Air-conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air-conditioning systems with multiple apparatuses connected via transmission lines, communication methods can vary, leading to compatibility issues and suboptimal communication rates when different apparatuses with incompatible communication methods attempt to communicate.
Innovation Solution
The air-conditioning system incorporates a communication unit and repeater in each outdoor unit that relays signals of a set frequency, allowing compatible apparatuses to communicate using a matching frequency, ensuring proper communication even among apparatuses with different communication methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard communication method is used to ensure compatibility between apparatuses with different communication methods, then communication reliability is improved, but communication rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system dynamically selects the communication method based on the compatibility between apparatuses. When both apparatuses support a superior communication method, the system automatically switches to that method for higher communication rates. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to achieve both reliability (through automatic fallback to standard methods) and productivity (through utilization of superior methods when available).
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the communication parameter (communication method) based on the capabilities of the communicating apparatuses. By detecting which apparatuses support superior communication methods and adjusting the communication parameter accordingly, the system can optimize communication rates while maintaining reliability through fallback mechanisms.
2Reliability
If repeaters are installed to extend transmission distance and shape signals, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal shaping and noise reduction functions from separate repeater devices and integrates them into the outdoor units' communication control devices. This eliminates the need for dedicated repeater installations while maintaining the reliability benefits of signal conditioning, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outdoor unit's communication control device is designed to perform multiple functions including communication control, signal shaping, and noise reduction that were previously required from separate repeater devices. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device complexity by consolidating components while maintaining communication reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning system includes a plurality of air-conditioning apparatuses each including an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, and a remote controller and a transmission line via which the plurality of air-conditioning apparatuses are connected to each other. Each of the outdoor units includes a communication unit configured to transmit and receive a signal and a repeater configured to relay a signal of a set frequency. In a case where a set frequency with which the repeater of one air-conditioning apparatus of the plurality of air-conditioning apparatuses is compatible and a set frequency with which the repeater of the other air-conditioning apparatus of the plurality of air-conditioning apparatuses is compatible match, the remote controller of the one air-conditioning apparatus and the indoor unit of the other air-conditioning apparatus is configured to perform communication by use of a signal of the set frequency thus matching.