Sensor inspection device and sensor inspection method for air conditioning controllers

Abstract

To provide a sensor inspection device 1 of an air conditioning controller 2 which can quickly inspect an internal sensor 21, which is provided within a housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2 and measures at least one of temperature and humidity, in a state that the internal sensor 21 is made into a finished product, and to provide a sensor inspection method.SOLUTION: A sensor inspection device 1 of an embodiment includes: at least one fan device 7 which generates eddy flow of air to an air conditioning controller 2; at least one external sensor 6 located at a position at an exterior of a housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2 and in the eddy flow generated by the fan device 7; and a presentation part which presents a measurement result of the external sensor 6 and a measurement result of an internal sensor 21, which are measured in a state that the fan device 7 is driven, in a comparable manner. The sensor inspection device enables the internal sensor 21 provided within the air conditioning controller 2 to be inspected in a state that the internal sensor 21 is made into a finished product.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor inspection apparatus and a sensor inspection method for an air conditioner controller, which are provided inside a housing of the air conditioner controller and inspect an internal sensor that measures at least one of temperature and humidity in a finished product state.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, indoor air conditioning is performed by measuring the indoor temperature and humidity, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1. And such a sensor may be provided, for example, inside a housing of an air conditioner controller installed on an indoor wall. Here, the air conditioner controller means a relatively small electronic device for performing input of an air conditioning start operation or end operation, input of a set temperature, display of a room temperature, and the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Such an air conditioner controller is inspected before product shipment. At this time, when a sensor is provided inside the housing of the air conditioner controller, by comparing the measurement result of the sensor inside the housing with the measurement result of the sensor provided outside the housing, an inspection is also performed to determine whether the sensor inside the housing operates correctly. Hereinafter, the sensor provided inside the housing is referred to as an internal sensor, and the sensor provided outside the housing is referred to as an external sensor.

[0005] Incidentally, it is preferable to inspect the internal sensors in the finished product. This is because inspecting the finished product eliminates the need for assembly work after the inspection, thus significantly reducing the possibility of defective products being shipped.

[0006] However, in order to check whether the internal sensors are functioning correctly, the internal environment of the enclosure must be matched with the external environment. On the other hand, since the internal sensors are located inside the enclosure of the air conditioning controller, they are isolated from the outside air, i.e., the environment measured by the external sensors. As a result, even if the air conditioning controller is installed at the inspection site, inspection cannot be performed immediately. It is necessary to wait until the internal environment of the enclosure and the external environment of the enclosure match, which has been an obstacle to shortening inspection time and improving productivity.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a sensor inspection device and sensor inspection method for an air conditioning controller that can quickly inspect an internal sensor, which is installed inside the housing of the air conditioning controller and measures at least one of temperature and humidity, in the finished product state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The invention described in claim 1 is for inspecting an internal sensor, which is installed inside the housing of an air conditioning controller and measures at least one of temperature and humidity, in a finished product state, and comprises at least one fan device that generates turbulent airflow relative to the air conditioning controller, at least one external sensor located outside the housing of the air conditioning controller and within the turbulent airflow generated by the fan device, and a display unit that displays the measurement results of the external sensor and the internal sensor measured while the fan device is driven in a comparable manner.

[0009] Generally, turbulent flow is thought to transport more heat than laminar flow. Therefore, by forcibly creating an airflow around the air conditioning controller using a fan device, and by making that airflow turbulent, heat is more easily removed from the air when the air temperature is lower than that of the air conditioning controller, and more easily transferred to the air conditioning controller when the air temperature is higher.

[0010] In other words, by generating turbulence, it is possible to easily transition the internal and external environments of the air conditioning controller to an equilibrium state without disassembling the air conditioning controller. Therefore, the internal sensors installed inside the housing of the air conditioning controller, which measure at least one of temperature and humidity, can be quickly inspected in the finished product state.

[0011] In the invention described in claim 2, the display unit indicates whether the measurement result of the internal sensor and the measurement result of the external sensor match within a predetermined range, or displays the measurement result of the internal sensor and the measurement result of the external sensor separately. This allows the operator performing the test to clearly understand the test results.

[0012] In this case, the display unit can be configured to communicate with a management device that manages, for example, the lot number of the product or test results, and transmit each measurement result. The external management device can then display whether the measurement results of the internal sensor and the measurement results of the external sensor match within a predetermined range, or to display the measurement results of the internal sensor and the measurement results of the external sensor separately.

[0013] In the invention described in claim 3, the sensor inspection device includes a housing space for housing an air conditioning controller and an external sensor, and the fan device generates turbulent airflow within the housing space. This allows inspections to be performed without being affected by external disturbances such as indoor air conditioning, thereby improving inspection accuracy. Furthermore, because the housing space has a smaller volume than a typical room, it is easier to equalize the temperature and humidity, further improving inspection accuracy. In addition, since it is sufficient to generate turbulence within the small housing space to regulate the internal and external environments of the enclosure, it is possible to simplify and streamline the equipment required for inspection.

[0014] In the invention described in claim 4, the sensor inspection device is equipped with an adjustment unit capable of adjusting at least one of the temperature inside the containment space or the humidity inside the containment space. This allows for more accurate inspection of whether the internal sensor is functioning correctly by performing inspections in multiple environments with varying temperatures and humidity levels.

[0015] In the invention described in claim 5, the sensor inspection device inspects an air conditioning controller having at least one opening connected to the inside of a housing, the fan device generates turbulent airflow into the housing through the opening, and the external sensor is located outside the housing, at least one of the following: the inlet side where air enters the housing through the opening, or the outlet side where air is discharged from the inside of the housing through the opening. This allows the external sensor and the internal sensor to measure an environment that is roughly the same, thereby improving the accuracy of the inspection.

[0016] In this case, by placing the external sensor at the inlet side where air enters the housing and at the outlet side where the same air as the environment measured by the internal sensor is discharged from the housing, it is possible to confirm that the external sensor and the internal sensor are measuring roughly the same environment, thereby improving the accuracy of the inspection.

[0017] In the invention described in claim 6, the sensor inspection device includes a guide plate as a guide portion that guides the air flow generated by the fan device toward the opening of the housing. Thereby, the turbulent air flow generated by the fan device can be intensively guided toward the opening of the air-conditioning controller, and the environment inside the housing and the external environment can be quickly made to match.

[0018] In the invention described in claim 7, by adopting an inspection method for an air-conditioning controller including a step of generating a turbulent air flow with respect to the air-conditioning controller, a step of performing measurement by an internal sensor in a state where the turbulent air flow is generated, a step of performing measurement by an external sensor provided outside the air-conditioning controller and positioned in the turbulent air flow in a state where the turbulent air flow is generated, and a step of presenting the measurement results of the internal sensor and the measurement results of the external sensor in a comparable state, it is possible to quickly inspect the internal sensor provided inside the housing of the air-conditioning controller in a state of a finished product, and the same effects as those of the inventions according to the other claims described above can be obtained.

[0019] In the inventions described in claims 1 to 7 above, any two or more inventions can be combined with each other as long as there are no inhibiting factors.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] A diagram schematically showing a mechanical configuration example of the sensor inspection device in the embodiment [Figure 2] A diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration example of the sensor inspection device [Figure 3] A diagram schematically showing a mechanical configuration example of the air-conditioning controller [Figure 4] A diagram schematically showing an installation mode of the air-conditioning controller [Figure 5] A diagram showing the procedure of the inspection method [Figure 6] A diagram schematically showing a laminar flow image and a turbulent flow image [Figure 7] A diagram schematically showing a first example of another arrangement of the external sensor [Figure 8] Figure 2 schematically showing another arrangement example of an external sensor [Figure 9] Figure schematically showing another mode of generating turbulent flow with respect to an air-conditioning controller [Figure 10] Figure schematically showing an electrical configuration example when an adjustment unit is provided

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor inspection device 1 of the present embodiment has an outer shape generally formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. Hereinafter, regarding the sensor inspection device 1, the left and right directions in the illustration in the front view will be referred to as left and right, the up and down directions in the illustration will be referred to as up and down, and the up and down directions in the illustration in the side view will be referred to as front and back for explanation. This sensor inspection device 1 has a housing space 3 for housing an air-conditioning controller 2 inside.

[0022] This housing space 3 has a volume of approximately 250 mm (W) × 200 mm (D) × 120 mm (H) as an example. And, a transparent window member 4 is provided at the upper part of the housing space 3. By opening the window member 4, the air-conditioning controller 2 can be taken in and out, and by closing the window member 4, it can be simply put into a sealed state. That is, the sensor inspection device 1 can isolate the inside of the housing space 3 from the outside when performing an inspection.

[0023] Now, inside the housing space 3, a mounting portion 5, an external sensor 6 arranged to the left of the mounting portion 5, a fan device 7 arranged to the left of the external sensor 6, and a control circuit portion 8 arranged on the front end side are provided. However, the arrangement of each part is an example and is not limited thereto.

[0024] The mounting section 5 is formed in a flat shape to support the air conditioning controller 2 to be inspected, and a long hole 5a is formed in a part of it that penetrates vertically and allows for the connection of wiring, etc., to a connection point provided on the back side of the air conditioning controller 2. The connection point consists of, for example, a connector or contact terminal for connecting cables.

[0025] In this embodiment, the external sensor 6 is composed of a temperature and humidity sensor that measures the temperature and humidity inside the containment space 3. However, if the object to be inspected is temperature, the external sensor 6 can be composed of a temperature sensor, and if the object to be inspected is humidity, the external sensor 6 can be composed of a humidity sensor. This external sensor 6 is located between the mounting unit 5 and the fan device 7, that is, upstream of the air conditioning controller 2 in the airflow generated by the fan device 7.

[0026] In this embodiment, the fan device 7 is composed of a so-called sirocco fan and forms an airflow within the containment space 3 toward the air conditioning controller 2. As will be described later, the fan device 7 is appropriately selected or set in terms of its blowing capacity and distance to the air conditioning controller 2 so that it can generate turbulent airflow toward the air conditioning controller 2. In other words, the external sensor 6 and the fan device 7 are arranged in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the air conditioning controller 2.

[0027] Specifically, as shown in the plan view, the external sensor 6 has multiple intake holes 6a formed on its upper surface for introducing outside air, and is positioned so that its upper surface is approximately at the same height as the mounting section 5. The external sensor 6 is located between the air conditioning controller 2 and the fan device 7. In other words, the external sensor 6 is located within the turbulence generated by the fan device 7, as indicated by the black arrow F1. More specifically, the external sensor 6 is located within the turbulence, or in a position where turbulence can flow in through the intake holes 6a.

[0028] As shown in the front view, the fan device 7 is positioned so that its air outlet 7a is at approximately the same height as the side of the air conditioning controller 2 mounted on the mounting section 5. Furthermore, as shown in the plan view, the fan device 7 is positioned so that its air outlet 7a is approximately opposite the lower left corner of the air conditioning controller 2 mounted on the mounting section 5. As will be described later, the air conditioning controller 2 in this embodiment has an opening that connects to the interior at the lower left corner of the illustration.

[0029] The control circuit unit 8, as shown in its electrical configuration in Figure 2, consists of a control unit 10, a power supply circuit 11, operation buttons 12, indicator lamps 13, and the like. However, the configuration of the control circuit unit 8 shown in Figure 2 is just one example. The control unit 10 is composed of a microcomputer and controls the entire sensor inspection device 1. Specifically, the control unit 10 performs processes such as controlling the drive of the fan device 7, acquiring measurement results from the external sensor 6, and acquiring measurement results from the internal sensor 21 by communicating with the air conditioning controller 2.

[0030] Furthermore, as will be described later, the control unit 10 performs a process to check whether the internal sensor 21 is functioning correctly and a process to present the check results by comparing the measurement results from the internal sensor 21 provided in the air conditioning controller 2 with the measurement results from the external sensor 6. Note that the internal sensor 21 functioning correctly means that it is able to correctly measure the temperature and humidity of the location where the internal sensor 21 is installed.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the operation buttons 12 consist of, for example, a START button 12a for starting the inspection and a STOP button 12b for ending the inspection. The indicator lamps 13 consist of a PASS lamp 13a that lights up when the internal sensor 21 is functioning correctly and a FAIL lamp 13b that lights up when there is an abnormality in the internal sensor 21. In this embodiment, the control circuit unit 8 determines that the internal sensor 21 is functioning correctly when the measurement result of the internal sensor 21 and the measurement result of the external sensor 6 match within a predetermined range. In other words, the control unit 10 and the indicator lamps 13 function as a display unit that presents the measurement results of the external sensor 6 and the internal sensor 21, measured while the fan device 7 is running, in a comparable manner. However, the number and arrangement of buttons and lamps shown in Figure 1 are not limited to this.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, the air conditioning controller 2 has a housing 20 that is generally formed in the shape of a thin rectangular parallelepiped, and an internal sensor 21 is arranged inside the housing 20. Hereafter, the air conditioning controller 2 will be described with the left and right orientations shown in the front view as left and right, the up and down orientations shown as up and down, and the left and right orientations shown in the side view as front and back.

[0033] The internal sensor 21 is located in the lower left portion of the housing 20, and multiple slits 22 connecting the inside and outside of the housing 20 are provided to its side and below. When the air conditioning controller 2 is installed, for example, on a wall in a room, air flows from the bottom slit 22 to the side slits 22 by natural convection, as indicated by arrow F2. In this embodiment, the internal sensor 21 is composed of a temperature and humidity sensor that measures temperature and humidity. For temperature detection, the internal sensor 21 can use temperature sensing elements such as a resistance thermometer, thermocouple, radiation thermometer, or thermistor, and for humidity detection, it can use humidity sensing elements such as a polymer resistance type or polymer capacitance type.

[0034] This slit 22 is for introducing outside air and expelling internal air, and corresponds to an opening connected to the inside of the housing 20. In Figure 3, the slit 22 is intentionally depicted as large for easier viewing, but in recent years, with the miniaturization and weight reduction of the air conditioning controller 2, the housing 20 has become thinner, and from the standpoint of design, there is a trend to make the slit 22 smaller. Note that the position and number of slits 22 are not limited to those shown in Figure 3, and can be configured, for example, to be provided on the top surface or rear surface of the housing 20.

[0035] The air conditioning controller 2 is generally equipped with a display unit 23 that shows the operating status, set temperature, actual room temperature, etc. Inside the housing 20, there is a terminal control unit 24 that performs processes such as acquiring measurement results from internal sensors 21, controlling the display on the display unit 23, and communicating with external air conditioning equipment. This terminal control unit 24 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer. In this embodiment, the display unit 23 is assumed to be a touch panel type, driven by a display circuit 25, and displays operation icons during operation. The air conditioning controller 2 may also be equipped with buttons for user operation.

[0036] These electrical components, such as the display unit 23, the terminal control unit 24, and the display circuit 25, are expected to generate heat during operation. If this heat accumulates inside the housing 20, a discrepancy will occur between the measurement results of the internal sensor 21 and the actual outside temperature, becoming a source of error in air conditioning control. Therefore, the inside of the housing 20 is partitioned from the internal sensor 21 side to the side of other electrical components such as the terminal control unit 24 by a partition wall 26a extending upward from the bottom and a partition wall 26b extending to the right from the side.

[0037] Therefore, the air conditioning controller 2 is designed to suppress the influence of heat generated by other electrical components on the internal sensor 21, while guiding the airflow so that air flows between the slits 22 provided on two different sides of the housing 20, that is, from the bottom slit 22 to the side slit 22. However, since the internal environment of the housing 20 does not necessarily match the external environment even with the slits 22, the air conditioning controller 2 can, assuming the internal sensor 21 is functioning correctly, correct the temperature measured by the internal sensor 21, for example, by taking into account the heat generated by electrical components during operation.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, the air conditioning controller 2 is inspected while housed in the housing space 3 of the sensor inspection device 1. Note that the AA line fracture view schematically shows the fracture surface along the AA line in Figure 1, and the BB line fracture view schematically shows the fracture surface along the BB line in Figure 1.

[0039] On the left side of the air conditioning controller 2 when it is mounted on the mounting section 5, as shown in the broken view along line AA, there is a guide plate 30 that extends towards the blower fan at a height roughly corresponding to the front surface (upper surface in the illustration) of the air conditioning controller 2, and as shown in the broken view along line BB, is curved toward the lower end of the housing space 3 in front of (to the right in the illustration) the bottom surface (right surface in the illustration) of the air conditioning controller 2.

[0040] This guide plate 30, along with the top surface of the external sensor 6, acts as a guide section that concentrates the air blown out from the fan device 7 toward the slit 22 of the air conditioning controller 2. In other words, the sensor inspection device 1, through the guide plate 30 and the external sensor 6, functions like a duct that efficiently concentrates the air from the fan device 7 toward the air conditioning controller 2.

[0041] Next, the operation and effects of the above-described configuration will be explained. The air conditioning controller 2 undergoes an inspection to determine whether the internal sensor 21 is correctly detecting the temperature. In this case, the inspection is generally carried out by matching the temperature and humidity inside the housing 20 with the temperature and humidity outside the housing 20, that is, by matching the internal environment of the housing 20 with the external environment. It is desirable to perform such an inspection on the finished product before shipment. This is because if the inspection is performed on the finished product, no assembly work will be required after the inspection, which is thought to greatly reduce the possibility of defective products being shipped.

[0042] However, since the internal sensor 21 is located inside the housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2, it is, so to speak, isolated from the outside air, i.e., the environment measured by the external sensor 6. Therefore, even if the air conditioning controller 2 is installed at the inspection site, it is assumed that the environment inside the housing 20 and the environment outside will be different, so inspection cannot be performed immediately, and it is necessary to wait until the environment inside the housing 20 and the environment outside match. This has been an obstacle to shortening inspection time and improving productivity.

[0043] Therefore, in this embodiment, the internal sensor 21, which is installed inside the housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2 and measures at least one of temperature and humidity, can be quickly inspected in the finished product state.

[0044] The sensor inspection device 1 inspects the internal sensor 21 located inside the housing 20 of the finished air conditioning controller 2, following the inspection procedure shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 shows the test procedure for one air conditioning controller 2. Specifically, in the test of the air conditioning controller 2, first, the air conditioning controller is housed in the housing space 3 (S1). At this time, the air conditioning controller 2 is placed on the mounting section 5 and communication cables with the control unit 10 are connected.

[0045] Next, after closing the window section, the fan device 7 is driven (S2), and measurement by each sensor begins (S3). In the case of the sensor inspection device 1, pressing the START button 12a drives the fan device 7, starts measurement by the external sensor 6, power is supplied to the air conditioning controller 2, and measurement by the internal sensor 21 begins. The measurement results from each sensor are acquired as appropriate by the control unit 10.

[0046] Step S2 corresponds to the process of generating turbulent airflow for the air conditioning controller 2, and step S3 corresponds to the process of performing measurements with the internal sensor 21 while turbulent airflow is being generated, and the process of performing measurements with the external sensor 6, which is located outside the air conditioning controller 2 and within the turbulent airflow, while turbulent airflow is being generated.

[0047] As described above, the fan device 7 generates turbulence for the air conditioning controller 2. In this embodiment, turbulence is defined as the Reynolds number (Re) of the airflow blown from the fan device 7 exceeding the critical Reynolds number (Rec = 2300). This is because, in the case of the sensor inspection device 1, as described above, the fan device 7 and the air conditioning controller 2 are connected by a pseudo-duct. Note that if the Reynolds number of the airflow from the fan device 7 is sufficiently large, it can be considered turbulence. Furthermore, inspection can also be performed with turbulence generated inside the housing 20 by the internal sensors 21, partition walls 26, or electrical components installed inside the housing 20.

[0048] Generally speaking, turbulent flow is considered to transport a larger amount of heat than laminar flow. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6 as a laminar flow image, the amount of heat exchanged when the airflow indicated by the black arrow F0 is laminar (L) relative to the housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2 is the magnitude schematically shown by the white arrow H0. In contrast, as shown in the turbulent flow image, when the airflow indicated by the black arrow F1 is turbulent (T) relative to the housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2, the amount of heat exchanged is considered to be larger than that of laminar flow (L), as is well known, as schematically shown by the white arrow H1. Therefore, by generating turbulence relative to the housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2, it becomes easier to remove heat from inside the housing 20, or to supply heat to inside the housing 20, thus making it easier to transition the internal environment of the housing 20 to an equilibrium state with the external environment.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, slits 22 are provided in the housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2, allowing turbulence to enter the interior of the housing 20 through the slits 22 on the side of the housing 20 and to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20 through slits 22 on a different surface of the housing 20, in this case the bottom surface. This makes it possible to match the internal environment of the housing 20 with the external environment even more quickly.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the inspection is performed in a generally sealed containment space 3, the inspection can be carried out without being affected by external disturbances such as airflow in the room. Also, since the containment space 3 is assumed to be significantly smaller than a typical room, it is thought that the temperature and humidity can be made more uniform within the containment space 3, which has a smaller volume than a typical room, thus improving the accuracy of the inspection. In addition, since it is sufficient to generate turbulence within the small containment space 3 to regulate the internal and external environments of the housing 20, it is possible to simplify and streamline the equipment required for the inspection.

[0051] When measurement begins, it is determined whether a predetermined waiting period has elapsed, or whether the measurement results of the internal sensor 21 and the external sensor 6 match within a predetermined range (S4). The waiting period can be set to a length of time that allows it to be determined, for example, by conducting a test beforehand, that the internal environment of the housing 20 and the external environment are in a state of near-perfect match while the fan device 7 is running. The predetermined range can be appropriately set, for example, to a few percent, based on the accuracy required of the air conditioning controller 2.

[0052] If the predetermined waiting period has not elapsed, or if the results do not match within the predetermined range (S4:NO), measurement continues. On the other hand, if the predetermined waiting period has elapsed, or if the measurement results of the internal sensor 21 and the external sensor 6 match within the predetermined range (S4:YES), the test results are displayed (S5).

[0053] In step S5, the sensor inspection device 1 determines that there is a malfunction in the internal sensor 21 if the measurement results do not match even after a predetermined waiting period has elapsed, that is, if the measurement results do not match despite the internal and external environments being in a state that is roughly the same. On the other hand, the sensor inspection device 1 determines that the internal sensor 21 is functioning correctly if the measurement results match. Note that if the measurement results match without waiting for the waiting period, the inspection time can be shortened.

[0054] Then, the sensor inspection device 1 presents the test results (S6). At this time, if the sensor inspection device 1 determines that the internal sensor 21 is functioning correctly, it illuminates the PASS lamp 13a described above to indicate to the operator that the internal sensor 21 is functioning correctly. Alternatively, if the sensor inspection device 1 determines that there is a malfunction in the internal sensor 21, it illuminates the FAIL lamp 13b described above to indicate to the operator that there is a malfunction in the internal sensor 21. This step S6 corresponds to the process of presenting the measurement results of the internal sensor 21 and the measurement results of the external sensor 6 in a comparable manner.

[0055] Subsequently, the fan device 7 is stopped (S7), and the air conditioning controller 2 is removed from the housing space 3 (S8), completing one inspection cycle. The inspected air conditioning controller 2 is then sent to other processes such as further inspection or packaging. However, after the process of inspecting the internal sensor 21 described above, there are no processes of disassembling or reassembling the air conditioning controller 2. In this way, the sensor inspection device 1 enables the inspection of the internal sensor 21 located inside the housing 20 using the completed air conditioning controller 2.

[0056] The sensor inspection device 1 and sensor inspection method described above can be used to obtain the following effects.

[0057] The sensor inspection device 1 is for inspecting an internal sensor 21, which is installed inside the housing 20 of an air conditioning controller 2 and measures at least one of temperature and humidity, in its finished state. The device comprises at least one fan device 7 that generates turbulent airflow relative to the air conditioning controller 2, at least one external sensor 6 located outside the housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2 and within the turbulent airflow generated by the fan device 7, and a display unit that presents the measurement results of the external sensor 6 and the internal sensor 21 in a comparable manner when the fan device 7 is driven. This allows for rapid inspection of the internal sensor 21, which is installed inside the housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2 and measures at least one of temperature and humidity, in its finished state.

[0058] Furthermore, by employing an inspection method for the air conditioning controller 2 that includes the steps of: generating turbulent airflow for the air conditioning controller 2 using the sensor inspection device 1 described above; performing measurements with the internal sensor 21 while turbulent airflow is generated; performing measurements with the external sensor 6, which is located outside the air conditioning controller 2 and positioned within the turbulent airflow, while turbulent airflow is generated; and presenting the measurement results of the internal sensor 21 and the external sensor 6 in a comparable manner, the internal sensor 21 located inside the housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2 can be quickly inspected in its finished state.

[0059] The sensor inspection device 1 displays whether the measurement results of the internal sensor 21 and the external sensor 6 match within a predetermined range. This allows the operator to clearly understand the test results.

[0060] In this case, the display unit can be configured to allow the operator to determine whether the internal sensor 21 is functioning correctly by displaying the measurement results of the internal sensor 21 and the external sensor 6 as numerical values, respectively. Furthermore, the system can be configured to communicate with a management device that manages, for example, product lot numbers and test results, and transmit each measurement result to the external management device, which can then display whether the measurement results of the internal sensor 21 and the external sensor 6 match within a predetermined range, or to display the measurement results of the internal sensor 21 and the external sensor 6 separately.

[0061] Furthermore, the sensor inspection device 1 includes a housing space 3 that accommodates the air conditioning controller 2 and the external sensor 6, and the fan device 7 generates turbulent airflow within the housing space 3. This allows inspections to be performed without being affected by external disturbances such as the air conditioning in the room, thereby improving inspection accuracy. In addition, because the housing space 3 has a smaller volume than a typical room, it is easier to equalize the temperature and humidity, which further improves inspection accuracy. Moreover, since it is only necessary to generate turbulence within the small housing space 3 to regulate the internal and external environments of the enclosure 20, it is expected that the equipment required for inspection will be simplified and streamlined.

[0062] Furthermore, in the sensor inspection device 1, a fan device 7 generates turbulent airflow into the interior of the housing 20 via the opening to an air conditioning controller 2 which has at least one opening connected to the inside of the housing 20, and an external sensor 6 is positioned outside the housing 20, on the inlet side where air enters the interior of the housing 20 through the opening.

[0063] This allows the external sensor 6 and the internal sensor 21 to measure environments that are roughly the same, thereby improving the accuracy of the inspection. Furthermore, even if the opening, such as the slit 22, is small from a design perspective, the fan device 7 can forcibly and quickly exchange the air inside the housing 20 with the air outside, thereby shortening the inspection time.

[0064] In this case, as shown in Figure 7, the external sensor 6 can also be positioned on the outlet side where air is discharged from inside the housing 20 through the opening. This allows the external sensor 6 and the internal sensor 21 to measure an environment that is roughly the same, thereby improving the accuracy of the inspection. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 8, the external sensor 6 can also be positioned on the inlet side where air enters the housing 20 and the outlet side where air is discharged from the housing 20. This allows the external sensor 6 and the internal sensor 21 to measure an environment that is roughly the same, and it is also possible to confirm that the external sensor 6 and the internal sensor 21 are measuring an environment that is roughly the same, thereby improving the accuracy of the inspection.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, the fan device 7 can be configured as an axial flow fan and installed in a direction that draws air out of the housing 20. In this case, by placing the external sensor 6 on the outlet side where air is discharged from inside the housing 20 through the opening, and within the turbulent airflow, the external sensor 6 and the internal sensor 21 will measure an environment that is roughly the same, thereby improving the accuracy of the inspection. In addition, a guide plate 30 can be provided to restrict the airflow path between the air conditioning controller 2 and the external sensor 6. Although not shown in the illustration, the external sensor 6 can be placed on the air inlet side to the housing 20 in Figure 9, or it can be placed on both the air inlet and outlet sides.

[0066] Furthermore, the sensor inspection device 1 is equipped with a guide plate 30 that guides the airflow generated by the fan device 7 toward the opening of the housing 20. This allows the turbulent airflow generated by the fan device 7 to be concentrated and guided toward the slit 22 of the air conditioning controller 2, thereby quickly matching the internal environment of the housing 20 with the external environment. In addition, by forming a duct-like flow path with the guide plate as in the embodiment, it becomes easier to grasp the conditions for turbulence generation, and the validity of the inspection can be ensured.

[0067] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, the system can be configured to include an adjustment unit 40 that can adjust at least one of the temperature inside the containment space 3 or the humidity inside the containment space 3. This allows for more accurate testing of whether the internal sensor 21 is functioning correctly by performing tests in multiple environments with varying temperatures and humidity levels. This adjustment unit 40 can be configured, for example, with a heater or a humidifier.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or shown in the drawings, and any two or more of the above-described configurations can be modified or expanded by combining them in any way or as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the invention and provided that there are no impediments, and such modifications and expansions are included within the same scope. In this embodiment, an air conditioning controller 2 having an opening was illustrated, but an air conditioning controller 2 without a clearly defined opening can also be subject to inspection.

[0069] In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the internal sensor 21 is composed of a temperature and humidity sensor that measures temperature and humidity. However, it is possible to configure it with only a temperature sensor, or to provide individual temperature sensors and humidity sensors, or to provide multiple temperature sensors in multiple locations, etc., so that multiple internal sensors 21 can be provided.

[0070] In this embodiment, a sensor inspection device 1 having a housing space 3 for housing an air conditioning controller 2 is illustrated, but the sensor inspection device 1 can be configured without a housing space 3. For example, by placing a fan device 7 on a workbench in a position that can generate turbulent airflow relative to the air conditioning controller 2, and positioning the external sensor 6 outside the housing 20 of the air conditioning controller 2 within the turbulence generated by the fan device 7, a sensor inspection device 1 without a housing space 3 can be realized. Alternatively, a sensor inspection device 1 without a housing space 3 can also be realized by installing a jig or the like on a workbench for positioning the air conditioning controller 2, fan device 7, and external sensor 6 in predetermined positions. In that case, the inspection can be performed by comparing the temperature displayed on the air conditioning controller 2 with the temperature measured by the external sensor 6. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0071] In the drawing, 1 is the sensor inspection device, 2 is the air conditioning controller, 3 is the housing space, 6 is the external sensor, 7 is the fan device, 8 is the control circuit unit (display unit), 10 is the control unit (display unit), 13 is the indicator lamp (display unit), 13a is the PASS lamp (display unit), 13b is the FAIL lamp (display unit), 20 is the housing, 21 is the internal sensor, 22 is the slit (opening), 30 is the guide plate (guide unit), and 40 is the adjustment unit.

Claims

1. A sensor inspection device for inspecting an internal sensor, which is installed inside the housing of an air conditioning controller and measures at least one of temperature and humidity, in the finished product state, The air conditioning controller is provided with at least one fan device that generates turbulent airflow, At least one external sensor located outside the housing of the air conditioning controller and within the turbulence generated by the fan device, A display unit that presents the measurement results of the external sensor and the internal sensor, measured while the fan device is in operation, in a manner that allows for comparison. A sensor inspection device for an air conditioning controller equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The sensor inspection device for an air conditioning controller according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays whether the measurement result of the internal sensor and the measurement result of the external sensor match within a predetermined range, or displays the measurement result of the internal sensor and the measurement result of the external sensor, respectively.

3. It includes a housing space for housing the air conditioning controller and the external sensor, The fan device generates turbulent airflow within the containment space, as described in claim 1, for the sensor inspection device of the air conditioning controller.

4. The sensor inspection device for an air conditioning controller according to claim 3, further comprising an adjustment unit capable of adjusting at least one of the temperature inside the containment space or the humidity inside the containment space.

5. The housing has at least one opening connected to the inside of the housing, The fan device generates turbulent airflow inside the housing via the opening. The sensor inspection device for an air conditioning controller according to claim 1, wherein the external sensor is located outside the housing and is positioned on at least one of the following sides: the inlet side through which air enters the housing through the opening, or the outlet side through which air is discharged from the housing through the opening.

6. The sensor inspection device for an air conditioning controller according to claim 5, further comprising a guide section for guiding the airflow generated by the fan device toward the opening.

7. An inspection method for inspecting an internal sensor located inside the housing of an air conditioning controller in its finished state, A step of generating turbulent airflow for the aforementioned air conditioning controller, The process involves performing measurements using the internal sensor while air turbulence is occurring, A step of performing measurements using an external sensor that is located outside the air conditioning controller and positioned within the turbulent airflow while turbulent airflow is occurring. A method for inspecting an air conditioning controller, comprising the step of presenting the measurement results of the internal sensor and the measurement results of the external sensor in a comparable manner.

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