Control device, control method, computer program, and storage medium for outdoor unit of air conditioner

Abstract

To provide a control device, a control method, a computer program and a storage medium of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, capable of more accurately detecting an outdoor temperature by a sensor disposed on the outdoor unit.SOLUTION: A control device of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner controls the outdoor unit. The air conditioner includes the outdoor unit and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting an outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorption material for absorbing moisture from the air passing therethrough, and a heater for heating the air passing through the adsorption material. When the sensor detects the outdoor temperature, the control device determines whether the heater is operated or not. When determining that the heater is in operation, the control device determines whether or not the fan is in operation. When determining that the fan is not operated, the control device operates the fan and outputs a result of the detection by the sensor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an air conditioner that is configured with an indoor unit placed in a room to be air-conditioned and a humidifier (outdoor unit) placed outside the room, as described in Patent Document 1. This air conditioner supplies humidified air into the room by desorbing moisture from an adsorbent in the humidifier. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-91000 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional air conditioners are equipped with a sensor in the outdoor unit to detect the outdoor temperature in order to perform air conditioning based on the outdoor temperature. However, this sensor may not accurately detect the outdoor temperature due to heat influences such as thermal conduction, thermal radiation, and / or air convection caused by heat exchange in the outdoor unit during cooling or dehumidifying operation. Furthermore, the humidifier of a conventional air conditioner is equipped with a heater to desorb moisture from the adsorbent. When the heater in the humidifier is operating, heat from the heater may be transferred to the sensor in the outdoor unit, causing the sensor to fail to accurately detect the outdoor temperature.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, which enable a sensor provided in the outdoor unit to more accurately detect the outdoor temperature. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure provides a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.

[0007] A control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to one aspect of the present disclosure controls the outdoor unit. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from passing air and a heater that heats the air passing through the absorbent material. When attempting to detect outdoor temperature using the sensor, the control device performs the following procedure: The control device determines whether the heater is operating. If it determines that the heater is operating, the control device determines whether the fan is operating. If it determines that the fan is not operating, the control device operates the fan and outputs the detection result of the sensor.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting an outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from air passing through it, and a heater that heats the air passing through the absorbent material. The control method includes, when detecting the outdoor temperature using the sensor, determining whether the heater is operating, determining whether the fan is operating if it is determined that the heater is operating, operating the fan if it is determined that the fan is not operating, and outputting the detection result of the sensor.

[0009] Furthermore, a computer program according to another aspect of the present disclosure is a computer program for causing a control device of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner to execute a control method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.

[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a storage medium that is non-transitory and computer-readable and stores a computer program that, when executed by a processor, realizes a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] In the present disclosure, according to the control device, control method, computer program, and storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, a sensor provided in the outdoor unit that may be affected by the heater of a humidifier or ventilation device can more accurately detect the outdoor temperature. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to embodiment 1 [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of step S300 according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] First, various aspects of a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner will be described.

[0014] A control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first aspect of the present disclosure controls the outdoor unit. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from passing air and a heater that heats the air passing through the absorbent material. When attempting to detect outdoor temperature using the sensor, the control device performs the following procedure: The control device determines whether the heater is operating. If it determines that the heater is operating, the control device determines whether the fan is operating. If it determines that the fan is not operating, the control device operates the fan and outputs the detection result of the sensor.

[0015] With this configuration, even if the heater of the ventilation system is operating, the fan of the outdoor unit can be operated to reduce heat transfer from the heater to the sensor installed in the outdoor unit. This allows the sensor to detect the outdoor temperature more accurately, thereby improving the accuracy of the sensor's detection.

[0016] In the control device of the second aspect according to the present disclosure, in the first aspect, the sensor may be provided at a position where it receives thermal conduction and thermal radiation from the heater while the heater is operating.

[0017] Controlling the indoor unit fan reduces the effects of heat transfer such as heat conduction and heat radiation, thereby improving the accuracy of sensor detection and increasing the degree of freedom in sensor placement.

[0018] In the control device of the third aspect of the present disclosure, in the first or second aspect, the control device determines whether a first time has elapsed since the fan last operated. If it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the fan last operated, the control device may detect the outdoor temperature using a sensor and output the detection result of the sensor.

[0019] If it has been a certain time since the last fan operation, the sensor is still in a state where heat transfer, such as heat conduction, heat radiation, and / or air convection, is reduced. Therefore, in such a case, even if the outdoor unit fan is not operating, it is possible to maintain sufficient detection accuracy while reducing power consumption due to fan operation.

[0020] In the control device of the fourth aspect according to the present disclosure, in any one of the first to third aspects, the control device may operate the fan periodically.

[0021] When the fan is operated periodically, the outdoor unit is cooled periodically. Therefore, the influence of heat transfer is suppressed to a certain level within the fan operation cycle. Therefore, the accuracy of the detection can be maintained to a certain level regardless of when the sensor performs detection.

[0022] In the control device of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in the fourth aspect, the control device may further determine whether a second time has elapsed since the fan was last operated. If it is determined that the second time has elapsed since the fan was operated, the control device may operate the fan.

[0023] In the control device of the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in the fifth aspect, if the control device determines that a second time has not elapsed since the fan last operated, it may detect the outdoor temperature using a sensor and output the detection result of the sensor.

[0024] According to the configurations of the fifth and sixth aspects, the fan of the outdoor unit can be operated periodically at the second time interval, thereby suppressing the influence of heat transfer on the sensor to a certain level and maintaining a certain level of detection accuracy.

[0025] In the control device of the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the fifth aspect, the control device may determine whether a first time has elapsed since the fan last operated. If it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the fan last operated, the control device may detect the outdoor temperature with a sensor and output the detection result of the sensor. The second time may be longer than the first time.

[0026] Higher accuracy of the detection can be ensured by performing the detection before the first time period, which is shorter than the second time period that is the operation cycle of the fan, has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan.

[0027] In the control device of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, in the seventh aspect, the control device may output the previous detection result of the sensor if it determines that the second time has not elapsed since the last time the fan was operated and that the first time has elapsed.

[0028] The control device can output a sufficiently accurate detection result even without actually detecting with the sensor by outputting a previous detection result that was correctly detected, for example, the last detection result.

[0029] In the control device of a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the control device may continuously operate the fan. The control device may further determine whether a third time has elapsed since the fan was operated. If it is determined that the third time has elapsed since the fan was operated, the control device may stop the fan.

[0030] With this configuration, the fan can be operated according to needs. For example, during hot weather, the fan can be operated for a relatively long period of time to sufficiently replace the hot air around the sensor before detecting the outdoor temperature.

[0031] A tenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from passing air and a heater that heats the air passing through the absorbent material. The control method includes the steps of: determining whether the heater is operating when attempting to detect the outdoor temperature with the sensor; determining whether the fan is operating if it is determined that the heater is operating; operating the fan if it is determined that the fan is not operating; and outputting the detection result of the sensor.

[0032] In the control method of the eleventh aspect according to the present disclosure, in the tenth aspect, the sensor may be provided at a position where it receives thermal conduction and thermal radiation from the heater while the heater is operating.

[0033] In the control method of the twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, in the tenth or eleventh aspect, the step of outputting the sensor detection result may include the step of determining whether a first time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan. If it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan, the step of outputting the sensor detection result may include detecting an outdoor temperature with the sensor and outputting the sensor detection result.

[0034] In the control method of the thirteenth aspect according to the present disclosure, in any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects, the fan may be operated periodically in the step of operating the fan.

[0035] In the control method of the fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the thirteenth aspect, the step of operating the fan may include the step of determining whether a second time has elapsed since the fan was last operated. In the step of operating the fan, the fan may be operated if it is determined that the second time has elapsed since the fan was last operated.

[0036] In the control method of the 15th aspect of the present disclosure, in the 14th aspect, in the step of outputting the sensor detection result, if it is determined that the second time has not elapsed since the fan was last operated, the outdoor temperature may be detected by the sensor and the sensor detection result may be output.

[0037] In the control method of the sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the fourteenth aspect, the step of outputting the detection result of the sensor may include the steps of determining whether a first time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan, and, if it is determined that the first time has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan, detecting the outdoor temperature with the sensor and outputting the detection result of the sensor. The second time may be longer than the first time.

[0038] In the control method of the 17th aspect of the present disclosure, in the 16th aspect, the step of outputting the detection result of the sensor may further include a step of outputting the previous detection result of the sensor if it is determined that the second time has not elapsed and the first time has elapsed since the last time the fan was operated.

[0039] In the control method of the eighteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the tenth to seventeenth aspects, the step of operating the fan may include continuously operating the fan. The control method may further include the steps of determining whether a third time has elapsed since the fan was operated, and stopping the fan when it is determined that the third time has elapsed since the fan was operated.

[0040] Regarding the effects of the control of the tenth to eighteenth aspects, please refer to the effects of the configurations of the first to ninth aspects.

[0041] A computer program of a 19th aspect of the present disclosure is a computer program for causing a control device of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner to execute a control method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner described in any one of the 10th to 18th aspects.

[0042] A storage medium according to a twentieth aspect of the present disclosure is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, realizes the method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of the tenth to eighteenth aspects.

[0043] According to such a computer program or storage medium, even if the heater of the ventilation device is operating, the outdoor unit fan can be operated to allow the sensor to correctly detect the outdoor temperature.

[0044] 《Technical concept》 Before describing specific embodiments of the control device, control method, computer program, and storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, the technical concept described in the present disclosure will first be described using an example.

[0045] In this example, the air conditioner includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a ventilation device. The outdoor unit includes a control device, a fan, and a sensor for detecting the outdoor temperature. When attempting to detect the outdoor temperature, if the outdoor unit's control device determines that the sensor is being affected by the operation of a heater included in the ventilation device, it operates the fan and outputs the sensor's detection result. In this way, even if the heater is operating, the outdoor temperature is detected after reducing heat transfer from the heater to the sensor, allowing for more accurate detection of the outdoor temperature. In other words, the accuracy of the sensor's detection can be improved.

[0046] Each of the embodiments described below represents an example of the present disclosure. The numerical values, shapes, configurations, steps, and step orders shown in each of the following embodiments are examples and do not limit the present disclosure. Among the components in the following embodiment 1, components that are not described in the independent claims that represent the highest concept are described as optional components.

[0047] In each of the embodiments described below, certain elements may be modified, and other elements may be appropriately combined with any configuration, and the combined configurations will provide the respective effects. In the embodiments, the respective combinations of the respective modified configurations will provide the respective effects of the respective modified configurations.

[0048] In the following detailed description, terms such as "first," "second," etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as expressing or implying the relative importance or ranking of technical features. Features qualified as "first" and "second" expressly or imply the inclusion of one or more of that feature.

[0049] First Embodiment A first embodiment of a control device, a control method, a computer program, and a storage medium for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present disclosure will be described in detail below with appropriate reference to the drawings.

[0050] <Overall configuration of the air conditioner 10> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner 10 according to a first embodiment. The air conditioner 10 is a device that performs air conditioning control (air conditioning function) and ventilation control (ventilation function) in a room where a user is present. In this embodiment, air conditioning control refers to adjusting the temperature, humidity, cleanliness, or airflow of the air in the room where the user is present. Ventilation control refers to adjusting the ventilation volume when replacing the air in the room that is the target of air conditioning control with air from outside the room. The air conditioner 10 may further have a humidification function and a dehumidification function that use ventilation control. The air conditioner 10 performs at least one of these functions based on a command received from a user or based on automatic judgment.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 10 includes an indoor unit 12, an outdoor unit 14, and a ventilation device 16. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the indoor unit 12 includes a control unit 12a and a communication unit 12b. To perform the air conditioning function, ventilation function, humidification function, and / or dehumidification function, the indoor unit 12 may further include a memory unit, an indoor heat exchanger, a fan, and at least one sensor such as an indoor temperature sensor. The outdoor unit 14 includes a control unit 14a, a fan 14b, and a sensor 14c. The sensor 14c is a sensor for detecting the outdoor temperature. To perform the various functions described above, the outdoor unit 14 may further include a memory unit, a compressor, an expansion valve, a four-way valve, and other sensors such as an indoor humidity sensor, which operate in conjunction with the outdoor heat exchanger and a refrigeration cycle. The ventilation device 16 also includes an absorbent material 16a, a heater 16b, and a fan 16c, and may further include a ventilation conduit for introducing outside air into the room, and at least one sensor, such as a sensor for detecting the temperature of the heater 16b.

[0052] 1 is merely an example, and the air conditioner 10 may include other components, or the multiple components shown may actually be integrated into a single part. For example, one memory unit may be integrated into each of the control unit 12a and the control unit 14a, or the control unit 12a of the indoor unit 12 and the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 may be integrated together. In this disclosure, the technology of the present disclosure will be described using an example in which the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 is used as a control device for the outdoor unit 14, but an integrated control unit or a control unit that controls the entire air conditioner 10 may also be used as a control device for the outdoor unit 14.

[0053] <Control unit 12a of indoor unit 12 and control unit 14a of outdoor unit 14> The control unit 12a controls each component of the indoor unit 12, and the control unit 14a controls each component of the outdoor unit 14. The control units 12a and 14a each include, for example, a memory that stores a program and a processing circuit corresponding to a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The functions of the control units 12a and 14a may be configured using hardware alone, or may be realized by combining hardware and software. The control units 12a and 14a realize predetermined functions by reading data and programs stored in the memory and performing various arithmetic processing.

[0054] <Communication unit 12b> The control unit 12a and / or control unit 14a of the air conditioner 10 can communicate with a terminal device 70 and / or a server 80 via the communication unit 12b. For example, the air conditioner 10 may be connected to a server 80 related to the air conditioner 10 via the Internet. The air conditioner 10 may be connected to a terminal device 70, which is a smartphone of a user of the air conditioner 10, via the Internet. The air conditioner 10 may be connected to a terminal device 70, which is a remote controller for the air conditioner 10, via infrared rays. The following description will be given using an example in which only the indoor unit 12 includes the communication unit 12b, and the control unit 14a can also communicate with the terminal device 70 and / or server 80 via the communication unit 12b. However, the outdoor unit 14 may also include its own communication unit.

[0055] The control unit 12a and / or the control unit 14a can receive various commands and setting values ​​(e.g., commands to activate various functions, temperature setting commands, etc.) from the user or the server 80 from the terminal device 70 or the server 80 via the communication unit 13a. The control units 12a and 14a control the various components of the air conditioner 10 to perform various functions of the air conditioner 10 based on these setting values ​​and detection values ​​received from various sensors (e.g., indoor temperature, user location, etc.). Meanwhile, the air conditioner 10 can transmit the detection results of its sensors to the terminal device 70 and / or the server 80 via the communication unit 12b.

[0056] <Fan 14b> The fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 is a fan that draws outdoor air into the housing of the outdoor unit 14 and blows the outdoor air to the outside after heat exchange with the outdoor heat exchanger. For example, during cooling operation, the refrigerant gas that absorbs heat from the room is turned into a high-temperature gas by the compressor of the outdoor unit 14, and as it passes through the outdoor heat exchanger, the fan 14b cools the outdoor heat exchanger and the high-temperature gas. Furthermore, based on the control method of the present disclosure, the fan 14b can be operated by the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 before detection by the sensor 14c.

[0057] <Sensor 14c> Sensor 14c is a sensor for detecting the outdoor temperature and is also called an outdoor temperature sensor. To detect the outdoor temperature as accurately as possible, sensor 14c can be installed in the outdoor unit 14 near the outdoor air intake port and in a location that is not exposed to rain. Sensor 14c is also installed in a position where it receives heat conduction and heat radiation from heater 16b of ventilation device 16 when heater 16b is operating as described below.

[0058] In one embodiment, the sensor 14c is located as far away from the heater 16b as possible within the housing of the outdoor unit 14 to minimize heat transfer by conduction and heat radiation from the heater 16b. In one embodiment, the ventilation device 16 includes a ventilation duct connecting the indoor space and the outdoor space, and hot indoor air can be blown out from the ventilation duct. In this case, the sensor 14c may be located as far away as possible from the outlet of the ventilation duct within the housing of the outdoor unit 14. However, no matter how far away the sensor 14c is from the heater 16b and the outlet of the ventilation duct, heat conduction from the heater 16b and the like to the sensor 14c is likely to occur via the housing of the outdoor unit 14 and the air within the outdoor unit 14 and its convection. Similarly, due to the limited size of the outdoor unit 14, the sensor 14c is likely to be subjected to thermal radiation from the heater 16b and the like.

[0059] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram created from the perspective of showing a mechanical configuration that performs ventilation, dehumidification, and humidification functions in particular. As shown in Fig. 2, an indoor unit 12 is disposed in a room Rin to be air-conditioned, and an outdoor unit 14 and a ventilation device 16 are disposed in an outdoor Rout.

[0060] The outdoor unit 14 is provided with a fan 14b that blows the outdoor air A2, which has exchanged heat with the outdoor heat exchanger, out to the outdoor air Rout. In addition to air conditioning operation using a refrigeration cycle, the air conditioner 10 also performs air conditioning operation in which the outdoor air A3 is introduced into the room Rin. To this end, the air conditioner 10 has a ventilation device 16. The ventilation device 16 is provided in the outdoor unit 14.

[0061] <Ventilation Device 16> 1 and 2, ventilation device 16 includes absorbent material 16a therein through which outdoor air A3 and A4 pass. Absorbent material 16a of ventilation device 16 is a member through which air can pass and which captures (absorbs) moisture from the air passing through or adds moisture to the air passing through. Meanwhile, absorbent material 16a desorbs the moisture it holds when heated by heater 16b.

[0062] The heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 heats the outdoor air A3 and the absorbent material 16a before it passes through. In one embodiment, two heaters 16b are provided to heat the outdoor air A3. These two heaters 16b are preferably PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heaters, which increase electrical resistance when current flows and the temperature rises, thereby preventing excessive increases in heating temperature. In the case of heaters using nichrome wire or carbon fiber, the heating temperature (surface temperature) continues to rise when current continues to flow, so the temperature must be monitored. In the case of PTC heaters, the heater itself adjusts the heating temperature within a certain temperature range, eliminating the need to monitor the heating temperature.

[0063] The fan 16c of the ventilation device 16 can generate a flow of outdoor air A3 toward the indoor unit 12, or a flow that discharges indoor air A1 to the outdoor Rout. The fan 16c of the ventilation device 16 can also generate a flow of outdoor air A4 that passes through the ventilation device 16 but does not flow toward the indoor unit 12 and flows out to the outdoor Rout. In this embodiment, the fan 16c is arranged downstream of the absorbent 16a. When the fan 16c is operated, the outdoor air A3 and A4 pass from the outdoor Rout through the absorbent 16a. Furthermore, the outdoor air A3 that passes through the ventilation device 16 toward the indoor unit 12 is blown out into the indoor Rin by the fan of the indoor unit 12.

[0064] The ventilation device 16 selectively performs ventilation operation, humidification operation, and dehumidification operation by selectively using an absorbent material 16a, a heater 16b, a fan 16c, a motor, a damper device, and the like.

[0065] The ventilation operation is an air conditioning operation that includes intake ventilation, in which outdoor air A3 is supplied directly to the room Rin (i.e., the indoor unit 12) via the ventilation duct, and exhaust ventilation, in which indoor air A1 is discharged to the outdoor Rout via the ventilation duct.

[0066] Humidification operation is an air conditioning operation in which the outdoor air A3 is humidified and the humidified outdoor air A3 is supplied to the room Rin. During humidification operation, the heater 16b is ON (i.e., operating) and heats the outdoor air A3. The fan 16c is ON, causing the outdoor air A3 to flow toward the interior of the indoor unit 12. In this humidification operation, the outdoor air A3 is heated by the heater 16b and passes through the absorbent 16a. At this time, the heated outdoor air A3 can remove a larger amount of moisture from the absorbent 16a than when the outdoor air A3 is not heated. As a result, the outdoor air A3 carries a larger amount of moisture. The outdoor air A3, which has passed through the absorbent 16a and carries a larger amount of moisture, is blown toward the indoor unit 12 and into the room Rin by the fan of the indoor unit 12. By such a humidification operation, the outdoor air A3 carrying a large amount of moisture is supplied to the room Rin, and the room Rin is humidified.

[0067] As the heated outdoor air A3 removes moisture, the water retention capacity of the absorbent 16a decreases, i.e., the absorbent 16a dries. When the absorbent 16a dries, the outdoor air A3 cannot remove moisture from the absorbent 16a. To address this, the absorbent 16a removes moisture from the outdoor air A4. This keeps the water retention capacity of the absorbent 16a approximately constant, allowing the humidification operation to continue.

[0068] The dehumidifying operation is an air conditioning operation in which the outdoor air A3 is dehumidified and the dehumidified outdoor air A3 is supplied to the room Rin (that is, the indoor unit 12). In the dehumidifying operation, the adsorption operation and the regeneration operation are performed alternately.

[0069] The adsorption operation of the dehumidification operation is an operation in which moisture contained in the outdoor air A3 is adsorbed onto the absorbent material 16a, thereby dehumidifying the outdoor air A3. During the adsorption operation, the heater 16b is OFF and does not heat the outdoor air A3. The fan 16c is ON, causing the outdoor air A3 to flow, pass through the absorbent material 16a, and head toward the indoor unit 12. In this adsorption operation, the outdoor air A3 passes through the absorbent material 16a without being heated. At this time, the moisture contained in the outdoor air A3 is adsorbed by the absorbent material 16a. This reduces the amount of moisture carried by the outdoor air A3, i.e., the outdoor air A3 is dried. The outdoor air A3 that has passed through the absorbent material 16a is then blown toward the indoor unit 12 by the fan of the indoor unit 12 into the indoor Rin. In this adsorption operation, the dried outdoor air A3 is supplied to the indoor Rin, dehumidifying the indoor Rin.

[0070] As the adsorption operation continues, the amount of water held by the absorbent 16a continues to increase, resulting in a decrease in the absorbent's ability to adsorb the moisture contained in the outdoor air A3. To recover the adsorption ability, a regeneration operation is performed to regenerate the absorbent 16a.

[0071] During the regeneration operation in the dehumidifying operation, the heater 16b is ON and heats the outdoor air A3. The fan 16c is ON, which causes the outdoor air A3 to flow and flow out to the outdoor Rout. In this regeneration operation, the outdoor air A3 is heated by the heater 16b and passes through the absorbent 16a. At this time, the heated outdoor air A3 removes a large amount of moisture from the absorbent 16a. As a result, the outdoor air A3 carries a large amount of moisture. At the same time, the water retention capacity of the absorbent 16a decreases, i.e., the absorbent 16a dries and its adsorption capacity is regenerated. The outdoor air A3 that passes through the absorbent 16a and carries a large amount of moisture is discharged to the outdoor Rout. As a result, during the regeneration operation in the dehumidifying operation, the outdoor air A3 carrying a large amount of moisture due to the regeneration of the absorbent 16a is not supplied to the room Rin.

[0072] By alternately performing the adsorption operation and the regeneration operation in this manner, the adsorption capacity of the absorbent 16a is maintained, and the dehumidification operation can be performed continuously.

[0073] As described above, the indoor Rin of the room can be humidified and the absorbent material 16a can be regenerated by operating the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16. However, since the heater 16b can reach a high temperature of 80°C or more during operation, the heat transferred from the heater 16b not only heats the absorbent material 16a but also heats the air inside and around the ventilation device 16 and the outdoor unit 14.

[0074] Sensor 14c, which is provided in outdoor unit 14 to detect the outdoor temperature, measures the ambient air temperature. If the air around sensor 14c or parts in contact with sensor 14c are affected by heat transferred from heater 16b, the detected temperature may be higher than the actual outdoor temperature. To reduce this effect, the control device (control unit 14a) of outdoor unit 14 performs the following procedure when attempting to detect the outdoor temperature using sensor 14c.

[0075] <Control of outdoor unit 14> FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example of a method for controlling the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment. When the outdoor unit 14 attempts to detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c, it starts control including the following steps S100 to S400. In some cases, the outdoor unit 14 attempts to detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c. For example, the outdoor unit 14 may detect the outdoor temperature periodically (e.g., every 10 minutes) and transmit (push) the detection result to the indoor unit 12 and / or the server 80. In addition, the outdoor unit 14 may detect the outdoor temperature and respond in response to an inquiry about the outdoor temperature from the indoor unit 12 and / or the server 80. In these cases, the control unit 14a outputs the detected outdoor temperature to the indoor unit 12 and / or the server 80.

[0076] When the outdoor unit 14 attempts to detect the outdoor temperature, it determines whether the heater 16b is operating (step S100). If it determines that the heater 16b is not operating, the control unit 14a may currently detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c because the sensor 14c is not affected by the heater 16b. In this case ("NO" in step S100), step S400 is performed. In step S400, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c and outputs the detection result to the indoor unit 12 and / or the server 80.

[0077] If it is determined that the heater 16b is operating, the control unit 14a further determines whether the fan 14b is operating (step S200). For example, there is a case where the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 is operating in the currently performed air conditioning control. While the fan 14b is operating, hot air is blown out by the fan 14b, so the hot air does not accumulate around the sensor 14c and has little effect on the detection by the sensor 14c. Therefore, when both the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 and the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 are operating, the control unit 14a may currently detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c. In this case ("YES" in step S200), step S400 is performed, and the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c and outputs the detection result.

[0078] On the other hand, if it is determined that the heater 16b is operating and the fan 14b is not operating ("NO" in step S200), the control unit 14a operates the fan 14b (step S300). The control unit 14a can continuously operate the fan 14b. The continuous operation time of the fan 14b can be set to approximately several tens of seconds to several minutes. For example, the control unit 14a may operate the fan 14b at its maximum rotation speed for two minutes. In step S300, the rotation speed and operation time of the fan 14b may be fixed predetermined values ​​or may be variable based on the current provisional detection value of the sensor 14c and the current operation mode of the air conditioner 10.

[0079] Thereafter, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c (step S400). If the result in step S200 is "NO," the control unit 14a operates the fan 14b, i.e., reduces the influence of heat transfer on the sensor 14c, and then detects the outdoor temperature. This improves the accuracy of the detection by the sensor 14c.

[0080] When the control unit 12a of the indoor unit 12 and / or the server 80 receives the outdoor temperature output from the outdoor unit 14, they can use the outdoor temperature to perform air conditioning control or ventilation control. For example, the control unit 12a may use the outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature to determine whether to perform cooling or heating operation, and may determine the set value for the indoor temperature. In addition, a history of the output outdoor temperatures may be stored in a memory unit of the indoor unit 12 and / or the server 80.

[0081] In summary, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 determines whether the fan 14b needs to operate based on operation information of the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 and operation information of the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14, and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c. In this embodiment, the operation information refers to information related to the operation of the heater 16b or the fan 14b. The operation information includes the current operation status of the heater 16b or the fan 14b, i.e., whether or not the heater 16b or the fan 14b is operating. In this manner, the outdoor temperature can be correctly detected by the sensor 14c regardless of the operation of the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16.

[0082] In one embodiment, a computer program is provided for use in executing the above-described control method in a control device (for example, the control unit 14a) of the outdoor unit 14.

[0083] In another embodiment, the above-described computer program is stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. When the computer program is read and executed by a control device (e.g., the control unit 14a) of the outdoor unit 14, the above-described control method is realized.

[0084] This configuration and control of the control device for the outdoor unit 14 of the air conditioner 10, as well as the related computer program and storage medium, allows the sensor 14c provided in the outdoor unit 14 to more accurately detect the outdoor temperature. As a result, the indoor unit 12 and / or the server 80, which receive a more accurate outdoor temperature, can more appropriately control air conditioning and ventilation.

[0085] Furthermore, when the outdoor temperature or the set temperature set based on the outdoor temperature is determined to be abnormal, the air conditioner 10 can display a warning to the user or perform protective operation to protect the compressor. Conventionally, if the sensor 14c receives a large amount of heat from the heater 16b, there is a possibility that an abnormally high temperature may be falsely detected. The control device and control method for the outdoor unit 12 disclosed herein can avoid such false detections, false warnings due to false detections, and false activation of protective operation.

[0086] Furthermore, conventionally, it is preferable to install the sensor 14c in the outdoor unit 14 as far away as possible from the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 and the outlet of the ventilation duct. However, the control device etc. of the present disclosure can reduce heat transfer from the heater 16b to the sensor 14c installed in the outdoor unit 14 by operating the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14. Therefore, the sensor 14c can accurately detect the outdoor temperature even if it is installed in a location that is more susceptible to heat conduction etc., and the degree of freedom in sensor placement is increased.

[0087] Second Embodiment <If it is still cool enough, detect without turning on fan 14b> In the second embodiment, when it is determined that the area around the sensor 14c is sufficiently cold, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 can detect the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c. In this way, it is possible to maintain the accuracy of detection while saving the power required to operate the fan 14b. In the second embodiment, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 sets a threshold value, the first time, and determines whether the area around the sensor 14c is sufficiently cold based on this threshold value.

[0088] Even if fan 14b is operated and then stopped, the temperature inside the housing of outdoor unit 14, particularly around sensor 14c, does not rise immediately, but gradually rises due to the operation of heater 16b and the outdoor heat exchanger. Within a certain time (i.e., the first time) after fan 14b starts operating, the temperature around sensor 14c has not yet risen significantly and is still sufficiently cold. Therefore, if sensor 14c detects the outdoor temperature within the first time, a more accurate detection result can be obtained than in the past.

[0089] In this disclosure, "cool" refers to a state in which the influence of heater 16b is reduced by operating fan 14b, compared to a case in which fan 14b is not operating and heater 16b creates an undesirably high temperature environment around sensor 14c. Therefore, "the area around sensor 14c is cold" does not mean that the air temperature around sensor 14c is lower than the actual outdoor temperature, but rather means that the influence of heater 16b around sensor 14c is reduced.

[0090] Fig. 4 is a flowchart of an example of a control method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in embodiment 2. The contents of steps S100 to S300 in Fig. 4 are the same as steps S100 to S300 in Fig. 3 of embodiment 1, so duplicated explanations will be omitted here. Embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 in that the control method includes steps S410 and S420.

[0091] If the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 determines that the heater 16b is operating but the fan 14b is not ("NO" in step S200), the control unit 14a determines whether a first time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan 14b (step S410). The first time refers to the time during which the operation of the fan 14b reduces the effect of the heater 16b and the area around the sensor 14c is still sufficiently cool. For example, the first time may be 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, or 10 minutes. "Since the last operation" may refer to the time when the fan 14b started operating last time or the time when the fan 14b stopped operating last time.

[0092] If the first time period has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan 14b ("NO" in step S410), the area around the sensor 14c is still sufficiently cold. Therefore, if the first time period has not yet elapsed, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c without operating the fan 14b, and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c (step S420).

[0093] On the other hand, if it is determined that the first time period has already elapsed (YES in step S410), the control unit 14a operates the fan 14b (step S300), and then performs detection using the sensor 14c and outputs the detection result (S420).

[0094] From another perspective, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 determines whether or not the fan 14b needs to operate based on operation information of the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 and operation information of the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14. In the second embodiment, operation information refers to information related to the current or previous operation of the heater 16b or the fan 14b. For example, the operation information may include whether the heater 16b is currently operating or whether the fan 14b is currently operating, and the time elapsed since the fan 14b last operated.

[0095] This completes the control using the first time period. Because the area around sensor 14c is still sufficiently cold before the first time period has elapsed since the last time fan 14b was operated, there is no need to operate fan 14b again. Therefore, in this case, even if fan 14b of outdoor unit 14 is not operating, it is possible to maintain sufficient detection accuracy while suppressing power consumption due to operation of fan 14b.

[0096] Third Embodiment <Periodic operation of the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14> In the third embodiment, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 periodically operates the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 in order to maintain a state in which the thermal influence of the heater 16b is reduced.

[0097] Figure 5 is a flowchart of an example of a control method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to embodiment 3. The contents of steps S100, S200, S320, and S420 in Figure 5 are the same as steps S100 to S300 and S420 in Figure 4 of embodiment 2, so redundant explanations will be omitted here. Furthermore, in embodiment 3, the control method further includes steps S310 and S320.

[0098] In the third embodiment, when the control unit 14a determines that the heater 16b is operating but the fan 14b is not ("NO" in step S200), the control unit 14a determines whether a second time has elapsed since the fan 14b last operated (step S310). The second time refers to the period in which the fan 14b is operated. Since the fan 14b operates periodically, it can be said that the area around the sensor 14c is cooled to a certain degree.

[0099] Therefore, when the second time period, which is the operation cycle, has elapsed, the control unit 14a operates the fan 14b (step S320), and then detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c and outputs the detection result (step S420). On the other hand, if the second time period has not yet elapsed, the control unit 14a does not operate the fan 14b, but detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c (step S420).

[0100] Periodically operating the fan 14b refers to operating the fan 14b once at a fixed time interval (second time). The second time of the fan 14b operation cycle may be, for example, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes. The second time may be set in advance based on experimental results regarding how long the cooling state can be maintained. In addition, the second time may be set and changed based on the maximum rotation speed of the fan 14b, the current season, the current date, the area where the air conditioner 10 is located, the current weather in the area where the air conditioner 10 is located, etc.

[0101] Each time the fan 14b is operated, the control unit 14a may operate the fan 14b at its maximum rotation speed for, for example, several tens of seconds to several minutes. In step S320, the rotation speed and operation time of the fan 14b may be fixed predetermined values, or may be variable based on the current provisional detection value of the sensor 14c and the current operation mode of the air conditioner 10.

[0102] The periodic operation of the fan 14b can be performed regardless of whether or not detection by the sensor 14c is required. The control unit 14a can check whether the second time period has elapsed and can periodically operate the fan 14b while the heater 16b is operating, even when it is not attempting to detect the outdoor temperature.

[0103] This completes the control using the second time period (the operation cycle of the fan 14b). When the fan 14b is operated periodically, the outdoor unit 14 is cooled periodically. Therefore, the heat transfer from the heater 16b is suppressed to a certain level within the operation cycle of the fan 14b. Therefore, regardless of when the sensor 14c performs detection, the accuracy of the detection can be maintained to a certain level. In other words, to improve the detection accuracy of the sensor 14c, it is not necessary to operate the fan 14b all the time; it is sufficient to operate it periodically.

[0104] Fourth Embodiment <Detected only during a certain period within the operating cycle of fan 14b> In the fourth embodiment, in order to further improve the accuracy of detection, the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14 is periodically operated, and detection is performed by the sensor 14c only within a certain time period (for example, the first time period described above) after the fan 14b is operated. In this way, the accuracy of detection can be maintained better than in the control of the third embodiment.

[0105] Figure 6 is a flowchart of an example of a control method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to embodiment 4. The contents of steps S100 to S320 and S420 in Figure 6 are the same as those of steps S100 to S320 and S420 in Figure 5 of embodiment 3, so redundant explanations will be omitted here. In embodiment 4, the control method further includes steps S410 and S430.

[0106] If the control unit 14a determines that the heater 16b is operating but the fan 14b is not operating ("NO" in step S200), the control unit 14a determines whether a second time, which is an operating cycle, has elapsed since the fan 14b last operated (step S310). In the fourth embodiment, if the control unit 14a determines that the second time has not elapsed since the fan 14b last operated ("NO" in step S310), the control unit 14a performs step S410. That is, the control unit 14a further determines whether a first time has elapsed since the fan 14b last operated (step S410). Here, the second time is set to be longer than the first time. For example, the control unit 14a may set the first time to be 5 minutes and the second time to be 10 minutes.

[0107] If the first time period has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan 14b ("NO" in step S410), the area around the sensor 14c is sufficiently cold. Therefore, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c without operating the fan 14b, and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c (step S420).

[0108] On the other hand, if it is determined that the first time has elapsed even though the operating cycle is in progress ("YES" in step S410), the control unit 14a outputs the previous detection result of the sensor 14c instead of performing detection using the sensor 14c (step S430).

[0109] In the fourth embodiment, the outdoor unit 14 includes a storage unit, and the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c and then stores the detected outdoor temperature in the storage unit. In one example, the control unit 14a stores at least one of the most recent detection results in the storage unit. The "previous detection result" refers to a result of a previous detection actually performed by the sensor 14c and stored in the storage unit. The previous detection result may be, for example, the most recent detection result stored in the storage unit, one of multiple stored detection results, or the average, median, or mode of the multiple stored detection results. In step S430, the control unit 14a outputs such a previous detection result.

[0110] The outdoor temperature is detected only if the first time has not elapsed since the fan 14b last operated, ensuring its accuracy. In other words, the stored detection result is a highly reliable value. Furthermore, the outdoor temperature generally does not rise or fall suddenly within a short period of time, such as 10 minutes, and even if the outdoor temperature does change, the range of change (e.g., approximately ±2°C) is not large. Therefore, when there is a possibility that the influence of the heater 16b has not been reduced to a desired level, i.e., when the first time has elapsed since the fan 14b last operated, the previous detection result is output instead of the actual detection. In particular, when the outdoor unit 14 periodically (e.g., every 10 minutes) detects the outdoor temperature and transmits the detection result to the indoor unit 12 and / or the server 80, the detection is performed frequently, so the time difference between the previous detection and the current time is small. Using the previous detection result as a substitute is suitable for such detection needs.

[0111] In addition, when the outdoor unit 14 periodically detects and outputs the outdoor temperature, the control unit 14a may start cyclic operation of the fan 14b in accordance with the detection period. For example, the fan 14b may be operated cyclically so that the detection period starts before a first time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b.

[0112] In one embodiment, when detecting the outdoor temperature in response to an inquiry from the indoor unit 12 and / or the server 80, the control unit 14a does not substitute a previous detection result, but actually detects and outputs the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c.

[0113] This completes the control using both the first time and the second time. Performing the detection before the first time, which is shorter than the operation cycle of fan 14b, has elapsed since the previous operation of fan 14b ensures higher detection accuracy. Furthermore, by outputting a correctly detected previous detection result, for example, the previous detection result, control unit 14a can output a sufficiently accurate detection result without actually performing detection by sensor 14c.

[0114] Fifth Embodiment <Continuous operation of fan 14b of outdoor unit 14> In the fifth embodiment, in order to efficiently reduce heat transfer from the heater 16b, the control unit 14a continuously operates the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14. In the fifth embodiment, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 sets a threshold value called a third time and controls the operation time of the fan 14b based on this threshold value.

[0115] 7 is a flowchart of an example of step S300 in embodiment 5. In embodiment 5, step S300 includes steps S320 to S340.

[0116] In step S300, the control unit 14a first starts operating the fan 14b (step S320). Then, while continuing to operate the fan 14b, the control unit 14a determines whether a third time has elapsed since the fan 14b was started to operate (step S330). If it is determined that the third time has elapsed since the fan 14b was started to operate ("YES" in step S330), the control unit 14a stops the fan 14b (step S340).

[0117] The third time period refers to the time period during which the fan 14b is continuously operated, and is also referred to as the operation time of the fan 14b. The third time period may be set to anywhere from several tens of seconds to several minutes. For example, the control unit 14a may set the third time period to 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, or 5 minutes. Here, the third time period is set to be longer than the first time period and longer than the second time period. For example, the control unit 14a may set the first time period to 5 minutes, the second time period to 10 minutes, and the third time period to 2 minutes.

[0118] The third time period may be set in advance based on the results of experiments regarding how long the fan 14b should be operated to reduce the effect of the heater 16b to a desired level. The third time period may also be set and changed based on the maximum rotation speed of the fan 14b, the current season, the current date, the area where the air conditioner 10 is located, the current weather in the area where the air conditioner 10 is located, etc.

[0119] This completes the control using the third time period. With this configuration, it is possible to operate the fan 14b according to the model, time of year, and location of the air conditioner 10. For example, during hot weather, the fan 14b can be operated for a relatively long period of time to sufficiently replace the hot air around the sensor before detecting the outdoor temperature.

[0120] Sixth Embodiment <Comprehensive examples> The control device of the outdoor unit 14 (for example, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14) can comprehensively implement a combination of the above-described embodiments 1 to 5. For example, embodiment 6 shows a combination of embodiment 2, embodiment 3, and embodiment 5, that is, a combination of embodiment 4 and embodiment 5. In embodiment 6, the control unit 14a performs control to detect the outdoor temperature using the first time, the second time, and the third time.

[0121] Fig. 8 is a flowchart of an example of a method for controlling the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 6. The contents of steps S100 to S320 and steps 410 to S430 in Fig. 8 are the same as those of steps S100 to S320 and steps 410 to S430 in Fig. 6 of Embodiment 4. Moreover, Embodiment 6 further includes steps S330 and S340 in Fig. 7 of Embodiment 5.

[0122] When attempting to detect the outdoor temperature, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 determines whether the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 is operating (step S100). If it is determined that the heater 16b is not operating, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c and outputs the detection result (step S420). If it is determined that the heater 16b is operating, the control unit 14a further determines whether the fan 14b is operating (step S200). If both the heater 16b and the fan 14b are operating, the control unit 14a performs step S420, detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c, and outputs the result.

[0123] While the heater 16b is operating, the control unit 14a operates the fan 14b periodically and continuously each time. The control unit 14a sets a second time as the operation cycle of the fan 14b and a third time as the single operation time of the fan 14b.

[0124] If it is determined that the heater 16b is operating and the fan 14b is not operating, the control unit 14a determines whether a second time has elapsed since the last time the fan 14b was operated (step S310). If it is determined that the second time, which is the operation cycle, has elapsed, the control unit 14a operates the fan 14b (step S320), and then causes the sensor 14c to detect and output the result (step S420).

[0125] If it is determined that the second time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b, the control unit 14a further determines whether the first time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b (step S410). If the first time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan 14b, the control unit 14a detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor 14c without operating the fan 14b, and outputs the detection result of the sensor 14c (step S420).

[0126] On the other hand, if it is determined that the second time has not elapsed since the previous operation but the first time has elapsed, the control unit 14a outputs the previous detection result of the sensor 14c without performing detection by the sensor 14c (step S430).

[0127] To start the continuous operation of the fan 14b in step S320, the control unit 14a then determines whether a third time has elapsed since the fan 14b was started (step S330). If it is determined that the third time has elapsed since the fan 14b was started, the control unit 14a stops the fan 14b (step S340).

[0128] This completes the control using the first time, the second time, and the third time. By controlling in this manner, all of the above-mentioned effects can be achieved.

[0129] From another perspective, the control unit 14a of the outdoor unit 14 determines whether or not the fan 14b needs to operate based on operation information of the heater 16b of the ventilation device 16 and operation information of the fan 14b of the outdoor unit 14. In the sixth embodiment, operation information refers to information relating to the current or previous operation of the heater 16b or the fan 14b. For example, the operation information may include whether the heater 16b is currently operating or the fan 14b is currently operating, the time elapsed since the fan 14b last operated, and the time the currently operating fan 14b has already operated in the current operation.

[0130] It should be noted that the execution order of the steps shown in FIG. 8 is merely an example, and other execution orders are possible.

[0131] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present disclosure, and the scope of protection of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The present disclosure includes the contents described above in the drawings and the specific embodiments described above, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Various disclosed embodiments or examples can be combined without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. Modifications that do not depart from the functional and structural principles of the present disclosure are within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0132] 10 Air conditioner 12 Indoor unit 12a Control section 12b Communications Department 14 Outdoor unit 14a Control section 14b Fan 14c Sensor 16 Ventilation equipment 16a Absorbent material 16b Heater 16c Fan 70 Terminal Equipment 72 Related Applications 80 servers A1 Indoor air A2 Outdoor air A3 Outdoor air A4 Outdoor air Rin Indoors Rout outdoor

Claims

1. A control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, The air conditioner includes the outdoor unit and a ventilation device, The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting an outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from air passing through the absorbent material, and a heater that heats the air passing through the absorbent material, When the control device detects the outdoor temperature using the sensor, determining whether the heater is operating; If it is determined that the heater is operating, it is determined whether the fan is operating; If it is determined that the fan is not operating, the fan is operated; outputting the detection result of the sensor; A control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.

2. the sensor is provided at a position where it receives heat conduction and heat radiation from the heater while the heater is operating; The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1.

3. The control device determining whether a first time period has elapsed since the fan last operated; If it is determined that the first time period has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan, the outdoor temperature is detected by the sensor, and the detection result of the sensor is output. The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1.

4. The control device periodically operates the fan. The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1.

5. The control device further determining whether a second time has elapsed since the fan last operated; operating the fan when it is determined that the second time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan; The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 4.

6. The control device If it is determined that the second time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan, the outdoor temperature is detected by the sensor, and the detection result of the sensor is output. The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 5.

7. The control device determining whether a first time period has elapsed since the fan last operated; If it is determined that the first time period has not elapsed since the last operation of the fan, the outdoor temperature is detected by the sensor, and the detection result of the sensor is output. the second time period is greater than the first time period; The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 5.

8. The control device If it is determined that the second time has not elapsed and the first time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan, the previous detection result of the sensor is output. The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 7.

9. The control device continuously operates the fan, The control device further determining whether a third time has elapsed since the fan was operated; stopping the fan when it is determined that the third time has elapsed since the fan was started to operate; The control device for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1.

10. A method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising: The air conditioner includes the outdoor unit and a ventilation device, The outdoor unit includes a fan and a sensor for detecting an outdoor temperature. The ventilation device includes an absorbent material that absorbs moisture from air passing through the absorbent material, and a heater that heats the air passing through the absorbent material, The control method includes: determining whether the heater is operating when the outdoor temperature is to be detected by the sensor; If it is determined that the heater is operating, determining whether the fan is operating; operating the fan if it is determined that the fan is not operating; outputting the detection result of the sensor; Including, A method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.

11. the sensor is provided at a position where it receives heat conduction and heat radiation from the heater while the heater is operating; The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 10.

12. The step of outputting the detection result of the sensor includes: determining whether a first time has elapsed since the fan was last operated; Including, In the step of outputting the detection result of the sensor, If it is determined that the first time period has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan, the outdoor temperature is detected by the sensor, and the detection result of the sensor is output. The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 10.

13. In the step of operating the fan, the fan is operated periodically. The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 10.

14. The step of operating the fan includes: determining whether a second time has elapsed since the fan was last operated; Including, In the step of operating the fan, operating the fan when it is determined that the second time has elapsed since the last operation of the fan; The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 13.

15. In the step of outputting the detection result of the sensor, If it is determined that the second time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan, the outdoor temperature is detected by the sensor, and the detection result of the sensor is output. The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 14.

16. The step of outputting the detection result of the sensor includes: determining whether a first time has elapsed since the fan last operated; detecting the outdoor temperature using the sensor and outputting the detection result of the sensor when it is determined that the first time period has not elapsed since the previous operation of the fan; Including, the second time period is greater than the first time period; The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 14.

17. The step of outputting the detection result of the sensor includes: outputting the previous detection result of the sensor when it is determined that the second time has not elapsed and the first time has elapsed since the previous operation of the fan; further comprising: The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 16.

18. In the step of operating the fan, the fan is continuously operated; The control method includes: determining whether a third time has elapsed since the fan was operated; stopping the fan when it is determined that the third time has elapsed since the fan was started to operate; further comprising: The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 10.

19. A computer program comprising: A computer program for causing a control device of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner to execute the control method for the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of claims 10 to 18. Computer program.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which a computer program is stored, When the computer program is executed by a processor, the method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of claims 10 to 18 is realized. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

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