Air conditioner

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner that inhibits hot air of a heater from rising to an indoor upper side while performing a combined operation of an indoor unit and the heater.SOLUTION: An air conditioner 1 includes: an indoor unit 3 that delivers air from a blowout port by using an air blowing fan 7 capable of varying air quantity; wind direction setting means for setting a vertical wind direction of the air delivered from the blowout port; a remote controller 30 for performing operation control of the indoor unit; a control section 10 that controls the indoor unit; and a thermopile sensor 15 that detects indoor temperature distribution. The control section performs a combined operation in which both of the indoor unit and a heater are used so that an indoor temperature reaches a target temperature when a combined operation mode with the heater 2 disposed below the indoor unit is set, and estimates an air blowing direction of the heater from the indoor temperature distribution detected by the thermopile sensor during execution of the combined operation. When the estimated air blowing direction of the heater is approximately the same direction as the air blowing direction of the indoor unit in plan view, the indoor unit is caused to blow air downwardly by the wind direction setting means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an air conditioner.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes an air conditioning system that stirs and circulates air and efficiently humidifies it by blowing air from an indoor unit toward an MF (multi-function) unit or making the blowing directions different from each other when operating the indoor unit and the MF unit in conjunction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When heating a room with the air conditioning system of Patent Document 1, by stirring and circulating the air, the temperature near the ceiling and the floor is maintained almost the same while raising the room temperature. Here, when the room temperature is low, such as at the start of heating, while raising the temperature of the whole room evenly, there is a risk that it takes time to raise the room temperature near the floor, which is the living space of people, to the target temperature.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, in the air conditioner according to claim 1 of the present invention, an indoor unit that sucks indoor air from a suction port and then sends it out from a blowout port by a blower fan with variable air volume, a wind direction setting means for setting the vertical wind direction of the air sent out from the blowout port, a remote control for operating the indoor unit, a control unit for controlling the indoor unit according to an instruction of the remote control, and a thermopile sensor for detecting the temperature distribution in the room where the indoor unit is installed are provided. When a combined operation mode with a heater disposed below the indoor unit is set, the control unit performs a combined operation of using the indoor unit and the heater so that the indoor temperature reaches a target temperature. When the combined operation is performed, the heater blowing direction, which is the blowing direction of the heater, is estimated from the indoor temperature distribution detected by the thermopile sensor. In a plan view, when the estimated heater blowing direction is substantially the same direction as the indoor unit blowing direction, which is the blowing direction of the indoor unit, the indoor unit is blown downward by the wind direction setting means.

[0006] Further, in the air conditioner according to claim 2, when, in a plan view, the estimated heater blowing direction is substantially opposite to the indoor unit blowing direction, the indoor unit is blown in a substantially horizontal direction by the wind direction setting means.

[0007] Further, in the air conditioner according to claim 3, when the control unit determines that the indoor temperature has reached the target temperature, the indoor unit is blown in a substantially horizontal direction by the wind direction setting means, and the air volume is set to a predetermined high air volume.

[0008] Further, in the air conditioner according to claim 4, the control unit acquires operation information from the heater when the combined operation mode is set.

[0009] Further, in the air conditioner according to claim 5, when, in a plan view, the heater blowing direction and the indoor unit blowing direction are substantially orthogonal, the air volume of the indoor unit is set to a predetermined low air volume.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to this invention, when the room temperature is low, such as when heating starts, the indoor unit and the heater are operated in combination, and the airflow from the indoor unit is suppressed so that the airflow from the heater does not rise near the ceiling, thereby quickly warming the area near the floor and improving the foot heating effect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

[0012] Next, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] In the following description, "front (front face)," "rear (rear face)," "upper," "lower," "right," and "left" follow the definitions in Figures 1 to 6. The up-down direction corresponds to the vertical direction when the air conditioner 1 and the heater 2 are installed. The front-rear direction and the left-right direction correspond to the horizontal direction when the air conditioner 1 and the heater 2 are installed.

[0014] The air conditioner 1 includes an indoor unit 3 installed indoors and an outdoor unit 11 installed outdoors. The indoor unit 3 is horizontally installed on the wall surface near the ceiling indoors, and has a suction port 4 for sucking indoor air on the upper surface and a blowout port 5 for blowing out air whose temperature is adjusted from the bottom surface to the front surface. Further, the indoor unit 3 has an indoor blower fan 7 for taking in air from indoors and blowing air into the room, and an indoor heat exchanger 6 for cooling or heating the air taken in by the indoor blower fan 7. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the air conditioner 1 performs a heating operation to warm the indoor air by heating the sucked air with the indoor heat exchanger 6.

[0015] The suction port 4, the indoor heat exchanger 6, the indoor blower fan 7, and the blowout port 5 communicate with each other to form an air supply path. By the operation of the indoor blower fan 7, the indoor air sucked from the suction port 4 is heated by the indoor heat exchanger 6 and warm air is blown out downward indoors from the blowout port 5 to raise the room temperature and circulate the indoor air. A room temperature sensor 8 is provided in the downstream air supply path of the suction port 4 to detect the temperature of the sucked indoor air. The blowout port 5 has an upper and lower louver 9 as a wind direction setting means for setting the vertical direction of the blown air and closing the blowout port 5 when the operation stops, and a left and right louver (not shown) for setting the horizontal direction of the blown air. 10 is a control unit provided in the indoor unit 3, which controls the operation of the air conditioner 1, particularly the indoor unit 3.

[0016] The indoor unit 3 and the outdoor unit 11 are connected by a communication pipe 12 through which the refrigerant circulates and a communication wire 13 for transmitting a signal from the control unit 10. The outdoor unit 11 has a compressor (not shown) and an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) connected to the indoor heat exchanger 6 by refrigerant pipes, and performs indoor heating by heating the indoor heat exchanger 6 with the heat absorbed from the outdoor air by operating a so-called heat pump cycle.

[0017] The heater 2 is a heater such as an oil stove, an oil fan heater, or a gas fan heater, which has been commonly used in households. The heater 2 is disposed near the floor below the indoor unit 3, and has a combustion burner 22 and a heating blower fan 23 inside. It burns fuel such as oil or gas with the combustion burner 22 and blows air with the heating blower fan 23 to directly heat the room. The heater 2 is inexpensive and has low fuel costs. Since it can be moved to rooms and places where heating is required, it is often selected as the main heating method, and its relationship with the air conditioner 1 can also be used separately according to the user's preference.

[0018] Fig. 7 shows a control block diagram of the air conditioner 1 and the heater 2. 30 is a remote controller that is connected to the air conditioner 1 and the heater 2 by wire or wirelessly. The transmission / reception unit 31 of the remote controller 30, the transmission / reception unit 14 of the air conditioner 1, and the transmission / reception unit 21 of the heater 2 communicate with each other via a wireless communication line such as infrared rays. The remote controller 30 has an operation unit 32 for performing various operation operations of the air conditioner 1 and a display unit 33 for displaying the set state of the air conditioner 1. The operation unit 32 includes an operation switch 34 for starting the operation of the air conditioner 1 by pressing, a combined operation switch 35 for selecting a combined operation mode considering the combined use of another heater 2, a temperature setting switch 36 for setting the room temperature desired by the user, and a driving mode switch 37 for selecting a driving mode such as a heating operation, a cooling operation, a dehumidifying operation, or an automatic operation for automatically setting the outputs of the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor blower fan 7 according to the room temperature. The display unit 33 is a liquid crystal panel that allows the user to visually confirm the set room temperature, the operation modes such as heating and cooling, and whether the combined operation mode is selected by the combined operation switch 35. The control unit 10 controls the indoor unit 3 according to the content instructed by the user to the remote controller 30.

[0019] 15 is a thermopile sensor installed inside the indoor unit 3 for detecting the temperature distribution in the room, and is a non-contact infrared temperature sensor. The thermopile sensor 15 has a multi-pixel structure in which a plurality of thermopile elements are integrated, and can detect temperature changes and movements of an object. Therefore, it can detect the temperature and position of people, objects, air (airflow), etc. in the room, that is, the temperature distribution.

[0020] The control unit 10 is provided with a blower fan control means 41 that changes the rotational speed of the indoor blower fan 7 to vary the air volume according to the temperature difference between the current room temperature T detected by the room temperature sensor 8 and the set room temperature (target indoor temperature) T0 set by the remote controller 30. Further, when the combined operation mode of the heater 2 is selected by the combined operation switch 35, the control unit 10 is provided with a combined operation control means 42 that controls the operation of the air conditioner 1 from the temperature distribution in the room detected by the thermopile sensor 15. Details of the combined operation control of the air conditioner 1 and the heater 2 will be described later.

[0021] In the control block diagram of the air conditioner 1 in FIG. 7, although not shown, the output side of the control unit 10 is connected to the outdoor control unit of the outdoor unit 11.

[0022] Next, details of the combined operation control of the air conditioner 1 and the heater 2 in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0023] When the combined operation switch 35 is pressed by the user to set the combined operation mode, a combined operation is performed in which the indoor unit 3 of the air conditioner 1 and the heater 2 are used together so that the room temperature T reaches the target temperature T0. At this time, since the heater 2 has better quick heating performance than the indoor unit 3 and has the advantage of warming from the user's feet, heating mainly by the heater 2 is performed until the room is warmed, that is, until the room temperature T reaches the target temperature T0.

[0024] Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 10 detects the indoor temperature distribution with the thermopile sensor 15, and estimates the blowing direction of the heater 2, that is, the heater blowing direction which is the blowing direction of the heater 2. When the heater blowing direction is substantially the same as the indoor unit blowing direction which is the blowing direction of the indoor unit 3 in the same direction in plan view, the wind direction of the upper and lower louvers 9 is set downward. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the warm air from the heater 2 from rising to the upper space of the room and promote the foot warming effect for the user. And since the temperature rises from the lower space of the room (near the floor), the room temperature of the user's living space can be quickly raised to the target temperature.

[0025] Here, the details of the operation and effect of the first embodiment will be described. In FIG. 2, the indoor unit blowing direction C1 of the indoor unit 3 is the forward direction, while the heater blowing direction H1 (H1a, H1b, H1c) of the heaters 2 (2a, 2b, 2c) is also the forward direction, and the indoor unit blowing direction C1 and the heater blowing direction H1 (H1a, H1b, H1c) are substantially the same direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, by setting the indoor unit blowing direction C1 downward, due to the Coanda effect, the air is blown along the vicinity of the floor, and the warm air from the indoor unit 3 travels along substantially the same direction as the warm air from the heater 2. Thereby, in order to exhibit the effect of suppressing the warm air from the heater 2 from rising to the upper part of the room by the warm air from the indoor unit 3, the heating of the lower space of the room (near the floor), which is the user's living space, can be effectively promoted.

[0026] Furthermore, since the warm air from the indoor unit 3 does not obstruct but promotes the progress of the warm air from the heater 2, the horizontal reach distance of the warm air from the heater 2 becomes longer. Thereby, the heating of the lower space of the room can be promoted over a wide range.

[0027] In addition, the effects of the present invention are particularly effective until the room warms up, that is, until the room temperature T reaches the target temperature T0. For example, before the room warms up, when an operation is performed such that the warm air from the heater 2 is stirred by the indoor unit 3, warm air also flows into the upper space of the room. According to the present invention, however, it has the effect of promoting the heating of the lower space of the room and preventing the inflow of warm air into the upper space as much as possible, so that the rise in the room temperature of the lower space of the room can be accelerated.

[0028] Note that the aforementioned substantially the same direction means that the angle of the heater blowing direction H1 (H1a, H1b, H1c) with respect to the indoor unit blowing direction C1 may be in the range of, for example, 0° to +45° or -45° to 0°. That is, it is only necessary that the direction does not obstruct the progress of the warm air from the heater 2 and acts to promote it.

[0029] As a method for estimating the blowing direction of the heater 2 by the thermopile sensor 15, for example, it may be the direction in which the temperature gradually decreases from the location showing the highest temperature in the room. The temperature of the warm air from the heater 2 is sufficiently higher than the room temperature and the human body temperature near the air outlet of the warm air, and shows a tendency to decrease as it moves away from the air outlet. Therefore, if such a tendency can be detected, the blowing direction of the heater 2 can be easily estimated by the thermopile sensor 15.

[0030] Next, the details of the combined operation control of the air conditioner 1 and the heater 2 in the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0031] In the second embodiment of the present invention, when the heater blowing direction estimated using the thermopile sensor 15 is substantially opposite to the indoor unit blowing direction in a plan view, the control unit 10 sets the wind direction of the upper and lower louvers 9 to be substantially horizontal.

[0032] Here, the effects of the second embodiment will be described in detail. In FIG. 4, while the indoor unit air supply direction C21 of the indoor unit 3 is forward, the heater air supply directions H2 (H2a, H2b, H2c) of the heaters 2 (2a, 2b, 2c) are backward, and the indoor unit air supply direction C21 and the heater air supply directions H2 (H2a, H2b, H2c) are substantially opposite directions. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, by setting the indoor unit air supply direction C21 to be substantially horizontal, due to the Coandă effect, the air is supplied along the vicinity of the ceiling, and further, as a result of turning back at the wall surface facing the indoor unit 3 (the front wall surface in FIG. 3), it becomes the direction of C22 and proceeds along substantially the same direction as the warm air from the heater 2. Thereby, in order to exert the effect of suppressing the rise of the warm air from the heater 2 to the upper part of the room by the turned-back warm air from the indoor unit 3, the heating of the lower indoor space (near the floor), which is the living space of the user, can be effectively promoted.

[0033] Also, similar to the first embodiment, the turned-back warm air from the indoor unit 3 does not hinder but promotes the progress of the warm air from the heater 2, so that the reach distance of the warm air from the heater 2 in the horizontal direction becomes longer. Thereby, the heating of the lower indoor space can be promoted over a wide range.

[0034] Note that the aforementioned substantially opposite direction means that the angle of the heater air supply directions H2 (H2a, H2b, H2c) may be in the range of, for example, 0° to +45° or -45° to 0° with respect to the reverse direction (a direction 180° different) of the indoor unit air supply direction C21. That is, it may be a direction in which the turned-back warm air C22 from the indoor unit 3 does not hinder but promotes the progress of the warm air from the heater 2.

[0035] Also, in the first and second embodiments, when the control unit 10 determines that the room temperature T has reached the target temperature T0, the air direction of the upper and lower louvers 9 is set to a substantially horizontal direction, and the air volume of the indoor blower fan 7 is set to a predetermined high air volume by the blower fan control means 41. After the room is warmed up, heating mainly by the heater 2 is no longer necessary. While maintaining the room temperature T by the indoor unit 3, it is necessary to operate to stir the indoor air to eliminate the temperature difference (temperature unevenness) between the upper space and the lower space. Therefore, by setting the air supply direction of the indoor unit 3 to a substantially horizontal direction so that the warm air does not stagnate and setting it to a predetermined high air volume set in advance, more air can be stirred to reduce the temperature unevenness.

[0036] Next, the details of the combined operation control of the air conditioner 1 and the heater 2 in the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0037] In the third embodiment of the present invention, when the air supply direction of the heater estimated by the control unit 10 using the thermopile sensor 15 is a direction substantially orthogonal to the air supply direction of the indoor unit in plan view, the air volume of the indoor blower fan 7 is set to a predetermined low air volume by the blower fan control means 41.

[0038] In FIG. 6, the indoor unit air supply direction C3 of the indoor unit 3 is the forward direction, while the heater air supply directions H3 (H3a, H3b, H3c) of the heaters 2 (2a, 2b, 2c) are the left direction or the right direction, and the indoor unit air supply direction C3 and the heater air supply directions H3 (H3a, H3b, H3c) are in a substantially orthogonal direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, regardless of whether the indoor unit air supply direction C3 is in the downward direction or the substantially horizontal direction, the warm air by the indoor unit 3 is set to a predetermined low air volume set in advance so as not to hinder the progress of the warm air by the heater 2.

[0039] Also, in the first to third embodiments, when the combined operation mode is selected and set by the user, the control unit 10 of the air conditioner 1 acquires the operation information of the heater 2, enabling more precise combined operation. Here, the operation information of the heater 2 is, for example, information such as the rotation speed of the heating blower fan 23, a room temperature sensor (not shown) that measures the ambient temperature of the heater 2, and the set room temperature (target indoor temperature) set by the user.

[0040] That is, the control unit 10 acquires the operation information from the transmission and reception unit 21 of the heater 2 via the transmission and reception unit 14 of the air conditioner 1, thereby adjusting the air volume of the indoor blower fan 7 of the indoor unit 3, adjusting the wind direction of the upper and lower louvers 9, correcting the set room temperature of the indoor unit 3, etc., and efficiently promoting indoor heating to improve comfort for the user.

[0041] Also, the other configurations used in this embodiment are presented as an example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention and are included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0042] 1 Air conditioner 2 Heater 3 Indoor unit 4 Suction port 5 Outlet 7 Indoor blower fan 9 Upper and lower louvers (wind direction setting means) 10 Control unit 15 Thermopile sensor 30 Remote control

Claims

1. An indoor unit that sucks indoor air from a suction port and then discharges it from a blowout port by a blower fan with variable air volume, a wind direction setting means for setting the vertical wind direction of the air discharged from the blowout port, a remote controller for operating the indoor unit, a control unit for controlling the indoor unit according to an instruction of the remote controller, and a thermopile sensor for detecting a temperature distribution in the room where the indoor unit is installed, characterized in that when a combined operation mode with a heater disposed below the indoor unit is set, the control unit performs a combined operation of using the indoor unit and the heater in such a manner that the indoor temperature reaches a target temperature, when performing the combined operation, estimates a heater air supply direction, which is the air supply direction of the heater, from the temperature distribution in the room detected by the thermopile sensor, and when, in a plan view, the estimated heater air supply direction is substantially the same as an indoor unit air supply direction, which is the air supply direction of the indoor unit, blows the indoor unit downward by the wind direction setting means. An air conditioner.

2. The control unit blows the indoor unit substantially horizontally by the wind direction setting means when, in a plan view, the estimated heater air supply direction is substantially opposite to the indoor unit air supply direction. The air conditioner according to Claim 1.

3. When the control unit determines that the indoor temperature has reached the target temperature, the control unit blows the indoor unit substantially horizontally by the wind direction setting means and sets the air volume to a predetermined high air volume. The air conditioner according to Claim 2.

4. The control unit acquires operation information from the heater when the combined operation mode is set. The air conditioner according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. When, in a plan view, the heater air supply direction and the indoor unit air supply direction are substantially orthogonal to each other, the control unit sets the air volume of the indoor unit to a predetermined low air volume. The air conditioner according to Claim 4.

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