating mode, when the detected temperature of the intake air temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined third target temperature after the predetermined time has elapsed since the temperature adjustment device started operating, outputs the first control signal to the control unit and stores the detected temperature of the heat exchanger temperature sensor, and then, when the detected temperature of the heat exchanger temperature sensor drops by equal to or higher than the predetermined second threshold compared to the stored detected temperature, and then, when the detected temperature of the exhaust temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a fourth target temperature determined based on the third target temperature, performs a second control to stop outputting the first control signal to the control unit.

[0010] In addition, in any of the above control devices, it is preferable that the operation of the heating mode be switchable between a normal heating mode and a ceiling-mounted heating mode in which the third target temperature is higher than in the normal heating mode and the fourth target temperature is the same. Furthermore, in any of the above control devices, the temperature adjustment device may be driven by an AC power source and include a power supply circuit for supplying DC power to a remote controller of the temperature adjustment device via a terminal, and the control device may be driven by a DC power source and include a connection portion for electrically connecting to the terminal of the temperature adjustment device.

[0011] In addition, a temperature adjustment system of the present invention comprises any one of the above-mentioned control devices and the above-mentioned temperature adjustment device, wherein the temperature adjustment device is driven by an AC power source and has a power supply circuit for supplying DC power to a remote controller of the temperature adjustment device via a terminal, and the control device is driven by a DC power source and receives power from the above-mentioned terminal of the above-mentioned temperature adjustment device.

[0012] In addition, in any of the above control devices, when the control signal output unit stops outputting the first control signal to the control unit, it is preferable that the control signal output unit outputs a second control signal to the control unit to cause the control unit to control the compressor to operate at a rated speed. Furthermore, after the control signal output unit outputs the second control signal to the control unit, it is preferable that the control signal output unit stops outputting the second control signal to the control unit before next outputting the first control signal to the control unit.

[0013] The present invention as described above can be implemented in any form, such as the control device or temperature adjustment system as described above, a system in which the functions of each device are distributed to multiple devices and operated in cooperation with each other, a method, a program, or a recording medium on which a program is recorded. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, the operation of the compressor in the temperature control device can be appropriately controlled to reduce energy consumption while minimizing the impact on the temperature control function. In addition, such a control function can be easily added to an existing temperature control device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention and an air conditioner 400 which is an example of a temperature adjustment device that is a target of control by the control device 100. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the control device 100 in more detail. [Diagram 3] 11A to 11C are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on an operation panel 120. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart of a process executed by a CPU 101 of the control device 100. [Diagram 5] 5 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the process shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the process shown in FIG. [Figure 7]FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 and illustrating a schematic configuration of a control device 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention and an air conditioner 400 which is an example of a temperature adjustment device to be controlled by the control device 100. [Figure 8] 10 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 and illustrating in more detail the hardware configuration of the control device 100 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on operation panel 120 in the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on operation panel 120 in a modified example, and corresponds to FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] [First embodiment: Figs. 1 to 5] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a control device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention and an air conditioner 400 which is an example of a temperature adjustment device that is an object of control by the control device 100. As shown in FIG. An air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as "air conditioner") 400 shown in Fig. 1 comprises an indoor unit 200 and an outdoor unit 300. The indoor unit 200 is usually placed inside a wall 500 of a building, indoors, where the room temperature (temperature of air, which is a gas) should be adjusted. The outdoor unit 300 is placed outdoors. Fig. 1 mainly shows the configuration of the air conditioner 400 related to temperature adjustment.

[0017] The control device 100 is a device that is additionally installed in the air conditioner 400 and has a function of controlling the operation of the compressor 311 of the air conditioner 400 with an algorithm different from that of the control unit 220 on the air conditioner 400 side. The air conditioner 400 includes a refrigerant circuit 410 that spans the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300. The refrigerant circuit 410 is a closed circuit filled with refrigerant, and can be configured, for example, so that the refrigerant circulates to perform a vapor compression refrigeration cycle.

[0018] The refrigerant circuit 410 includes a compressor 311, a four-way valve (four-way switching valve) 312, an outdoor heat exchanger 313, and an expansion valve (pressure reducing valve) 314 on the outdoor unit 300 side, and an indoor heat exchanger 211 on the indoor unit 200 side, which are connected by a refrigerant pipe 310 with the refrigerant sealed inside. The compressor 311 has a discharge side connected to a first port P1 of the four-way valve 312, and a suction side connected to a third port P3 of the four-way valve 312.

[0019] During cooling operation, as shown by solid lines in the figure, the four-way valve 312 connects the first port P1 to the second port P2, and also connects the third port P3 to the fourth port P4. This forms a path through which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 311 passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 313, the expansion valve 314, and the indoor heat exchanger 211 in this order, and returns to the suction side of the compressor 311. During heating operation, the four-way valve 312 connects the first port P1 to the fourth port P4, and also connects the second port P2 to the third port P3, as shown by the imaginary lines in the figure. This forms a path through which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 311 passes through the indoor heat exchanger 211, the expansion valve 314, and the outdoor heat exchanger 313 in this order, and returns to the suction side of the compressor 311.

[0020] Of these components, the compressor 311 compresses and discharges the sucked refrigerant. Any type of compressor, such as a fixed capacity type or a variable capacity type, can be used. In outdoor heat exchanger 313, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and outdoor air taken in from ventilation opening 316 by outdoor fan 321 as indicated by arrow A. The air after heat exchange is discharged from ventilation opening 316 as indicated by arrow B. The expansion valve 314 reduces the pressure of the high-pressure liquid refrigerant to a state where it is easy to evaporate, and turns it into a low-pressure liquid refrigerant. Any type of expansion valve can be used, such as a capillary tube, a thermostatic expansion valve, or an electronic expansion valve.

[0021] In the indoor heat exchanger 211 on the indoor unit 200 side, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and indoor air taken in from an intake port 214 by the indoor fan 212. The indoor fan 212, for example, rotates an impeller tilted forward in the rotation direction to draw in air from the intake port 214 as intake C, and releases the air after heat exchange from the exhaust port 215 as exhaust D. In this way, indoor air is taken in by the indoor unit 200, and the air with its temperature and the like adjusted is discharged into the room.

[0022] Due to the above-mentioned components, when the compressor 311 is operated during cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 313 becomes a condenser (heat radiator) and the indoor heat exchanger 211 becomes an evaporator to perform a refrigeration cycle. In this case, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 311 flows to the outdoor heat exchanger 313 and radiates heat to the outdoor air. The refrigerant that has radiated heat then expands (reduced in pressure) when passing through the expansion valve 314 and flows to the indoor heat exchanger 211. In the indoor heat exchanger 211, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air and evaporates, and the cooled indoor air is supplied to the room. The evaporated refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 311 and compressed.

[0023] During heating operation, when the compressor 311 is operated, the indoor heat exchanger 211 becomes a condenser (heat radiator) and the outdoor heat exchanger 313 becomes an evaporator to perform a refrigeration cycle. In this case, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 311 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 211 and radiates heat to the indoor air. As a result, heated indoor air is supplied to the room. The refrigerant that radiates heat expands (is reduced in pressure) when passing through the expansion valve 314. The refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve 314 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 313 and absorbs heat from the outdoor air to evaporate. The evaporated refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 311 and compressed.

[0024] The operation of each of the above components is controlled by a control unit 220 provided on the indoor unit 200 side. The control unit 220 may be a computer equipped with a processor and memory, a dedicated control circuit, or a combination of these. The control unit 220 controls the operation of each part by sending control signals C1 to Cn to each part of the air conditioner 400 based on detection signals from sensors provided in each part of the air conditioner 400, including the indoor unit 200 side and the outdoor unit 300 side. Signal lines (not shown) for transmitting these control signals are wired between the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300.

[0025] 1, the control signal C1 of the compressor 311, the control signal C2 of the outdoor fan 321, the control signal C3 of the four-way valve 312, the control signal C4 of the expansion valve 314, and the control signal C5 of the indoor fan 212 are shown as representatives, but are not limited to these. In addition, as for the sensor, the temperature sensor 213 that is provided near the intake port 214 and detects the temperature of the intake air C is shown as a sensor related to the features of this embodiment, but is not limited to this.

[0026] When only the air conditioner 400 is installed, wiring is performed so that the detection signal Tin of the temperature sensor 213 is input to the Tin terminal of the control unit 220. However, in this embodiment, when the control device 100 is installed, wiring is performed so that the detection signal Tin of the temperature sensor 213 is input to the control device 100, and the control signal Tinx output by the control device 100 is input to the Tin terminal of the control unit 220. The significance of this wiring will be described in detail later.

[0027] The air conditioner 400 is configured to be driven by supplying power from an AC power source 510 provided in the building to a power source circuit 230 provided in the indoor unit 200. The power source circuit 230 appropriately adjusts the voltage and current of the electricity supplied from the AC power source 510, converting it to DC as necessary, and supplies the necessary power to each part of the indoor unit 200. The indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300 are also connected by a power line (not shown), and the power source circuit 230 also supplies the necessary power to each part on the outdoor unit 300 side.

[0028] The air conditioner 400 is also provided with a remote controller 240, which is connected to the control unit 220 via a signal line 222. By operating the remote controller 240, the user can operate the air conditioner 400 by issuing various operational instructions to the control unit 220, such as turning the power on and off, switching between cooling and heating, and setting the set temperatures for cooling and heating. Here, the remote controller 240 is driven by a DC power source. Also, the power supply circuit 230 supplies DC power to a DC power supply terminal 231 of the indoor unit 200. By connecting the power supply line 241 of the remote controller 240 to this DC power supply terminal 231, the remote controller 240 can receive power from the indoor unit 200 and operate.

[0029] Next, the configuration of the control device 100 and its periphery will be described. The control device 100 has a function of inputting detection signals T1 to T3 from the intake air temperature sensor 111, the exhaust air temperature sensor 112, and the heat exchanger temperature sensor 113, inputting a detection signal E1 indicating the operating state of the power supply circuit 230, and controlling the operation of the compressor 311 provided in the air conditioner 400 in accordance with these signals.

[0030] The intake air temperature sensor 111 is disposed in an intake section near the intake port 214 of the indoor unit 200 through which the intake air C passes, and is a sensor that detects the temperature of the intake air C. The exhaust air temperature sensor 112 is disposed in an exhaust section through which the exhaust air D passes, near the exhaust port 215 of the indoor unit 200, and is a sensor that detects the temperature of the exhaust air D. The heat exchanger temperature sensor 113 is a sensor that is provided near or inside the indoor heat exchanger 211 or in contact with the indoor heat exchanger 211, and detects the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 211. As these temperature sensors, any type of sensor, such as a thermistor, a thermocouple, or an infrared sensor, can be used, whether contact or non-contact.

[0031] The operating state of the power supply circuit 230 is detected by, for example, installing a current sensor 114 in a circuit of the power supply circuit 230 that supplies power to each part of the refrigerant circuit 410, thereby detecting whether the power supply circuit 230 is supplying power for cooling or heating operation, i.e., whether cooling or heating is in operation. In other words, the current sensor 114 is installed at a location in the power supply circuit 230 where such detection is possible. The current sensor 114 can be, for example, a magnetic type, but other types may also be used.

[0032] As described above, the control device 100 is connected to the control unit 220 of the indoor unit 200 via a signal line, and can input a control signal Tinx to the control unit 220. The operation panel 120 is an operation unit for operating the control device 100, and is connected to the control device 100 via an appropriate communication path, which may be wired or wireless.

[0033] The above control device 100 is an embodiment of the control device of the present invention even if it is alone, or if it includes any of the intake air temperature sensor 111, exhaust air temperature sensor 112, heat exchanger temperature sensor 113, and current sensor 114, and signal lines or wireless communication units for connecting to these sensors. Of course, the control device 100 may also include an operation panel 120. Moreover, an air conditioning system including the control device 100 and the air conditioner 400 is an embodiment of a temperature adjustment system of the present invention.

[0034] Next, the hardware configuration of the control device 100 will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the control device 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 100 is a computer including a CPU 101, a memory 102, a communication I / F 103, a notification unit 104, an input / output I / F 105, a SW (switch) control unit 106, and a DIP switch 107, which are connected via a system bus 108. It also includes a relay switch 109.

[0035] The CPU 101 is a processor, and by executing a program stored in the memory 102, realizes various functions including a function for controlling the operation panel 120 and a function for controlling the operation of the compressor 311. The memory 102 is a storage unit that stores programs executed by the CPU 101, various parameters used by the CPU 101, and the like, and also functions as a work memory.

[0036] The communication I / F 103 is an interface for communicating with the operation panel 120, and may be wired or wireless. It may also have a function for communicating with other devices. The notification unit 104 has a function of providing various notifications to the user by light, sound, etc., and includes an LED (light emitting diode), a speaker, etc. If the notification function can be provided by the operation panel 120, the notification unit 104 does not need to be provided.

[0037] The input / output I / F 105 has a function of inputting detection signals T1 to T3, E1, and Tin from the various sensors shown in Fig. 1, and outputting a control signal Tinx to the control unit 220. The lines corresponding to these signals include, in addition to signal lines for transmitting signals in the directions of the arrows shown in the figure, signal lines for transmitting signals in the opposite direction as necessary (such as control signals to the sensors) and power supply lines for power supply.

[0038] The SW control unit 106 has a function of controlling the operation of the relay switch 109 . The DIP switch 107 is a switch for receiving settings that are not frequently changed and that the user should not touch, among the settings related to the operation of the control device 100. In this example, the DIP switch 107 is used to set on / off a ceiling installation mode, which will be described later.

[0039] The relay switch 109 is a switch that connects the terminal a side indicated by a solid line to the output line of the control signal Tinx when no control signal is supplied (including the case where the control device 100 itself is not operating), and connects the terminal b side indicated by a virtual line to the output line of the control signal Tinx while a switching signal is supplied from the SW control unit 106. A switch other than a relay type may be used.

[0040] When the relay switch 109 is in a state where the terminal a side is selected, the detection signal Tin of the temperature sensor 213 provided in the air conditioner 400 is directly supplied to the output line of the control signal Tinx. As described above, this output line is connected to the Tin terminal of the control unit 220 to which the detection signal Tin should be supplied. Therefore, in this state, the control unit 220 controls the operation of the compressor 311 according to the detection signal Tin of the temperature sensor 213 in exactly the same way as in a state where the control device 100 is not present, and the control device 100 does not have any effect on the operation of the compressor 311. Since this state is reached when the control device 100 itself is not operating, even if the control device 100 ceases to function due to a breakdown or the like, the air conditioner 400 simply operates as it should, and there is no particular inconvenience other than the fact that the effect of the control device 100 cannot be obtained.

[0041] On the other hand, in a state where the relay switch 109 selects the terminal b side, a control signal output from the Tinx terminal of the input / output I / F 105 is supplied to the output line of the control signal Tinx. In this state, the control device 100 can affect the operation of the compressor 311. However, in the example described here, the algorithm of the control executed by the control unit 220 is not changed, and a signal indicating a temperature different from the actual detected temperature, which simulates the detection signal Tin of the temperature sensor 213, is input to the control unit 220, thereby indirectly controlling the operation of the compressor 311.

[0042] For example, during cooling operation, the controller 220 of almost all models of air conditioners 400 is expected to stop or operate the compressor 311 at a low speed if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 213 is extremely low (to the extent that an error does not occur), since no further cooling is necessary. Therefore, if a signal indicating such a temperature detection result is output from the Tinx terminal, the controller 220 can control the compressor 311 to stop or operate at a low speed, regardless of the detected temperature indicated by the detection signal Tin of the temperature sensor 213, thereby stopping or operating the compressor 311 at a low speed. The control signal for this purpose is the first control signal (compressor stop signal). In the following description, only the control for stopping the compressor 311 will be described, but similar energy saving is possible even when the compressor is operated at a low speed instead of being stopped.

[0043] Conversely, if a signal indicating that the temperature detected by temperature sensor 213 is extremely high is output from the Tinx terminal, it is possible to cause control unit 220 to control compressor 311 to operate at rated speed, thereby operating compressor 311 at rated speed. The control signal for this purpose is the second control signal (compressor operation signal). Note that "rated operation" here refers to operating compressor 311 at an output that is determined in air conditioner 400 as an output sufficient to continuously rotate the refrigeration cycle. However, for control of the operating side, the control unit 220 may employ an algorithm that does not immediately start rated operation of the compressor 311 even if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 213 becomes high. For example, this is because the refrigerant temperature may be low enough that cooling can continue without operating the compressor 311 at rated speed.

[0044] 4 and 5, when it is desired to operate the compressor 311, the relay switch 109 is switched to the terminal a side, and the compressor 311 is operated in accordance with the original control algorithm of the control unit 220. This is because, among the control functions of the control device 100, what is important is to reduce the energy consumption of the air conditioner 400 by stopping the compressor 311 during a period when a specific condition is satisfied, and the timing at which the compressor 311 is operated outside that period is relatively unimportant. However, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 6, an algorithm may be employed in which the second control signal is used to operate the compressor 311 at the rated speed.

[0045] Also, during heating operation, the compressor 311 can be controlled in a manner opposite to that during cooling operation. During heating operation, the expected operation of the control unit 220 of almost all models of air conditioners 400 is to stop the compressor 311 when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 213 is extremely high (to the extent that an error does not occur) since further heating is not necessary. Therefore, if a signal indicating such a temperature detection result is output from the Tinx terminal, the control unit 220 can control the compressor 311 to stop, thereby stopping the compressor 311. The control signal for this purpose is also the first control signal.

[0046] Conversely, if a signal indicating that the temperature detected by temperature sensor 213 is extremely low is output from the Tinx terminal, it is possible to have control unit 220 perform control to operate compressor 311, thereby operating compressor 311. The control signal for this purpose is also the second control signal. The considerations regarding whether or not to use the second control signal are the same as those for the cooling operation.

[0047] The current, voltage, waveform, etc. of the first and second control signals can be determined by measuring the characteristics of the temperature sensor 213 when the control device 100 is installed, and stored in the memory 102, and the input / output I / F 105 can then output a signal that matches those characteristics. Alternatively, the resistance value of the thermistor constituting the temperature sensor 213 provided in the indoor unit may be measured, and a resistor having a resistance value close to the measured value may be installed in the output path to adjust the characteristics of the first and second control signals. A variable resistance function capable of setting the resistance value may be built into the input / output I / F 105. However, the resistance values ​​of thermistors built into air conditioners 400 from different manufacturers vary, and when using resistors in this way, it is necessary to measure the resistance value of the thermistor one by one when installing the control device 100, and install a resistor close to this value.

[0048] The control device 100 may be configured to operate by receiving power from an AC power source near the installation location. However, this requires a power supply circuit inside the control device 100 to obtain a stable DC current for driving the CPU 101, etc., which leads to an increase in size and cost.

[0049] Meanwhile, in many cases, the control device 100 is disposed near the indoor unit 200, and the indoor unit 200 is provided with a DC power supply terminal 231 for supplying power to the remote controller 240. Therefore, as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 1, if the control device 100 is configured to receive power from this DC power supply terminal 231, the internal configuration of the control device 100 can be simplified, and miniaturization and cost reduction can be achieved. If the indoor unit 200 has an extra DC power supply terminal 231, a power line can be connected as is, and even if there is no spare, the power line can be branched and connected to both the control device 100 and the remote controller 240.

[0050] Next, operations accepted by the operator through the operation panel 120 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen 150 displayed on the operation panel 120. As shown in FIG. This operation screen 150 is displayed on a touch panel provided in operation panel 120 in response to an instruction transmitted from CPU 101. Fig. 3 shows a screen for setting the target temperatures for cooling and heating, which is displayed in response to the operation of setting button 181.

[0051] This operation screen 150 is provided with a cooling temperature setting section 160 and a heating temperature setting section 170. The operator can input a desired temperature into input fields 161, 171 using keys or the like displayed in a pop-up display, and operate change buttons 162, 172 to set the target temperatures for cooling and heating. This target temperature is referred to by the control device 100, but it does not have to be the same as the set temperature set by the remote controller 240 and referred to by the control unit 220 of the air conditioner 400.

[0052] The bypass mode button 182 is a button for toggling on and off the bypass mode in which the relay switch 109 is constantly connected to the terminal a side. During the bypass mode, the control device 100 has no effect on the operation of the air conditioner 400.

[0053] The data save button 183 is a button for toggling on and off the saving of the operation log of the control device 100. When the save is on, for example, the operating time, the time when the relay switch 109 is connected to the terminal b side, the timing when each judgment in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 becomes Yes, and the like are saved as an operation log in the memory 102. This operation log can be read out to an external PC or the like via the communication I / F 103. In addition, it is conceivable that the current sensor 114 is capable of detecting the total amount of current supplied from the power supply circuit 230 to each part of the air conditioner 400 or the amount of current supplied to the compressor 311, and these current amounts are also saved as an operation log. Based on this information, the change in energy consumption according to the on / off of the bypass mode can be analyzed, and the reduction in energy consumption by the control device 100 can be estimated.

[0054] Next, the processing executed by the CPU 101 of the control device 100 will be described. 4 and 5 are flowcharts of this process. The process shown here is a process according to an embodiment of a temperature adjustment device control method of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the process of each step will be explained as being executed by the control device 100. When the control device 100 is started up or returns from a sleep state, the control device 100 starts the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0055] 4, the control device 100 first connects the relay switch 109 to the terminal a side (S11). As described above, the relay switch 109 is configured to be connected to the terminal a side when no control signal is supplied, so that the relay switch 109 should be connected to the terminal a side at the time of startup, and the process of step S11 can be omitted.

[0056] The control device 100 then determines whether the detection signal E1, which indicates the operating state of the power supply circuit 230, is ON (operating) (S12). If it is not operating, the control device 100 does not need to control the air conditioner 400, so it transitions to a sleep mode (S24) and ends the process. It is advisable to monitor the detection signal E1 even during the sleep mode, and if it turns ON, execute the process of FIG. 4 again. In the process of step S12, the CPU 101 functions as an operation detection unit.

[0057] On the other hand, if the answer is Yes in step S12, the control device 100 starts each of the temperature sensors 111-113 and starts monitoring the detection signals T1-T3 (S13). After that, the control device 100 waits for a predetermined time (S14). The predetermined time is set to a time required for the compressor 311 to operate for a sufficient time after the air conditioner 400 has been turned on after not being used for a while, and for cold air (in the case of cooling) or warm air (in the case of heating) to be discharged from the exhaust port 215 of the indoor unit 200. This time may be set to, for example, two minutes. However, even if the predetermined time is extended, the time required for the control device 100 to actually start controlling the compressor 311 will be extended, and the energy saving effect will be reduced accordingly, but there will be no further disadvantage. Therefore, the predetermined time may be set to a longer time.

[0058] After waiting for a predetermined time, the control device 100 judges whether the detection signal T2 of the exhaust temperature sensor 112 indicates 25° C. or less (S15). If the answer is Yes, it is determined that the indoor unit 200 is discharging cool air and therefore the air conditioner 400 is performing a cooling operation, and the control device 100 transitions to cooling mode control (first control) (S16) and proceeds to the processing of step S17 and thereafter. If the answer is No in step S15, it is determined that the indoor unit 200 is discharging warm air and therefore the air conditioner 400 is performing a heating operation, and the control device 100 transitions to heating mode control (second control) (S31 in FIG. 5) and proceeds to processing from step S32 onwards.

[0059] The 25°C used as the criterion in step S15 is selected as a temperature higher than the cold air temperature discharged during cooling operation and lower than the warm air temperature discharged during heating operation in most air conditioners 400 regardless of the model, but the specific numerical value is not limited to this. In air conditioners 400, regardless of the set room temperature for cooling or heating and the actual room temperature, the temperature of the cold air or warm air discharged when the room temperature is relatively stable is usually within a limited range. For this reason, assuming the state after the predetermined time in step S14 has elapsed, it is usually possible to determine a reference temperature such as the above 25°C. Also, the temperature of the intake air C does not need to be taken into consideration in the judgment in step S15.

[0060] Next, in the case of the cooling mode, the control device 100 determines whether or not the temperature indicated by the detection signal T1 from the intake air temperature sensor 111 (i.e., the air temperature in the room in which the indoor unit 200 is installed) has become equal to or lower than the cooling target temperature (first target temperature) set on the screen of FIG. 3 within a predetermined upper limit time (S17, S18). The predetermined upper limit time used in step S17 is set to a time that is considered long enough for the indoor air temperature to reach the cooling target temperature, taking into consideration the predetermined time in step S14, even when the air conditioner 400 is turned on after not being used for a while. For example, it may be set to 3 minutes.

[0061] If step S18 does not result in Yes within this upper limit time, step S17 results in Yes, and error processing from step S25 onwards is entered. That is, the control device 100 connects the relay switch 109 to the terminal a side (S25), and if the number of consecutive resets is less than a predetermined number, resets and restarts the CPU 101 (S26, S27). A retry is performed in consideration of cases such as when the detection signal from the sensor is not being input normally. If the number of consecutive resets exceeds a predetermined number, the notification unit 104 notifies the operator of the occurrence of an abnormality with light, sound, etc., and ends the processing (S28). In this case, it is possible that the air conditioning function of the air conditioner 400 is not working normally, or that a sensor on the control device 100 side has broken down, and so the control device 100 is stopped.

[0062] On the other hand, if the result in step S18 is Yes, the control device 100 stores the temperature T3m indicated by the detection signal T3 from the heat exchanger temperature sensor 113 at that time (S19), and connects the relay switch 109 to the terminal b side (S20). As a result, the above-mentioned first control signal (compressor stop signal) is output from the Tinx terminal of the input / output I / F 105 to the control unit 220. The control unit 220 is expected to stop the compressor 311 when the first control signal is input.

[0063] Thereafter, the control device 100 continues to output the compressor stop signal until the temperature indicated by the detection signal T3 from the heat exchanger temperature sensor 113 becomes equal to or higher than T3m+0.5°C (the temperature of T3 rises by equal to or higher than the first threshold) and thereafter the temperature indicated by the detection signal T2 from the exhaust temperature sensor 112 becomes equal to or higher than the cooling target temperature+0.5°C (the second target temperature) (S21, S22). During this time, the compressor 311 remains stopped.

[0064] If the result in step S22 is Yes, the control device 100 connects the relay switch 109 to the terminal a side (S23). As a result, the detection signal Tin of the temperature sensor 213 provided in the air conditioner 400 is input directly to the control unit 220, and the control unit 220 is in a state where it controls the operation and stop of the compressor 311 according to the original control function of the air conditioner 400. And, since at this point in time, the indoor unit 200 is in a state where it is unable to discharge cold air that is below the cooling target temperature, it is expected that the control unit 220 will operate the compressor 311 immediately or in the near future, and the discharge of cold air from the indoor unit 200 will resume. After that, the process returns to step S17 and is repeated.

[0065] Among the above series of processes, steps S18 and S20 are intended to forcibly stop compressor 311 when the indoor air temperature drops to the cooling target temperature, since further cooling is no longer necessary, thereby reducing energy consumption. According to the inventors' research, there are many models in which the control algorithm (original to air conditioner 400) provided in control unit 220 does not necessarily stop compressor 311 at this point for some reason, resulting in large energy consumption, but by having control device 100 intervene in this control and stop compressor 311, it is possible to reduce energy consumption.

[0066] Even when the compressor 311 is stopped, if the air conditioner 400 is operating, the indoor fan 212 will operate, so that heat from the intake air C will continue to be supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 211, and will continue to give heat to the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe 310. As a result, the temperature of the refrigerant will gradually rise, and the efficiency of heat absorption will decrease. The determination in step S21 is essentially to determine whether the room temperature is being maintained compared to the time when the compressor 311 was stopped, that is, the time when the room temperature became the cooling target temperature, and to determine Yes if the efficiency of heat absorption has decreased to a certain degree. The "+0.5°C" portion may be determined depending on how much of a decrease in heat absorption efficiency is acceptable.

[0067] Furthermore, even if the efficiency of heat absorption has decreased, the indoor unit 200 is still able to discharge exhaust air D at a lower temperature than the intake air C, and there is no need to immediately start the compressor 311. Here, in step S22, the stop of the compressor 311 is released at the point in time when the temperature of the exhaust air D actually exceeds the target cooling temperature (+α) and it becomes impossible to maintain the room temperature at the target cooling temperature without operating the compressor 311. This makes it possible to minimize the time during which the compressor 311 is operated, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the air conditioner 400.

[0068] In the example of Fig. 4, the value of +α is +0.5°C, but is not limited to this value. If α is large, it is expected that it will take a long time for the temperature of exhaust gas D to drop after relay switch 109 is switched over, resulting in large fluctuations in room temperature, while if α is small, the time that compressor 311 is stopped will be short, resulting in small energy saving effects. An appropriate value can be set taking these factors into consideration. A negative value is also possible.

[0069] Furthermore, in many cases, the determination in step S21 will be Yes before the determination in step S22. However, since the temperature of the exhaust gas is generally more susceptible to fluctuation than the temperature of the heat exchanger, the determination in step S21 is also performed, and the compressor 311 is released from the stopped state after this determination is Yes, thereby making it possible to determine the release timing more accurately and to achieve greater energy savings. However, it is also possible to omit the determination in step S21 and perform the determination in step S22 only. In this case, there may be cases where the compressor 311 is released from the stopped state earlier than when the processing in FIG. 4 is performed, but the reduction in energy consumption will be slightly reduced and there will be no other problems.

[0070] In addition, considering that the heat absorption capacity remains in the indoor heat exchanger 211 for a while even if the compressor 311 is stopped in step S20, if the compressor 311 is stopped when the target cooling temperature is reached, the actual room temperature may temporarily become lower than the target cooling temperature due to the remaining cooling capacity. This is a temperature drop that does not meet the user's needs, and consuming energy for this purpose may be considered wasteful.

[0071] Then, by comparing T1 with a value higher than the actual cooling target temperature in step S18, it is believed that energy consumption can be further reduced while the room temperature is set to the temperature desired by the user. How many degrees higher than the cooling target temperature should be set varies depending on the installation environment of the indoor unit 200, the outdoor temperature, etc., but it is preferable to set the temperature difference so that the room temperature (T1) just reaches the cooling target temperature at or shortly before step S22 becomes Yes. In many environments, it is expected that this can be achieved with a temperature difference of about 0.5°C to 2°C.

[0072] Next, the operation of the heating mode will be described. In this case, the control device 100 first judges whether or not the ceiling installation mode is set (S32). The ceiling installation mode is a mode in which, when the indoor unit 200 is installed on the ceiling of a room, warm air is likely to accumulate at the top, and in order to properly grasp whether or not the room temperature has reached the heating target temperature, the intake air temperature is compared with a temperature higher than the heating target temperature in step S36. That is, when the ceiling installation mode is set, the third target temperature is set higher than when the ceiling installation mode is not set. Since the installation position of the indoor unit 200 is usually fixed, the ceiling installation mode can be set by the installer when installing the control device 100, and there is no need to change it thereafter.

[0073] In the case of a normal heating mode other than the ceiling mounted mode, it is determined whether or not the temperature indicated by the detection signal T1 from the intake air temperature sensor 111 (i.e., the air temperature in the room where the indoor unit 200 is installed) has reached or exceeded the heating target temperature (third target temperature) set on the screen of Fig. 3 within a predetermined upper limit time (S33, S34). In the case of the ceiling mounted mode, it is determined whether or not the temperature indicated by the same T1 has reached or exceeded the heating target temperature +3°C (third target temperature) (S35, S36). This value of +3°C is just an example, and an appropriate value may be set based on the temperature difference between near the ceiling when the unit is mounted on the ceiling and an appropriate location in the room, etc.

[0074] The predetermined upper limit time used in steps S33 and S35 is set to a time that is considered long enough for the indoor air temperature to reach the heating target temperature, taking into consideration the predetermined time in step S14, even when the air conditioner 400 is turned on after not being used for a while. For example, it may be set to 3 minutes, but it is not essential to set it to the same time as in the cooling mode. In either case, if step S34 or S36 does not result in Yes within the upper limit time, step S33 or S35 results in Yes, and the process enters error processing from step S25 onward in FIG. 4, as in the cooling mode.

[0075] On the other hand, if step S34 or S36 is Yes, the control device 100 stores the temperature T3m indicated by the detection signal T3 from the heat exchanger temperature sensor 113 at that time (S37), and connects the relay switch 109 to the terminal b side (S38). This is the same operation as steps S19 and S20 in the cooling mode, and it is expected that this will cause the control unit 220 to stop the compressor 311.

[0076] Thereafter, the control device 100 continues to output the first control signal (compressor stop signal) until the temperature indicated by the detection signal T3 from the heat exchanger temperature sensor 113 falls below T3m stored in step S37 (the temperature T3 falls by more than the second threshold value ≈ 0) and thereafter the temperature indicated by the detection signal T2 from the exhaust temperature sensor 112 falls below the heating target temperature (fourth target temperature) (S39, S40). During this time, the compressor 311 remains stopped.

[0077] If the answer is Yes in step S40, the control device 100 connects the relay switch 109 to the terminal a (S41). As a result, similar to the case of step 23 in the cooling mode, the control unit 220 controls the operation and stop of the compressor 311 according to the original control function of the air conditioner 400. And, since at this point in time the indoor unit 200 is in a state where it is unable to discharge warm air above the heating target temperature, it is expected that the control unit 220 will operate the compressor 311 immediately or in the near future, and the discharge of warm air from the indoor unit 200 will resume. Thereafter, the process returns to step S32 and is repeated.

[0078] Among the above series of controls, steps S34, S36, and S38 are intended to forcibly stop compressor 311 when the indoor air temperature has risen to the heating target temperature, since further heating is no longer necessary, thereby reducing energy consumption. According to the inventors' research, there are many models in which the control algorithm (original to air conditioner 400) provided in control unit 220 does not necessarily stop compressor 311 at this point even in the case of heating for some reason, resulting in large energy consumption, but by having control device 100 intervene in this control and stop compressor 311, it is possible to reduce energy consumption.

[0079] Even when the compressor 311 is stopped, if the air conditioner 400 is operating, the indoor fan 212 operates, so that heat from the indoor heat exchanger 211 continues to be supplied to the intake air C and continues to remove heat from the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe 310. As a result, the temperature of the refrigerant gradually drops and the heating efficiency decreases. The determination in step S39 is essentially to determine whether the room temperature is being maintained compared to the time when the compressor 311 was stopped, that is, the time when the room temperature became the heating target temperature, and to return Yes if the heating efficiency has decreased to a certain degree. Depending on how much of a decrease in heat absorption efficiency is acceptable, a value slightly smaller than T3m may be used as the comparison target.

[0080] Furthermore, even if the heating efficiency has decreased, the indoor unit 200 is still able to discharge exhaust air D at a higher temperature than the intake air C, and there is no need to immediately start the compressor 311. Here, in step S40, the stop of the compressor 311 is released at the point in time when the temperature of the exhaust air D actually falls below the heating target temperature and it becomes impossible to maintain the room temperature at the heating target temperature without operating the compressor 311. This makes it possible to minimize the time during which the compressor 311 is operated, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the air conditioner 400.

[0081] In the example of Fig. 5, the value to be compared with T2 in step S40 is the heating target temperature itself, but is not limited to this value. For example, if the heating target temperature - β is used as the comparison, it is expected that if β is large, it will take a long time for the temperature of exhaust D to rise after relay switch 109 is switched over, resulting in large fluctuations in room temperature, while if β is small, the time for which compressor 311 is stopped will be short, resulting in small energy saving effects. An appropriate value may be set taking these factors into consideration. β may also be a negative value.

[0082] In many cases, the determination in step S39 is Yes before the determination in step S40. The reason why the determination in step S39 is provided despite this and the reason why it may be omitted are the same as the case of the determination in step S21 described in the cooling mode.

[0083] In addition, considering that the indoor heat exchanger 211 still has heat dissipation capacity remaining for a while even if the compressor 311 is stopped in step S38, stopping the compressor 311 when the heating target temperature is reached would result in a temperature rise that does not meet the user's needs, just like in the case of cooling. Then, in the heating mode, by comparing T1 with a value lower than the actual heating target temperature in step S34, it is possible to further reduce energy consumption while keeping the room temperature at the temperature desired by the user. The appropriate temperature difference is the same as in the cooling mode. The comparison target in step S36 in the ceiling mounted mode may be a temperature higher than the value in step S34 in the normal mode.

[0084] The control device 100 described above performs the processing of Figures 4 and 5, temporarily interrupting the control of the compressor 311 by the control unit 220 in the air conditioner 400, thereby essentially forcibly stopping the compressor 311 and reducing the operating time of the compressor 311 compared to when the control device 100 is not present, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the air conditioner 400.

[0085] Furthermore, when installing the control device 100, it is only necessary to place temperature sensors in three places in the indoor unit 200 and connect the input / output I / F 105 so as to interrupt the signal line from the temperature sensor 213 to the control unit 220, and there is no need to process other parts of the air conditioner 400. For this reason, the control device 100 is easy to install, and the possibility that the installation of the control device 100 will cause a malfunction of the air conditioner 400 is extremely low.

[0086] Depending on the algorithm for controlling the operation of the compressor 311 originally installed in the air conditioner 400, even if the control device 100 is installed, the energy saving effect may be small or may not be obtained. However, the possibility of such a case does not in any way diminish the usefulness of the control device 100. By repeated testing, it is quite possible to identify air conditioners 400 that will have a large energy saving effect when using the control device 100, based on the model number and year of manufacture, and therefore energy saving effects can be obtained by installing the control device 100 only for air conditioners 400 of the corresponding model number and year of manufacture.

[0087] (Modification of the first embodiment: FIG. 6) Next, a description will be given of a modified example of the first embodiment. In this modified example, when the answer is Yes in step S22 in FIG 4, the control device 100 executes steps S51 to S53 in FIG 6 instead of step S23. That is, when it is time to operate the compressor 311, instead of causing the control unit 220 to control the compressor 311 according to its original control function, a compressor operation signal is sent to the control unit 220 to control the compressor 311 to operate at its rated speed (S51). At this point, the relay switch 109 remains connected to the terminal b, and the compressor operation signal is sent from the Tinx terminal of the input / output I / F 105.

[0088] As a result, when it is time to operate the compressor 311, the compressor 311 can be quickly operated at rated speed, and the discharge of cool air can begin before the room temperature rises too much. After that, it is assumed that the room temperature will drop as cool air is discharged by operating compressor 311. At this time, it is also conceivable that after step S51, the process proceeds to step S17 in Fig. 4, and compressor 311 will continue rated operation until the room temperature becomes equal to or lower than the cooling target temperature in step S18.

[0089] However, forcibly continuing the rated operation of compressor 311 up to this point may result in overworking of compressor 311. Therefore, as in step S52, when the room temperature indicated by detection signal T1 from intake air temperature sensor 111 reaches a temperature slightly higher (by positive value X) than the cooling target temperature, relay switch 109 is connected to terminal a (S53) to return control unit 220 to a state in which it controls compressor 311 according to its original control function, and then the process proceeds to step S17 in FIG.

[0090] In this way, even if the result in step S18 becomes Yes and the compressor 311 is stopped, after the room temperature has dropped to a certain extent, it becomes possible to stop the compressor 311 as necessary under the control of the control unit 220. In the heating mode, the compressor operation signal may be sent similarly if the answer is Yes in step S40. In this case, the determination corresponding to step S52 may be "Is T1≧the heating target temperature−X?".

[0091] [Second embodiment: Figs. 7 to 9] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This second embodiment is an example in which a control device 100 for controlling a compressor 311 is installed in an air conditioner 400 of a type in which a single outdoor unit is shared by a plurality of indoor units. In the description of the second embodiment, parts that are common to or correspond to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and descriptions of the common parts will be omitted as appropriate.

[0092] First, Fig. 7 shows a schematic configuration of the control device 100 of the second embodiment and an air conditioner 400 which is an example of a temperature adjustment device that is a target of control by the control device 100. In Fig. 7, for simplicity, the configuration on the refrigerant circuit 410 shows only the refrigerant pipe 310, the compressor 311, the outdoor heat exchanger 313, and the indoor heat exchangers 211a to 211c, and also omits illustration of the outdoor fan 321, the indoor fan 212, power supply related components, and the wall 500. Although the refrigerant pipe 310 shows a connection during cooling operation, it is possible to switch between heating and cooling as in Fig. 1.

[0093] 7, an air conditioner 400 in the second embodiment includes three indoor units 200a-200c and one outdoor unit 300, and is configured to have a refrigerant circuit 410 that sequentially passes through an outdoor heat exchanger 313 of the outdoor unit 300 and indoor heat exchangers 211a-211c of each of the indoor units 200a-200c. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 311 and dissipates heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 313 is decompressed and flows to each of the indoor heat exchangers 211a-211c, where it cools the intake air C of each of the indoor units 200a-200c.

[0094] Each of the indoor units 200a to 200c is equipped with a control unit 220a to 220c, but among these, only the control unit 220a of the indoor unit 200a is involved in controlling the outdoor unit 300. In this way, the indoor unit 200a that controls the outdoor unit 300 is often called a parent unit, and the other indoor units 200b, 200c are called child units.

[0095] The control unit 220a of the indoor unit 200a, which is the parent unit, transmits control signals C1a to Cna to each part of the air conditioner 400 based on detection signals from sensors provided in each part of the air conditioner 400, including the outdoor unit 300 side of the indoor unit 200a side, to control the operation of each part, like the control unit 220 of the indoor unit 200 of the first embodiment. Among these, the signals with the second suffix from 1 to (i-1) are signals for controlling the outdoor unit 300 side, and the signals with the suffix from i to n are signals for controlling the indoor unit 200a side. The third suffix a indicates that the signal is an output signal from the control unit 220a. Signal lines (not shown) for transmitting these control signals C1a to C(i-1)a are wired between the indoor unit 200a and the outdoor unit 300. Moreover, a remote controller 240 for operating the air conditioner 400 is connected to the control section 220a of the parent unit.

[0096] On the other hand, the control units 220b and 220c of the child units send control signals Cib-Cnb and Cic-Cnc to the respective parts of the indoor units 200b and 200c based on detection signals from sensors provided in the respective parts on the indoor units 200b and 200c side to control the operation of the respective parts. There are no signals C1b-C(i-1)b and C1c-C(i-1)c. The meanings of the subscripts are the same as those of the control unit 220a.

[0097] Furthermore, the indoor unit 200a is equipped with a temperature sensor 213a corresponding to the temperature sensor 213 of the first embodiment, and when only the air conditioner 400 is installed, wiring is performed so that the detection signal Tina of the temperature sensor 213a is input to the Tin terminal of the control unit 220a. However, in this embodiment, when the control device 100 is installed, wiring is performed so that the detection signal Tina of the temperature sensor 213a is input to the control device 100, and the control signal Tinx output by the control device 100 is input to the Tin terminal of the control unit 220a. The meaning of this wiring is the same as in the first embodiment. That is, the control device 100 of the second embodiment is installed so as to supply a control signal to the control unit 220a of the parent unit. This corresponds to the control unit 220a of the parent unit controlling the operation and stop of the compressor 311.

[0098] The slave units also include temperature sensors 213b and 213c corresponding to the temperature sensor 213, and their detection signals Tinb and Tinc are input to Tin terminals of the control units 220b and 220c, respectively. However, since the control units 220b and 220c are not involved in the control of the compressor 311, these detection signals Tinb and Tinc do not affect the operation of the compressor 311.

[0099] Meanwhile, as temperature sensors to be connected to the control device 100, first, an intake air temperature sensor 111a, an exhaust air temperature sensor 112a, and a heat exchanger temperature sensor 113a similar to the temperature sensors 111-113 of the first embodiment are installed in the indoor unit 200a, which is the parent unit, and detection signals T1a-T3a are input. In addition, intake air temperature sensors 111b, 111c, exhaust air temperature sensors 112b, 112c, and heat exchanger temperature sensors 113b, 113c are installed in the indoor units 200b, 200c, which are child units, at corresponding positions, respectively, and detection signals T1b-T3b, T1c-T3c are input to the control device 100.

[0100] This is to enable switching according to which temperature of the indoor unit 200 the operation of the compressor 311 is controlled. If this switching is not required, it is sufficient to provide a temperature sensor in only one of the indoor units (for example, the parent unit). A human presence sensor 130 that detects whether a person is present near any indoor unit by infrared rays, ultrasonic waves, or the like is also connected to the control device 100, and a detection signal H1 is input thereto. However, this human presence sensor 130 is not essential.

[0101] FIG. 8 shows a hardware configuration of the control device 100 of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the input / output I / F 105 has a function of inputting detection signals T1a to T3c, E1 (see FIG. 1), H1, and Tina from the various sensors shown in FIG. 7, and outputting a control signal Tinx to the control unit 220a.

[0102] Furthermore, the input / output I / F 105 includes a selector for selecting which of T1a-T3a, T1b-T3b, or T1a-T3c to use as the temperature sensor detection signal when the control device 100 executes the processes shown in Figures 4 and 5, i.e., for selecting which indoor unit's temperature sensor's detection temperature to use. The other hardware configuration is similar to that described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG.

[0103] Next, operations accepted by the operator through the operation panel 120 will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen 150 displayed on the operation panel 120. As shown in FIG. This operation screen 150 differs from the example in FIG. 3 only in that a temperature reference setting section 190 is added. The temperature reference setting section 190 is provided with a window side button 191, a center button 192, a wall side button 193, and an automatic button 194, and only one of these can be turned on.

[0104] The window-side button 191, the center button 192, and the wall-side button 193 are buttons for manually selecting which of the three indoor units 200a to 200c the controller 100 will use to control the operation of the compressor based on the temperature of the temperature sensor installed therein. For example, if indoor unit 200a is installed by a window in the room, indoor unit 200b is installed in the center of the room, and indoor unit 200c is installed by a wall in the room, it is thought that during the day, the room temperature on the wall side is more likely to drop due to air conditioning, and the temperature sensor installed in indoor unit 200c will tend to output a lower temperature than the temperature sensor installed in indoor unit 200a.

[0105] In that case, for example, if the processing in FIG. 4 is performed based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor installed in the indoor unit 200c, it is conceivable that the compressor 311 will be stopped even though the room temperature on the window side is still high, or that the compressor 311 will not resume operation even though the room temperature on the window side has risen. Conversely, if control is performed based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor installed in the indoor unit 200a, the operating time of the compressor 311 may become longer, resulting in reduced energy saving effects.

[0106] The standard for achieving both energy saving effects and a comfortable room temperature varies depending on the user's preferences and the structure of the room, so this embodiment allows the user to select this at their own discretion.

[0107] Furthermore, the automatic button 194 is a button for setting the control to be performed based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor of the indoor unit located where there are the most people, based on the detection signal of the human presence sensor 130. By using this control, it is possible to perform air conditioning that is comfortable for many people in the room while saving energy as much as possible within that range.

[0108] In this way, the control device 100 of the second embodiment executes the processes of Figures 4 and 5 based on the detected temperature of a temperature sensor installed in a selected one of the three indoor units 200a-200c, so that even in an air conditioner 400 of a type in which a plurality of indoor units 200a-200c share a single outdoor unit 300, it is possible to maintain the room temperature at a set temperature while reducing the operating time of the compressor 311, thereby achieving energy savings. It is also possible to execute the processes in Figures 4 and 5 using the average values ​​of temperatures detected by the temperature sensors of all indoor units or a number of arbitrarily selected indoor units, rather than a single specific indoor unit. In this way, control can be performed based on the average indoor conditions.

[0109] [Other variations: Figure 10] This concludes the explanation of the embodiment, but in this invention, the specific configuration of the device or system, specific processing procedures, parameter values, sensor placement, use and configuration of the temperature adjustment device, etc. are not limited to those described in the embodiment.

[0110] For example, in the above embodiment, the air conditioner 400 performs both cooling and heating, but it may perform only one of them. In this case, the control device 100 does not need to be able to control both the cooling mode and the heating mode, and may be configured to perform only one of them corresponding to the air conditioner 400 to be controlled. In other words, the judgment in step S15 in FIG. 4 is not necessary.

[0111] Furthermore, it is not essential that the control device 100 automatically switches between the heating mode and the cooling mode, but the mode may be set manually. In this case, the determination in step S15 in FIG. 4 is also unnecessary. Also, it is not essential to provide the ceiling installation mode. In the heating mode, the temperature to be compared with T1 may be only one, as in steps S34 and S36 of Fig. 5. In this case, it is possible to adopt a temperature between steps S34 and S36, but this is not limiting.

[0112] Furthermore, if the process of step S21 in FIG. 4 or step S39 in FIG. 5 is not performed, there is no need to install the heat exchanger temperature sensor 113. The values ​​of the temperature and other criteria shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are merely examples, and are not limited to the values ​​used in the explanation.

[0113] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the setting of the target temperature for heating and cooling in the control device 100 by the operation panel 120 is performed independently of the setting of the set temperature for heating and cooling on the air conditioner 400 side by the remote colon and roller 240. However, it is also possible for the control device 100 to detect the set temperature signal of the remote colon and roller 240 and automatically make the target temperature on the control device 100 side track the set temperature indicated by the set temperature signal (the set temperature on the air conditioner 400 side). This prevents the set temperatures on the air conditioner 400 side and the control device 100 side from being set far apart, and prevents a situation in which the control of the control device 100 does not function properly due to a difference in set temperatures.

[0114] In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, automatic buttons 163, 173 can be added to the cooling temperature setting section 160 and the heating temperature setting section 170 on the operation screen 150, respectively, so that these buttons can be used to toggle on and off the automatic tracking of the target temperature for cooling and heating, respectively.

[0115] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the control device 100 is configured as a device that is retrofitted to the air conditioner 400, but a control unit that performs control similar to that of the control device 100 may be built into the air conditioner 400 from the beginning. This corresponds to, for example, the control unit 220 controlling the operation and stop of the compressor 311 using the same algorithm as that explained using Figures 4 and 5. The transmission of the compressor stop signal in Figures 4 and 5 can be considered as a forced stop of the compressor 311, and the connection to the terminal a of the relay switch 109 as switching between operation and stop of the compressor 311 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 213.

[0116] Also, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the temperature sensor referenced by the control device 100 in the processing of Figures 4 and 5 is provided separately from the temperature sensor that the indoor unit 200 comes standard with. However, for example, the temperature sensor 213 and the intake air temperature sensor 111 are disposed in the same position and have the same measurement target. Therefore, if the control device 100 can control the temperature sensor 213 and can properly grasp the correspondence between the detection signal and the detected temperature, it is also possible for the control device 100 to perform the processing of Figures 4 and 5 by referring to the detection signal of the temperature sensor 213 that the indoor unit 200 comes standard with. If the indoor unit 200 has another usable sensor, it may be substituted in a similar manner.

[0117] In the above embodiment, the control target of the control device 100 is an air conditioner, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition to air conditioners, a similar control device 100 can also be used to control the operation of a compressor in a temperature adjustment device that uses a compressor and a heat exchanger to cool or heat gas, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, a heat retention device, or a heating device. Of course, the temperature adjustment device may be a device that performs only one of cooling and heating. In this case, the gas to be temperature-adjusted does not need to be in a closed space such as a room. Naturally, an open refrigerator or the like can also be a control target.

[0118] Moreover, a program embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to control required hardware to realize the functions of the control device 100 in the above-described embodiment. Such a program may be stored in a ROM or other non-volatile storage medium (flash memory, EEPROM, etc.) that is included in the computer from the beginning. However, it may also be provided by recording it on any non-volatile recording medium such as a memory card, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray disc. By installing the program recorded on such a recording medium on a computer and executing it, each of the above-mentioned functions can be realized.

[0119] Furthermore, it is also possible to download the program from an external device connected to a network and having a recording medium on which the program is recorded, or from an external device having the program stored in a storage means, and install the program on a computer for execution. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the configurations of the respective embodiments and modified examples described above can be implemented in any combination as long as they are not mutually inconsistent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 100: control device, 109: relay switch, 111, 111a to 111c: intake temperature sensor, 112, 112a to 112c: exhaust temperature sensor, 113, 113a to 113c: heat exchanger temperature sensor, 114: current sensor, 120: operation panel, 130: human presence sensor, 150: operation screen, 160: cooling temperature setting section, 170: heating temperature setting section, 161, 171: input field, 200, 200a to 200c: indoor unit, 211, 211a to 211c: indoor heat exchanger, 212: indoor fan, 213: temperature sensor, 214: intake port, 215: exhaust port, 220: control unit, 222: signal line, 230: power supply circuit, 231: DC power supply terminal, 240: remote controller, 241: power supply line, 300: outdoor unit, 310: refrigerant pipe, 311: compressor, 312: four-way valve, 313: outdoor heat exchanger, 314: expansion valve, 316: ventilation port, 321: outdoor fan, 400: air conditioner, 410: refrigerant circuit, 500: wall, 510: AC power supply, A, C: intake, B, D: exhaust, C1 to Cn: control signal, E1: detection signal indicating the operating state of the power supply circuit, H1: detection signal of human presence sensor, T1 to T3, Tin: detection signal of temperature sensor

Claims

1. A control device for controlling a temperature adjustment device, comprising a compressor, a heat exchanger, an intake section, an exhaust section, a temperature sensor, and a control section, in which gas sucked in through the intake section is subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchanger and exhausted from the exhaust section, and the control section controls the operation of the compressor based on a signal supplied from the temperature sensor, an intake temperature sensor disposed in the intake section and detecting a temperature of the gas being taken in; an exhaust temperature sensor disposed in the exhaust section for detecting a temperature of the gas exhausted; an operation detection unit that detects whether the temperature adjustment device is operating; a control signal output unit capable of performing a first control to the control unit when a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the start of operation of the temperature adjustment device, the control unit outputs a first control signal to cause the control unit to control the compressor to stop or operate at a low speed when the temperature detected by the intake air temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined first target temperature, and thereafter, when the temperature detected by the exhaust air temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than a second target temperature determined based on the first target temperature, the control device characterized by comprising:

2. The control device according to claim 1 , a heat exchanger temperature sensor disposed in the heat exchanger to detect a temperature of the heat exchanger; The control device is characterized in that, in the first control, the control signal output unit stores the detected temperature of the heat exchanger temperature sensor when the detected temperature of the intake air temperature sensor becomes below the first target temperature after the specified time has elapsed since the temperature control device started operating, and then, when the detected temperature of the heat exchanger temperature sensor rises by more than a specified first threshold compared to the stored detected temperature and the detected temperature of the exhaust temperature sensor becomes above the second target temperature, the control signal output unit stops outputting the first control signal to the control unit.

3. The control device according to claim 1 , The control signal output unit is switching between a cooling mode and a heating mode depending on whether a detected temperature of the exhaust gas temperature sensor at a time point when the predetermined time has elapsed since the start of operation of the temperature adjustment device is equal to or higher than a predetermined second threshold value; In the cooling mode, the first control is performed, In the heating mode, when the detected temperature of the intake air temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined third target temperature after the predetermined time has elapsed since the start of operation of the temperature adjustment device, the first control signal is output to the control unit, and when the detected temperature of the exhaust air temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a fourth target temperature determined based on the third target temperature, a second control is performed to stop outputting the first control signal to the control unit. A control device comprising:

4. The control device according to claim 2, The control signal output unit is switching between a cooling mode and a heating mode depending on whether a detected temperature of the exhaust gas temperature sensor at a time point when the predetermined time has elapsed since the start of operation of the temperature adjustment device is equal to or higher than a predetermined second threshold value; In the cooling mode, the first control is performed, In the heating mode, when the detected temperature of the intake air temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined third target temperature after the predetermined time has elapsed since the start of operation of the temperature adjustment device, the first control signal is output to the control unit and the detected temperature of the heat exchanger temperature sensor is stored. Thereafter, when the detected temperature of the heat exchanger temperature sensor drops by a predetermined second threshold value or more compared with the stored detected temperature and the detected temperature of the exhaust temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a fourth target temperature determined based on the third target temperature, a second control is performed to stop outputting the first control signal to the control unit. A control device comprising:

5. The control device according to claim 3 or 4, A control device characterized in that the operation of the heating mode can be switched between a normal heating mode and a ceiling-mounted heating mode in which a third target temperature is higher and the fourth target temperature is the same as that of the normal heating mode.

6. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the temperature adjustment device includes a power supply circuit driven by an AC power supply and supplying DC power to a remote controller of the temperature adjustment device via a terminal; The control device is driven by a DC power source and has a connection portion for electrically connecting to the terminal of the temperature adjustment device.

7. A temperature adjustment system comprising the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and the temperature adjustment device, the temperature adjustment device includes a power supply circuit driven by an AC power supply and supplying DC power to a remote controller of the temperature adjustment device via a terminal; The temperature adjustment system is characterized in that the control device is driven by a DC power source, and power is supplied from the terminal of the temperature adjustment device.

8. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a control device characterized in that, when the control signal output unit stops outputting the first control signal to the control unit, the control device outputs a second control signal to the control unit for causing the control unit to control the compressor to operate at a rated speed.

9. The control device according to claim 8, A control device characterized in that the control signal output unit stops outputting the second control signal to the control unit after outputting the second control signal to the control unit and before next outputting the first control signal to the control unit.

10. A control method for controlling a temperature adjustment device comprising a compressor, a heat exchanger, an intake section, an exhaust section, a temperature sensor, and a control section, the control section controls an operation of the compressor based on a signal supplied from the temperature sensor, the control section performing heat exchange with respect to gas sucked through the intake section and exhausting the gas from the exhaust section, the control section comprising: Based on the detection results of an intake temperature sensor disposed in the intake section and detecting the temperature of the gas being drawn in, an exhaust temperature sensor disposed in the exhaust section and detecting the temperature of the gas being exhausted, and an operation detection section that detects whether the temperature adjustment device is operating, A control method for a temperature adjustment device, comprising: a first control step of supplying a first control signal to the control unit to cause the control unit to control the compressor to stop or operate at a low speed when the temperature detected by the intake air temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined first target temperature after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of operation of the temperature adjustment device, and thereafter, when the temperature detected by the exhaust air temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than a second target temperature determined based on the first target temperature, stopping the supply of the first control signal to the control unit.

11. A method for controlling a temperature adjustment device according to claim 10, comprising: a control unit that controls the compressor at a rated speed when the first control signal is stopped, and a second control signal is supplied to the control unit to cause the control unit to control the compressor to operate at a rated speed when the first control signal is stopped.

12. A program for causing a processor to control a temperature adjustment device that includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, an intake section, an exhaust section, a temperature sensor, and a control section, in which gas sucked in through the intake section is subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchanger and exhausted from the exhaust section, and in which the control section controls the operation of the compressor based on a signal supplied from the temperature sensor, The processor, Based on the detection results of an intake temperature sensor disposed in the intake section and detecting the temperature of the gas being drawn in, an exhaust temperature sensor disposed in the exhaust section and detecting the temperature of the gas being exhausted, and an operation detection section that detects whether the temperature adjustment device is operating, A program for executing a first control procedure that, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of operation of the temperature control device and the detected temperature of the intake air temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined first target temperature, supplies a first control signal to the control unit to cause the control unit to control the compressor to stop or operate at a low speed, and then, when the detected temperature of the exhaust air temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than a second target temperature determined based on the first target temperature, stops supplying the first control signal to the control unit.

13. The program according to claim 12, the first control procedure is a procedure of supplying a second control signal to the control unit to cause the control unit to control the compressor to operate at a rated speed when supply of the first control signal to the control unit is stopped.

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